Val's Victory: Defeat was NEVER an Option

Readers are saying...

"Val's Victory is on so many levels; it's not just a medical victory, it's a psychological and spiritual victory. It's a victory over a wrong first marriage; it's a woman's victory in the business world of the 1960s. It's about growing up in a fundamental religious family and coming to terms with family relationships, even as she continued her unending battle against the consequences of lockjaw."

—IRENE MARCH-DAVISON, Staff Writer The Desert Woman, Palm Springs, CA

"Many people have a permanent, invisible illness that is disbelieved by the established medical profession, but they don't have the strength to fight, and will certainly not write a book about it. This book can be a source of inspiration to them to fight back, to survive, and never give up. "This book is also about true love, and the absence of love, and how important true love is in our lives. "I was surprised and touched that the author wrote so openly about how she dealt with her problems, so that others can learn."

—NILS BÄCKMAN, Electronics Engineer Stockholm, Sweden

"Val's Life Journey truly has had pitfalls and valleys of despair — however, I rejoice in her ability to rise after each downside event. She is a valiant survivor in a life exemplary of triumph over adversity, and she has helped me to realize that each day of life is a triumph. This book has proven to be an inspiration to me."

—Professor RICHARD B. DIXON (Retired) History Dept., University of Arkansas at Little Rock

"What a bouquet of memories this wonderful book brings back to me! I was one of the first speakers for the Tupperware company. What a surprise to learn that one of their top managers, who received my book in the 1960s as a gift from Tupperware, lives close to me here in Southern California! I have loved every page of this grand story by Val Middlebrook. I know you will too!

—DOTTIE WALTERS, President & CEO Walters International Speakers Bureau Author of Never Underestimate the Selling Power of a Woman Glendora, California

"Val's Victory is a tribute to the author's vibrant energy and determination in coming to grips with her chronic illness and domestic adversity. It's a page turner — you probably won't be able to put it down until you learn the real reason for the persecution she received from some of her closest relatives. "This book is a must for anyone in the sales field, social work or psychology. Because of the courses I attended on leadership and command in the Air Force Reserve, her comments about management rang a familiar bell."

—WILLIAM F. NICOL, M.D. Colonel USAF Reserve (Retired) Redding, California

"This book is a pleasure to read, being well written throughout with an evenness of style and a high standard of expression. It is well produced and crisply printed. "Far more important is content. There is, of course, abundant suffering, but pain is balanced by courage, inner rewards and vindication. It is packed with humanity, insight and wisdom. The character studies are perceptive and acute; its self-perception is thoughtful and searching. The story is sincere and moving, expressing a personal journey in memorable terms, and shedding, incidentally, an interesting sidelight on mid-to-late 20th century American life and business. "The book is rich and rewarding, a small masterpiece. I am proud to have it on my shelves."

—DEREK WILLIAMS Writer & director of documentary films Hadlow, England

The following are from Tupperware and Rubbermaid Managers with whom Val worked:

I have known Val since 1958 when she became a Tupperware dealer, six months after I began. Because of her vibrant personality, everyone enjoyed spending time with her. We became very good friends in 1959 when we roomed together at the Tupperware Jubilee in Orlando, Florida, and it was there when I first learned of the tremendous health challenges she faced every day of her life, and continues to face to this day. Her book, Val's Victory‚ Defeat was NEVER an Option, takes you on her journey through a childhood filled with verbal and physical abuse, rejection by the family whom she dearly loved with no clue as to why they rejected her. She married a man who also became verbally abusive, all the while struggling with the after effects of tetanus; working to pay the medical expenses, only to see very young inexperienced men get the promotions that she deserved. Through her faith and determination she focused on techniques she calls her Tools and Rules, setting goals and working toward them. In doing so, she trained many other people to do likewise, realizing that setting a goal and working toward that goal would make them actually achieve it. She suggested the position of Advisor to Managers to her Distributor, which became a very successful program. When I was a manager in the 60s, had I been able to share her book with my dealers I'm certain it would have made a positive impact on their lives, and helped them succeed in their professions as well as their personal lives. Now Val finally has a happy life, with a loving, supportive husband, and enjoying every minute of it, while still coping with the effects of tetanus. I value our friendship highly.

—HELEN HOCH Harbor City, California Tupperware Vanguard Manager, 1957-1971

I just completed reading the book, Val's Victory. It is by far the greatest motivational and inspiring book that I have ever had the privilege to read. Val was brought to her knees with a catastrophic disabling disease, causing many other health hazards. There were many disappointments along the way. With her positive attitude, determination, persistence, courage and action she turned each disappointment into a stepping stone to greater success. She shares with each person who reads this book, how she maintained her own positive attitude by using goal setting and many other positive ideas. She also shares how she maintained and developed her own motivational skills. How she trained herself and then began training many, many other people. If I had a Sales Force today that I was trying to train and motivate, this book would be a must for each of my managers and consultants. Val's Victory will inspire them to develop their very own positive attitude, to reach goals that they never dreamed they could reach. You too can make a difference in your life.

—ELLA MAE FOSTER Indianola, Oklahoma Tupperware Vanguard Manager, 1970 -1972 Rubbermaid Sales Manager, 1972 -1978 Director of South Eastern Oklahoma Transportation and Outreach Program, 1990 -2000

The book, "Val's Victory" is an inspiration for everyone who has read it, and you can feel the "ups and downs" of Val's life. Having known Val for quite a few years and after reading her book, I can understand the postive effect she extends to other people. A leader she is — life will not let her down, her dreams will live on! I was in Tupperware for twenty years. I attended Jubilee the year Norman Vincent Peale was there and gave us his book. That book was an inspiration to all of us who received it, and I believe that Val's Victory can be a strong motivational tool for the sales force today. I am very happy to be her friend.

—LUCILLE B. SHREVES San Juan Capistrano, California Tupperware Vanguard Manager, 1953 -1971

As revealed by reading about Val's life, it is obvious that her trials and tribulations have strengthened her determination to enjoy life to its fullest. It's encouraging to see someone with such physical disabilities turn them into positive life experiences. This book will be an inspirational journey for all. I enjoyed 11 years as a Tupperware Manager and feel if I'd had this book to give to my dealers it would have been a tremendous motivational factor in their success.

—ARLENE (CHRISTOPHER) HART Canyon Lake, California Tupperware Vanguard Manager, 1959 -1970

After reading a terrific book some months ago, the thoughts I am writing have been on my mind and heart and I had promised myself that I would let Val know how much I enjoyed her words. To say I was surprised at what I read would be to tell an untruth — as the whole book is truly the Val I knew — and was very happy to have known and worked with. I was in Tupperware for thirty one years, and while I was preparing to become a manager, Val became my Advisor, and her positive spirit strengthened my mental attitude as she helped teach me to recruit and train my sales force. I found her book to be an encouraging source of hope for people from all walks of life. It can help people to appreciate that there is a God who loves us and because he is a "Happy God" His heart is glad when we help others. And her book can do just that: help people to overcome the many adversities of life, because Val did — her Victories will help others deal with theirs, and defeat for us will not be an option. My thanks to Val for sharing, and may she have many more Victories.

—HELEN MEYERS Los Angeles, California Tupperware Vanguard Manager, 1965 -1996

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