As the founder and director of the Quad City P.R.I.D.E. (Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, Excellence) Youth Organization 501-c-3, I had come to the conclusion that being “rich,” is on the inside, in terms of service not $$$. I started with nothing but a gym bag and the desire to make a difference in the lives of others. We didn’t even have a roof over our heads when we, my first students and I, started. The local news did a story about us, which helped launch our first big fundraiser, a car wash that raised $1,950 dollars on one Saturday afternoon. In no way did this money make Quad City PRIDE “rich,” but it did help us, my students and I, rent our first building and really start to make a difference in our community.
     After considerable success in the boxing ring and classroom, students winning National Championships and making the Honor Roll with straight A’s, we received more media attention. In the article it was mentioned that the program was changing the lives of “poor” kids. I was really bothered by the label “poor kids” and had a meeting with my students the day the article hit the news stands. I explained to them that they were not “poor,” and to never call themselves “poor.” I told them that it did not matter if they received free lunch, lived in the “projects,” or were considered low-socio-economic, because these things are all about money. I went on to explain that $$$ does not make a person “rich,” but that character is what makes an individual rich. Being rich comes from your character and is measured by the positive difference one can make in the lives of others. And by this definition, everyone in my youth program was indeed “rich:” developing their own character and making a difference in first their own life and then the lives of those to follow.
     If I would have never lived the embarrassing moment in the lunchroom, I may have not grown to have such a passion for making a difference. I may have truly stayed “poor:” not making a difference in the lives of others, for the rest of my life, and what a waste that would have been. I am indeed thankful for that humbling moment in the lunchroom. It really made a difference in my life and I believe it has served others, as well.

Significant emotional events that shaped me:
     There are many significant emotional events that shaped me, some of which I mentioned earlier and a few others I will now share. Very early and throughout my life I felt an abundant amount of love from both of my parents. I believe openly sharing love is one of the most powerful things any parents can ever do for their children. Throughout my life no matter what challenges I faced, I always felt their unconditional love. This unconditional love has been passed to me and is now given daily two my amazing daughters and son who is developing in my wife’s womb at this moment. I love my wife and our family in a sacred way as well. With these values engrained in me, I strive…even with my sometimes busy and hectic schedule, to keep “Family First.” I don’t always exemplify this highest value, when I overbook myself, but in my heart my family is definitely at the center.
     At the age of seven, my parents split up. They divorced by the time I was eight and this was something that devastated me on the inside. I remember watching my dad openly turn to alcohol and watching his health decline over the years. I later learned that he hid his drinking problem from my sister and me before the divorce. During the same years I watched him struggle as a homeless man, living out of his van down by the river, and eventually renting, then buying a house. Those years were rough for him and had an impact on my values.
     I believed that being financially “poor,” contributed to the break up of our family and for years this drove my dreams. I knew that boxing would be my ticket out of the “free lunch” line, and that once I became the Undisputed Champion of the World and a multi-millionaire- I would have the finances to become a full-time dad and provide for my future family as well. As a result, I spent countless hours in the gym and on the road traveling all over the country competing against the other top boxers in the United States.
     At seventeen, the youngest athlete competing, I made it to the quarterfinals at the 92’ Eastern Olympic Trials and was invited to train at the United States Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid New York. While in New York, I met a “Team USA” coach named Steve Smith. Steve invited me to live with him, in Lynwood Washington, and train for the next Olympics (1996 Atlanta Georgia). I moved that fall after finishing third at the National PAL Championships. I continued polishing my boxing skills and was determined to make the Olympic boxing team in 1996.
     Then on January 13th 1994 my life changed forever, as I collided head-on with a double trailer semi-truck. I was eighteen and on that day my life literally passed before my eyes as my spirit cried out for one more chance to live in this world. My cry was answered and my life was spared. It is only by the grace of God that I am alive and able to share my story with you today.
     I spent the next year unable to walk (wheel chair) and for the first time in my life, my dreams of greatness were not quite as clear. I struggled internally as I tried to hold onto my dreams.
      One year later the rod from my leg was removed and, after a month of recovery, I was able to walk again. On that day I went to a school running track and committed myself to running five miles. This was a true test of mental toughness, as my body broke down lap after lap and I refused to give up until I completed the five miles (20 laps). I made it and went to my car, grabbed a camera and took a picture of the sunset. I then went to my car and cried my eyes out… for I knew this was a test I had passed and proved to myself that I still had the determination to live my dreams. On that day I took the first step toward the greatest comeback in my life.
     Less than three years after that unforgettable day, I climbed into the boxing ring and claimed the United States Armed Forces Gold medal, after winning the All Army Championships the previous month. I then went on to compete in the World CISM Championships, lose my father, who died after living ten months as a sober man, and got married within 30 days. Once again, emotional events that would shape my outlook on life.
      Just one month after my dad died, I fought my last fight in a dual against the National Team of Mexico. After this fight the training was just too much for my previous leg injuries (leg was in seven pieces after the auto accident four years earlier) and I had knee surgery, and retired from boxing.
     Six months later I came home, East Moline, Illinois, and began to pursue a career as a professional educator. I also began coaching a young boy named Joe Perez, now a two time National Champion and honors student. I also founded the Quad City PRIDE Youth Organization, which was mentioned previously.
      Four years of struggling to make ends meet, finishing college, and making a difference in the lives of young boxers, things began to take a toll on my family life. My wife was growing resentful of the tremendous amount of time I spent, fundraising, in the gym, and traveling to competitions around the country. I was making a tremendous difference in the lives of young people, but at the expense of my family. This was “eating me up” inside.
      I went to a boxing match in southern Illinois and spoke with a fellow coach and friend, named Mike, who had been in a coma after a severe auto accident. That night, Mike told me that when he woke up, he asked himself, where his life has gone. His daughter was graduating from College and his son was graduating from high school and Mike was asking himself where he had been. His answer brought him to tears. He went on to explain that although he has helped hundreds of young people become more than they would have been, although he had taken many youngsters around the country and even to other countries that they may have never seen, he still felt empty. He felt empty for missing his son play sports, because he was at the boxing gym helping someone else’s son. He wasn’t there for his daughter’s prom and other significant events, because he was out of town on boxing trips. And this was time he could never get back. He felt terrible and just cried and cried, because now there was nothing he could do to go back and change things.
     This conversation was a wakeup call for me. I went home and told my wife that I was shutting the gym down, and dissolving the 501-c-3 youth organization altogether. She skeptically said “I don’t believe you, you have said you were going to cut back before and never have.” But, she didn’t know how moving the conversation I had with Mike was.
     The next day was a very emotional day in my life. I had grown to love many of the kids in the gym, and I loved Joe and Cruse like sons. How would I break this news to them? Would they be ok? I didn’t know, but I had to do it, for the sake of my family, the center of my heart. I went to the gym and took Joe out into and then down the hallway. I sat him down and put my arm around him. I began by looking him in the eyes and telling him how much I loved him, just like a son. I then explained to him my situation and let him know that I would be closing the gym after the Jr. Olympics, which were just two months away. He and I cried our eyes out and I assured him, that I was not giving up on him and his dreams, but that I had to do this for my family life. I told him that for the rest of my life, I would be there for him and help in anyway I could. I then had a similar one on one dialog with Cruse. They were both devastated that day, but at the same time they respected my decision.
     A few months later I sent Cruse to the United States Olympic Training Center and he was accepted into the resident program to train for the Olympic Games. I have continued to work with Joe at my house, before major tournaments and he is currently number two (Jr. Boxer) in the United States and also training for the next Olympic Games. I continue to mentor both of these young men and now have more time to invest in my own family, my wife and our children.
     As a result of these significant life events, I feel much more balanced and centered than I had during any other time in my life. I’m still not as balanced as I desire to be, but things are steadily improving. I am thankful for all of these emotional events.

