The purpose of this book is to share my knowledge and experiences of making goals become realities with current and future leaders. The book, Awakening the Talents Within, contains a collection of my columns, some of which have never been published. These columns were written to help individuals gain control of their lives. My thoughts reflect over ten years of managing, consulting, and teaching in government, business, community, and academic communities. I currently advise individuals using a variety of techniques aimed at helping them on reaching their goals. God does not give us talents to sit on--those skills are to be used for the service of the community.