“This sounds like a ‘feel-good’ Hollywood movie…but the story is very real.” BookTrib Review
The underdog journey of the unlikely entrepreneurs who built Aruba’s beloved surf shop
What happens when a burned-out lawyer and a disillusioned marine scientist decide they’d rather surf than follow society’s rules?
Two decades ago, David Putnam and Yair Lichtenstein escaped the corporate grind for Aruba’s shores. Their audacious dream: to build a life they wouldn’t need a vacation from.
No one thought they’d survive their first year—including them. With zero retail experience and no safety net, everything seemed stacked against them.
When former Manhattan book editor Marcia Heath first heard about their improbable success during her own career low point, her curiosity lit up. Three years of investigation revealed how two humble rookies built not just a thriving business, but a blueprint for freedom that would transform her own life.
In Little Giant, Marcia reveals how David and Yair’s courageous choices ignited her own journey from a frustrated corporate executive to finding her true calling as a published author.
This deeply human story offers both tropical escape and real-world inspiration for anyone ready to trade “good enough” for something genuinely fulfilling.
David Putnam (left) and Yair Lichtenstein (right), reluctantly joined Marcia Heath on stage for the book launch. Bula Surf Shop’s cofounders are notoriously private and detest publicity. They only agreed to do interviews for the book when the author promised no “claiming,” surf slang for uncool boasting
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🏄♂️ Ride your own wave to success
Awaken your creativity and explore "What's Next?" in the new Lows to Leaps guide.