Marlene Balbach

Marlene Balbach is the creator and CEO of Possibility Thinker, Inc., an entity through which she is dedicating her life to encourage, motivate, and inspire others to be the best they can be, no matter what their circumstances. She aids and encourages others to look at life from a different perspective – a perspective that she calls Possibility Thinking.
Marlene began planning Possibility Thinker, Inc. 20 years ago, shortly after she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Today, Marlene is finally bringing the symbol of Possibility Thinking to life through her unique P.T. character doll.
Before founding Possibility Thinker, Inc., Marlene had not been immune to adversity. She was molested as a young child and suffered horrific burns on her face and arms from a tragic fire that destroyed her family’s trailer home. At 17, she was married and a mother of two by 23. Just two short years later, Marlene was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
Concerned about her developing symptoms – difficulty walking, loss of balance and inability to even hold a newspaper, Marlene embarked on the long and frustrating road of seemingly endless doctor’s appointments and tests. Her fear became reality as she was finally diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. She suffered moments of depression and despair as the reality of being diagnosed with this mysterious, frightening and incurable disease sunk in. Here she was a young mother, already having lived with a lifetime of challenges, traumatized by the fact that she was now facing the biggest challenge of her life: the beginning of her life-long battle with Multiple Sclerosis.
Marlene has struggled with periodic exacerbations from her M.S. since she was first diagnosed over 30 years ago. After her diagnosis, Marlene sought out support groups to help her cope with her chronic disease, but she found no solace in these groups, only despair. Frustration set in because most of the people attending the support groups chose to focus on their symptoms and what they were not able to do. This situation created an atmosphere of endless negativity. Marlene wanted to focus on how to surmount her obstacles. She needed encouragement and inspiration to go on living and not let the disease control her life or define who she was. She leaned on her faith in God and decided to move forward in her life positively and not be dragged down by negativity.
Despite her ongoing health struggles, Marlene decided to go to back school to earn her real estate license. She had good and bad days with her M.S. symptoms, sometimes even having to rely on a wheelchair for mobility, but she was determined to focus on the possibilities even when that meant more effort on her part. She asked friends to come over to her house and help her study for exams when her mobility was hindered. Sometimes this even meant getting assistance in turning the pages of her text book. She needed a fellow classmate to help her propel her wheelchair to the real estate exam classroom. After passing the exam, Marlene went on to make a successful living selling residential real estate.
While struggling to remain positive in the face of her ongoing battle with M.S., her marriage failed. Her failed first marriage left her with guilt and emotional pain that could not adequately be explained in words. Then, at 31 Marlene’s life began to turn around when she married Bill Balbach, who later became the CFO of Possibility Thinker, Inc. After the marriage there were the many usual struggles of a second marriage. Marlene’s battle with M.S. continued and worsened at times causing the need for high doses of steroids. Her children found it difficult accepting a new person in their lives, putting a strain on the fledgling marriage. But Marlene and Bill leaned on their faith and implemented Marlene’s developing philosophy of Possibility Thinking in order to meet and overcome the many challenges the new family faced. They were successful and 26 years later the marriage and family are still going strong. Marlene’s Possibility Thinking philosophy is founded on her belief in God and the fact that everybody is created for an individual purpose and through that purpose we can face whatever circumstances come our way.
Marlene discovered she had a choice to become a bitter person or a better person. She chose the latter and while overcoming her difficulties, Marlene was inspired to create P.T., short for Possibility Thinker, to encourage, motivate and inspire herself and others.
Marlene now prefers to think of her difficulties and challenges as blessings in disguise. One of the blessings of her diagnosis was her new need for writing and composing as a way to communicate her Possibility Thinking philosophy. Marlene is a gifted singer, songwriter, poet and author and has developed a love for singing publicly as a way to encourage others. She has had the opportunity to record her music with a producer in New York. One of the fruits of her efforts is the song “It’s Time for A Possibility State of Mind” that is featured on the Possibility Thinker website, www.ptthinker.com. Marlene’s music is motivational and uplifting and will be used in future projects of Possibility Thinker, Inc. Marlene is also a published poet and author of many children’s stories. One of her stories, about P.T. will be published in 2006. Marlene has also been able to utilize her Possibility Thinking to reach out to others in times of illness and death. Throughout the past 14 years, Marlene and Bill have been the caretakers of several terminally-ill family members and helped their last days to be full of joy and purpose by helping them confront illness and death with the power of Possibility Thinking and faith.
Marlene’s outlook has made all the difference in the world to her loved ones.
Marlene Balbach is well known to her family, friends and acquaintances as a person who faces her challenges with a positive attitude, finding the silver lining in every cloud. One friend once told her, “I wish I could bottle up your energy and attitude and pass it out to the whole world.” Now this wish is possible with P.T.
Some of the glowing testimonials of Marlene and her philosophy are as follows:
Johanna Biederman of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Long Island chapter said, “Marlene knows first hand what adversity is. She has done battle with the effects of MS for over thirty years, yet her energy, zeal for life, and possibility thinking has never wavered.”
Marlene’s daughter Colleen says, “Wow! Where do I begin? My mom is a wonderful person and I’m not just saying that because she is my mom. Anyone would agree! My mom has the biggest heart in the world!”
Donald Gross, a past executive with the Genovese Drug Stores in New York says, “I have personally known Marlene for several years and have always been impressed by her creativity, resourcefulness and positive personality.”
Marlene Balbach is a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Her many life experiences and successes come with awards and rewards for which there is no plaque or ceremony, just the peace, joy and happiness that is in her heart and soul. That feeling that lets her know that she is special and unique, and there is no one else who can fill her shoes. This is the philosophy that Marlene shares with everyone she meets. She believes that all people have there own special gifts and talents and has been created for a divine purpose unique only to them.
Finally, one of Marlene’s goals with Possibility Thinker, Inc. is to raise money for research for MS through the sale of P.T. character dolls and accessories. She also speaks to a variety of civic groups and patient-care advocacy organizations about how to implement Possibility Thinking.
To learn more about Marlene and Possibility Thinking, visit www.ptthinker.com.
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