My early work career was spent as a slug. This does NOT mean I was lazy. I worked hard but I wasn't contributing as much as I could; as much as I had to give. It dragged me down and it was depressing.

Why did I feel that way? Because I really didn't fit in. The work didn't align with my needs, desires, and talents. And it took me longer than I care to admit to figure that out.

Time and time again I had a feeling in my gut I was destined for greatness. I just needed the opportunity. I knew deep inside I had a lot to contribute but I just hadn't found "how" to do it.

Then about ten years ago I met a man who became a mentor and also gave me the opportunity I was seeking. But first he insisted that I spend a couple years in front-line sales.

After that "in the trenches" learning experience I went to work for my mentor in the shipping department of his business development company. Steadily I worked up through customer service and a few other departments. My last two years were as the vice president of operations.

While there I also studied the products we were selling for my own benefit and personal growth.

That marvelous experience gave me the grassroots, savvy, and confidence to go out on my own. It gave me the confidence to create MotivationInAMinute.com and now MyInspiration4Life.com.

Now I know my career is perfectly aligned with my desires, needs, and natural talents.

Today, and all along my way to this point, I feel a "release" whenever I help someone. Even as a kid I was jumping in to help the underdog. I thrive on helping you make that first step ' whatever it is ' that gets you closer to living your dreams.

Whenever I see someone conform to "average" just because they don't think they can do it . . . I'm profoundly saddened. I'm not exaggerating! I want to help you find the courage and the belief to DO IT. To ignore the naysayers.

Family, interests, and so on:

My wife Erika and I are very proud of our 3 precious children; Riley, Emery & Grayson.

My favorite activity with the kids is loading them up and going to the park which they can't get enough of. Their smiles and laughter makes me realize how much I want to be a part of everything they do.

In my other leisure time you might find me coaching my son's baseball team, fishing or on a vacation with my family. One of my all time favorite things to do is entertain a group of close friends and family at my home with a killer meal. My outdoor kitchen is where you'll most likely find me. Especially if the "Boys" come over for some BBQ and a little Dallas Cowboys football on Sundays.

For as long as I can remember, I have been passionate about personal and professional development. As a teenager, my parents gave me a 1936 addition of Dale Carnegie's classic, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" (I still have it)

Then . . .

Back in the 70's I went to work for Jim Rohn, a personal-development icon, and his company at that time, Adventures in Achievement. It was in my early 20's that I realized I wanted to make a difference in the lives of people and knew I needed to learn from the masters.

From then on I have read and re-read some of most dynamic works from the masters of motivation and personal growth. My personal library of books and audio programs has grown over the years to number in the thousands. I attended seminars, workshops, and retreats any time I could.

At the age of twenty four I was National Sales & Educational Specialist for Vidal Sassoon. My responsibilities included training the national & international distributor base in such areas as sales, marketing and customer service. I constantly applied what I had learned and continued to learn to each industry I was involved with. The stuff worked and I was gaining by own experiences both from failure and success.

As an advocate of life-long learning, I choose to enter the financial services industry and became licensed as an insurance agent and financial planner. Through dynamic mentors, hard work and applying what I had learned from the experts, I soon became a Sales Manager, District Manager and finally a Regional Vice President with 8 managers and over 60 financial consultants reporting to me in our agency. It was through these years of experience I developed a love for coaching others and helping them reach their goals and dreams.

I must admit that one of my greatest joys is working with teenagers. I have had the wonderful opportunity to speak to an average of 6,000 young people a year at Jr. High, High School & College Campuses. And by the way, the stuff works for young people as well.

Now...

With experience, education, and the encouragement and support of so many, I ventured out on my own and created The Center for Corporate Development, LLC and now MyInspiration4Life.com.

The thrill of helping others realize their uniqueness and self-worth is a tremendous reward. I have found my ultimate passion and purpose. John Maxwell said, "Two of the greatest days in a person's life, is the day they were born and the day they discovered why."

I confess that my greatest asset is my wife Melisa, and six children, Jason, Jarrod, Jeremy, Jenna, Kevin, & Kolby. The assets are growing however, with daughter-in-law Robin, Rachel and son-in-law Curt along with grand-daughters Brooklynn, Kaleigh and grand-sons Carson and Brody.

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