The Zero-Sum Game of
You looks like a great
guide. Can you tell us a little about it?
This book came to me as a
true inspiration. Becoming an author was not one of my personal goals. I am a
software engineer, so I can communicate better by writing code than by speaking
in English. In the past, I tried a couple of times to open a non-profit so that
i could help people in financial need. In 2019 I tried one last attempt.
Unfortunately, due to the costly annual lawyer's fee, I had to drop the idea.
At that point, I felt overwhelmed and defeated. I refuged in my metaphysics
practice of solitude, and soon after, I saw the title clear in my mind. Ideas
and material just kept flowing. At the time, I did not put the two together. It
was until I was done with the manuscript that I said, "I will donate 60%
of any profit to help young adults with training and education". At that
point, I had an aha moment, realizing that maybe my purpose was not only to
help others financially but to help them with self-growth and strengthen their
internal fortitude.
Any plans to turn it
into a series?
When I wrote this book, I was
sure it would be my only book, but I was wrong. After many questions and
feedback from my readers and social media fans, I realized that I could share a
lot more information that would be useful to many. So, in addition to having
the workbook ready to launch by November 2022, I have already started writing a
second book.
That's an amazing
cover.
Can you tell us a
little about it?
I love my book cover!. My
publisher Kia Harris and my cover designer Dezmond Carter took every idea I had
in my mind to create a book cover that included all elements. The Fire and the
Ice in the book cover reflect the emotions within each of us. The constant
battle between the Yes or No; going or stop; facts or perceptions. I love
playing chess. The chess pieces in the book reflect our awareness, planning our
current and future moves, taking actions, and adjusting our course of action,
as inevitable challenges will always be part of any journey we take.
What inspired you
when writing The
Zero-Sum Game of You?
Curiosity and empathy. I
started noticing all types of differences when I was a young child. I grow up
with an intense desire to help others financially. Later on, as I grew older, I
realized there was much need to help others develop their internal fortitude. Without
inner growth, awareness, and accountability, there will never be lasting
changes.
How did you come up
with the title to your book?
My mind was wondering about
the different between rich and poor, happiness and sadness, self-fulfillment
and emptiness. And I saw the words "Zero-Sum Game" in my mind as the
root cause for these differences.
What will readers get
out of your book?
The reader will come along an
exciting journey of self-discovery. These findings may bring some self-defense
emotions at the beginning., But it will get more comfortable as they continue
getting deeper. They will face some questioning with themselves and gain
awareness of their cultures, beliefs, and choices to take responsibility for
their present and future. In addition, I provide the reader with great
practical tools that they can implement and start seeing results in a couple of
weeks. There is no right or wrong answer. It is more about owning whatever IT
is. It's about making the best possible life with whatever you have starting
today. There is no point in blaming others or looking for answers outside of
oneself. It is about understanding the facts and still choosing to make the
best, even when situations may or may not be fair. It is about forgiveness,
self-fulfillment, and achieving success on their terms while minimizing future
regrets.
How did you come up
with the story and ideas in The Zero-Sum Game of You?
The ideas came from different
interactions, people, and concepts I have encountered in my personal or
professional life. Some of the ideas come from listening to others' complaints,
feeling victims, and other situations that keep them back in the past. The
stories come from real-life experiences.
Can you tell us a
little about your background?
I was part of ten brothers
and sisters. We faced great financial struggles growing up lacking, in some
cases, basic human needs. My parents, primarily my mother, worked very hard at
multiple jobs to provide us with an education. A privilege that she did not
have herself. She had no idea how to use any technology but always wanted us to
learn computers because she knew that was the future. I graduated in the
Dominican Republic with honors with a Pharmacy degree. Then in the USA, I
graduated in computer programming, followed by a master's in information
systems.
Where can readers
find out more about your work?
https://www.instagram.com/author.lopezanton/
https://www.amazon.com/author/lopezanton
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosaantonini/
https://twitter.com/Antonini_author