He started his life out in the shadows of the steel mills in Gary, Indiana. Instead of home or school being his safe places to learn and grow, Tom Pado found his own ways of learning. His friends and neighbors never really knew what to expect. Homemade rockets that blew up, brewing up a concoction on his mother's stove that he later learned was mustard gas, his pet zoo in and out of the house, and an affable demeanor and broad smile that didn't seem to match his mischievousness. All the adventures led him into a life of excitement and success as he pioneered the offshore remotely operated vehicle (ROV) industry for deep-sea oil drilling. His ideas powered the industry that powers the world.

In Damn the Pressure, Full Speed Ahead, Pado shares the story of how he made his way across the globe and built a multimillion-dollar company that has truly altered the world. Pado decided to share his story in an effort to not just encourage those who harbor dreams, but also provide the story of the ups and downs and ins and outs of building a business from scratch. He lays everything out so that others can learn from his mistakes and his successes as they pursue their own dreams.

Someone once told Pado that "you get exactly what you see" when dealing with him, either as a business associate or as a friend. That is the way Pado shares his story for people of all ages and at all stages of life. It's a fun listen, and if you aren't careful, you might just learn something or be inspired.