In January, I attended a convention where one of the featured speakers was my friend, Stephen Palmer.
Steve’s bio is at the end of this post, but what I want you to know is that Steve actually believes and lives what he says. I hope Steve and Karina won’t mind too much if I get a little personal.
I have known Steve for more than ten years. I knew him when he was a newly married “too smart for his britches” freshman.
I watched as he and his family tried their hand at business and fell flat on their faces. I have had painful conversations with Steve when he was in the depths of misery, and I have watched in amazement as he pulled himself up out of the ashes to become a New York Times best-selling author and world-class speaker.
I share this bit of transformation to communicate the idea that growth and mission are painful.
Entrepreneurship is not easy, and for every success story there is a corresponding behind-the-scenes story of pain, struggles, and tears.
But every one of these stories is a story of liberty, of financial freedom, of political autonomy, of successful mission.
Every one of the stories I could tell here, including Steve and Karina’s story, is a story of triumph against terrible odds, a story that could have ended in mediocrity and “settling,” but only due to the belief in something better, progressed into a story of endurance, perseverance, and unusual optimism.
It is with this intro that I ask you to take the next 20 minutes and watch this video:
CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO ON YOUTUBE
Stephen Palmer is an idealist, truth-seeker, lover of liberty, writer, and the author of Uncommon Sense: A Common Citizen’s Guide to Rebuilding America
He has a burning belief in the power of the human spirit — our ability to transcend circumstances and achieve greatness through choice. That belief drives him to strive for virtue and excellence in his own life, and to do all in his power to uplift and inspire others.
He lives and promotes his passion as a founding partner of The Center for Social Leadership, through his personal blog, and, of course, through Life Manifestos.
He co-authored, with Garrett Gunderson, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Businessweek, and Amazon bestseller Killing Sacred Cows: Overcoming the Financial Myths that are Destroying Your Prosperity. He also co-authored, with Kris Krohn, The Conscious Creator: Six Laws for Manifesting Your Masterpiece Life, as well as Hub Mentality: Shifting from Business Transactions to Community Interactions with Carl Woolston.
A dedicated learner and promoter of personal, financial, and governmental freedom, Stephen is passionate about political philosophy, economics, history, personal finance, entrepreneurship, religion and spirituality, family, education and culture. (See his favorite books and movies.)
He graduated from a liberal arts college where he was mentored by Oliver DeMille. He’s also been privileged to be mentored by Steve D’Annunzio. He is also a graduate and faculty member of Wizard Academy, a “non-traditional business school” with an emphasis on the art and science of persuasive communication.
He and his wife Karina are raising their four kids in southern Utah. When he’s not writing or spending time with his family, you’ll find him reading, canyoneering in Zion National Park, gardening, or playing basketball.
3 Responses
Thank you, Shanon!
Stephen reminds me of this quote that I know you’re very familiar with: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
This is just what I needed! Very inspiring and motivating! Thank you!
I enjoy Stephen’s writings and often share them with others. I always learn something or gain a new perspective. His story is inspirational and shows that we can all achieve more if we seek out our life’s mission and then do it.