Like lots of college grads, Daniel Seddiqui was having a hard time finding a job. But despite more than forty rejections, he knew opportunities had to exist. So he set out on an extraordinary quest: fifty jobs in fifty states in fifty weeks. And not just any jobs-he chose professions that reflected the culture and economy of each state.
Working as everything from a cheesemaker in Wisconsin, a border patrol agent in Arizona, and a meatpacker in Kansas to a lobsterman in Maine, a surfing instructor in Hawaii, and a football coach in Alabama, Daniel chronicles how he adapted to the wildly differing people, cultures, and environments. From one week to the next he had no idea exactly what his duties would be, where he'd be sleeping, what he'd be eating, or how he'd be received. He became a roving news item, appearing on CNN, Fox News, World News Tonight, MSNBC, and the Today show-which was good preparation for his stint as a television weatherman.

Tackling challenge after challenge-overcoming anxiety about working four miles underground in a West Virginia coal mine, learning to walk on six-foot stilts (in a full Egyptian king costume) at a Florida amusement park, racing the clock as a pit-crew member at an Indiana racetrack-Daniel completed his journey a changed man. In this book he shares stories about the people he met, reveals the lessons he learned, and explains the five principles that kept him going.

Prologue - Believing in My Idea When No One Else Did
Chapter One - Realty Hits But No Turning Back
Chapter Two - Hitting Rock Bottom and Rebounding
Chapter Three - Turning Obstacles into Openings
Chapter Four - Not Just about Me Anymore
Chapter Five - Halfway Point Is Getting Rough
Chapter Six - Hitting My Stride and Taking Control
Chapter Seven - Returning a Different Person
Chapter Eight - New Curves and Bumps in the Road
Chapter Nine - Adapting to New and Different Cultures
Chapter Ten - Hitting Curveballs
Chapter Eleven - Finishing a Journey and Embarking on New Dreams
Epilogue - A Lesson From America