Success Can Kill You - One Man's Story
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Missouri – “Success Can Kill You” – “One man’s story of success failure, faith and forgiveness by Rodney Jetton.” I went to high school with Rod Jetton and though he has not led a perfect life and who has, he has learned from his mistakes and he is learning how to heal. Isn’t that what life is all about – learning and forgiving!
Rodney’s new book chronicles the rise from a young Marine officer to the second youngest House Speaker in Missouri state history. As Speaker of the House, he had the power to kill any bill that flowed through the General Assembly. He was a very powerful man. Rod was on the fast track to becoming possibly one of the youngest Governor’s of Missouri, but his personal life was set on a course for self-destruction. He went through a very public and humiliating fall from grace.
On December 7, 2009, Rod Jetton was arrested for felony assault charges after a one-night stand with a woman he connected with on social media. He was facing serious jail time. Soon after that Rod received a call from a former girlfriend telling him she was pregnant and he was now going to be a father at the age of 42. A few weeks later, Rod found out he was the target of a grand jury investigation from his handling of a bill when he was Speaker of the House. In just a few months, Rod was broke and without a job.
While Rod’s difficulties were necessary to tell his story, the most helpful aspect about his book is the way he details the emotional and physiological effect that success and power had on him as he climbed the ladder of success.
The book begins with a few short chapters covering Rod’s early life growing up and going to Charleston High School, his college days and becoming a Marine before moving on to his entry into the political scene. He provides highlights of his rise to power, legislative and political success. Then in chapter seven things begin to spiral for him and his family. He doesn’t pull any punches about his shortcomings and mistakes.He tells it like it is and tells the truth!Throughout the book he makes many references to his faith in God and he truly believes that his sins led him to his downfall. He closes with a list of lessons learned and in the last few chapters how he recovered from his mistakes.
Rodney is a courageous man and for him to tell his story is perhaps what will help him heal and help others not to make the same mistakes as he did. He is not only inspirational to many, but I consider him my friend and I always will.
“I hope that this book serves as a warning to those entering the political world,” commented Jetton. All politicians should sit back and take a few hours to read this book, perhaps then they will be a little more humble.
What are others saying about Rodney Jetton and his book, “Success Can Kill You”.
“Rod’s ability to identify the early warning signs of pride, bitterness and paranoia in his life are exactly the type of cautionary advice anyone who is experiencing success needs to hear. He does a great job of keeping the reader’s interest with forthright stories, useful illustrations and sound advice. Thoughtful leaders would be wise to read this book and heed the warnings gleaned from his mistakes.” -Johnathan Miller, Former Kentucky State Treasurer
“There is not a more compelling story of the reality of politics that I know. I knew Rod throughout this time and am thrilled he has decided to share his story. It is courageous. As power and money consume more of our body politic, this will be one of the most important reads of our time. If you know someone who has run, or who might ever run, "Success Can Kill You" is the best contribution you could make to their campaign.” Dr. Gina Loudon, FOX news commentator, author, and talk show host. (DrGinaShow.com)
Date: June 12th 2014
