E89 Overcoming the Impossible! Starring Scotty Smiley
The #Biz4GoodShow
www.Biz4GoodShow.com #BeGoodDoGood
WARNING: Todays show includes inspiration, tears, and a lot of love.
(Grab a tissue box and enjoy.)
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About The Show
Welcome to the Biz4GoodShow, introducing your hosts Bobby Glen James & the… Ryan Pilkington. Where we highlight misfits outcasts and renegades for the being good and doing good movement. We spotlight people that are changing the world by having integrity and honesty and creating an environment of connection, thus showing the true seeker to success and creating a life of greater impact. So come on board and create your own Biz4Good Life. #GoodAgainstTheNoise #BeGoodDoGood #Biz4GoodShow
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About Scotty Smiley
He is a Wounded Veteran, Author, Speaker, Investment Banker, and Eternal Adventure Seeker.
Major (Retired) Scotty Smiley became the first blind active-duty Officer in Military history following a face-to-face confrontation with a suicide car bomber in Iraq on April 6, 2005. After his injury, Scotty’s faith led him to forgive his attacker and inspired him to rebuild his life while continuing to serve his country in the U.S. Army.
A West Point graduate, he returned there to teach after he earned an MBA from Duke University. He was named the Army Times “Soldier of the Year” in 2007 and won an ESPY award for “Best Outdoor Athlete” in 2008. He is the recipient of a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart, and the Army’s prestigious MacArthur Leadership Award. Following a position in the Gonzaga University ROTC Department, Scotty retired from the military in 2015.
Scotty is the author of Hope Unseen, sharing his journey through overcoming adversity. Now, he travels the country sharing his message of perseverance, courage, and hope. After the loss of his eyesight Scotty took on surfing, skydiving, climbed Mt. Denali, Mt. Rainer, and completed the Coeur d’Alene Ironman. Scotty currently works as an investment banker at Drexel Hamilton, out of New York City and is a regular guest on news networks such as NBC, CBS, and Fox. He is married to his high school sweetheart Tiffany. Residing in their hometown of Pasco, Washington with sons Grady, Graham, and Baylor.
Mission Statement
“Hope Unseen exists to be a reminder to each and every person that with hope and courage, there is nothing that cannot be overcome.” -Scotty Smiley
Follow and Contact Scotty
facebook.com/HopeUnseen
instagram.com/hope_unseen
twitter.com/HopeUnseen
www.wsb.com/SSmiley
Episode Notes: Overcoming The Impossible!
Welcome to the Biz4GoodShow where two fun adventurous entrepreneurs share their experiences of the real secret to success. The business of doing all things with a be good do good mindset. There is so much bad noise in the world, lets fight against the noise and flood the world with the good so come on and go for the ride with us.
Today we welcome Scotty Smiley. A Former Military Officer who faced a suicide car bomber while serving time in Iraq. His injuries left him blind, but that did not stop him from overcoming his injuries and life long goals. Scotty became an avid adventurer, author, public speaker, and a world investment banker. Here to share his journey through adversity and give us some insight into his book Hope Unseen.
Bobby: We also want to welcome Guest Riikka Alakoski Jacobsen who was married to Captain William W. Jacobsen Jr. (Bill) He was stationed in Iraq with Scotty Smiley and was killed in the Mosul Massacre by a suicide bomber.
Riikka: “He had a great love for his soldiers,” comments Riikka. “He was a great leader, the type of leader who didn’t just sit there and tell you what to do but was actually out there in the front with his guys.”- Riikka/BYU Magazine
Let’s get to know Scotty a bit more.. He grew up with a work ethic of having fun, doing good, and working hard which enabled him to excel and build relationships. “Understanding what doing good for others meant and not only doing good for myself, but for the community and the world.”
