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Ten Games, 21 Days, 33 Unforgettable Lessons From America's Greatest Pastime

Southlake, TX, July 24, 2012 – CEO and philanthropist Tom Slone planned a whirlwind round of Major League Baseball games with his grandsons just for fun. And because he's a generous person, he included several other young men and their mentors. What might have become just a fond memory instead forcefully brought home some simple, yet life-changing ideas. Grounders is the story of that trip and the mentoring lessons Slone has used to forge success in business, sports, and life. 

In the introduction to Grounders; A Once-in-a-Lifetime Journey of Baseball, History, and Mentoring, renowned CEO coach Tony Jeary writes: “Tom combines the inspiring and entertaining story of a grand baseball journey with 33 essential lessons that all of us (yes, even those of us who are already very successful) can apply in our lives. He also demonstrates, over and over, the life-changing power of mentoring.”

Slone is Chairman and CEO of Touchstone Communications in Southlake, Texas. Prior to founding Touchstone Communications in 2002, Mr. Slone was president of the largest consumer operation in the world at Associates First Capital. At the time of his retirement from The Associates he was responsible for assets of $33 billion and 14,000 employees. In 2000 he was awarded the American Financial Services Association Distinguished Service Award.

Slone holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, where he is a Director of the Alumni Board and a member of the Board of Visitors. In 2005 he received the university’s Legacy Laureate Award, one of its most prestigious awards. He also served on the Executive Advisory Board of the Department of Marketing and Logistics at the University of North Texas.

Slone is a long-time volunteer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and was Chairman of the Tarrant County, Texas, Big Brothers Big Sisters agency. He is actively involved in a need-based scholarship program at the University of Pittsburgh, as well as with H.O.P.E. Farm (in Fort Worth, Texas), for which he recently led a fund drive that generated $1 million for a new gym. Most recently, he led a drive to create a Pakistan Chair at the University of Texas, raising over half a million dollars. He and his wife, Fran, reside in Colleyville, Texas and have four children and seven grandchildren.

All proceeds from the sale of Grounders go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and H.O.P.E. Farm.

Michael E. McGill, author of American Business and the Quick Fix, co-author of The Smarter Organization and former dean of the Cox School of Business, Southern Methodist University: "The journey serves as context for Tom Slone to share 33 lessons garnered from baseball, business, and life. Together they serve as a template for mentoring boys, managing employees, and changing lives…even your own.”

Jeanne Cox: “What a fabulous trip and what great life lessons! Many of the lessons you write about used to be common sense....Thanks for sharing your insights and your observations. You reminded me of several things I could do better, like following up!”

Sabahat Hussain: “...it’s not only a book but a complete life style that one should follow. I learned a lot from that book and smiled while reading about your mentors because you are one of mine.”

Ed Ramesh, PhD: “Grounders scores home runs....One thing I came away with after finishing the book was a bit of envy. What those five selected youth lived through in twenty-one days is for most of us a dream or fantasy. They learned invaluable lessons in three weeks that take us a lifetime. The trip was truly extraordinary....a delightful, learning experience.”

David Conken, Mobile, AL: “This is one of the best books we have read recently...These men [are] taking their time out to show these young men [the] time of their lives and they will always remember. This is really great what good people will do in sharing their true values with others.”