Origin story...
"Life is long... if you know how to use it." - Seneca
Things weren't always so great. My folks divorced before my first birthday. Being an only child of a single mom came with some prejudice and lack of acceptance from some folks. Plus, I had more than my fair share of issues as a child--orthopedic problems, glasses, crooked teeth, pimples, obesity (and named "Stout" ouch!), being bullied, anxiety disorder, ugh... I loved my folks, and I think they loved each other, they just couldn't live together. My mom loved the buzz of the city (Dallas), and my dad loved the farm where he had literally been born.
I lived my first 12 years with my mom and grandmother until her passing and overwhelming medical costs basically bankrupted my mom. As a result, I moved to the farm and lived with my dad (for the first time in my life) in the 120 year old house he had been born in (and with no indoor plumbing or electricity until the 1950s), it had no A/C and a coal furnace when I lived there. It took some getting used to, but my dad was cool. And it was kind of deja vu all over again with the lack of acceptance. This time it was with some of my dad's relatives who pretty much said that I would not amount to much.
My dad worked hard on the farm, and when I was old enough, I did too. As a result, I knew for sure that I was NOT going to be a farmer. Also during that time I picked up healthy eating and exercise, and lost 64 pounds one summer. My dad's parents didn't graduate high school, and my dad was OK with whatever I wanted to do, so college here I come. I worked hard to deal with my learning weaknesses and was able to get scholarships to fund all of my undergraduate courses at Purdue (first as a math major, then a degree in architecture, and another one in psychology).
Off to grad school and a failed first marriage and gaining back 50 pounds or so. Then a six-figure debt of student loans by the time I finished my first doctorate and fellowship. To skip to the chase, I now have lost that 50, paid off the debt and done a fair amount more. Now, I want to be able to help others work through their issues and problems, as well as help them to become the person they want to be. Not just "OK" but to truly live A Life in Full. I can tell you, there is nothing, and I mean nothing that is more satisfying than to accomplish what you set your mind to (and to show the naysayers who said you couldn't do it).
Do you know the feeling when you've read a great book or seen a great movie or forward a great video? That's how I feel about all the things I have learned and experienced. I've been a graduate or medical school professor for 30 years and I love to teach and engage others in making them better, smarter, and more successful. A Life in Full brings these passions together to a wider audience. Please be in touch and let me know how I can be of help.
Things weren't always so great. My folks divorced before my first birthday. Being an only child of a single mom came with some prejudice and lack of acceptance from some folks. Plus, I had more than my fair share of issues as a child--orthopedic problems, glasses, crooked teeth, pimples, obesity (and named "Stout" ouch!), being bullied, anxiety disorder, ugh... I loved my folks, and I think they loved each other, they just couldn't live together. My mom loved the buzz of the city (Dallas), and my dad loved the farm where he had literally been born.
I lived my first 12 years with my mom and grandmother until her passing and overwhelming medical costs basically bankrupted my mom. As a result, I moved to the farm and lived with my dad (for the first time in my life) in the 120 year old house he had been born in (and with no indoor plumbing or electricity until the 1950s), it had no A/C and a coal furnace when I lived there. It took some getting used to, but my dad was cool. And it was kind of deja vu all over again with the lack of acceptance. This time it was with some of my dad's relatives who pretty much said that I would not amount to much.
My dad worked hard on the farm, and when I was old enough, I did too. As a result, I knew for sure that I was NOT going to be a farmer. Also during that time I picked up healthy eating and exercise, and lost 64 pounds one summer. My dad's parents didn't graduate high school, and my dad was OK with whatever I wanted to do, so college here I come. I worked hard to deal with my learning weaknesses and was able to get scholarships to fund all of my undergraduate courses at Purdue (first as a math major, then a degree in architecture, and another one in psychology).
Off to grad school and a failed first marriage and gaining back 50 pounds or so. Then a six-figure debt of student loans by the time I finished my first doctorate and fellowship. To skip to the chase, I now have lost that 50, paid off the debt and done a fair amount more. Now, I want to be able to help others work through their issues and problems, as well as help them to become the person they want to be. Not just "OK" but to truly live A Life in Full. I can tell you, there is nothing, and I mean nothing that is more satisfying than to accomplish what you set your mind to (and to show the naysayers who said you couldn't do it).
Do you know the feeling when you've read a great book or seen a great movie or forward a great video? That's how I feel about all the things I have learned and experienced. I've been a graduate or medical school professor for 30 years and I love to teach and engage others in making them better, smarter, and more successful. A Life in Full brings these passions together to a wider audience. Please be in touch and let me know how I can be of help.
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Start-Up, Corporate, and Practice Consultation
I run an international consultancy, by remarkable coincidence called Stout Ventures Advisory. I advise and provide assistance in the areas of for-profit technology start-ups (healthcare and medicine primarily), clinical practices and healthcare systems, publishing, and non-profit development via retainer or hourly arrangements.
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I have a history of being a Chief/E/O/I/Officer with as many as 500 staff reporting to me. Now I serve on the boards of several companies with their CEOs reporting to me, which I prefer a whole lot more. I am also involved in angel investing in compelling instances for first-money in, start-ups, syndicates, and mid-stage interests.
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