252. A Former Student’s Thanks is a Prime Gift for 2016 Oscars Publicist

A Japanese-American, Steve was adopted by a white family in a small town in Montana. “I was the only Asian kid, probably in, I don’t know, 50 or a hundred miles, at least.” His family was multicultural before multicultural was cool. In addition to the adoptive parents’ birth son and Steve, “my sister came onboard, and she is biracial, half black and half white. And then another sister showed up, and she’s African-American. So we really stood out.” “And I just couldn’t find my way for a minute or two, and then in high school I wandered into a speech class. And it was a turning point for me.”

When he found the speech class, Steve says, “I really was able to find my tribe—a lot of weirdos in that class, and I was one of them. It felt good to be among the weirdos—a terrific, amazing, incredible group of people—and it was a state championship-winning team. The team won the state speaking championship every single year, really an incredible experience.”

“You have to trust your skills, and trust that you are prepared to do the job. When I started my own public relations agency, I knew that every dollar and every hour I invested was an investment in myself. And I wasn’t afraid to step into the fear and do what needed to be done to get the clients and develop the business.” In recent years, Steve has reached back to teach and mentor students, “because it has been such an important factor in my life and my career.”

1. Find your talent and develop it; learn your skill or your craft.

2. A “rendezvous with destiny” is just a meeting. Make it to your meeting.

3. I don’t believe in kicking down the doors. I believe in moving forward, and going through the doors that open to you.

4. Move closer to your dream, and your dream will come to you.