We needed to find a better place to live. The place that we had been living at had new ownership and was reluctant to fix anything. Melinda fell twice in the driveway and we told the owners to fix it and they told us no. So we talked about it and was in agreement that we needed to move. So my mother in law was moving to north Florida and she needed us to look after her mobile home in Mulberry, so we did. We stayed there for about six months and took care of her three dogs as well. Their names were Smokey, Cocoa, and Littlebit. Smokey and Cocoa were poodles and Littlebit was a Chihuahua. By this time, it was September 2003, and we moved into Emerald Run apartments.
On November 11, 2005, I finally asked Melinda to be my wife. She said yes!! It was such a great time for me and Melinda. We had everything planned out. We were going to spend the night at the Hard Rock Hotel in Universal Studios Orlando and then head off for a six-day cruise to the Bahamas !! Now, mind you the day of the wedding had some hitches in it. I went to the nearest car wash to get it cleaned and the car locked itself in the car wash and we had to get a locksmith to come to unlock the car. Boy was I embarrassed!! The wedding was beautiful, it was held outside I the church’s garden gazebo and with a view of Lake Hollingsworth. Then after the wedding, it was off to Orlando. So the next morning we got up and traveled to Port Canaveral to board the Carnival cruise ship headed for the Bahamas. That 1st night on the top deck the wind was blowing so badly it was pushing Melinda and I back from time to time. We had a phenomenal time in the Bahamas. We saw Atlantis on Paradise Island.
That resort was amazing !!! We saw some of the old city in Nassau. Saw some lighthouses and scenic beaches and places on the islands in the Bahamas. And then the cruise has to come to a close, but I can’t wait to get another chance to take a cruise with Melinda. So can you believe that we stayed in one apartment community at this point in time for 16 years !!! That is how long we stayed there. And the only reason that we moved is that Melinda was no longer working at K-Mart —she was now working at Walmart. (She left K-Mart in 2004 and began at Walmart in late summer of that year.) During this time period, I had worked at Regal Automotive, Universal Studios, Lowe’s, Petco, Outback Steakhouse, Amazon, Solar Homes, Wag, Rover, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, and my business Bringing Humanity Together.
I had the opportunity to speak with a wide variety of people who had many different skillsets and many different outlooks on their career paths.
After we left Emerald Run in January of 2016 we decided to move to south-central Lakeland and move to Peppertree Village Apartments. And we have been here ever since then !! And this is the time I started looking into a new direction in my life. At the time I was working at Solar Homes as a Corporate Recruiter and this where I started to believe that can help make a difference in people’s lives. I loved being a corporate recruiter at Solar Homes. I had the opportunity to speak with a wide variety of people who had many different skillsets and many different outlooks on their career paths. So I would ask them questions like, Where do you see yourself in the next five years from now or What is your passion in business? And the answers I kept getting made me realize that I needed a dramatic change in my own life !!!
That was in August of 2017. In late September, the state of Florida had to brace for Hurricane Irma. And Irma was a powerful storm !! At our apartment, we were without any power for three whole days. A lot of businesses were affected by the storm. Solar Homes had a little window damage but that was all. So after Hurricane Irma was gone and we had power back. I was going back to work at Solar Homes and it wasn’t long before they were out of business. Solar Homes was not able to have enough money in the bank to pay any of the bills or the employees and had to close the business.
This was my opportunity to get on LinkedIn to promote a new outlook for both business and people alike. Bringing Humanity Into Business And Beyond. I knew that this was my calling in life. This is my passion and mission. I had a LinkedIn company page for Solar Homes and thought, why not make a personal page as well. So I did. In the months following my setup of a LinkedIn profile page, I was posting on a regular basis and engaging with other members of the LinkedIn community. And in the fall of 2017, I started to meet some great and wonderful people.
I truly like engaging with people on LinkedIn. There have been some wonderful people who have transformed me in ways that I never thought I could ever achieve by myself.
Evans Duren is just the beginning of the many people who have taken me in a whole new direction in my personal life as well as my entrepreneurial journey !!
Evans Duren has been with me on my entrepreneurial journey since December of 2017 and has been working with me ever since then. So too has Luke Williams, Darrel Frater, Toni Abraira and many others. Me and Evans Duren, Luke Williams, Darrel Frater, and Toni 
Abraira had started forming a group that one day would start as a consulting firm. But that hit some snags along the way. I couldn’t get all the right pieces of the business to start the business. So in retrospect, I learned the hard lesson that you should always be patient and take all points of view from your friends who know the trials and tribulations of starting a business. I was hoping that with Evans, Luke’s, Darrel’s, and Toni’s help they would be able to give me some great advice and ideas on a new business.
I started the Bringing Humanity Into Business And Beyond podcast on Anchor (that is now called Bringing Humanity Together) in 2018. I interviewed and posted my thoughts on what mattered to me when it comes to Bringing Humanity Into Business and Beyond !! I had a great group of people in a community chatroom to get other great entrepreneurs to start talking about bringing humanity into business and what it means to them. Some members of the group were engaged to a certain point. But from my point of view, it just seemed that I was spinning my wheels. This had to change !! So now flash forward to today and I have started another great group of entrepreneurs and people who are now truly engaging with each other and the outlook now is brighter by the day. I am learning new things every day on my entrepreneurial journey.
