On Patrol: Deputy Royce James Trades Financial Service for Public Service

Posted by Scott Merritt on with 4 Comments


After growing up in what he describes as the ghettos of Daytona Beach, Royce James spent a decade working as a financial advisor, ultimately reaching the elite level of working with high-net-worth individuals. In spite of that success, he was frustrated by the fact that very few of his clients followed his advice. He knew it was time for a career change, but to what? And was he crazy to leave the security of a solid career for a huge unknown?

One fateful day, looking down at the highway from the Tampa skyscraper where he was working, a revelation struck. Royce saw a line of police vehicles weaving through traffic, blue lights on, and his interest was piqued. Whatever they were doing, it looked cool and he wanted in. That’s when Royce contacted local law enforcement agencies to go on ride-alongs. The very first ride-along, which he describes as “the most mundane law enforcement day ever,” was all he needed to know his next step. He was hooked.

That’s when Royce made the decision to resign from financial service and enter public service. It was a massive uphill climb, moving into his mom’s apartment, going back to a minimum wage job, enrolling in police academy, living on ramen noodles and hot dogs, and slogging through a grueling year-long process that had no guarantee of a job on the other end.

Royce defied the odds at every stage of his career; his grit and determination pulled him through. Today, Deputy Royce James has built a very successful career with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, where his work is regularly chronicled on the Reelz and Peacock show On Patrol: Live. You can tune in and watch him in action every Friday and Saturday night at 9:00 pm ET.

In this episode, Royce discusses how he built his career in financial service, the struggle he faced in making an unlikely career change, and the case he solved that earned him an accolade as Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the State of Florida.

Second Act Stories theme music: “Between 1 and 3 am” by Echoes

“I Work With My Hands Everyday”…Ex-Consultant Finds Bliss Crafting Custom Furniture

Posted by Andy Levine on with 0 Comment

Sergio Raynal was at the top of his game. With a staff of 25+, he was responsible for KPMG’s real estate and hospitality consulting for Pacific Asia and the West Coast of the United States.

Woodworking was always a hobby and a way to relieve stress from his high-pressure job. But it became a “side hustle” and eventually a full-time pursuit following a falling out with the management team at KPMG.

“The reward is the sense of accomplishment and creation. That’s what I like about working with my hands. I’ll sometimes be bone tired. I feel every ache and pain but at the end of the day there is a great deal of satisfaction that comes from a day well spent in the shop.”

Sergio uses old-world furniture making and cabinetry techniques – never using a nail or screw in his work. You can view his handiwork at www.SergioRaynal.com.

Conference room table built by Sergio Raynal.
Phonograph table created by Sergio Raynal
Custom desk built by Sergio Raynal

 

‘From the Vault’ How Noa Shaw, an Overweight Drug Dealer, Became a SoulCycle Instructor

Posted by Scott Merritt on with 0 Comment


We hope you enjoy this ‘From the Vault’ episode, which reintroduces one of our favorite guests: Noa Shaw.

Noa Shaw has led a hard life. Drugs and alcohol took hold of him at an early age. And he has struggled as both a drug addict and drug dealer for most of his adult life.

But eight years ago his life took a turn for the better when he wandered into a SoulCycle studio that was just opening up in Los Angeles. SoulCycle is a fitness company that is the gold standard in cycling workouts.

After his first workout, he was hooked. For three months, he attended every day – sometimes two workouts per day. He lost 100 pounds and got himself into shape both physically and mentally. The team at SoulCycle saw something in Noa and they invited him to audition as a fitness instructor.

At 57 years old, he is the oldest SoulCycle instructor on the planet. And here in New York City, Noa has built a dedicated following of riders that are inspired by him on a regular basis.

He is a certified life coach and in February 2021 released an inspirational book “Stop Thinking Thoughts That Scare You.”

After years of people telling him to write a book, Noa Shaw finally penned “Stop Thinking Thoughts That Scare You.”

Noa Shaw can be reached on Instagram (@noashaw26) or by email (noashaw@mac.com).

Alt Rock Icon Finds New Gig Teaching Music To Toddlers

Posted by Andy Levine on with 0 Comment


Tracy Bonham built a reputation as a “badass rocker” with the debut of  “Mother, Mother,” a powerful anthem that made it to #1 on Billboard’s “Alternative Rock” charts. The song and her “The Burdens of Being Upright” album were nominated for two Grammy awards and led to arena tours with Aerosmith and the Blue Man Group.

