I'm a creative and difficult individual to pin down. My freedom and happiness mean everything to me. Equally, my heart aches to see so much freedom and happiness being denied everywhere I look. Always curious, always questioning, I'd write reflectively for years before taking a huge leap and risk the security I'd always known.

A decade in technology with a national corporation discovered natural abilities with big-picture analysis, process improvement, and an ability to see solutions in abstract ways. Projects always involved human resources, customer service, and marketing and sales, and always resonated with core human values of service for a better society, better humanity, and better individual experience. These attributes earned an invitation to facilitate and lead Leadership Plus and Service Plus team-building and leadership workshops nationally. It also created an itch.

Leaving the national corporation, embarking upon a new adventure, relocating to the opposite coast of North America, wanting to launch into personal development career-path, and instead explored a variety of new paths in career and in life. With spiritual questions, purpose questions, life questions, society questions, and now living in a place with no social support or network, the unexpected challenges of life unseats the optimist and puts him through fire.

With the big change in all areas of life unfolding, I dealt with paternal family issues, some of the fallout from years before after a sister's suicide, along with a serious health crisis of my own that included some very mystical experiences. These issues aren't one week, one month, or even one year in the making or resolution. Years would pass, struggling to understand - to make sense, of a family, of a life, of all the beliefs that were adopted, and much, much more.

After much struggle, a brief turnaround appeared with a career, a second wife, and some new stability. It lasted about a year. Reasons are unimportant, as all stories really are so unimportant, as the journey witnesses the lessons, learning, and character that is developed when seen in retrospect. The deepening of core values strengthened and gained clarity, and a door to the world of coaching, empowerment, and self-determination opened up. More importantly, the young cockiness has been replaced with a deeper wisdom and understanding that carries compassion for the stories we share.

Trained at The Coaches Training Institute, I gained tools and skills for the natural talents that demonstrated themselves through life's challenges, and in supporting and encouraging others. These skills also served me well to face more adversity during my years of self-employment, struggling to get that foothold, and then breaking a shoulder and watching everything unravel.

Sylvester Stallone says it beautifully through his Rocky Balboa character in his final chapter.

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me or nobody is going to hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit, it is about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much can you take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that! I'm always gonna love you, no matter what. No matter what happens. You're my son, you're my blood. You're the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, you ain't gonna have a life.

Life, she is a beautiful and demanding Mistress full of reward.