If I help you, You help Me, Then we help We
I am getting some great help from Evans, Luke, Darrel, and Toni. I see that the future is going to be looking bright from here on out. I cannot wait to tell Melinda soon that she will be able to quit her job at Walmart and I can take care of her. She is the main reason why I want my business to take off and truly make an impact on others in business and in life itself !! Then when Melinda is home, I can find more great people and businesses who can use our help. Yes, you heard that right !! Our help! My consulting firm is going to have some great people who believe that we need to Bring Humanity Into Business and Beyond it! The mission statement of the company is, “If I help you, You help Me, Then we help We” !! That is the very quote that I came up with and it has been my belief from day one. My other goal is to have a human resources and staffing firm and a nonprofit organization. We will have everything at your disposal for all of your business needs under one roof. There is so much opportunity before me that I know that only good things are ahead.
Chris, Thank you for sharing your incredible life story. And despite the fact you have shared many of the times you’ve faced adversity, I’m certain that there is so much more. Your story is appropriately titled (in my opinion) and conveys the essence of your life. You’ve faced adversity from you were a toddler (at three years old) and shown resilience and determination to succeed and overcome the blows life dealt you and turn them into opportunities. You got up every time you were down. I honor you for your courage, resilience, and determination. Rather than becoming embittered, you’ve inspired many and continue to be a force for good.
Thank you for calling me in to read your story, Chris. Lesser people might have thrown in the towel along the way. I salute you for persistently putting one foot in front of the other.
So many hurdles, so much adversity, I read this and want to reach in and give your younger self a big hug Chris. To let him know he is safe, is worthy & capable of so much. We all have our own backstories, yet some like yours, are more powerfully inspirational than others. Thank you for sharing yours with us, thank for leading the way, thank you for being you.
Chris, just finished reading your incredible story of overcoming tragedy and struggle. Your story and ongoing voice is important.
this was a simply amazing story, Chris and you have certainly taken all that you have been dealt in stride and made a good life for yourself. Good for you and I wish you every success and look forward to working with you and the other amazing people you have gathered for this great project.
What an extraordinary story Chris! The paths we walk during our life journey becomes our greatest strength to build us into who we become. The adversity you faced, many take lifetimes to experience, and for you to come through them with the courage to step fully into your truths is truly amazing and an inspiration. Each step along the way has given you the endurance to persevere and rise above that which was trying to keep you down or perhaps even break you. It is an honor to be a part of your Bringing Humanity Together helping you to achieve your dreams and vision of a better world. It is wonderful you had support along the way to this point in your life and may you always keep your spark of light shining for a future that can be a culture embracing “if you help me, I help you, and we help we!” Cheers!
Dear Chris,
Such a heart touching story of your life, I was moved to tears several times. Thank you so much for sharing. It’s in hearing your authentic voice through these words of inspiration, hope, determination, courage and inner strength which truly have far reaching ability to indeed lift humanity up. You have an amazing spirit and heart. It reminds me, that it’s through our darkest of dark nights of the soul, we can rise up and use our experiences in life to help others, with gratitude for how we got to this place. And it’s in that realization, of why we are here and have been blessed to make it this far, which leads us to living our true purpose and passions. I’m humbled and honored to know you and able to call you friend. I celebrate you! And everything you’re doing. You’re the very definition of “Unshakeable Power,” Through Seasons of the Soul. You’ve taken inspiration to a whole new level. Keep going and never, ever give up!
Chris, you are a bright light in the world. May you always continue to shine and to share with others you’re incredible brand of courage and enthusiasm. You are truly an inspiration and the world is surely a better place because you’re a part of it. Sending you much love and joy.
Chris, what an incredible life’s journey and what incredible courage and vulnerability you role model to share so transparently. Your mission and energy have an extra depth to it now I understand your origin story and may I just say congrats on how you show up and for the path that you continue to not only walk, but create.
Have a wonderful weekend and looking forward to furthering chats going forward.
Garry
I read this whole thing from beginning to end with my jaw open and thinking – why don’t people need a license to have kids? Why do we have to take all kinds of tests to drive a car but we can have as many kids as we want without any kind of training or preparation. Chris you are the person you are today and that’s what got you here to this amazing point you’re at now. There is so much to say but I’m too upset about how many times your parents moved you around with zero consideration for what it was doing to you …. !!! I’m happy you have found a great partner and direction in life – and you totally did it yourself.
My dear friend Chris!
You are truly inspiring. You have endured much and shown your resilience, strength and determination. You share your thinking mind along the way. Your mental capacity was strong and very capable…you were just placed in the circumstances that were most hurtful. Your innocence is to be highlighted and I celebrate your life my friend. You have made it to a better place and your positive spirit shows in all you Sadi. I am lucky to have you…as are many! Thank you for being you❤️ And thank you for sharing here with us 🙏. Bless you
Wow… what an incredible story, Chris! Thank you for the courage and honesty in sharing that with us. It’s so true that we are so much better together, and no matter how old we are, we need people along the way. Your early years must have felt so hard, but they certainly gave you the grit and persistence that has made you into the person you are today. You are the epitome of overcoming the odds and growing into the person you’re meant to become. I’m honored and humbled to be connected with you here. More importantly, I’m inspired by the positivity you share every single day. Thank you for being you!
Wow, Chris, what an incredible story of resilience, of persistence. What helped you heal the traumas from your past? I’m so curious because your story is filled with incredible challenges as well as an incredibly inspiring shift. You began creating a life you love living and are passionately committed. It seems that your participation in athletics helped a great deal as well as the support of the psychologist (who kept showing up in your life). I completely celebrate you, your perseverance, resilience, determination, and exceptional spirit. Your story demonstrates the fact that we just do not know what another person has navigated until we know. I’m blown away and utterly moved by all you’ve created for your life-in your marriage with Melinda and the ways you are supporting other businesses to flourish. I wish you all the fulfillment in life that you so richly deserve. May you continue to live your life with courage, honesty, and dignity. You are an inspiration, Chris!