But in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down live music across the world, Tracy launched Melodeon. The new enterprise is aimed at teaching a younger audience she lovingly calls “young music enthusiasts.” Inspired by Sesame Street, Electric Company and School House Rock, she created an innovative, music education curriculum for pre-school children. In April 2021, Tracy released her first children’s album, Young Maestros along with a series of music videos.

Tracy Bonham’s “Young Maestros” album is filled with entertaining and educational songs with subtle (and not so subtle) music lessons.

Click here to learn more about Tracey, Melodeon and songs like “Feeling Pretty Major,” “I Like Big Beats” and “Let’s Take the Subway.”

Sweeter Days Ahead: How Baking Transformed Janie Deegan’s Life

Posted by Andy Levine on with 2 Comments


In 2009, Janie Deegan returned home from college with a serious alcohol and drug problem. Eventually, she found herself homeless and living on the streets of New York City.

Fast forward to today…she is the owner of “Janie’s Life Changing Baked Goods,” a thriving business with three, NYC bakeries and booming e-commerce division. At the center of her success is the “pie crust cookie” — essentially a baby pie that comes in five, different flavors. Her company and her cookies have been featured on Good Morning America, The TODAY Show, CNN and The New York Times.

The company is dedicated to helping other young women through mentorship and second chance employment. As Janie shares in the podcast, “The person you show up for at the interview is the person we’re looking at. We’re not doing background checks…we have formerly incarcerated employees, homeless staff and those with addiction problems. It’s been really beautiful to see how people blossom when they are given a chance.” 

Janie and the team at “Janie’s Life Changing Baked Goods.”

Interested in trying Janie’s pie crust cookies? They come in apple, pecan, triple berry, chocolate and cherry and can be ordered from www.JanieBakes.com.

Like her second act story, Janie’s “pie crust cookies” are truly amazing.

 

Meet A “Salvage Angel”…Hair Stylist Cuts A New Path In Restoration

Posted by Andy Levine on with 0 Comment


After graduation from high school, Carolyn Curtin enrolled at the Wilfred Academy and received a degree in cosmetology. For years, she worked as a hairstylist. But her path changed in 2002 when she purchased a 100-year-old, Victorian house in Asbury Park, New Jersey and set about restoring it to it’s original glory.

The city was in the midst of a major revitalization and historic buildings were been “clear cut” to make way for progress. Carolyn saw both beauty and historical significance in these structures and she started to extract items of value in advance of the wrecking ball. She began offering items she didn’t need for her own restoration — columns, railings, doors and reclaimed lumber — to others around her. Local Asbury Park Historian Helen Pike gave her the moniker of “Salvage Angel” and that ultimately became the name of her new company.

Carolyn Curtin is Asbury Park’s “Salvage Angel” having saved thousands of historical items from the junkyard.

Today, “Salvage Angel By The Sea” has hundreds of thousands of items for sale — moldings, exterior doors, custom made rugs, stained glass, lighting, plumbing fixtures, tile, furniture, nautical fittings, bathtubs, mantles and housewares. And it’s all things that were headed to the junkyard but Carolyn figured out a way to reclaim and save it for others. It’s housed in a 20,000 square foot former Canada Dry warehouse which Carolyn acquired in 2014.

“Salvage Angel By The Sea” is housed in a 20,000 square foot building that used to be a Canada Dry Warehouse.

In the past seven years, she has also begun renting items to the television/film production industry and her wares have been featured in shows ranging from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel to West Side Story to Pretty Little Liars. Production crews now represent 70% of the company’s revenue.

39bZYcvf8bSnNWDRFBug

Grateful Ted: A Second Act In Psychedelic Rock Poster Art

Posted by Andy Levine on with 0 Comment


Ted Bahr’s career in magazine publishing and trade show management spans 35+ years. He held senior management positions at publishing giants Ziff-Davis and Miller-Freeman before launching his own firm, BZ Media.

