Former Sidney resident writes motivational, self-help book

Former Sidney resident Lowell Nelson has released a new self-empowerment book entitled "Choose Your Personal Greatness, You Are Too Good for Average."

The book falls in the categories of self help, inspirational and motivational. "The subject of the book deals with becoming a no-limit thinker," Nelson said. "We need to remove ourselves from external limitations in life such as corporate glass ceilings, vicious racial and gender discrimination, and get ourselves in internal thinking where there are no limits, no limitations and no barriers in life."

Throughout the book, Nelson uses a number of extraordinary people who made the best of their situations such as Helen Keller, Jim Abbot and Maria Ramirez.

"The bottom line for choosing personal greatness is in the choices and decisions we make in life," said Nelson, who now lives in Cheyenne. "And it is choosing to know, not just believe, that Helen Keller and all of the other noted people are not better than we are – they are only different, and we, too, can make great choices and decisions to attain our personal greatness just as they did. Everything we need is within us. It is entirely internal. It is not about money, fame and fortune, and those kinds of things, although they may come along later – it is about the greatness we have within us when we choose to create bright and brilliant horizons for out lives."

Nelson attended Nebraska State Teachers College (Chadron State College today) and later completed a Bachelor of Science at Kansas State University.

After completing undergraduate studies, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and graduated from the Engineer Officer Candidate School in Fort Belvoir, Va., where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He is a Vietnam veteran.

When he was in his mid-40s and working part time as a risk manager, he was accepted into graduate school at the University of Wyoming. He completed a master's degree in public administration degree, and he holds an earned doctorate in adult education and technology, both from Wyoming.

Besides writing and speaking, Nelson is one of fewer than 350 Veterans Administration Accredited Claims Agents in the nation and works with wartime veterans to assist them in receiving their VA benefits.

Lowell has been a motivational speaker for nearly two decades and now conducts limited speaking engagements in addition to writing and publishing workshops.