Interview – Nikki Stone, Author of When Turtles Fly

By Tony Deblauwe

Nikki Stone recently posted a great article about performance that draws from her new book. Her research and personal accomplishments really speak to the perseverance, confidence, and drive that define success no matter who you are.  Nikki was kind enough to spend some more time with the Work Babble community about the book, her background, and how you can find your peak performance.

1. Nikki, can you tell us more about your professional background?

At the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, I became America’s first-ever Olympic Champion in the sport of inverted aerial skiing. What made this performance so challenging, was the fact that less than two years earlier, a chronic injury prevented me from standing, much less walking or skiing down a slope at almost 40 miles per hour.  This taught me my first big lesson on overcoming adversities.

There were so many skills I learned through my aerial and academic career, and I knew I wanted to help others find whatever their “gold medal” may be.  I still remain involved with the Olympic movement having the honor of mentoring all of the current Olympians through several Games Prep Olympic programs, but the majority of my time is spent traveling around North America speaking to corporate businessmen and women—from Fortune 500 CEOs to individuals just starting out—sharing valuable secrets to success.

2. What is the main premise of the book and what motivated you to write it?  

Growing up, my mother taught me that I could achieve anything I wanted as long as I followed the Turtle Effect philosophy.  She told me that in order to reach my dreams I had to remember to have a soft inside, a hard shell, and be sure to stick my neck out.  I always held that belief system close and adapted it to every situation I encountered. The philosophy has been such an effective motivator for me that I wanted to help people develop this same confidence and share the tools that are common to those at the top of their given field. 

The philosophy holds true for any career or endeavor and I wanted to demonstrate these parallels through the stories of contributors who are at the top of their fields—including Olympic and X-Games gold medalist Shaun White, icon fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, bestselling author and leadership expert Dr. Stephen Covey, skiing champion Lindsey Vonn, Prince Albert of Monaco, celebrity chef Todd English, NFL quarterback legend Steve Young, Fortune 500 CEOs, Nobel prize-winners, and many more.

We all receive the emails that start, “I am not typically someone who forwards these stories/quotes/anecdotes along, but this one was so powerful/moving that I had to make an exception.”  I wanted to write a book full of the type of stories that move you to action and you can’t help but forward them along.

3. What is the unique value proposition of your book (i.e. how is it different)?

I believe that there are millions of readers that are hungry for profoundly, inspiring stories and the steps to achieve their ultimate potential.  How often do you hear the personal secrets to success from a Nobel Prize winner, a Fortune 500 CEO, a leader of a country, or an Olympic gold medalist?  And how often do you hear from all of these individuals in one place?  It’s rare to see a demonstration of these corresponding paths to achievements. 

Many self-help books offer the stories of motivation, but they don’t capture such a variety of successful contributors ensuring that readers are persistently enthralled in their own search for self-improvement.  And When Turtles Fly not only demonstrates how the most successful people have reached their personal goals, it takes it a step further by sharing the specific applied tools to help individuals find this success themselves. 

4. Did you have to do any special research for the book?

I took great time in finding individuals who were truly at the top of their field.  With each of my 40 contributors, I worked with them to determine the major factors that led to their personal achievement.  And for my own part, my years and year as a highly competitive athlete, successful motivational speaker, and personal development coach taught me irreplaceable lessons that helped me reach my lifelong goals.  It has been rewarding to see these tools for success parallel the world’s top CEOs, musicians, chefs, Nobel prize-winners, and more.

5. What is the impact of your book to individuals and/or organizations?

The world really needs inspiration right now.  We all have the choice to be the victim or the victor.  When Turtles Fly will help people on that path to surpass their career plateaus, find the exciting new jobs they’ve been looking for or raise they have been hoping for, stick to their diets, take more risks, build their confidence, develop powerful relationships, take on new leadership roles and work to find their full potential.  The stories in When Turtles Fly will help put everything in perspective for readers and help them see that there is always more to be gained.

6. What is the one key message you want readers to take away?

Everything is possible.  When challenges hit, you can choose how it will impact you.  The world’s most successful individuals didn’t allow these setbacks to impede their efforts.  You can’t sit around and wait for your success.  Nothing worthwhile comes without effort.  You have to take action in order to make things happen.  And by finding your soft inside, developing a hard shell and remembering to stick your necks out you will find yourself on the right path to reach your own personal goals.

7. What else would you like to share with our audience?

Both of my parents are cancer survivors.  My mom was a breast cancer survivor and my father was a prostate cancer survivor.  They are here with me today because of the efforts of organizations like the American Cancer Society.  I always knew that I wanted to give back to them to thank them for bringing my parents back to me.  I have decided to donate 25% of my personal proceeds to the American Cancer Society.  I love having this vehicle to raise funds for such a valuable organization.  We all know someone—whether a family member, coworker or friend—who has been afflicted by this horrendous disease. I have been extremely motivated to make this book “gold medal” caliber in order to drive funds to help decrease these numbers.  I sincerely thank readers for helping with this mission.

8. Where can people get more information about you and the book?

People can go to my book website at www.WhenTurtlesFly.com  to read excerpts, see a list of contributors, review testimonials, and see where they can buy the book.  I also encourage people to share their own Turtle Effect story on the website’s blog.

Thank you Nikki. What an incredible story and such an inspiring book that outlines principles that people really need to hear right now. Your book not only serves to warm the spirit, but offers practical guidance to show people how to achieve their best.

Book: When Turtles Fly: When Turtles Fly: Secrets of Successful People Who Know How To Stick Their Necks Out

ISBN: 1600376754
Retail: $17.95
Click to purchase