Acclaimed attorney, sports agent, negotiations expert and author Ron Shapiro is sharing the wealth.
“On one of the walls of the Shapiro Negotiations Institute, there’s an inscription: ‘We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.’ I really do believe that,” Shapiro said. “It’s important to earn a living, but it’s also important to share your blessing with the community.”
Shapiro, who hasbeen called “one of baseball’s most respected agent-attorneys” by USA Today, will be the keynote speaker at a breakfast reception benefiting Literacy Works Inc. on Thursday. Established in 1989, Literacy Works is a nonprofit organization that strives to coordinate and promote adult literacy programs and services in Baltimore County.
The Philadelphia native will discuss “Dare to Prepare: How to Win Before You Begin,” his third book and a bestseller on the New York Times list.
“It’s about an old-fashioned value that, due to the age of technology, has slipped away: the importance of preparing properly to meet challenges,” Shapiro said. ” ‘Dare to Prepare’ is centered around the preparation checklist — eight steps that people must do to methodically prepare, professionally or personally.”
The book also features 38 interviews with successful people, including Cal Ripken Jr., Willie Randolph and Leon Fleisher.
Helene Waranch, executive director of Literacy Works, said Shapiro’s book is perfect for their event. “Preparing to succeed before you actually do — that’s what our students do. No matter how old or young they are, they are daring to get ahead in some way. They come back to school to prepare for the future, to increase their literary skills, to get their GED, to get a better job.”
In addition to Shapiro’s appearance, Literacy Works will present the Student of the Year award. Students were asked to write a paragraph or essay about how the organization has helped them prepare for the future.
“Many of our students have never received an award or even been recognized for the things they do,” Waranch said. “This is an opportunity for us to do that for them.”
