In my life there has been moments and stories that have changed me because of the change that I have witnessed. Like every father, I cherish the moments of my children’s first steps and my children’s first return of a hug (even us “tough” guys get overwhelmed with emotion). And I could continue with the moment my wife, Mary, first appeared to walk down the aisle in our wedding, and she changed from the girlfriend/fiance to my wife and best friend.
But a lot of my moments have come through the process of working with people in a culture of change. It is incredible to watch people become totally consumed with their growth and purpose. This culture is enbodied in the LIFE Leadership business and community. It is built around the idea that the world is starving for the “the best chance to live the life you always wanted”. Through the right information in the right form from real people with real experiences, LIFE Leadership is changing lives all over the world through placing people in a growth environment. And this community is just beginning.
One such story is that of my friend, Mike Eppenbaugh. He is a great young man in Warsaw, Ind who is changing lives through his amazing example. We will hear his story from his own words:
“I would say that my life is a underdog story. One day when I was 3 y/o, I was not feeling good, but my dad asked me if I wanted to go to preschool that day before dropping me off at my babysitter. I told him that I wanna go, but when I arrived at the preschool, I passed out in the arms of the teacher. I was diagnosed with a serious life-threatening seizure and became hospitalized for two weeks fighting for my life. Thanks for the good Lord, I made it. My struggles continued through by school years with learning disabilities and the label of “you can’t learn as fast or as good your classmates”. Of course I had some friends cheer me on and be there for me, but I had my critics, too. Individuals who would make fun of my weight or think that I was stupid or that I wasn’t good enough to be their friend. Not only my classmates were my critics, some of the teachers continued to think I was not going to make through either. But I proved to them that I was good enough by making it through Elementary, Middle, and fighting through High School.
My senior year could be considered my best and almost worse year in school. First of all, my grades were the best they had been allowing me to hit the honor roll for first time ever while getting perfect attendance. I was flying high with possibly at getting a Core 40 Diploma ( a step higher than a normal one). All changed, though, when I was once again struck with a seizure that almost cost me not only my school life but my personal life as well. As this was unfolding, one teacher was hoping that I would not pass the English part of a standardize test and refused to sign the waiver trying to prevent me from High School graduation. Once again, I proved my critics wrong by graduating High School! A major victory in my life.
It took me a year and half out of high school to find my first full- time job. But at the same time, I was baptized because my heart was crying out. I took Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Things did not end here, my life actually started to get worse with my dad’s best friend committed suicide. I became so overwhelmed by depression that almost two weeks later, I attempted to commit suicide by taking knife to myself. My family and my friends came beside me and helped me kick depression’s butt.
Now let us Fast Forward about five years, just before my 26 birthday, a friend of mine ask me what I doing was on a Tuesday Night. Unknown to me, I was about to be introduced to the LIFE Leadership community. My eyes were opened to a group of people that really care about me and will help me Win Big in my life. Thanks to the books I have read, all of the CDs I have listened to (A Whole Lot of them!), and the encouragement from Blake and Apryl Harris, my life has turned around BIG TIME for the better. I now have a positive attitude and let my Sanguine-Phlegmatic Personality really shine in both my personal and professional life. Because of the LIFE Leadership community, my job at McDonalds for the last seven and half years (quitting twice and coming back), has changed dramatically. My hard work, like Chris Brady’s Today’s the Day Cd ( Seven and Half Years!), the double shifts, working on my days off, angry customers flipping me the Bird! (TODAY’S THE DAY!) is finally paying off. I was recently promoted to Manager in Training position. Likely to get my own store. I want to thank the Life Leadership community (especially Aron and Mary Radosa, Phil and Shannon Bontrager. and Blake and Apryl Harris) for helping me become a lot better person. I don’t where my life would be without this culture, so THANK YOU !
My journey so far had been hard but it’s has been so Worth IT ! and this only the beginning of my success journey. God Bless,Mike Eppenbaugh”
The Right Community + the Right Hunger + the Right Information = Overcomer! I changed by watching Mike change and in hearing his story. I pray you put yourself in an environment that improves you! Put yourself in the LIFE Leadership community!
God bless,
Aron
Steel the Mind, and Tender the Heart.
Aron Radosa Leadership Blog 