Lyman MacInnis had to drop out of school at the age of fourteen after completing grade ten because of financial circumstances. He nevertheless rose to the top of his chosen profession: accounting. He became chairman of both The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. He spent more than three decades as a senior partner in international accounting firms. He also found time to become an award-winning writer and broadcaster. He has written over four hundred articles and authored or co-authored fifteen books, including The Elements of Great Public Speaking (2006), How To Succeed in Anything by Really Trying (2009) and Simple Realities (The Pathway to Happiness and Success) (2011). His books have been published in five languages. His voice has been heard on radio more than five thousand times, and he has made hundreds of television appearances. He has guided the careers and affairs of successful executives and entrepreneurs as well internationally renowned entertainers and athletes. He has taught motivational, public speaking and communication skills for almost fifty years. He and his wife, Anne, live in Toronto, Ontario, and Lakeside, Prince Edward Island.