“The greatest loss in the world, is the loss of human potential.”
                                                       -Leo Buscaglia
     The great Leo Buscaglia once said, “The greatest loss in the world is the loss of human potential.” Think about that for a moment…“The greatest loss in the world is the loss of human potential.” Examine your own life. Reflect on your human potential. What thoughts arise? What questions challenge your mind? Have you ever felt that you simply haven’t lived up to you own human potential.
     Many of us have struggled with that thought throughout our lives. We have often strived to maximize our human potential. We have read books, gone to seminars, and even listened to a wide variety of messages from other professional speakers. We have done these things and many more in order to maximize our human potential.
     Living in an achievement driven society it is sometimes easy to become consumed by this relentless struggle to maximize our human potential. Some researchers have suggested that we use as little as 7% of our brain’s potential and some have even suggested that 1% would be more accurate. I’m not sure if 7% or 1% is more accurate, but I do believe that we have lost some of our human potential.
     I believe that we begin to loose our human potential when we become absorbed by the struggle to maximize it. I understand, this may sound like a contradiction, but it is not. Not if you believe as I do, that our greatest potential as human beings, is the potential to give…something to someone else. It could be a piece of bread to nourish the body, an education to nourish the mind, or perhaps a profoundly moving word to nourish the soul. With that said, I share the following words of Leo Buscaglia, “Everybody has something to give that no one else in the world has to give." This is the message I strived to instill in my students, when I was a an elementary school teacher. This commonly shared belief is why I am a professional speaker and author today. I believe it is my gift to inspire others through the power of the spoken and written words, and I challenge you to maximize your potential, and give…your gift to someone else.

Discovering Your Greatness
     I am honored to have crossed paths with you, and humbled to have shared these life experiences with you. I believe we are on a common journey in this life. It is a journey of inward exploration and outward expression and elevation…the elevation of others. As we continue to look within, align with our purpose, and share with others, we will continue Discovering Greatness!
     Our true greatness lies within the seeds we have planted in the lives of others. The fruits of those seeds are the impact they have on the lives of those around you. The greatness of those seeds is discovered when they are replanted in the lives of others…for greatness outlives itself. I encourage you to plant the Seeds of Greatness in the life of another.

“Believe It Baby!”
     Besides inspiring audience members in my keynote speeches, my other passion is teaching babies how to literally read. My own children have been reading since the ages of two and one. Yes, literally reading…click on “See It to Believe It.” For more information on learning how to teach the babies in your life how to read, go to: www.believeitbaby.com
     I also provide Training Seminars for parents, educators, and other early childcare providers to teach them a step by step approach to teaching babies how to read. I know it sounds hard to believe...but I challenge you to put aside the limiting thought that this is impossible and simply, “Believe It Baby!”

“Believe It Baby!”
Steve Van De Walle
Discovering Greatness
Contact Steve