A Wall Street Journal Bestseller A prescriptive and timely guide to finding success and happiness without a college degree by Ken Rusk, the Ohio-based entrepreneur and “million-dollar ditch digger” who believes it is time to celebrate the possibilities and financial opportunities that a Blue-Collar life can bring. A BLUE-COLLAR APPROACH TO CREATING A LIFE YOU LOVE In a period of skyrocketing student loan debt without the promise of high-paying employment, and in an economy in desperate need of skilled tradespeople, many are seeking new paths. Ken Rusk, the “million-dollar ditch digger,” is here to show you that blue-collar trades are a source of pride and that you can—and will—find your version of happiness by pursuing a good old-fashioned craft. In Blue Collar Cash, Ken shares his insights from over 30 years working in blue collar trades as an entrepreneur, mentor, and life coach. Ken knows from his own experience—first as a young kid digging ditches, and then as the owner of a successful concrete construction business—that working with your hands at a job that takes skill and practice can be monumentally rewarding and life-affirming. Since then, he has built a multi-million-dollar business and gone on to mentor hundreds of employees in how to manage their money and set achievable goals. Using the stories of those who have discovered lives of comfort, peace, and freedom, Ken creates a step-by-step, interactive guide—including financial planning and savings advice—to creating alternative and realistic routes to success and fulfillment.

When the Boise State University football team rushed onto the field to take on the University of Oklahoma Sooners in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, the Broncos were in a position to begin a new tradition, or be party to an old one. That day was the culmination of a meteoric rise for a school essentially still making the transition to Division I football. From its humble beginnings as Boise Junior College to its status as a perennial top 25 team, author Tom Barbour follows the Broncos as they ascend to national prominence in his book, Blue Collar Mentality. Through meticulous research and individual interviews, Tom discovers what makes up a football program relying on a Blue Collar Mentality, rather than blue chip players to find itself, year after year, in the hunt for a top 10 ranking and a major bowl berth.

Behind the scenes of New York City's Great White Way, virtuosos of stagecraft have built the scenery, costumes, lights, and other components of theatrical productions for more than a hundred years. But like a good magician who refuses to reveal secrets, they have left few clues about their work. Blue-Collar Broadway recovers the history of those people and the neighborhood in which their undersung labor occurred. Timothy R. White begins his history of the theater industry with the dispersed pre-Broadway era, when components such as costumes, lights, and scenery were built and stored nationwide. Subsequently, the majority of backstage operations and storage were consolidated in New York City during what is now known as the golden age of musical theater. Toward the latter half of the twentieth century, decentralization and deindustrialization brought the emergence of nationally distributed regional theaters and performing arts centers. The resulting collapse of New York's theater craft economy rocked the theater district, leaving abandoned buildings and criminal activity in place of studios and workshops. But new technologies ushered in a new age of tourism and business for the area. The Broadway we know today is a global destination and a glittering showroom for vetted products. Featuring case studies of iconic productions such as Oklahoma! (1943) and Evita (1979), and an exploration of the craftwork of radio, television, and film production around Times Square, Blue-Collar Broadway tells a rich story of the history of craft and industry in American theater nationwide. In addition, White examines the role of theater in urban deindustrialization and in the revival of downtowns throughout the Sunbelt.

WINNER of the Dartmouth Book Awards, First Book Award (Non-Fiction) The “respectfully uncensored” story of how Mandy Rennehan’s savvy business skills and innovative thinking led her to the top of the male-dominated construction industry before the age of thirty Born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Mandy Rennehan began her business career at the age of ten by catching bait and selling it to local fishermen. She was so good at her job, she knew she wanted to be her own boss one day. At the age of seventeen, Rennehan decided to strike out on her own, so she packed a hockey bag full of her belongings and fled to Halifax, where she began cold calling construction companies, volunteering to work for free, so she could learn more about contracting and the trades. Three years later, Rennehan had garnered all the experience she needed to start her own company, Freshco, a boutique retail maintenance and construction company. Still in her early twenties, Rennehan’s reputation as a knowledgeable and trustworthy contractor led to her first corporate contract with The Gap. Her business has since gone on to become a multi-million-dollar company whose clients are some of the top corporations in North America. Known as the Blue Collar CEO for her ability to seamlessly navigate between the white- and blue-collar worlds, and as a tireless advocate for the trades, this is the story of how Rennehan succeeded in business through honesty, integrity, and most of all, authenticity—by always remaining true to herself and her vision for success.

A hand-picked set of stories, Blue Collar, is a fascinating compilation of real stories, experiences, and inspiring wisdom from a diverse group of writers from around the world. The stories offer genuine insight into the lives of people who work with their hands - often called "blue-collar" workers. Readers will find inspiration in the words of these authors, who share their triumphs and struggles in an honest and authentic way. Here’s a sample of the stories you will find: · A Knee in the Tailbone - Kelly DeLong. · All-New - Jayna Locke. · Delivering the Mail with Elvis - Danielle Potter. · Lost and Found - Jasmine Marshall Armstrong · Today I go to Bear Mountain - Micah E. Weiss · Warehouse Worker - Kelly DeLong · Whip it on me - Jim Leo Reilly And much more! This collection is perfect for anyone who wants to understand the human experience through the eyes of the Blue Collar worker. The stories within depict the strength, courage, and resilience of those who work with their hands—the hardworking men and women who make our economy run. This richly woven tapestry offers readers a unique insight into the human experience and provides motivation and encouragement to all who read it. You’ll be grateful for reading this book.A hand-picked set of stories, Blue Collar, is a fascinating compilation of real stories, experiences, and inspiring wisdom from a diverse group of writers from around the world. The stories offer genuine insight into the lives of people who work with their hands - often called "blue-collar" workers. Readers will find inspiration in the words of these authors, who share their triumphs and struggles in an honest and authentic way. Here’s a sample of the stories you will find: · A Knee in the Tailbone - Kelly DeLong. · All-New - Jayna Locke. · Delivering the Mail with Elvis - Danielle Potter. · Lost and Found - Jasmine Marshall Armstrong · Today I go to Bear Mountain - Micah E. Weiss · Warehouse Worker - Kelly DeLong · Whip it on me - Jim Leo Reilly And much more! This collection is perfect for anyone who wants to understand the human experience through the eyes of the Blue Collar worker. The stories within depict the strength, courage, and resilience of those who work with their hands—the hardworking men and women who make our economy run. This richly woven tapestry offers readers a unique insight into the human experience and provides motivation and encouragement to all who read it. You’ll be grateful for reading this book.