Owen Perry grew up in a military working-class family in a small New England town, packed into a three-bedroom house with his parents and five siblings. He didn't have any wealthy connections or mentors, or any college options, but he dreamed that someone rich and famous would discover him, carrying him away to a better life.

Fortunately, that never happened. Because from the life-changing moment he realized nobody was coming, he set out to build his dreams for himself. What followed was a transformative odyssey-from working in the minimum-wage factories to developing five-star resorts on the shores of Mexico-laid out one incredible step at a time.

When Plan A fails, Perry advises, move on to Plan B-then to Plan C, D, and even E. If you want to change your life, keep going. Find someone successful and learn real life success stories. Steve Jobs. Jeff Bezos. Elon Musk. Or start right here, with Owen Perry.