Lester, Damon: - Damon Lester has spent his life balancing two worlds: the public image of success and the private weight of expectation. As the longtime president of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers, he advocated on behalf of thousands of minority-owned dealerships, working directly with major manufacturers, financial institutions, and policymakers-including U.S. presidents. He became a voice for equity in an industry that often-left people behind, helping save businesses from collapse and securing opportunities for future generations.Yet the headlines and accolades told only part of the story. Behind the recognition-Dealer of the Year honors, industry leadership awards, and national press features-was a man fighting a quiet, relentless battle with depression, anxiety, and the crushing responsibility of always being the one others could count on. Damon lived what he now calls the Superman Complex: the compulsion to save, fix, and carry the weight of everyone else's world, even while his own was unraveling.The journey that brought him here has not been linear. Damon grew up in West Philadelphia, raised on faith, resilience, and the lessons of a tight-knit family. He walked the long path from those city blocks to the boardrooms of corporate America, to owning a car dealership in his own backyard-a dream realized but also a burden that tested his faith and nearly broke him. Along the way, he's faced public triumphs and private breakdowns, attempted to end his own life, and walked through seasons of silence and fog that reshaped his understanding of strength.Taking the Cape Off is not the story of a man who figured it all out. It's the story of a man who chose to tell the truth-about pressure, about pain, and about the cost of carrying too much for too long. Damon writes with the voice of someone who has lived it, lost it, and is still standing.Today, his mission is simple: to help others see that healing begins when we allow ourselves to put the cape down.
Strauss, David Lloyd: - AUTHOR COACH. EDITOR: David Lloyd Strauss is an internationally celebrated Editor and Author Coach offering personalized services for aspiring writers who want to be the authors of their own books without using a ghostwriter.As a prolific writer and wordsmith, David brings expert guidance to his clients throughout the writing and self-publishing process, including book concept development, structured outlining, manuscript coaching, developmental and line editing support, and step-by-step guidance through self-publishing. David has helped dozens of authors throughout the world bring their stories to life through his one-on-one, conversational approach to coaching. He serves as an experienced guide, editor, and sounding board who helps you shape your ideas into a finished manuscript, so you can proudly call your book your own while benefiting from his over forty years of literary experience. David believes a person's story is their most valuable asset for transforming lives when they have the courage and grit to shape it into a book that people will love to read.Having published over ten books of his own, David draws his inspiration and enthusiasm for writing from his second chance at life after recovering from a rockfall to his head while visiting ancient ruins in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. Mentored by Sharon Lechter, Tony Robbins, and Bob Proctor, David believes the most important decision you will ever make is the people you choose to associate with.He is best known for his concept of Energy Vampire Blasters, which helps people recognize and remove negative influences in their lives-the energy vampires that rob them of joy and self-confidence and replace them with high-value connections.His work and story have been featured across major media outlets, including ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX TV networks, NPR, and Success Today TV, as well as at a private reception at the United Nations and on dozens of podcasts, live stages, and webinars worldwide.Through his work, David has become an internationally recognized author, speaker, and results coach with more than twenty-five years of experience inspiring people to live with greater purpose, resilience, and meaning. Known for his warmth, energy, and deeply human approach.
