In a world that often equates success with external achievements, many individuals find themselves questioning why they still feel unfulfilled despite reaching their goals. Josh Wintermute, a pastor, life builder, and author, addresses this dissonance in his new book, 'Winning the Wrong Game,' released today. Drawing from over two decades of pastoral ministry and personal trials, Wintermute provides readers with an honest and actionable roadmap to examine the foundations of their lives and make meaningful changes.
The book centers on three foundational pillars: the heart, the home, and the culture. Wintermute argues that many people focus on surface-level fixes while neglecting the deeper issues that undermine their well-being. He shares personal stories of his own struggles with physical, mental, financial, and spiritual challenges, illustrating how addressing these underlying areas can lead to lasting transformation. 'The problem wasn't simply my circumstances,' Wintermute explains. 'The problem was the foundation I was building on. Once I began addressing what was happening beneath the surface, everything started to change.'
Wintermute's message is particularly timely in a culture that celebrates achievement while often overlooking the health of the person behind the success. He believes that many individuals are silently carrying burdens that success alone cannot resolve. Through his book, he offers hope and practical guidance, asserting that 'you are not as stuck as you think. You are not as alone as you feel. And you are going to make it.'
Wintermute is the founder of 'Quiet Winters,' a platform dedicated to helping leaders, families, and organizations establish healthy foundations. His work has involved walking alongside hundreds of individuals through seasons of grief, transition, and renewal. Interestingly, becoming an author was never part of his original plan. 'Honestly, I never wanted to write a book,' he admits. 'For years people encouraged me to do it, and for years I pushed the idea away. Eventually I became open to the possibility, started writing down some thoughts, and God began opening doors.'
The writing process itself was challenging, requiring him to distill thousands of thoughts into a clear and useful message. He credits outside perspective, coaching, and editing for helping shape the book. Influenced by authors such as Simon Sinek, Seth Godin, and N. T. Wright, Wintermute combines practical wisdom with spiritual insight and personal vulnerability. What sets this book apart, he says, is its honesty. 'I talk openly about my failures, shortcomings, and struggles because that's where God did some of His greatest work in my life.'
Beyond writing, Wintermute enjoys spending time with his wife of over twenty-five years and their three sons, fishing, golfing, and investing in coaching clients. For aspiring authors, his advice is simple: 'You can do this. Start dreaming, surround yourself with people who know more than you do, learn from them, and begin writing.'
'Winning the Wrong Game' is an invitation to stop patching cracks at the surface and instead rebuild from the ground up. Because sometimes the breakthrough people are searching for isn't found in doing more; it's found in building differently. The book is published by Lucid Books, an independent hybrid publisher in the Houston area that offers the connections and expertise of a traditional publisher with the author involvement of a self-publisher.
