Jim relates how he learned the basics of teaching and leading through conversation when he worked in a group home for boys. He tells personal stories from his work with boys with behavior problems and how he learned about creating currency, making it fun, and having goals – skills he was able to parlay into the work environment. One of stories he talks about is how he was able to get through to one of the boys planting a vegetable garden at the group home. These are the Samuele skills that he talks about in his book Talk Is Not Cheap: The Art of Conversation Leadership.