A Journey of Belief

— Stephanie Wharton

FROM BOYHOOD

Raised in true southern Louisiana style, Paul grew up in the loving and lively home of

George and Shirley Cummings. As he watched the honorable work ethic of his father, he learned the principles that made him successful and well-loved in the community.

Honesty, hard work, respect for others, and sincere friendliness marked the way George carried himself and interacted with others. George inherited these traits from his father, George W. Cummings, Sr., who passed on the iron will work ethic and a constant desire to learn. Filled with wisdom, Paul's grandfather spent a lot of time with Paul, skipping rocks and taking early morning walks along the fence on his Arkansas farm, making memories that Paul will always treasure and never forget. It's the words and wisdom of Paul's grandfather that led to Paul's first book, Lessons at the Fence Post many years later.

In addition to grasping the work ethic and wisdom of his father, Paul soaked up the zeal and zest for life that Shirley exuded. She filled their home with music and laughter, and even danced as she did her housework. Her hospitality, welcoming spirit, and delicious meals drew in all the neighborhood kids. They all wanted to be at the Cummings house, and rumor is, they still talk about Shirley Cummings' famous homemade cinnamon rolls. Shirley passed on her love of life and music to Paul, and it's a good thing she did - it's a big part of why Paul is the way he is.

TO BALL

George Cummings took the young Paul to a baseball game, and as they watched, Paul wanted to play. Mr. Cummings encouraged Paul to go talk to the coach, and soon he was playing on the team. Naturally athletic, and supported by his parents, Paul excelled.

According to Mr. Cummings, "Whatever ball was in season, that was what Paul wanted to play." The work ethic inherited from previous generations pushed Paul to be the best he could be, and he was a great baseball player and basketball player. It was the game of football, however, that captured his heart.

His high school football coach taught Paul drive, discipline, and determination; he believed in Paul and pushed him intensely to find the best in himself. Under his leadership, Paul dedicated himself to being the best quarterback he could be. He began to dream of playing college football. Little did he know that the things his coach ingrained in him would influence his entire life, not just football. His family believed in him, his coach believed in him, and Paul believed in himself. However, Paul’s dream of playing in the NFL never would become a reality.

TO A BROKEN DREAM

Living out his dream and working to get better and better, Paul came face to face with a massive obstacle: a linebacker. This linebacker had a different plan for Paul's life, striking the right side of Paul's leg, placing the knee cap on the other side, and splitting the knee cap in half. After five operations, Paul still could not pass a physical. All of a sudden, at only nineteen years old, his dream died. He had no more football, no money, no car, and no job. It would have been easy to give up, but a Cummings wouldn't do that.

TO BOOKS (AND A SUMMER JOB)

As a high school student, Paul accepted an unusual summer job at the urging of one of his best friends, and worked for the Southwestern Publishing Company out of Nashville, Tennessee for three summers. During that time, at the young age of 16, Paul was introduced to the business of sales by the sales experts of Southwestern. Over the next three summers, Paul knocked on 80 doors each day as a door-to-door salesperson for Southwestern.

It was there that Paul learned the power of words and sales strategies. He was introduced to the world of possibility thinking and the power of passion and self-discipline. Little did he know that his decision to sell books door-to-door would affect not only his life, but ultimately, the lives of millions of people in the coming years.

With his hopes of playing football destroyed, Paul fell back on the lessons he learned during his experience with Southwestern. Sales became his new passion, and he threw himself into this exciting new adventure with all his energy and enthusiasm. As they say, “The rest is history.”

AND BEYOND

Little by little, Paul had success after success and his company grew because he truly cares about people and believes in his dream. Fueled by his personal and corporate desire to give to others, Paul developed skills and techniques in Leadership, Goal Setting, and Sales Techniques, including his Grid Square Technology. His Level 10 philosophy has motivated countless lives to live all out rather than holding back.

Paul has now been a featured speaker all over the world, written books that have touched people's lives, and even used technology to further advance his dream of helping others. He developed PaulTVLive, his award-winning online video learning system utilized by thousands of students, when no one else thought it would work. Now, as the founder of woople, he has a tool to provide the education he has created to anyone and everyone that has a passion for learning and wants to succeed.

PAUL'S BELIEF

Paul Cummings knows the power of belief, and that confidence and drive has brought him to where he is today. Through adversity after adversity, and challenge after challenge, Paul never stopped believing in his dreams. Not only did Paul never stop believing, but his devoted and committed parents never stopped believing in him either. Thanks to the principles and work ethic of the Cummings family and the zeal and passion of Shirley's family, Paul is a dynamite combination, making a difference every day.