Everyone has dreams, and with every dream comes unique obstacles that separate the ordinary from the extraordinary. However, according to Mass
apequa native Jerry Gladstone, the majority of those obstacles are self-imposed and he’s trying to do something to help people overcome them in order to achieve the success they desire.
Gladstone is the author of a new book—his first—entitled The Common Thread of Overcoming Anxiety and Living Your Dreams. Now on sale, the book is a collection of interviews with numerous celebrities, businessmen and politicians, and it seeks to convey to the reader what ties these inspirational people together in their individual bids for success in life.
“We met a lot of people, from Bill O’Reilly to Snoop Dog and everyone in between…a very diverse group consisting of men and women, young and old,” he said. “And no matter what walk of life they were from, there was a common thread to success, and that’s how the book was really inspired…we share the insights and wisdom of all these people.”
Among the celebrities in the book—a total of 53—whose personal insights are featured are Sylvester Stallone, Mark Cuban, Ringo Starr, 
Howard Stern, Stevie Nicks, Snoop Dogg, Quentin Tarantino, Jimmy Kimmel and many more.
Gladstone was a Massapequa Park resident for nearly 30 years and now currently resides in Florida. An entrepreneur, he owns a business that deals in entertainment-based fine art using licensed likenesses of celebrities—this is what put him in touch with the many individuals interviewed in his book—as well as being a life coach and motivational speaker on the side.
Gladstone said that the one thing he tries to impart upon the people he encounters in life is that each person has the potential for success, and that potential can manifest itself at any time once you put your mind to it.
“This book was a book of passion because I was the kid who was probably the most likely not to succeed in high school,” said Gladstone, who struggled in school, getting grades of D’s and F’s and was always in trouble for one thing or another. “What I really want to do is share with everyone that just because you have a rough beginning doesn’t mean that’s the way it has to end.”
When he was 16 years old, Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky was in theaters and Gladstone said that he found the tale of the underdog boxer competing against the odds to be incredibly inspiring. It was then that he decided to get serious about the direction his life was taking.
“I realized that you didn’t have to be the biggest or the smartest, but with hard work and determination, you can accomplish a lot,” he said. “Twenty-five years later, I actually met Stallone and did some business with him. They say you never meet your idols, but they’re wrong. When I sat down with him, he was an amazing individual and his insight and wisdom on the power of success were amazing. That’s how the book evolved as well.”
Everyone has the ability to make their dreams a reality, Gladstone said. It’s just a matter of convincing oneself to actually get up and do what it takes, which is something he said The Common Thread of Overcoming Anxiety and Living Your Dreams illustrates succinctly by featuring interviews with a wide variety of people to get that point across. As Gladstone noted, an inner-city youth might not relate to Bill O’Reilly, but they might relate to Snoop Dogg or Ringo Starr.
“It doesn’t matter what walk of life you’re from…the people I interviewed all had daily habits, methods of taking on all types of success strategies and goals. These are universal principals that can apply to almost everything,” he said. “The people in this book all like to compete because that’s how they get better. You may lose or experience a setback, but it’s a learning experience. You have to keep moving forward, have a positive attitude and be willing to get out of your comfort zone and put your fear of failure on the side.”
To find out more, visit www.thecommonthreadgroup.com .
