Mahoning Valley native has a secret for successful living

The best-selling author has appeared on ‘Larry King Live’ to spread the secret to achieving anything in life.

By AMANDA C. DAVIS

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

HOWLAND— Give Joe Vitale a pencil and he can give you a list of reasons why he’s grateful for it.

With it, he might write the great American novel. Or maybe he’ll just draft a grocery list. Either way, he says, his gratitude for the small things in life is what keeps him happy and in the moment.

Vitale is a homegrown talent who grew up in Niles, moved to Texas after college, was homeless for a short time and turned it all around, making a name for himself in the fields of marketing and spirituality.

He’s received particular acclaim in the past year for his contribution to “The Secret,” a DVD and book that presents the Law of Attraction through the eyes of doctors, authors, teachers, business owners, philosophers and great minds from the past, including William Shakespeare, Albert Einstein, Sir Isaac Newton, Plato and others.

Vitale and his girlfriend, Nerissa Oden., spoke recently with The Vindicator while in town visiting his family over Labor Day weekend. The two live and work in Wimberley, Texas, where he is an author and president of Hypnotic Marketing Inc., a marketing consulting firm, and she works in video editing and production.

Vitale grew up on High Street, graduating from Niles McKinley High School in 1972. Growing up, he said, he spent a good deal of time at McKinley Memorial Library, where his love of reading was cemented.

At the time, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life, but considered becoming a lawyer, magician, ventriloquist or author.

Gaining perspective

His decision came sometime around 1970 when he saw screenwriter and author Rod Serling, most famous for his science fiction TV series “The Twilight Zone,” speak in Youngstown.

“I idolized him,” Vitale said. “I decided this is the way I am going to go.”

He attended Kent State University, majoring in public relations and journalism, but left just shy of a degree because he couldn’t pass economics, didn’t like Ohio winters and had the promise of work in Texas.

In the late 1970s, Vitale gave all his money to a company that promised to find him work building pipelines overseas, but the company folded, leaving him homeless and without a penny.

He recalls those times as “desperate and unhappy” but made his way to Houston where he held various temp positions and worked as a car salesman, reporter, laborer and cab driver.

He was unhappy with them all but held onto his dream of becoming an author, saying he kept writing the whole time.

His first book

“I was not an overnight success by any means,” he said. His first book, “Zen and the Art of Writing,” was published in 1985, but he called it both a grand accomplishment and grand disappointment. He quickly learned that the publisher he was working with had no idea how to market the book, and decided he would have to rely on himself.

Vitale says he studied marketing on his own, which led to speaking engagements and a consulting gig to help teach others to market themselves.

In 1994, the early days of the Internet, Vitale put up his Web site called “Mr. Fire,” which had become his nickname for the way he was able to inspire and light a fire under others.

He posted his articles and excerpts from his books on the site. The Internet “really helped me taste prosperity,” he said.

He has been called the “Buddha of the Internet” for his spiritual and marketing know-how and to date has written more than 30 books, including “The Greatest Money-Making Secret in History” and “The Attractor Factor.”

He also wrote “AMA Complete Guide to Small Business Advertising” for the American Marketing Association, and professional clients have included PBS and the Red Cross.

Vitale holds a doctorate in metaphysical science from the University of Metaphysics in Sedona, Ariz., and based on the books he’s written, was awarded an honorary doctorate from Belford University, an online college.

His Hypnotic Marketing company offers two executive mentoring programs that Vitale created for those wanting to learn about marketing or self development. He also maintains an active video blog filmed by Nerissa.

Vitale is also involved in a new film project called “The Opus,” due out in late November. The movie has no affiliation with “The Secret,” but uses some of the same professionals, as well as others, to further the concepts of personal development.

Vitale’s sister, Bonnie Jarome of Niles, said she always believed her brother would make it big as an author .

“I’m very proud of him,” she said, explaining that she has kept up with his work throughout the years. “I believe in everything that he does.”

Valley ties

Vitale’s family also includes mom and dad, Joseph and Alice Vitale of Niles, and brothers Perry of Warren and Ted of Ashtabula.

Jarome said it was a thrill for her family to watch her brother when he appeared twice on “Larry King Live” in the past year.

Vitale’s next project is a book called “The Key: The Missing Secret for Attracting Anything You Want.”

It’s due out in late October, and Vitale said it picks up where “The Secret” leaves off, delving into counter-intentions, which he said can be negative and limiting beliefs that are part of the subconscious and can keep us from getting what we want in life.

Jarome said her brother gave her a rough draft of the book while he was home, but wouldn’t give any hints about its contents, saying only that “I’ve started reading it and it’s a wonderful book.”

Of the things he’s worked hard to attract in his life, Vitale said he is most proud of his relationship with Nerissa, whom he met through online personals. His accomplishment as a best-selling author also ranks right up there, along with his exotic American sports car, made by the Panoz family near Atlanta.

Appearing on Larry King twice is also on his top list of accomplishments, along with losing 80 pounds and competing in seven fitness contests after a lifetime of being overweight.

“That was a big one for me, no pun intended,” he said with a laugh.

Vitale said others can harness their power by paying attention to their true passions and following them until they get results.

“People can have it all, and they can be happy,” he said. “They can have an exciting life right now, right here.”

Vitale’s motto comes from 16th century Latin and means “Dare Something Worthy.”

Though he knows his advice might sound simplistic, Vitale tells people it’s possible to make the decision to just be happy now.

He said the misconception is out there that people need to acquire things to be happy.

“The easiest way is to just be grateful,” he said. “You’ve got to start small.”

XFor more information about Vitale or his work, log onto www.mrfire.com.