John O. Tate grew up in South Providence, Rhode Island during the great depression. The son of poor immigrants, he attended public schools and did a variety of odd jobs to supplement his family’s modest income. During the Korean war, he was drafted, entered the army as a private, and eventually attained the rank of infantry officer — without ever attending officer candidate school.
Mr. Tate has over forty years of business experience. The electronic components he designed and manufactured have been used in aerospace, military, medical, hi-tech, computers and telecommunications systems. He holds several patents for these products.
Over the years, the author has provided employment to hundreds of people, without the benefit of a formal education. Self-taught in engineering, law and accounting, he built companies in the USA., United Kingdom, France, Germany and Switzerland. In addition, he has sat on the board of several companies, and has
been a major contributor to charities.
Today, South Providence has gone the way of most inner cities, in which neighborhood spirit has given way to guns and violence. By describing his own struggles and path to success, the author hopes that this book will motivate teens to set productive goals and reach their personal potential — through respect and responsible decisions and the resolve to achieve their goals.