26: Custodian Work Meets Lifelong Achievement

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Michael Vaudreuil lost everything in the 2008 recession and took the best opportunity in front of him at the time which was a custodian position at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He took classes by day and cleaned floors by night over 8 years to earn his degree in mechanical engineering. His story went viral and he was immediately hired by a huge aerospace engineering company right after college. In this episode:

  • The effects of the 2008 financial crisis
  • How unconditional support in a marriage can transform someone’s life
  • Taking classes and taking a custodian job at 46 years old
  • The fuel that kept him pursuing his degree
  • What it feels like to walk across the graduation stage after 8 years of academic work
  • Walking through the cancer diagnosis of a spouse
  • Why choosing the best opportunity in front of you tends to be the correct way to go

You can reach out to Michael on his facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/michael.vaudreuil.3

25: Marine to Olympian with Jimmy Sides

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Jimmy Sides was serving the United States in the Marine Corps in Afghanistan when a bomb exploded and left him without his right arm and without vision in his left eye. This led him to find a new way to serve his country and he eventually became a Paralympic Snowboarder for the United States in South Korea in 2018. In this episode:

  • What is it like to be an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technician?
  • The bomb exploded – now what?
  • Deciding to amputate another part of your arm
  • Picking up everything you own, moving to another state, and chasing your dream
  • Making the Olympic team and what that challenge is like

You can follow Jimmy on Instagram @jimmstagram66

24: Father of Aerobics with Dr. Kenneth Cooper

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Dr. Cooper coined the term “aerobics” and began the fitness and exercise revolution. But, when he first started he was ridiculed by the medical community, and was told that he was going to harm people and not help people. Well, Dr. Cooper proved them wrong, has traveled all over the world, wrote numerous best selling books, and has led countless people to a healthy life. In this episode:

  • How he proved aerobic exercise equals longevity
  • Trailblazing the medical field
  • Overcoming critical experts from the medical community
  • The 8 steps to get Cooperized and live a healthy life
  • Overcoming a facility fire and financial debt to pursue a passion
  • The 4 keys to Dr. Cooper’s success
  • Speaking in front of 223,000 people in Rio de Janeiro with Billy Graham
  • What it means to pass your business onto your child

You can find out more info about Dr. Cooper at www.cooperaerobics.com

23: One Leg Up On Life

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Christy is one of six Air Force pilots to return to the sky after an amputation and is the first female of the group. She lost her leg in a boating accident and discusses her amazing comeback story. She is also the founder of One Leg Up On Life Foundation which provides prosthetics to the poor in Haiti. In this episode:

  • Reacting and surviving after a tragic event
  • Why she never doubted that she would return to the skies
  • Fighting through rehab and adjusting to life with a prostethic leg
  • The importance of sibling relationships
  • Why Christy decided to form her non-profit organization and the coolest moment from her time in Haiti

Christy is preparing to embark overseas on her first tour of duty. You can find out more about her and her organization at www.oneleguponlife.org

22: Officer Down but Never Out

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Matt Pearce is a police officer for the city of Fort Worth, Texas. He was shot 5 times by a wanted criminal in a heated pursuit. He should have died as many major organs were hit, yet he survived and returned to the police force after 20 months of recovery. In this episode:

  • Chasing down the suspect
  • How to survive with split-second decision making skills
  • Fighting through recovery with goals in mind
  • Why reaching out to others who have gone through similar circumstances is so beneficial
  • Life as a police officer – how is life different than the normal citizen’s?
  • Respect – why it is important in and out of the streets
  • The best things about being a cop and the city of Fort Worth

Matt can be reached through the Fort Worth Police Department Facebook page. Watch the video footage of his pursuit of the criminal.

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