21-12.
An uphill battle. His team down by nine points heading into the 3rd quarter of the state championship game and the biggest game of this young man’s life. This quarterback, the leader of his Harrison High School football team, suddenly takes off for a 50-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to only two points.
Two to tie, three to win. 4th quarter. Two seconds to go. One last chance.
It’s not a run, it’s not a pass. This quarterback kicks a field goal to win the state championship by a single point. A victory by the slimmest of margins with nearly no time remaining. For Pete Kohlasch, this was a huge moment, more dramatic than he had ever experienced, on the biggest stage of his life. For Pete, this was a turning point. In that moment, a leader was born.
This is the Sunday Series. Stories of courage, hope & inspiration. Inspiration can come in many forms, but visionaries, leaders, people doing what they were born to do, prove to us it can be done. They help lead us to a better version of ourselves, to look at our own lives and say, I can do more, I can dream, I can be the person I was meant to be.
The Sunday Series (36): Life in “Perspektive”
There is no doubt victory and the incredible success in leading his high school team to the state championship was a defining moment for Pete Kohlasch, but being made to feel small was also as big a motivator in his leadership development. “One of my first jobs out of college I was in a sales meeting and I am sitting at a round table of sorts and I communicate this great idea”, says Pete. “A colleague of mine turns to me and says, ‘you are not paid to be a visionary, you are paid to sell.’ I don’t think I was in that role for another month. I will be damned to be told I’m not a visionary or paid to be one. It’s a moment I will never forget.”
Being made to feel small has energized Pete to act big. And his actions, his heart, his smarts are all about you. Life for Pete is all about…you. He thinks about you, he plans for you, he wants to give back to you, he wants you to enjoy the life you were meant to live.
It comes from deep within Pete’s heart and it actually began long ago. “When I was a kid in an assembly in 3rd grade and saw a speaker on stage, or watching a TV program, or hearing a motivational speaker – I just knew from an early age I wanted to have an impact on other people. My mother and my grandmother did a great job of feeding me quotes and inspirational stories. I used to write poetry a little bit, I enjoy writing. Growing up I always had a notebook filled with thoughts and ideas.”
Pete means what he says. He is an idea man. Many say it, but actions speak louder than words. At only 29- years-of-age, Pete wrote and developed a live and virtual coaching program called Path to Mindfulness. Pete has helped to direct and transform the lives of people from all walks of life, from a 62-year-old chiropractor to a 23-year-old financial services professional. Just a few months back Pete headed west and spent a week in San Jose, California to learn from the best, Brendon Burchard, author of The Millionaire Messenger, The Golden Ticket, The Charge, and a man who runs a High Performance Academy. Pete came home certified as a High Performance Coach.
Pete says there has been a turning point recently. “When I’m reading or getting certified, or listening to someone speak, in my mind I’m thinking how can I translate this to the people I work with, it went from self-serving to how can I use this to help other people. It’s been a transformation in my coaching.”
The core of Pete’s business is something called PerspeKtive. That’s not a misspelling, it’s spelled that way for a reason, including the first and last initials in Pete’s name. His mission is clear: to positively impact the lives of other people through coaching and civic collaboration. Pete’s business is built on this platform: “Individuals shape society, but collaboration moves the world.” He also believes, as do I, in the message of business philosopher Jim Rohn: “Work harder on yourself than you do on your job. If you work hard at your job you make a living, work hard on yourself, you make a fortune.” Pete says since the moment he heard those words he has seen the benefit of working hard on himself and he is excited to help others and change lives.
Besides building his coaching platform, Pete is working hard with other civic leaders on projects designed to invoke positive change in the community. He’s been selected as a member of the Give Class, (http://www.businessvolunteersmd.org/volunteer/give-program/current-give-class/), and as a Rising Star, a program presented as part of the Living Classrooms by the Baltimore Business Journal. This is a select group of young professionals recognized for their professional achievements and philanthropic efforts.
All of this takes great effort, helping to exact change in the world is no easy business. Building your own personal growth business and being a true leader in your community takes dedication, discipline, and devotion and is not without struggle. You have to want it so badly and at the same time help convince others they too can build bigger lives. But the payoff is worth it. For Pete, this is what he wants to do with his life. Remember he is always thinking about you.
It’s Pete’s gift. “I have a genuine desire to help others”, Pete says. “To be free to create and serve. Always helping others to positively transform their lives so I can be remembered as someone who cared immensely, loved intensely and lived with great passion, purpose and intention.” And Pete’s not blowing smoke, watching him say those words in our interview I can see in his eyes how much this all means to him. It comes from deep within.
Pete’s parents were divorced when he was only 2-years-old. His stepfather came into his life a few years later and the two developed a very close relationship. Pete says instead of being resentful about the divorce, he feels very fortunate because he feels like he has done a good job of taking the best from all three of his parents: “Take the best and leave the rest”, Pete says. “I think everybody teaches us something.”
There is no doubt he’s on the right track. Just read these words from Pete’s mentor, Brendon Burchard from his book, The Charge: “The world really has changed to favor a new kind of worker, what I call the creative collaborator. The person who can be individually creative at work yet socially adept and tuned in when collaborating with others is the one who wins.” Remember Pete’s own vision for Perspektive: “Individuals shape society, but collaboration moves the world.” It’s Pete’s personal mission, the one he created on his own. A true visionary.
I urge you to seek out Pete to collaborate and have him lead you to a better life. (http://yourperspektive.com/) Every person Pete helps in transforming their own life moves the world another inch in the right direction. Add up those inches and soon we have feet, yards, miles and more. If more people reach for their dreams, the entire world benefits.
With all transparency, I can tell you Pete has taught me much. I am fortunate to be part of a mastermind group with Pete and two other men I hold in the highest regard; realtor and motivator, Rob Commodari and financial advisor and giver, Mark Pallack. These men are not just mentors and friends, they are now my brothers. I urge anyone who has the desire to form their own group to do so today and watch it change your life, the way these three men have changed mine. Pete feels the same way I do: “When I started in this group I was 26-years-old and I get the opportunity to engage with three older men for whom I have tremendous respect. The accountability and consistency in my life comes from that group. What contributes most to your success is who you surround yourself with and connect with and the mastermind group has been the largest contributor to my personal and professional growth.”
I can tell Pete it goes both ways. I am living it, I see it in action, as he touches not just my life, but so many others. I have been on this earth two decades longer than Pete Kohlasch, old enough to be his older brother, heck, in an imperfect world, old enough to be his father. And I can share with you from deep within me that this young man is the most genuine, dedicated, hard-working, focused, energetic soul I have had the pleasure to meet along my way in life. His passion and purpose for what he is trying to do for other people is heartfelt and real. He is truly a rising star, but a star shines most bright when surrounded by others. Pete’s mission is to be that star, but to bring others with him, to help you create the life you deserve.
“Begin with end in mind”, says Pete. “Have clarity about what you want and what you are striving for. Once you have a sense of clarity, it is easier to create a game plan to get there. Once you have the game plan, then you have a new sense of energy and enthusiasm.”
Nobody does this better than the high school quarterback who led his team to a dramatic victory in the state championship. A leader was born that day and because of that moment we all get to win.
Until next time thanks for taking the time,
Mark Brodinsky
Mark Brodinsky, Author, Huffington Post Blogger, Financial Services
The #1 Amazon Best-Seller: It Takes 2. Surviving Breast Cancer: A Spouse’s Story
(http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Brodinsky/e/B00FI6R3U6)
For ideas and nominations for The Sunday Series, e-mail: markbrodinsky@gmail.com