392. Crisis Survivor Empowers Others

As a teenager, friends of his father, and IBM executive, often gave him tickets to hear inspirational speakers. One speaker, in particular, made a powerful impression on him at age 18. An audience member asked the speaker, “Do you actually DO the things you’re teaching us?” The speaker replied, “Write down everything that I’m telling you, just don’t watch my life real closely.” Jeff recalls thinking,” You have got to be kidding!” He walked out. Later, he told his father, “Dad, I don’t ever want to go to another one of those! I do want to be a speaker, but I want my life to be the thing that speaks, and I want to speak from my real-life experience.” That commitment never left him, but it took a near-death experience for him to put it into action.

As a teenager, friends of his father, and IBM executive, often gave him tickets to hear inspirational speakers. One speaker, in particular, made a powerful impression on him at age 18. An audience member asked the speaker, “Do you actually DO the things you’re teaching us?” The speaker replied, “Write down everything that I’m telling you, just don’t watch my life real closely.” Jeff recalls thinking,” You have got to be kidding!” He walked out. Later, he told his father, “Dad, I don’t ever want to go to another one of those! I do want to be a speaker, but I want my life to be the thing that speaks, and I want to speak from my real-life experience.” That commitment never left him, but it took a near-death experience for him to put it into action.

Jeff faced a near-death experience in 2008 while at work on a construction site. His body lay beside a pool his company was building, covered in shrapnel wounds. Nearly 10 minutes passed before Jeff showed any signs of life. He recalls sensing an overwhelming impulse to return to life. Since the accident, Jeff has been pursuing his goal, helping people around the world reach their full potential, beginning with people facing humanitarian crises.

“There are people all over the world living in situations like the life I was living before crisis struck. They are blessed with a good business, a good brain and good opportunities. Then, suddenly, a tsunami or an earthquake happens, or a life-threatening accident. In my case, it was the tsunami of 2004 that opened my eyes to that reality. It was 100 percent the catalyst for creating Misfit Aid, and for my vision to empower thousands of people to reach their full potential, beyond their wildest dreams.”