When Don Lombardi was growing up in East Harlem on the Upper East Side of New York City it was strictly an Italian neighborhood. Italian was spoken on the street as much as English. Crime was also growing on the street during this period. In the book he talks to his granddaughters through the use of 14 vignettes giving insights into his life and how his parents shaped his character and success.
Don Lombardi was Vice President of Human Resources with the Burger King Corporation during the 70's, and later started his own strategic management consulting firm providing management training to small businesses. He is now retired and lives in Arizona with his wife.