{"product_id":"book-2bl9","title":"Forged on the Iron Range","description":"Rick Maki was forged in the cold iron country of northern Minnesota.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom a working-class childhood to the executive suite, this is a story of grit, faith, and the quiet strength that builds a life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eForged on the Iron Range: From Working-Class Kid to VP is more than a regional memoir - it is an American journey of perseverance, leadership, family, and purpose.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBorn in 1937 and placed in foster care as an infant, Richard \"Rick\" Maki grew up in the shadow of Minnesota's iron mines. Summers on the farm, deer hunts in Bear River, small houses without running water, and immigrant mining communities shaped his understanding of responsibility and survival. Hard work was not optional - it was daily life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat followed was a path few could have predicted.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom swinging a sledgehammer as a railroad track spiker to earning a degree in metallurgical engineering… from working underground and in steel mills to leading teams, managing global sales territories, and eventually serving as a vice president and business owner - Rick's journey spans continents, careers, setbacks, and renewal.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a story about:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGrowing up working-class in a tight-knit mining community\u003cbr\u003eLearning leadership the hard way - from shop floor to boardroom\u003cbr\u003eNavigating failure, career pivots, and unexpected opportunities\u003cbr\u003eBuilding a marriage, raising children, and sustaining faith through change\u003cbr\u003eHonoring roots while stepping into new seasons of life\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMaki writes with humility and gratitude, reflecting on both triumphs and regrets - including the costs of long hours, missed moments, and the lessons learned from both strong mentors and difficult bosses. His faith journey runs quietly but steadily through it all, offering perspective during hardship and gratitude in later years.","brand":"Author's Republic","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":67605133361456,"sku":"BD2bl9","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/2bl9-Square-cover.jpg?v=1787707064","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-2bl9","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}