Notes for the Children
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Product Details
Publisher: Road Ahead Publishing
Release Date: January 23, 2024
Formats: Paperback, Ebook, Audiobook
ISBN: PB: 978-1-77835-292-8; EB: 978-1-77835-312-3
Trim: 5.5 x 8.5
Page Count: 350
A Journey on Life’s Broken Road
Patrick Priestner
“An example of how meaningful change begins—and where our path can lead if we are brave enough to keep asking why.” —Martin Luther King III, from the foreword
In an extraordinary gift to his children, one father shows how the power of mindfulness and self-compassion can help chart a path through life’s challenges toward solace and joy.
A unique memoir that weaves together stories of personal triumph, love, loss, and lessons learned, Notes for the Children follows Patrick Priestner throughout his life as a son, a brother, a car salesman, an award-winning automotive entrepreneur—and his most rewarding roles, as a husband and a father.
Through his engaging and inspiring storytelling, Priestner transports readers from the streets of his childhood neighborhoods to the bustling car dealership where he made his first sale. He reveals the challenges and joys of his relationships with family members and loved ones and how music and Buddhist philosophy helped him cope with the struggles that life threw his way with compassion and forgiveness.
Notes for the Children is a testament to the power of making small changes in life in order to heal, inspire, and connect. Priestner’s inspiring words offer reflections on life and its many lessons and show how the threads of experience make up the tapestry of life.
All proceeds of Notes for the Children will be donated to Well-being Canada. Please visit wellbeing-canada.ca/ for more information.
About the Author
Patrick Priestner, a Canadian entrepreneur, founded and developed one of the most successful automotive businesses in Canada. His passion for mentoring young employees has helped many achieve personal success. He is also deeply committed to philanthropic work. Priestner currently resides in Edmonton, Alberta, with his wife, Diana, and cherishes his relationships with his five children and four grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys reading, practicing mindfulness, and indulging in a good bowl of gelato. Notes for the Children is his debut book. For more information on Patrick and Diana’s charity, please visit wellbeing-canada.ca.
Reviews
“I’ve said before that my job—and my unique opportunity as a successful businessman—is to reach back and pull as many people out of poverty as I can. Pat has a similar mission. He wants the next generation to have it better: a better education, a better balance, better opportunities. Maybe it’s because we both came from challenging circumstances, but I see that same drive in him. Notes for the Children is a great playbook for the next generation. Pat’s a leader in the business community for a reason.” —Wes Hall, Canadian businessman and entrepreneur, best known as a “Dragon” investor in the reality television series Dragons’ Den
“This is a book about how to be wildly successful in a hugely competitive business while moving through the world with the utmost integrity, kindness, and compassion. I’ve read countless books filled with profound life wisdom, but I have never encountered a voice as captivating and down-to-earth as Patrick Priestner’s. He is a fascinating blend of spiritual seeker, CEO billionaire, devoted husband, father, and grandfather, all rooted in a hardscrabble life and a restless rock ‘n’ roll angst. His unconventional and remarkably successful business and life wisdom contained in these ‘Notes’ was hard-earned, and his humility and integrity are unquestionable. Notes for the Children may have started off as a gift from a father and grandfather to the children he loves, but along the way, it became a gift to us all.” —Gail Hudson, New York Times bestselling co-author with Jane Goodall, of The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times and Seeds of Hope: Wisdom and Wonder from the World of Plants
“I’ve always been an outspoken advocate for fearless candor, for making real connections, for active listening—and so many of the other skills that go into a healthy life and healthy relationships. We need those skills now more than ever because too many people have found themselves lost and suffering. Notes for the Children is a great read if you want to see what can happen when you choose to think and act more positively and what effect mindfulness and a healthy awareness of your inner voices can have on your life. Pat does a great job of showing us how it’s done.” —Dr. David Baum, organizational psychologist, consultant, coach and speaker
“Fueled by a brave accounting of his hard-won wisdom, Pat Priestner’s Notes for the Children hews closely to the divine principle that what is most personal is also most universal. An infinitely readable and powerful call to mindfulness, Notes for the Children is a scrapbook of quotes, lyrics, and teachings, interwoven with intimate reflections on life. The result is not only a compelling narrative about finding purpose, success, and compassion in one’s journey, but a workbook for lifelong learners about how to live in integrity with oneself and the world at large.” —Stephen Kunken, actor, known for the roles of Ari Spyros on Billions and Commander Putnam on The Handmaid’s Tale
“Notes for the Children is a courageous exploration of Pat’s personal struggles and triumphs. His candidness is both heart-wrenching and inspiring and creates a bond with readers who might see their own struggles mirrored. Beyond just sharing, the book is a beacon of hope, offering practical, actionable advice for reshaping one’s mindset and managing emotions. It bridges the gap between raw confession and a self-help guide. Anyone seeking understanding or tools to navigate similar challenges will find this work invaluable. It’s more than a book; it’s a lifeline to tranquility.” —Gerry Connelly, former Director of Education of the Toronto District School Board, Director of the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Branch in the Ontario Ministry of Education, and adjunct professor, York University