When he sold BZ Media in 2017, he returned to an early passion: the collection of psychodelic, rock poster art. Ted launched the world’s first art gallery to focus on this narrow niche of first-printing posters primarily from 1966-1970. Via the Bahr Gallery, Ted collects and sells works of art designed to promote the concerts of the Grateful Dead, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Jefferson Airplane and others. Beautifully framed in museum quality glass, the posters range from $1,000 to upwards of $20,000.

Ted Bahr and renowned, psychedelic rock poster artist Stanley Mouse at the Rock Poster Society Festival in San Francisco

According to Ted, “When I sell these posters, they’re going to somebody who is filled with joy, Probably 35% of my sales are gifts. So people are buying these posters for somebody in their life that has no idea they even exist. They are getting this gift of Santana poster from 1968 — an original poster with the screaming colors beautifully framed. I get massive psychic reward from this.”

 

You can view his amazing collection of 600+ posters online. But the best way to see this art and get a personal tour by Ted, is to visit the Bahr Gallery in Oyster Bay, Long Island (just an hour outside of New York City). A sampling of six posters from the collection are shared below.

A special shout-out to Carl Landau and the “I Used To Be Somebody” Podcast for connecting us with Ted Bahr.

Leap of Faith: Greg & Pam Ayers Quit Their Jobs To Answer God’s Call

Posted by Andy Levine on with 1 Comment


Greg and Pam Ayers were living the good life in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were living the American Dream…senior management positions with  significant salaries, a nice home and two young children.

But the loss of a close friend caused Greg to question his own life and ask “Am I really making a difference in the world?” And the couple decided it was time for a change.

Both Greg and Pam quit their jobs, relocated to Tucson, Arizona and started a new organization called GAP Ministries. Over the past 24 years, they have built an amazing non-profit that is focused on foster care, reuniting families and breaking the cycles of poverty and abuse. With a staff of 120 people and an annual budget of $10 million, the group is having a significant impact in Southern Arizona. On more than one occasion, they have “emptied” their own retirement savings to keep the organization moving forward.

Click here to learn more about the inspiring work of GAP Ministries.

How To ROAR Into Your Second Act: 21 Minutes with Michael Clinton

Posted by Andy Levine on with 0 Comment


Michael Clinton is a uniquely-talented individual. A former president and publishing director of Hearst Publications (which includes Cosmopolitan, Esquire, O The Oprah Magazine, Redbook and Woman’s Day), Michael is also an accomplished photographer, marathon runner, philanthropist, author and private pilot.

When he finally decided to step down from his publishing career, he was looking for advice on his next stage of life. “Everything I read was about winding down. And I wanted to just the opposite. I wanted to wind up and do lots of new things.” And that’s when the idea for his new book, “ROAR Into the Second Half of Your Life (Before It’s Too Late),” was born.

ROAR is an acronym that outlines an empowering path for embracing your future. The four, important steps are:

  • “R”…Reimagine yourself
  • “O”…Own who you are
  • “A”…Act on what’s next
  • “R”…Reassess your Relationships

Click here for more about the book and Michael Clinton, It’s a terrific read and we’re happy to add it to our “Best Books About Second Acts” list.

“ROAR Into the Second Half of Your Life (Before It’s Too Late)” is now in its third printing.

Elementary School Custodian Tylan Bailey Finds a Perfect Second Act as a Teacher

Posted by Scott Merritt on with 2 Comments


Tylan Bailey had a tough home life growing up. He had more than his fair share of adversity, which brought him to no fewer than 14 schools by the time he was ready to graduate from high school. In spite of such a profound lack of stability, Tylan created his own stable environment by focusing on his education.

Tylan’s lifelong dream of becoming a teacher was sidetracked when he found himself in a predicament that prevented him from attending college, and instead found him applying for jobs that would pay well and provide benefits. Although he found himself working in an elementary school, as a custodian, the idea of becoming a teacher seemed like a pipe dream at this point.

23 years later, Tylan was making pretty good money as the head custodian and he had seniority, but it was time to scratch that teaching itch. With the support of his wife, he took himself back to college and earned his teaching degree. Today, Tylan still works in an elementary school, but now he’s a PE teacher and he couldn’t be happier.

Tylan’s story was featured in national headlines, and he was even invited to a Hollywood movie premiere where he befriended Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The dream became a reality, and Tylan Bailey is living proof that it’s never too late to find your happiness. The key, as he puts it, is to meet your blessings halfway.