Nick Ryan

From Jackass to Joy

Discovering the Art and Science of Love, Marriage, and Blending Family

ABOUT THE BOOK

What do we really as a young married? The world has begun to open up, with all its wonderous opportunities- people to meet, experiences to be had, knowledge to be gained, wisdom to be absorbed. But the rush of youthful exuberance, starry-eyed faith and physical desire is also tugging. So it was when Nick Ryan married Linda, his high school sweetheart, when they were just beginning to make their way in the world. Add to the mix vastly different families of origin, fundamentally different personalities and ill-formed visions of the life they each desired…what could go wrong?

This book shares Nick’s journey through discovering what he calls art and science of love, marriage and blending family. His stories may make you laugh, they may make you cry, you may see yourself and the ones you love in them. In the end, Nick lays out the path he took to:

-Understand and Own the Mistakes He Made

-Realize the Importance of Patience to Start Fresh Again… and Again

-Learn to Communicate Clearly in Relationship

-Develop Trust and Respect for People Who Truly Matter

– Understand and Honor Compatibility

-Create an Individual, Mutual and Family Vision

These are the deep realizations and specific actions Nick took that brought his life from a place of loss and despair to one of great love, a warm and devoted blended family and abundance that most of us only dream about.

Advance Praise

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR FROM JACKASS TO JOY

Author Nick Ryan has been a good friend to me for over 30 years. During those three decades I’ve known him to be a person who passionately loves people, values building relationships and reconciling when either party has got it wrong. In this insightful book Nick takes us on a journey and teaches us some lessons that have come naturally to him and others he has learned the hard way. Read this book and you will discover faith, love, reconciliation and how to live the life you've always wanted.

From Jackass to Joy is a candid, unfiltered look into a man’s journey for love, success, and relevance across decades of relationships in different applications of work, home, and community. I have spent two and half decades helping people build quality relationships through the power of genuine community, and can say without question, that Nick shares his mistakes, success, and wisdom in candid, straightforward ways. For those that wish to have an abundant life, seek to build resilience in their relationships, and want to mix fun into everything they do, this is the book to read.

Every so often in life we are incredibly blessed to meet an extraordinary person who helps to positively change lives in many ways and on numerous fronts. Nick Ryan is truly such a person! It seems unheard of that a man is introduced to his second wife by his first wife, and that the first wife and her new husband remain his close friends, and that all the children develop lasting friendships with each other and with extended family members. This insightful book unlocks the secrets and strategies Nick has developed and honed over his lifetime and is a must read for anyone who wants to develop positive relationships in love, family, business and life.

This book is an excellent resource for those who desire to have extraordinary relationships in all areas of their life.

I’ve known Nick for almost 30 years and have watched him navigate all the challenges of blending all the people in his family and his life. This book is very helpful for anyone who desires to have extraordinary relationships in their lives and is willing to put in the work. Above all, I know Nick is truly great at relationship building. He brings out love everywhere he goes!

As I said in Hero, Rhonda Byrnes’ follow up to The Secret, the absolute frustration of humankind is ‘what do I do with my life?’ I highly recommend From Jackass to Joy for people whose priority in life is living it fully, while sweetly embracing the many dimensions of relationships. I believe that the most profound part of existence is loving and integrating with others openly and without prejudice. Nick's life and this book prove that and provide a brilliant recipe of divine relationship and family success.

The perfect roadmap for everyone who’s ever been a jackass who needs to find and inspire joy and love within themselves and their families. A fun, loving and inspirational Manifesto from a man who carved a path to an exceptional “hybrid” family…but more importantly, who has created a priceless trail for others to emulate.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

NICK RYAN

Nick Ryan is a husband, father, grandfather, community leader, business owner, philanthropist, speaker, friend and good guy who has learned how to be all those things the hard way. CEO of Marquette Companies, a national real estate development and management firm based in Naperville, Illinois, Nick was recently named to the Midwest Commercial Hall of Fame. He is a founder of the Institute for Community, a not-for-profit committed to solving problems of social isolation and building positive, relational community engagement. He is the recipient of a number of philanthropic and humanitarian awards, though none is more important than his success as a happy family man.

Husband to Teresa (who is an accomplished real estate owner/broker), they live in Naperville. He is the happy humble father to a blended family of five children and grandpa to 11. This is his first book.

EVENTS

Book Signing

Anderson’s Bookshop

Tuesday, July 26 7-9 pm

Tickets required, includes a copy of the book

Contact

Reach out to learn more!