To inspire young folks to shoot for the stars in their careers, as well as to inspire their counterparts from other generations, Barry Franklin has written the book “GPS For Success: Skills Strategies, and Secrets of Superachievers. ” In the book, his 27th, Franklin writes about people from all walks of life, including superstars, as he looks for clues about what traits they have, and skills they've developed, that have helped them break out. Franklin is a physiologist by training. He is director of Preventive Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation at Corewell Health (formerly Beaumont) in Royal Oak. He'll appear at a “GPS For Success” seminar held by the Detroit Economic Club on March 30 for members and guests at Lawrence Technology University (for information, go to the www. econclub. org website). “This book was written to help young adults and early-career professionals achieve the life that they imagine,” Franklin said. “Others would undoubtedly benefit, too, from the comprehensive success principles detailed. ” The book captures all he has learned over a four-decade journey into knowing more about life skills, strategies and secrets that are the gateway to professional success. “One pandemic effect is people are focusing on matters of personal importance and how to live their best lives,” said Steve Grigorian, president/CEO of DEC. “A portion of that is rethinking how to achieve career success given the multifaceted changes we are experiencing today. I am excited for people to hear Barry’s experiential and research-based perspectives. ” For those needing a little inspiration, Franklin’s book is sprinkled with uplifting quotes and stories of well-known people including: “If you want the rainbow, you’ve got to put up with the rain. ” — Dolly Parton, country music star and new inductee into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. ” — Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple. “If you’re going to bet on someone, bet on yourself. ” — NBA superstar Kobe Bryant. Success doesn’t come overnight and neither did Franklin's book. He spent nearly four years doing research and interviews for the book, published in May 2022 by Productivity Press, New York, New York, and available on Amazon. An avid writer, the medical scientist has penned over 700 white papers for medical publications. He also has written or co-authored 26 other books to help people have happier and healthier lives. From his lifelong research into superachievers, he created and taught a class about it at Central Michigan University from 2012-17 and last year shared these principles as a visiting scholar at Penn State University. His fascination with superachievers dates to when he was starting out. After spending 10 years doing undergraduate and graduate work, he worked in health care before realizing something was missing. “I felt ill-prepared for the real-life career challenges of the health care work environment that I was in,” he said. He said the American Council on Education found higher learning institutions have a crucial role in developing high-quality, relevant courses that equip students with broad life and career skills. But he added, “I found ‘soft skills’ needed to be successful to be underappreciated. ” He mentioned things like people and communication skills, problem solving, goal setting, dealing with setbacks, persistence and attracting opportunities. And the No. 1 thing he found that was common among superachievers: “Taking action. ” A devotee of Peter Drucker, the management guru who offered guiding principles for leaders still used by many American corporations, Franklin said he learned one thing from him — the importance of a well-rounded life for greater success. “Drucker said everyone should find at least one interest outside his/her primary area and make that secondary pursuit into more than just a hobby,” he said. For Franklin, that other passion became his quest for excellence. He has read endless books and studied the behaviors of superachievers using the methodologies of a research scientist (which is his academic training). As he gleaned more knowledge, he implemented them himself and found he was getting more professional opportunities, and with it, more success. More: 7 questions with Wayne State's new business school dean Virginia Kleist More: 5 questions with a Michigan entrepreneur who took King's words to heart For his latest book, he interviewed best-selling heart health author Joseph Piscatella, former president of General Motors Lloyd Reuss, and Sam Fox, owner of Harbour Group Industries who was former ambassador to Belgium, and others. “Although it’s my 27th book , it’s by far the most important,” he said. “It’s also likely my ‘last lecture’ — because it includes invaluable information for young people on how to lead their lives. ” Franklin has had a front row seat to changes in health care at Beaumont-Corewell Health, where he talked about the many collaborative opportunities he has had there. “I feel like I entered a time machine, fastened my seat belt, dialed a future target date, threw a lever, and 38 years flew by,” he said. He is working there part-time today. “In the words of Albert Einstein, time flies by when you are having fun," he joked. His career has focused on preventive cardiology and lifestyle medicine. “Although there have been significant, recent advances in clinical and interventional cardiology, heart surgery, diagnostic imaging to detect early heart disease, and in cardioprotective medications, there remains the need for greater self-responsibility for our own health,” he said. The cost of health care in the U. S. will soon approach 20% of the gross domestic product (that’s $1 out of every $5 spent), he said, adding, “we need to move from a ‘reactive sick-care system’ to a more proactive health care model. ” He also talked about another trait of successful people. “Many believe that if you are successful, you’ll be happy, optimistic and grateful,” he said. “But research suggests those who score high on the optimism/happiness scales are the most successful in every field. People who believe that good things invariably happen to them find that unexpected future opportunities arise. “ The take home message he left with me: “You are you own fortune cookie, and, success doesn’t happen by chance. ” Contact Carol Cain: 248-355-7126 or clcain@cbs. com. She is senior producer/host of “ Michigan Matters ,” which airs 8 a. m. Sundays on CBS Detroit. See DTE Energy President and CEO Jerry Norcia , city of Detroit workforce leader Nicole Sherard-Freeman, Portia Roberson of Focus: HOPE and IBEW exec James Shaw on this Sunday’s show. .