Jackie Speier, California State senator, and Jan Yanehiro, Emmy winning television host, began kitchen table coaching sessions with two other friends, Deborah Collins Stephens, co-founder of the Center for Innovative Leadership, and Michealene Cristini Risley, entrepreneur. The power and strength of their collective friendship and the practical wisdom and advice they shared with each other enabled them to survive “misfortunate” events and to turn them into joy-filled opportunities. Joint authors of a book considered a must read for all women and the men who love them, This Is Not the Life I Ordered, they will inspire us with stories of the resources we have to climb out of the abyss.