 |
In Bob Wieland's world, obstacles create opportunities and conquests breed inspiration. |
The Aftermath Of A Volatile Year And The Challenges AheadAs the market crawls to the finish line of one of the most volatile years in history, investors around the world contemplate the challenges and uncertainties which lie ahead in the year to come. It is questions like:
- What will be the outcome of the European Debt Crisis?
- Will a bank contagion result in bringing the economy to its knees as it did a few short years ago?
- Will our government finally come to an agreement in how to handle our sky rocketing deficit?
- Will the deficit solution involve severe tax increases or excessive cuts in the military which will affect our national security; making us less safe from those enemies who want nothing more than to do us harm?
- Is this unprecedented volatility caused by fear and uncertainty going to end badly, as volatility often does, as investors grow weary of seeing their life savings fluctuate so violently from one day to the next?
Waiting For A Hero To Emerge From The AshesWe keep hearing, “be optimistic, markets tend to do well in election years”. As if some politician has the answers and he or she will bring this country back to prosperity, people will find jobs and we will see the end of poverty. We will accomplish this while strengthening our military and taking care of those who willingly sacrifice their lives to protect us and the freedom we cherish.
As our politicians continue to try to destroy each other for the sake of protecting their political futures instead of sacrificing themselves for the sake of the hard working Americans who are struggling, it’s difficult to believe that a hero will emerge.
When It Seems Like All Hope Is Lost … A Hero EmergesIf this were a Hollywood movie, the ideal time for a hero to emerge is when it seems that all hope is lost. One day, while sitting at my desk working endless hours after a year of facing the challenges and obstacles which the world economy has created, trying to help the business owners I represent face what seems like insurmountable challenges in the year ahead and the uncertainty retirees face after years of working hard for those few golden years of retirement — my hero emerged. In movies, I always like the idea of an unlikely hero and my unlikely hero was double amputee Vietnam Veteran war hero, Bob Wieland.
He Lost His Legs But He Didn’t Lose His HeartBob lost both legs in Vietnam when he stepped on a landmine while trying to save a fellow soldier. He was declared dead and put in a body bag alongside all of those brave heroes who gave their lives fighting for our freedom. It was an orderly who saw him moving in the body bag … he lost his legs but didn’t lose his heart and has been grateful to live life to its fullest ever since.
Upon returning home, Bob dedicated his life to motivating and inspiring people. Bob walked across America on his hands and arms in three years, he’s a four time world record holder in the bench press (competing against people who have legs) with a best lift of 507 lbs., he has completed the New York, Los Angeles and Marine Corp marathon and is the only double amputee to complete the grueling Ironman Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii as well as being the strength coach for the Green Bay Packers.
His list of accomplishments since returning home from Vietnam is endless. His disability inspired him to inspire others. The greatest accomplishment being that for each and every achievement, Bob has donated all of the proceeds from generous individuals who have sponsored him to the poor, the hungry and the disheartened who he’s met on his incredible journeys. Bob’s message is always “I lost my legs but I didn’t lose my heart”.
Inspiration When So Many Are So Uninspired – Dream Ride 3Bob and I spoke several times about his latest challenge, Dream Ride 3, where Bob will be riding coast to coast from his Dream Center in Los Angeles to Washington, DC, in an effort to set the world record as the first 65 year old (or older), to ride across America on a three wheeled hand cycle.
Bob will do this to help America reach out to fellow citizens by supporting our heroes: peace officers, firefighters, wounded veterans and youth who all deserve a hand up, as well as those in need due to our challenging economic times. In our conversation, Bob told me that his heart breaks for those in need and it’s his life mission to do what he can to help, motivate and inspire them.
Those Who May Have Legs But Have Lost HeartIn our conversation, we spoke of the many disheartened youth who see no hope or inspiration in their lives. Bob heard about my involvement as Chairmen of the Executive Council of Daytop NJ, an adolescent drug treatment center with 75 inpatient kids who are trying to turn their lives around after suffering the devastating effects of drug addiction.
I mentioned that there has been nothing more painful than to stand at the graveside of a teenager that lost his or her life to a drug overdose or suicide because they couldn’t see a future for themselves, and how much they needed inspiration from a man like him. I told him that our slogan at Daytop NJ is “every kid deserves a chance”.
He was in full agreement. I told Bob I would tell everyone I knew about him because the world needs more men and women like him.
The E-mail That Changed My LifeA few days after our conversation, I received an email from Bob that stated he would be donating half of the proceeds from his Dream ride 3 to Daytop New Jersey in an effort to help fulfill our mission “that any kid that needs help getting off drugs will never be turned away”.
This reminded me of another lyric in “we carry on” – “It’s the family that grieves for a lost loved one, it’s the soldier who won’t leave till the job is done, it’s the addict trying to turn his life around, it’s picking yourself off the ground when you’ve been knocked down”. At age 65 Bob is “the soldier who won’t leave until the job is done”. His generosity will never be forgotten.
Dawn Of A New Day – A Year To Stop Looking For Heroes In The Wrong PlacesAs most of the world looked for heroes in the government, the central banks and politicians in general, what they actually ended up with was little inspiration, confusion and empty promises. I believe that there are well intentioned politicians who desire to make a difference in the world but they are elected to be servants of the people they represent and rarely become heroes.
The ultimate price a hero must pay is to give up themselves or their life for others. It’s a price that few men or women are willing to pay. The real heroes are people like Bob Wieland and all of those men and women who put their lives on the line for the sake of protecting this great country and its citizens.
It is kids who made poor choices in their youth but decided to do whatever it takes to turn their life around and help others to do the same. It’s the disabled who overcome great obstacles and accomplish great things while always helping others; they are the true heroes.
It’s those who never forget the poor, the sick and all of those who can’t help themselves that are the heroes. Let’s look to them instead – for it is because of them that this nation is great.
Born To OvercomeAs we begin 2012 it’s almost a guarantee that we will see tremendous chaos, not only here, but all over the world. The one characteristic of every hero is that they are all “born to overcome”.
This remarkable trait of a hero is within us all in that we are “born to overcome” whatever it is that has held us back in life. Let 2012 be a year we find the hero within ourselves, and to quote Bob Wieland, “it’s always too soon to quit” instead it’s time to carry on.
No comments:
Post a Comment