Augie's Quest One Man's Journey from Success to Significance

by Nieto, Augie; Pearson, T. R.

• ISBN13: 9781596914681
• ISBN10: 1596914688
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-10-30
• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Summary

The inspiring story of a fitness pioneer whose ALS diagnosis leads him to create a new and revolutionary model for private medical research and development. What happens to "orphan" diseases that aren't big enough profit centers for the pharmaceutical industry or get caught in the web of government funding and academic research? Augie Nieto found out in the spring of 2005: At forty-seven years old he was diagnosed with ALS. Devastated, Augie struggled with depression and attempted suicide. When he awoke from a coma, with friends and family surrounding him, his sense of faith and mission were renewed. Fast-forward one year: Augie and his wife, Lynne, were profiled as "Real Heroes" on the Today show. Their determination to beat the disease had already led to major overhauls in the way ALS research was conducted. In partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Augie had set up a foundation and lab to coordinate and oversee ALS research and testing across the globe. By centralizing operations and championing an entrepreneurial approach to medical research, Augie and his team accomplished remarkable results in less than two years. Part inspiration, part business innovation,Augie's Questillustrates how one person can make a meaningful difference. Augie Nietopopularized the Lifecycle and has been a leader in the fitness industry for nearly three decades. He was cofounder and former president of Life Fitness and is now chairman of Octane Fitness. Augie is cochair, with his wife, Lynne, of the Muscular Dystrophy Association's ALS Division. He's the father of four children, and he and Lynne live in Corona del Mar, California. T. R. Pearsonhas written ten novels, one work of nonfiction, and six screenplays. He lives in Greenwood, Virginia. In the spring of 2005, at forty-seven years old, Augie Nieto was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS is an "orphan" diseasea disease that lacks a profit center big enough for the pharmaceutical industry or gets caught in a web of government funding and academic research. No cure has yet been found. Devastated, Augie struggled with depression and attempted suicide. When he awoke from a coma, with friends and family surrounding him, his sense of faith and mission were renewed. One year later. Augie and his wife, Lynne, were profiled as "Real Heroes" on the Today show. Their determination to beat the disease had already led to major overhauls in the way ALS research was conducted. In partnership with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Augie had set up a foundation and lab to coordinate and oversee ALS research and testing across the globe. By centralizing operations and championing an entrepreneurial approach to medical research, Augie and his team accomplished remarkable results in less than two years. Part inspiration, part business innovation,Augie's Questillustrates how one person can make a meaningful difference."Your contributions to the fitness industry are well known, and your dedication an inspiration."George H. W. Bush "I think it says a lot about Augie, the fact that everybody came together regardless of whether or not it's for competing gyms or competing companies that make equipment. They all say, this is one of our own; this is a guy who's committed his life to our industry and has been dealt a serious blow. We're going to be there for him, we're going to say, we're here for you and we're part of the Quest."Lance Armstrong "Your success has been incredible. But you are so much more than just a successful businessm

Author Biography

Augie Nieto popularized the Lifecycle and has been a leader in the fitness industry for nearly three decades. He was cofounder and former president of Life Fitness and is now chairman of Octane Fitness. Augie is cochair, with his wife, Lynne, of the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s ALS Division. He’s the father of four children, and he and Lynne live in Corona del Mar, California.

T. R. Pearson has written ten novels, one work of nonfiction, and six screenplays. He lives in Greenwood, Virginia.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. ix
Get Your Affairs in Order	p. 1
Osmosis	p. 9
It Is About the Bike	p. 16
Sprint and Recover	p. 28
Finding Bottom	p. 39
No Way to Run a Business	p. 49
Hookers and Muffins	p. 59
The Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth	p. 74
A Molecular Fishing Expedition	p. 88
Man of the Hour	p. 97
Committee of One	p. 109
Affymetrix Microarray Scanners "R" Us	p. 120
Brand ALS	p. 134
Brother from Another Mother	p. 141
Out of the Shadows	p. 155
What Kind of World Do You Want?	p. 168
You Have Sixty Seconds	p. 181
In the Cockpit	p. 196
Acknowledgments	p. 203
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