My Definition Of Success | The meaning of success has come full circle for me over my career. As a young man, the meaning of success was how much money and fancy material items I could acquire. Now, as I have matured and am a bit wiser, the meaning of success has found its true meaning with me. It’s about helping others. The excitement of a fancy watch and expensive shoes are short-lived. Seeing the face and feeling the warmness in your heart after helping someone in a difficult time lasts forever.I Am Driven By | What drives me now is not only to set a good example for my two children, but to relate to as many people as possible my story, which includes being a cancer survivor, undergoing three heart surgeries, and being diagnosed with depression. We all have struggles in our lives, but if we retain our values, resilience, faith, and a good support network, we can get through almost any challenge.
A Key Talent | If I were to pick one talent or strength that has been critical to my success, I would say persistence in growth. I don’t strive to be the best, but I do strive to be the best that I can be. I feel that to grow, we must put ourselves in uncomfortable situations. I have always been uncomfortable speaking in public, and that feeling is still present, even as I speak to audiences of over 1,000. But, each and every time I do, I get a great deal of satisfaction, knowing that it gets just a bit easier each time.
Principles I Live By | I am a firm believer in leading by example, being honest with yourself and others, and striving each and every day to be the best you can be. This does not mean that I don’t feel lazy some days or take days off. We all need these also. These days let our internal batteries recharge, thus improving our performance other days.
Dealing With Doubt | At this point in my life I still have self-doubt on a continual basis. I retired from the California Highway Patrol in November of 2013 and started my own organization called Pivotal Points. I have been in government service all my professional life. This was a big step for me, as earned income is not on a regular basis now, but I still have two children to take care of and bills to pay. I face this unknown and fear knowing that my message of hope is real and there is a need for it. I fell very gratified in the work that I do, and although I am never sure of my financial situation from month to month, am happy and believe I made the right decision.
Performing At My Peak | Actually, I don’t always perform at my peak. I strive very hard to perform each and every time at my peak, but realistically, that is very hard to do. What I do though is try my best each and every time.We all have our ups and downs, good days and bad. If I keep my presentations real, thought-provoking and honest, then folks will see through my bad days and realize I am truly trying my best. That is really all we can do.
The Best Advice I’ve Received | The best advice I have ever received is to lead by example. When you lead by example, you gain the respect of others and challenge them to rise up, setting higher goals for themselves.
Advice On Building Wealth | My practical advice for someone who wishes to grow rich and build wealth is this: Money and material objects are nice things to possess, but their glamour and gleam is generally short-lived. Solid relationships last much longer and are worth their weight in gold. If you must have wealth and riches to fulfill your life, make sure they come at no expense to other people. Don’t trample or use deceit so that you may rise ahead of others for pay or promotion.
The Legacy I Would Like To Leave | If I had my wishes about a legacy I could leave, it would be one of helping others at their darkest times. I believe in pulling up our own boot straps (handling our own issues the best we can), but sometimes we all need assistance and a shoulder to cry on or helping hand to make it through some tough times.
Useful Links |
Watch Kevin speak about the bridge between suicide and life:
