Kevin Flike knows what is means to be down and out. As a Green Beret, Kevin was shot in the lower abdomen during his second deployment to Afghanistan in September of 2011. On the show, he talks with Jim and Jan about his journey to heal himself, and then… inspire others. He went from multiple hours of physical therapy a day to attaining dual master’s degrees from MIT and Harvard.
Key Takeaways
[1:47] Kevin shares his story of being shot while deployed in Afghanistan, and the severe damage it did to his body. What sounds like a terrible thing ended up being a gift to Kevin and opened up the possibility for him to deeply inspire others through their physical and mental challenges.
[2:22] A few of the awards Kevin has received include the Bronze Star Medal (two awards), Purple Heart, and Army Commendation Medal w/ Valor.
[3:10] Kevin is an avid yogi, and meditates daily. It serves as a great way to help his control the physical and mental pain that come with his severe injury.
[5:39] We have new versions of ourselves many times in life. Great leaders rise to the occasion when they are faced with new challenges.
[7:53] Have set milestones along the way of achieving your goals. Celebrate the minor successes, and don’t be afraid to pivot.
[9:39] Attending MIT helped sharpen Kevin’s analytical skills, and Harvard showed him there are many ways to serve. Attending class consistently was humbling and helped lighten a lot of the bitterness Kevin had from his previous injuries.
[15:50] We may have to set aside our pride on the way to achieving our goals.
[18:36] Great leaders push their boundaries and put themselves in situations where they can develop courage through expanding their comfort zone.
[24:45] The military is more of a melting pot than public perception may lend to it. While some think of it as mostly giving and taking of orders, there are many times where one must think quickly and out of the box.
[26:59] Know your team. You have to understand where they are coming from and establish a personal connection for a loyal and connected relationship.
[28:00] Kevin and his wife appreciated the help the Green Beret Foundation gave them so much that they wanted to give back. Now Kevin helps share their mission and raise awareness about what they do to help men and women get back on their feet.
[30:35] All teams must be motivated, but it is especially important for those working at a non profit.
[31:58] Resilience is everything. Kevin wants us to understand there is a light at the end of the tunnel and setbacks are opportunities to learn and grow.
[34:09] Kevin’s challenge to us is: The Death Bed exercise. Once a year, walk yourself through this somewhat uncomfortable visualization to gain clarity on the people and issues that really matter most in your life.
How to Contact Kevin:
Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
Quotes
- “It’s not just the service members that serve, it’s also their families.”
- “I gained audacity from the Special Forces training.”
- “I realized that if I wasn’t failing, I wasn’t reaching high enough.”
- “When you put pride aside, there is so much to learn.”
- “An experience is worth nothing unless you share it.”
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