Through the Firewall: The Alchemy of Turning Crisis into Opportunity

by Boyd Clewis

Overview

Boyd Clewis has defied the odds and gravity. He was born dead, changed schools and homes as a child more times than he can count, became a teenage father and a track star, had more than one close brush with the law, and endured unimaginable family tragedy – all by the time he was barely old enough to drink.

He found a brief silver lining in the darkness. When it didn’t last, he found himself unable to even get a job in the produce section at Wal Mart. He refused to fail, and in the process, learned how to turn crisis into opportunity – over and over again. As he relentlessly pursued success, his trajectory shot straight upwards: international success, speaking on major stages – and love. Even then, there were days he couldn’t get out of bed.

Yet again, he reinvented himself, failed, and learned from it. Then, from a place most would consider their peak, he started from scratch to build his own business from the ground up. In the process, he learned what it truly meant to manage success. It can fulfill or destroy you, and it can bring your family closer, or tear it apart. It can isolate you from your community, or raise everyone around you up.

He not only changed his name, but formed an alter ego, and chose to live by a code: The Authority Mindset. Ever since, he’s been teaching it to others, and transforming lives in process. It’s about truly bringing value, instead of chasing certifications – and taking stock of what’s happened to you and deliberately reshaping it into something that gives you power.

This book is about how to expertly play the hand you’re dealt, regardless of how good or bad it is. It’s also about what happens when you try to ignore your calling, and how everything changes when you finally find the courage to follow it. And from every angle, it’s a testament to refusing to be defined by circumstance.

For better or worse, what you focus on determines your character and the trajectory of your life. Focus on any one thing to the exclusion of others, and everything you built can fall apart. There are two sides to every coin, and every seeming misfortune contains a lesson. There’s an alchemy to turning adversity to wisdom, and curses into blessings, and this is the story of how it worked for Boyd, and how it can work for you.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798887501819
Publisher:	Forbes Books
Publication date:	06/20/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	180
Sales rank:	764,055
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

BOYD CLEWIS is the cofounder of Baxter Clewis Cybersecurity, the author of Corporate Security: Proven Ways to Reduce Cybersecurity Breaches, a member of Forbes Technology Council, and a highly respected international expert and speaker on cybersecurity featured on Forbes, NBC, ABC, FOX, and CBS. He is dedicated to helping businesses implement effective security and compliance programs. He plays a significant role in the cybersecurity initiatives of many of the largest Fortune 500 companies.

He is regularly praised for his innovative presentations for some of the leading cybersecurity conferences, including the PCI Community Meeting held in North America and Europe.

Through his consulting work, Boyd discovered the need for more diverse individuals in the cybersecurity space; therefore, he founded Baxter Clewis Cybersecurity, which has helped students land jobs at Google, Cisco, American Airlines, IBM, Honeywell, and more.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Born Dead Trouble IT Security American Sherlock Homey Baxter Clewis I -Creation Baxter Clewis II - Blowing Up Baxter Clewis III - Impact The Mental Health Code The Calling Legacy

About the Author

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Boyd is an incredibly talented cybersecurity leader and to have read his back story and learn of how he overcame challenges that should have grounded him, left me super inspired. More so, this book has an actionable way of taking Boyd’s life lessons and empowering you to review your life and make better decisions going forward. I’ll highly recommend this book to not just young people, but to everyone looking for a will and way to reinvent their lives and rewrite their story.”
—Confidence Staveley
Africa’s most celebrated female Cybersecurity Leader, Talent Developer, Global Speaker and Inclusion advocate


“Boyd is transforming lives simply by telling the stories from his own life experiences, and it is something special. Through the Firewall: The Alchemy of Turning Crisis into Opportunity, allows you to open your eyes to opportunities and manifest your destiny. To never give up. This book can serve as a strong silent mentor. It has so far for me. It maintains productive values and reminds you to never give up hope. I strongly believe that people like Boyd can change the course of this world just by telling their story. You will be inspired to push harder and dig deeper in everything you do. Propel yourself to reach your full and true potential. This book also serves as a reminder that the path to courage and success arrives through embracing pain and fear, not by avoiding them. Through the Firewall has the ability to better the mind, but most importantly, Boyd teaches you how.”
—Evan Anderson
Anchor/Reporter NBC5 Today, Dallas-Fort Worth


“Through the Firewall by Boyd Clewis is an inspiring and powerful story of a young man overcoming obstacles to reach his goals.

Boyd shares his experiences in a way that resonates with readers, from financial struggles and academic pressure to his newfound ambition. Through the Firewall emphasizes the value of hard work, resilience, and perseverance in achieving success. It is a must-read for anyone wanting to find inspiration and strength in their own life journey, as well as anyone needing to be reminded of their own worth and potential regardless of where their journey started. Boyd’s story will encourage readers to never give up on their dreams, no matter how seemingly insurmountable the challenge.”
—RaeShawn M. Cannon
Sister, Best Selling Author, 20 Beautiful Women


"When you’re establishing a career and everything in life seems to be going wrong, the one thing you need is a plan. Through the Firewall delivers a true-to-life story of overcoming life’s obstacles and achieving one's goals."
—Nir Eyal
Bestselling author, Hooked; Indistractable

Editorial Reviews

Boyd is an incredibly talented cybersecurity leader and to have read his back story and learn of how he overcame challenges that should have grounded him, left me super inspired. More so, this book has an actionable way of taking Boyd’s life lessons and empowering you to review your life and make better decisions going forward. I’ll highly recommend this book to not just young people, but to everyone looking for a will and way to reinvent their lives and rewrite their story.”
—Confidence Staveley
Africa’s most celebrated female Cybersecurity Leader, Talent Developer, Global Speaker and Inclusion advocate


“Boyd is transforming lives simply by telling the stories from his own life experiences, and it is something special. Through the Firewall: The Alchemy of Turning Crisis into Opportunity, allows you to open your eyes to opportunities and manifest your destiny. To never give up. This book can serve as a strong silent mentor. It has so far for me. It maintains productive values and reminds you to never give up hope. I strongly believe that people like Boyd can change the course of this world just by telling their story. You will be inspired to push harder and dig deeper in everything you do. Propel yourself to reach your full and true potential. This book also serves as a reminder that the path to courage and success arrives through embracing pain and fear, not by avoiding them. Through the Firewall has the ability to better the mind, but most importantly, Boyd teaches you how.”
—Evan Anderson
Anchor/Reporter NBC5 Today, Dallas-Fort Worth


“Through the Firewall by Boyd Clewis is an inspiring and powerful story of a young man overcoming obstacles to reach his goals.

Boyd shares his experiences in a way that resonates with readers, from financial struggles and academic pressure to his newfound ambition. Through the Firewall emphasizes the value of hard work, resilience, and perseverance in achieving success. It is a must-read for anyone wanting to find inspiration and strength in their own life journey, as well as anyone needing to be reminded of their own worth and potential regardless of where their journey started. Boyd’s story will encourage readers to never give up on their dreams, no matter how seemingly insurmountable the challenge.”
—RaeShawn M. Cannon
Sister, Best Selling Author, 20 Beautiful Women


"When you’re establishing a career and everything in life seems to be going wrong, the one thing you need is a plan. Through the Firewall delivers a true-to-life story of overcoming life’s obstacles and achieving one's goals."
—Nir Eyal
Bestselling author, Hooked; Indistractable

From the Publisher