"Earl has offered us a unique insight into his extraordinary success! His life reinforces the leadership principles of faith, love, perseverance and an extraordinarily positive approach to life. He is truly an inspiration to those who face life's many challenges."

— Bud Howard, vice president of global operations for Volvo Rents

"Through the years I have ministered to many people who have felt that they had no hope and that life had crumbled around them. Some of those individuals I have sent to Earl Heard so that they could hear his story about blessings through hardship. I am thrilled that now I can give them It's What They Do Together That Counts so they can see how hope can come out of tragedy. There are many truths and character building principles in this book that can generate hope in one's soul and help people see clearly the path to success.

I praise God for this ministry tool to offer to people who have lost their way. Now they can learn how to turn adversity into adventure with God's help."

— Ron Tyndall, associate pastor of Parkview Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La.

"When I reference Earl Heard in the dictionary of life it displays: a man driven by faith, compassion, family, high moral standards, perseverance, focus, unbounded optimism, dedication to fairness and the willingness to help others succeed. I have been blessed to have worked with him for over 25 years and gained the valuable insight on the art of doing business in an ethical manner and not compromising my principle of treating people like you wish to be treated."

— Kent Wasmuth, area director of sales and marketing for the Wyndham New Orleans Hotel at Canal Place

"Earl Heard is a Louisiana treasure. His book is a recipe for success, whatever the task. Earl’s life is proof that faith in God, love of family and never, ever giving up are the keys to a productive, happy life and career. He looks at roadblocks and sees stepping stones. He looks at adversity and sees good fortune. He looks at a problem in the same way as the great industrialist Henry Kaiser just another opportunity in work clothes.

Earl’s story is a must-read for every business school student and for anyone who has the entrepreneurial spirit! I am honored to call him a mentor and friend."

— Dan S. Borne, president of the Louisiana Chemical Association

"Earl Heard has faced adversity and has showed us in his book that only perseverance can overcome the hardship that life brings. He is indeed a man of strong faith in God and makes us realize that it takes grit, savvy, and a strong belief in oneself to be successful. He also shows that achieving ones dream is possible. It’s What We Do Together That Counts is a primer for anyone who wants to start their own business. Mr. Heard describes the process in a way that no text book can.

— J. Ronald Guillory, director of human resources, Valero New Orleans, LLC

"For anyone who believes there is no light at the end of the tunnel, It’s What We Do Together That Counts is a must-read. Earl provides a wonderful treasure of inspiration and information for anyone, in any walk of life."

— Dr. Shirley A. White, president of Success Images

"Perseverance prevails, author Earl Heard tells us in his inspiring and informative new book, It’s What We Do Together That Counts. His own life is certainly a testament to the truth of those simple words, as he relates through honest, introspective and sometimes heartbreaking stories of his own rise to great entrepreneurial success after more than a decade of crushing setbacks.

This book is part personal memoir, part Christian inspirational message, part collection of practical lessons for entrepreneurs and the author weaves all these elements together in a plain spoken, earnest manner that anyone in business can relate to. One of the great things Heard illustrates in this book is that early failures in business ventures often set the stage for later success; they are an inevitable learning process that nearly every entrepreneur must endure. But you need the right mindset in order to survive, to keep going and to keep taking risks. "You can give up, or you can give it your all," the author states.

Other highlights are the author’s succinct "100 Tips for Achieving Peace, Happiness and Success," and thoughtful quotes from hundreds of successful entrepreneurs on the keys to success in business and in life. A key to Heard’s own success that comes through loud and clear in the pages of this book is his genuine appreciation for all the people who have helped him along the way, in good times and particularly in bad. Now that he has accomplished many of the goals he began striving for over forty years ago, he has put his incredible story of hard work, resourcefulness and perseverance on paper for the next generation of entrepreneurs to benefit from.

— Brian Hill, co-author of Inside Secrets to Venture Capital, Attracting Capital from Angels, The Making of a Bestseller

"Earl’s story is truly fascinating. It is a tale of how lessons learned early in life have turned situations of utter failure into undeniable success. It is an inspiring tale of the pursuit of one man’s dream, woven with learnings of perseverance, faith and a lot of hard work."

— Thomas Brinsko, president and chief operating officer of the BIC Alliance and Ind-Viro Search

"It’s What We Do Together That Counts is for anyone with a dream who is willing to accept the labors required of entrepreneurship and reap the benefits of lessons learned to attain success. Earl Heard’s determination and endurance, imbedded with his faith in God, his love of family and his expressed personal appreciation and recognition of friends, serve as a lesson in the realization that no man can stand alone."

— John Quincy Adams, director of industrial safety for Enterprise Products Partners

"If you want to know what patience, hard work, family, faith and a never-give-up attitude have to do with being a successful entrepreneur, then this book is a must-read."

— Jim Culpepper of Greener Trees Louisiana

"This is a great book. Earl Heard is the most optimistic person I’ve ever known. He is a true winner because of his attitude."

— David Starkey, president and CEO of Empire Scaffold

"Earl Heard and the BIC Alliance success story prove once again that the American dream is alive and well."

— Michael R. Choate, president of Michael R. Choate & Co., CPAs

"Earl Heard’s story is inspirational. He shows us that a love of God and family and very, very hard work can overcome adversity and produce success in life and in business."

— Peter A. Mayer, chairman of the board of Peter A. Mayer Advertising