Build the Life You Want — Even If You’re Starting with Nothing
Start Over to Win: How to Turn Scarcity Into Strategy and Setbacks Into Strength.
At just four years old, Max Konan suffered a traumatic brain injury and lost half his hearing and his ability to learn “like everyone else”.
Years later, he found himself in the U.S., scrubbing nightclub bathrooms on the night shift, barely speaking English, and chasing a dream that felt a world away.
Today, Max is the CEO of a company transforming lives across the country.
This isn’t a rags-to-riches story.
It’s a roadmap for anyone who’s ever felt behind, unseen, or unequipped.
It’s for those who know in their gut: my starting point doesn’t define my finish line.
Does this feel familiar?
You feel like you’re always starting from scratch while others race ahead.
You’ve been told success requires money, connections, or privilege you don’t have.
You’ve experienced grief, failure, or rejection, but you’re not done dreaming.
You want to build a life that supports your family and serves your community.
You’re ready to stop feeling stuck and start building a future that matters.
If that’s you, Start Over to Win is the book you’ve been waiting for.
What You’ll Learn in Start Over to Win
This isn’t another privileged success story.
It’s a battle-tested guide to thriving when you’re starting with little — and sometimes, nothing.
Use emotional, financial, and mindset scarcity as your greatest teacher.
Navigate grief with the RISE Framework—without losing your drive.
Build relationships and opportunities through the ASK Framework.
Turn rejection into strategy with the BRAVE Framework.
Adapt to massive changes using the FLEX Framework.
Turn your passion for helping others into a profitable, purpose-driven life.
Thrive in new environments—new jobs, cities, or seasons—with confidence.
Apply the Bridge Principle to connect with people who can change your future.
This book will take you from:
- Feeling behind → Owning your story
- Starting over → Starting stronger
- Scarcity → Strategy
- Not enough → More than equipped
You don’t need more resources. You need better responses. This book will help you build them from the ground up.
About the Author
Max Konan M.A., Ed.SP
CEO, Author, and
Resilience Expert
Max Konan’s story begins in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa, where a devastating childhood injury changed everything. After losing his mother, relearning basic functions, and immigrating to the United States alone, Max started over as a janitor, battling language barriers, cultural shock, and isolation.
He didn’t just survive. He transformed.
Max went on to become a teacher, working with youth in foster care and adults with disabilities. Today, he’s the CEO of A Bright Future, Inc., a company empowering people with disabilities to live independently and thrive.
His message is simple: use what you don’t have to build what you do want.
