You've Been Chosen - by Cynt Marshall (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A relentlessly optimistic memoir by one of the most influential Black business leaders in America today, offering hope and practical guidance for navigating life's most difficult challenges, inspired by the author's cancer journal that went viral "Focus. Pray. Act. Serve. And we'll get through this together." Cynthia "Cynt" Marshall has spent her life beating the odds. Growing up in the public housing projects of Richmond, California, Cynt never wondered why her mother didn't sit down to dinner every night, realizing only later that she sometimes sacrificed her own meal so her six children could eat. Cynt's father, meanwhile, had a terrifying temper and physically abused his wife and children for years. But Cynt didn't let her background deter her. Instead, she focused on her education, propelling herself through college and into her first job in corporate America. As a rising professional, Cynt overcame overt and subtle racism to become one of the first Black, female officers at AT&T by age forty, while surviving multiple miscarriages and family tragedies. As her husband helped her see a new way of creating a family, she started to see that her plan was not always God's plan. Cynt was president of AT&T North Carolina when, at fifty-one, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer, just one lymph node from Stage 4. Overnight, her life changed from managing corporate strategy to managing an aggressive chemotherapy schedule, her best hope for survival. Instead of giving up, Cynt got on her knees. Her lifelong spiritual foundation and faith in the power of prayer carried her forward as she shared her journey online through heartfelt posts that chronicled the challenges and unexpected blessings of cancer, transforming her diagnosis from a death sentence into a chance to serve people around the world. With positivity and deep faith, Cynt Marshall reminds us that we are each uniquely equipped for the challenges life presents us. In sharing her deeply inspiring story, she helps ensure that we will not just survive but thrive through trials, celebrate challenges, and laugh at what life brings us"--

Book Synopsis

FINALIST FOR THE NAACP IMAGE AWARD - A relentlessly optimistic memoir by one of the most influential Black business leaders in America today, offering hope and practical guidance for navigating life's most difficult challenges

"Do you want to be lifted up? You have come to the right place."--Hoda Kotb

Cynt Marshall has spent her entire life beating personal and professional odds while also helping everyone she meets see how they are uniquely equipped to thrive. Through it all, this self-described "people person" never stopped reaching out and built a reputation as an inspiring motivator and mentor in business and beyond.

Marshall grew up in a northern California housing project with a violent father who once broke her nose, but also with a strong, devoted mother who kept her family fed and focused, reminding them, "It's not where you live, but how you live." Heeding her mother's advice, Marshall excelled first at school and then in her professional life, overcoming overt and subtle racism to become, at forty, one of the first Black woman officers at AT&T, while also navigating both grief and joy as she started a family of her own.

All that life experience prepared Marshall for the day when, at fifty-one, she was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer, just one lymph node from stage 4. Overnight, her life changed, but her commitment to serve others did not.

You've Been Chosen offers what Marshall calls "the good, the great, the bad, and the ugly parts" of her journey through both cancer and everything that led up to it. Along the way, she tackles the tough questions we all face: What will I do with what I have been given? How will I respond to challenges with both grace and grit? Where will this new path take me if I keep moving? And how can I offer something good back to the world as a result?

Cynt Marshall's deep faith and positivity will inspire and motivate you, and her story will help you see how all your experiences, even the hardest moments, can work together for something good, bringing you to positive places you'd have never experienced otherwise. She shows you how to find your own "voice of power" and encourages you to remember--and believe--that you, too, have been equipped to walk your unique path with purpose. That you, too, have been chosen.

Review Quotes

"You've Been Chosen will inspire you to find and tap into your own voice of power and to truly discover your unique purpose. This book and Cynt Marshall's incredible story will ignite your belief that your best days are still to come!"--Jamie Kern Lima, New York Times bestselling author of Believe IT and founder of IT Cosmetics

"Cynt Marshall's You've Been Chosen is an encouraging and uplifting read that will leave you equipped to not only survive but thrive in the midst of whatever life throws at you. Her captivating stories of personal triumph make this book impossible to put down."--Emmanuel Acho, New York Times bestselling author of Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man and Emmy Award-winning Fox Sports analyst

"Cynt Marshall has more spirit and energy than any woman I've ever met. Everyone needs to read You've Been Chosen and learn Marshall's story--it will ignite your soul and change your life."--T. D. Jakes, Sr., pastor of the Potter's House and chairman of the T. D. Jakes Foundation

"Cynt Marshall's gentle grace, foundation grounded in faith, effervescent smile, and positive attitude are inspiring and illuminate why she has been successful in every aspect of her life. Marshall has indeed been chosen to lead."--Earl "Butch" Graves, Jr., CEO of Black Enterprise

"You've Been Chosen is an inspiring memoir by a remarkable leader. While never minimizing pain, Marshall enables you to see the opportunity for growth embedded in it."--Carol Christ, chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley

"In this profoundly courageous book, Marshall shares her heart with each of us, and by doing so, she helps to lighten our load while fueling our strength to push forward as we strive to live the life we were meant to live."--Anne Chow, CEO of AT&T Business

"In You've Been Chosen, the dynamic, multitalented Cynt Marshall reminds us that we are all leaders and that we have a unique story to share with the world. Read this book!"--John C. Maxwell, author, speaker, and founder of Maxwell Leadership(R)

"A heartwarming spiritual memoir . . . Marshall's love for her family and God permeate this work, and her optimistic account of beating cancer and rising through the corporate world will satisfy those looking for a feel-good tale. Christians will be inspired."--Publishers Weekly

"While those looking for a faith-based memoir will find much to appreciate here, Marshall's focus on the value of positivity and family will resonate with readers far beyond those that share her religious beliefs."--Booklist

"Regardless of religious affiliation, readers facing adversity will find Marshall's story encouraging. . . . Reading Marshall's story, it is apparent that her confidence and strong will have been primary contributing factors to her success. . . . Hers is truly a story of survival."--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Cynt Marshall is the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks, president and CEO of Marshalling Resources consulting, and the former senior vice president of human resources and chief diversity officer for AT&T. She is the first Black woman to hold the CEO role for any NBA team. She is also an outspoken cancer survivor, regular speaker at cancer-related events, and vocal supporter of cancer patients and their families across the country. The fourth of six children, Marshall grew up in Richmond, California, and lives in the Dallas area. She and her husband, Kenneth, have four adult children.