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One of America’s most successful and colorful veteran entrepreneurs released his first book on Tuesday. He also confirmed his participation in this year’s NGAUS conference.
Bob Parsons, the founder of GoDaddy, Parsons Xtreme Golf and YAM Worldwide, will speak at the 146th General Conference & Exhibition, Aug. 23-26 in Detroit.
"We continue to invite Pentagon leaders and elected officials to speak to our conference, but we want to add some new voices, people who have enlightening or inspirational messages that connect with a military audience," said retired Maj. Gen. Francis M. McGinn, the NGAUS president. "Bob Parsons has that kind of message.
"He started with very little and used what he learned in life, and especially the military, to achieve great success in business," he continued. "Now, he gives back through his philanthropy and sharing every aspect of his story with others."
In Fire in the Hole! The Untold Story of My Traumatic Life and Explosive Success, Parsons seemingly holds nothing back.
Parsons grew up in a tough, working-class section of East Baltimore. His parents were gamblers and not particularly good ones. He struggled in school, failing the fifth grade. Parsons was headed nowhere fast when he and two friends decided to join the Marine Corps in 1968.
It was the height of the Vietnam War and Parsons soon found himself on the front lines.
Parsons was wounded in action and medically evacuated before spending two months at a naval hospital recovering from his physical wounds.
His invisible wounds took longer to heal — not just the ones from the battlefield, but also those from his childhood. But Parsons combined what he learned in uniform with big dreams and found a way forward.
Parsons discusses treating himself with psychedelics in his book, including psilocybin, which he says brought him "home."
He eventually attended the University of Baltimore on the GI Bill, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in accounting. Parsons taught himself how to write computer programs, opened his first business and never looked back.
Today, he is worth an estimated $3.6 billion, according to Forbes' list of the world's billionaires.
Parsons now operates his business and life by 16 rules that his journey has taught him. Many of these rules apply to any leadership or management endeavor.
The first rule is "Get Out and Stay Out of Your Comfort Zone." No. 10 is "Anything That is Not Managed Will Deteriorate." No. 16 is "There’s Always a Reason to Smile."
To learn more about Bob Parsons — or to purchase Fire in the Hole! — visit bobparsons.com/fire-in-the-hole.
More information about the association's next conference is available at www.ngaus.org/events/146th-general-conference-exhibition.
— By John Goheen
