I’ve always been a bit disappointed by the genesis of my first book, What Your Dad Never Taught You About Budgeting, because my inspiration for it was so superficial. (Yes, this introduction doubles as a confession, but at least I’m deep enough to admit it.)

It all started on a two-hour flight from Indianapolis to Houston when the very talkative (and very sweaty) Ron sat down next to me. Although I’d planned on relaxing by reading an issue of Sports Illustrated, I knew a magazine wasn’t going to be enough to fend off Ron, who was already glancing over at me, looking for excuses to start a conversation. So, I popped open my laptop and started writing a book. And, that’s how my writing career began.

Like I said, I’m not proud of this, but I am proud of the groundwork I laid for my unique brand of financial advice during and after the writing process. Since its publication, I’ve launched my own radio show (“Skills Your Dad Never Taught You”) and hosted or been a guest on many others. I’ve appeared as a commenter on several national and local news shows, bylined articles or participated in interviews for a number of respected publications and introduced GreenCandy.com—an online financial assessment tool for Gen Y-ers and Millennials. I’ve even flown next to many more talkative, sweaty guys, yet I never felt compelled to start writing another book. Until now.

So why now? Well, I have a lot to say.

Over the last three years I’ve noticed that people are chasing the “American Dream” with more determination than ever. But as they do, they’re finding a path fraught with new peril, leading them—and the experts—to question the prudence of this dreamlike never before. After all, despite the implicit—and explicit—cultural message that the dream is attainable for everyone, we’ve reached a time in our nation’s history when many are asking hard questions: Does everyone deserve to live the American Dream or is it reserved only for a few? If so, who? Should everyone own a home? Should everyone retire with a gold watch? Is everyone entitled to a lazy retirement?

America is set up for success stories. Capitalism, the free-market system and a stable economy have always been the keystones to financial success. These keystones, however, have recently revealed their shortcomings. People are now looking for ways to succeed in spite of longstanding economic barriers to entry, and it is these people who are systematically redefining the terms of attaining the American Dream, for better or for worse. Well, for worse, really.

Because the economy will pick up and reinvent itself to account for the loopholes that have been exposed over the last few years, we need to be armed with the financial know-how that will allow us to achieve the American Dream the old-fashioned way: with hard work and commitment to setting and reaching our goals. If we can learn how to find financial success in an ugly economy, then we’ll no doubt flourish in a strong economy. And if we are able to set measurable benchmarks that allow us to live our own personal American Dreams, then macro financial conditions should have significantly less impact on our micro financial lives.

This book is about setting both big and small financial goals, learning how to reach them and working hard to accomplish them. Your income is an incredibly powerful financial tool, and when you combine it with working knowledge of the financial world, you can create a great life for yourself. This book won’t waste your time. It’s a very concise blueprint for changing your financial life in just 60 days.

The same 60 Days to Change curriculum that is presented in this book has already empowered thousands of people across the country. Multiple CBS and FOX affiliates featured the 60 Days to Change program as a nine-week news series, and thousands of viewers signed up and followed along to improve their financial lives.

Now it’s your turn.

Peter Dunn

a.k.a. “Pete the Planner”