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Og
Mandino
also known as Augustine Mandino, was a
famous author and motivational speaker.
His most famous work, The Greatest Salseman
in the World was written to help people
succeed in life. He wrote many other books
and the worldwide sales of his works have
exceeded 50 million. Mandino was also
the president of Success Unlimited magazine
and a member of the National Speakers
Association's Hall of Fame.
Augustine
Mandino (later nicknamed "Og")
was born on December 12, 1923 in Italy
and came to the United States shortly
thereafter. He grew up in Nantick, Massachusetts
under the watchful eye of his mother who
encouraged his passion for writing. It
was Mandino's mother who inspired him
to pursue writing as a career and he planned
on attending the University of Missouri's
school of journalism. But in 1940 Mandino's
mother died suddenly from a heart attack
and Mandino abandoned writing for a short
time in favor of working in a paper factory.
After
two years of factory work, Og Mandino
joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and eventually
became a bombadier. He flew thirty bombing
missions over Germany during World War
II during which time he met and flew with
Jimmy Stewart. A personalized photograph
of Mr. Stewart graced the wall of Mandino's
office many years later when he began
writing his books.
When
he returned from the war, Og Mandino discovered
a lack of employment opportunities for
former pilots like himself. Consequently,
Mandino took a job as an insurance salesman
and began travelling from town to town.
At night he'd visit the local bars and
drink by himself, eventually leading Mandino
into alcoholism. His sickness prevented
him from keeping any job and his wife,
unable to live with his illness, left
him, taking their only child with her.
Mandino
fell into depression and, while wandering
the streets of Cleveland, he seriously
contemplated suicide. Instead, he looked
to books for help and found a few self-help
and motivational titles that caught his
attention. Something sparked inside Mandino
and he began absorbing all the information
they had to offer. He searched other libraries
for similar information and read hundreds
of books about success. As a result of
his reading, Mandino was able to overcome
his alcoholism and build a more positive
attitude about life.
Og
Mandino married his second wife, Bette,
on December 9, 1957. About ten years later
Mandino's first book, The Greatest Salesman
in the World, was published and it steadily
grew in popularity. Mandino followed this
work with 18 other books and turned his
passion into a speaking career. His speeches
were always light-hearted with an emphasis
on humor as much as spirituality and action.
Mandino retired at the age of 52.
Mandino
died on September 3, 1996.
This Og Mandino biography may not
be reproduced online.
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