I live along what is called the Space Coast of Florida.  I am a family man -- a husband, father, grandfather, brother and a friend.  I am married to a beautiful and wonderful woman (Adele Loucks Conte), and have a blended family of 11 children and 21 grandchildren.

I am a proud US Military Veteran and an Engineer / Analyst by formal education.  (That kinda makes me analytical – sometimes too much so.) And because of recent experiences, I feel a ‘calling’ and passion to help and work with people. (More about that later).

When I look for reasons for ‘the story’ of how and why I got to where I am now, it boils down to personal experiences.  Some I had wished and hoped for.  And also the other kind, … the life-changing ones I “didn’t see coming”.

Both prepared and helped mold me into who I really wanted to be.

And although I didn’t realize it at the time, I had just been introduced to the concept of business ownership and, as I would learn many years later – to be thought of as somewhat as an ‘entrepreneur’.

Over the next several weeks and many months, I did everything I was asked to do.  Surely I could find some people who see this like I do. But for some reason, it just wasn’t working as they told me.  I asked for more help and advice.

They just told me to do what they were taught to do – to find and talk to even more people. I again did what they asked… and again got the same negative results, doubted myself, and again quit.

Well, … I actually failed and quit many times!  Why?  Because my mind and my heart were just not in sync with who I was … or was to become.

I was willing to do the work and just knew that I could ‘do this’ – if I could just figure out what was missing … and why.

Until I “figured it out”, I retreated into my comfort zone where I felt ‘okay’.  I was ‘secure’ in my self-imposed cocoon – or so I thought.

When I left the military I thought that I landed a secure job with a large electronics firm.  Several years later they were bought out by an even larger electronics company … and they reduced staff (me included) by 20%!  It was shortly after the 9/11 disaster and it took me 18-months to find another job … one that I thought was a secure job in the space industry.

Forward in time to 2010…

My wife was working for a large defense contractor.  She had been there for about 14 years.  We thought that we were doing well – maybe even upper-middle-class lifestyle.  Things were going well.  We again felt ‘secure’.

And what did we have to show for it?

We were looking ahead to a plan for retirement.  But ‘life’ and the unexpected happened. 5-months after we had a home built for us and 3-months after we bought my wife a new vehicle that would take us into retirement I was laid off … and 1 month later my wife was told that she could probably expect a layoff too! My wife found another job within the same company, but it took me 12-months to find a job! And what did we have to show for it? I now had a job in corporate America, but …Savings gone.  Bills mounting.  Still a lot of stress and anxiety. Fast-forward to

Fast forward to 2018. I thought that I knew where I was and where I was headed.  And I thought that I had prepared and planned out my way to a secure financial future, happiness, and successful retirement.

At the time I was working as a contractor whose company was under contract to a very large government agency in the aviation field.

And then “it” happened!  I never saw this one coming! 

It was then that I realized that my education, experience, hard work, excellent appraisals, glowing reviews, and loyalty to my company did not guarantee secure employment or a financially secure future.

It happened when my wife and I were on vacation and sightseeing after attending our son’s wedding.  I got ‘the’ phone call from my boss that threw my life onto a new path.

It was déjà vu all over again … my 3rd layoff in the past 15-years from Corporate America ... and once again a significant loss of income, savings, self-esteem, and a feeling of worthlessness.

How long would this one last?  Each time the reason given was: “budget cuts.” We had plans. What would we do now? And how and when would I recover?

Surprisingly and sadly my research on the Internet showed that I was not alone … that I was a reluctant participant with way too many of my fellow workers in America who either had been the victim of an unexpected layoff or were suffering from ‘layoff anxiety’ (i.e., worried about losing their jobs and unprepared for it if they did).

I did an immediate self-assessment about where I was now and what I could do to change my financial situation – now.  I vowed that somehow this time would be different.

And then came the double whammy!  Not only would I have to figure out how to recover from my layoff, but my research showed me another dilemma … that I was also part of an overwhelming majority of people in my age group that was not financially prepared for retirement … or worried if they will ever be!

This time I couldn’t quit… on myself or on my family!

I made myself 2 promises:  #1 – I would be in control of my financial future and security and not leave it up to someone or something else, and #2 – I vowed that ‘this’ would never affect me or my family like this again.

Little did I realize that a phone call was just what I needed!  It was the ‘light bulb, aha’ moment for me.  It was the moment I realized that I had to stop blaming others or circumstances … and had to be honest with myself.  “What was I willing to do?”

And that was when I realized that I had found the missing ingredient – it was ME!  It was in my mind!

Although I long had a desire to own my own business and to be an entrepreneur, I didn’t have the first key ingredient to make that happen  – an entrepreneurial mindset.

Realizing that, I began to change my attitude.  I once again believed in myself and what could be. I knew that it wouldn’t happen overnight.  (But neither did getting my college education).  I knew that it wouldn’t always be easy.  To say otherwise would be a lie.  I was willing to pay the price.

Sure, I’d had and still do experience many detours on the road to where I want to be.  But those detours are not the end of the road nor will they keep me from my destination.

My journey would not stop at a detour.  My journey is the destination, and it is a journey that continues each day. I know that it is a process of learning, doing, focus, and discipline.  But I also know that it will be worth it.

I would first need to help myself.  I would take what I learned in my years of experience; what I learned that was practical and made sense about how to best plan for or recover from a personal financial disaster; what I felt were my strengths; … and create and follow my own new path ahead.

And of course, since a plan is always better when written down, I put my “how-to” guide in writing.  I call it “The Financial Disaster Survival Guide.” It shows in 5 steps how to quickly recover from personal financial disaster and you can get your copy for FREE by clicking HERE.

And then I felt something else inside of me.  Something that made me realize what it was that made me try so many times before and not quit.

That was when it became a passion and a conviction in my heart of hearts.  That was when I added the 2nd key ingredient to becoming an entrepreneur … that with my knowledge, I now needed to help and serve others too. Others who, like me, “didn’t see it coming” and were now or would likely become an unwilling statistic.

I found the niche for my business! And that is how and why I figured out...

I help and work with people – people like me and you – mostly working professionals between the ages of 40-60.  I combine that with the love and provide value I found in-home business entrepreneurship, personal development, and inspiration.

Helping others be better prepared, recover from their personal financial disasters, and achieve their goals is my focus and purpose. To help do that I created “The Financial Disaster Survival Guide.” Pick up your FREE copy by clicking HERE.

My research led me to create other guides, tips, and related information.  Some are available now; others will soon follow. It took 16-months and, although I have found a new job, the memory of what I carelessly allowed to happen to me hasn’t faded.  The fear and anxiety are now too real.

For now, my job sustains us and takes care of my family’s immediate needs. But I will never again rely solely on corporate America to provide for me or my family’s financial security, future or lifestyle.

Look, I know that ‘life’ happens, and there’s no way to avoid every emergency or disaster that life throws at you.  But with a plan, both you and I are ready to fight back and get back on track… to make the necessary course corrections from we are to where we want to be… and earned the right to be! 

So now what about you? Are you Stuck? Confused? Need help? Care to join me? I invite you to click the button below to learn more about working together to help you Build a Secure Future and Create the Life You Want.

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