This has been an extraordinary first year for American Snippets.
In the brief time since we launched, we’ve met and shared stories from dozens of truly inspiring Americans.
It’s been our pleasure bringing you inspirational podcast, article, and video interviews from a Medal of Honor recipient, a Pulitzer nominee, combat veterans, cancer survivors, top entrepreneurs, and all sorts of American role models from Hollywood to small town. Each of our guests has worked hard to realize his or her American Dream and is now helping others do the same.
We are firm believers that inspiration alone is not enough.
Therefore it was not enough for us to simply share stories of others giving back, without us doing the same. We knew there was more we could do so in September 2017, we accomplished the act we are most proud of.
With incredible support from sponsors and everyday Americans, we hosted our first entrepreneurial and empowerment retreat for Gold Star women from across the country.
Each attendee is in various stages of life after losing a husband, son, or fiancé as a result of active duty military service.
For three days, we shared a house and our experiences with each other.
One amazing guest speaker and presenter after another blew us away with their passion, patriotism, and generosity as they helped us ignite a fiery will to rebuild in each of our attendees.
Eric Basek started us off at the crack of dawn with a Krav Maga class. We can think of no better way to introduce a fierce mindset than by reminding our attendees that their lives are still precious and still worth fighting for. We told him to be tough on us even though we’re pretty sure he knows no other way. It was amazing to be alongside these women as they tapped into their inner warrior they either never knew they had or believed was gone forever.
David Lionheart brought his own brand of intensity to our event with a workshop disguised as fun. Camaraderie, physical fitness, resilience, patriotism, and a positive mindset found their way into each attendee via a unique blend of serious and lighthearted moments that must be experienced to fully appreciate.
Rob Curtis, former police officer turned entrepreneur and executive, took us back inside for a high-energy talk that kept our attendees figuratively on their feet as he peeled back the layers of life and illustrated the rainbows that appear after storms.
Kent Clothier joined us virtually from across the country. The founder and CEO of the multi-faceted real estate education company Real Estate Worldwide, managed to make his presence felt as if right there in the room as he opened up about a personal experience that taught him how precious each moment is. Kent followed up on his passionate, inspirational message by offering over $50,000 of education and software to our attendees.
Tracy Shue is herself a military widow. She joined our nine other Gold Star women and shared her incredible story of resilience. Her partner and our friend Cilla McCain sent her support and a personal message from her Georgia home, adding to the warmth and strength generated from Tracy. Cilla is working with Tracy on a book about the murder of Tracy’s husband. Their organization, Military Families for Justice, offers support and resources for all military families grappling with the aftermath of unconventional deaths.
Our sponsor, the Got Your Back Network, was represented by Roy Baldwin, who took his own time to join us and offer his support to our event.
Last but certainly not least, we brought We Are Strong to the people who served as a catalyst for us to create our event. Taya Kyle, Chad Fleming, David Goggins and Marcus Luttrell announced their NYC stop on the Patriot Tour, and we knew that was our sign that the time for our first event had arrived.
We can think of no other way to wrap up our event than bringing our attendees to hear some of the most powerful speakers with amazing stories of courage, tragedy, patriotism, and triumph.
A quick meet and greet with Team Never Quit was outdone by a personal onstage shout out from Taya, followed by a touching standing ovation from the crowd, after Chad announced our presence in the audience.
It was a beautiful, uplifting moment that will stay with us forever.
Entrepreneurship and emboldened mindsets are core components in the lives of some of the most successful people we know:
- Courage to take a leap.
- Faith to push through dark times.
- Commitment to continue when exhaustion holds you down.
- Determination to succeed.
- Perseverance to get up each time you are knocked down.
- Certainty that your life is too precious to give up on.
- Gratitude for the opportunity to grow.
- A sense of achievement.
- Desire to give back
Each of the above is a mindset that carries over from entrepreneurship to life.
We understand the power of these mindsets. We have made it through our own dark times because of them. We know the value of each, and the impact that can be made in the lives of anyone searching for their own path to the life they seek.
It was a gift to be able to share these insights with our attendees, and we cannot wait to do it again.
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