Scotty joined the Military because he wanted to attend one of the best schools in the world and he knew the Military Academy had one of the best leadership training environments that would not only educate, but place their students into leadership situations of every part of every day. “From Freshman to senior you were always in charge of someone. You had peers, superiors, and subordinates. I knew that was the the school for me.”
After the Military and the hardships that led to Scotty’s injuries he decided to write a book, Hope Unseen. Scotty writes about his adventures as he struggles to push through the hardships that many don’t know how to overcome… Scotty had a wonderful life ahead of him, a beautiful wife, a job in the Army, and nothing was going to stop him from accomplishing his goals. Until… he was faced by a suicide bomber in Iraq. That day would forever change his life, for better or for worse.
He was on top of the world. Physically fit, mentally strong, spiritually tough, protecting, and defending our Constitution. He had lost friends and loved ones overseas. “You start to wonder why we are doing this and why we are fighting. There is so much destruction in the world, but you must look ahead and create a better life for others.”
But when life is turned upside-down, it’s your personal life being effected. “One minute I have eyesight and the next, it’s stripped away from me. I will never get to see my beautiful wife’s face, my kids, the sunset, the leaves changing in fall, and it was the absolute depths of despair. Depression, anxiety, and Why did I want to live?…”
Bobby: What Does the Biz4GoodShow mean to you Scotty?
Scotty: It’s making peoples lives better, and helping them build a better life. As I share my story through Hope Unseen, a business that my wife and I started almost 8 years ago, its about sharing our stories with others and teaching the struggles, trials, and disappointments that go with adversities. It is the choices we make, to choose freedom, to choose life, and joy is not just a single time, but an everyday opportunity. I am able to share my story and my life with others and to bring joy and to bring happiness and peace and in that same way with banking, whether be financial freedom or investing people you know, individuals, corporations, and states. Money is giving them the freedom so that they can use that money to bless others. That is what the Biz4GoodShow means to me. Helping others just as I and others would loved to be helped. #BeGoodDoGood
Bobby knew Captain William Jacobsen before deploying to Iraq. Jacobsen was a pal to Bobby and advised him on his first date with his now, wife. Bobby was extremely nervous and Jacobsen had a way of calming Bobby down, reminding him that everything would work out. Jacobsen’s advice paid off in the end. Bobby is happily married to Monique Christensen James.
(Tears flood the room)
Riikka: “I have known Scotty since he was a young lieutenant and we Army families are all one big family. Tiffany (Scotty’s wife) was a good friend of mine and when the guys deployed we would get together along with a few other Army wives and we would sit, talk, eat and support each other. After Bill was killed in Iraq in December of 2004, Scotty was soon in an accident a few months later and I remember Tiffany and I were talking and I came to visit you Scotty in Walter Reed. That was probably the most powerful moment of my life. I went into the room and that was probably one of the very low moments, it was devastating. I remember Scotty held my hand for 45 minutes and apologized to me because of what had happened. This just talks about his character and who he is. Tiffany was standing right there next him. It was truly a powerful moment. Following the proceeding years, during this whole process Scotty had to learn all the basic things that we take for granted and he overcame all of them with Tiffany by his side and always has been. Now, you have this beautiful family and to me you are still the same young lieutenant, always smiling. I remember you from the barracks where my kids use to run up and down the stairs. Life is good. We go through awful things, but life is good.
Scotty, you are a prime and beautiful example of someone that keeps going and I love that about you and Tiffany. Thank you for everything you have shown and accomplished.
Scotty’s Action Item to Audience: Wake up with a smile no matter what. It’s those cheesy grins that lighten the mood and enable you to not think about obstacles or difficulties ahead, instead it puts a positive spirit in your heart and influences you to think, “What can I do to help others today?” Versus the obstacles and trials that may be in front of you. Just smile and live life fully and completely. #GoodAgainstTheNoise
Bobby & Ryan: Thank you so much for being on the show and thank you for your service.
Signing off: Everybody! #BeGoodDoGood, #BeGoodDoGood, #BeGoodDoGood…..
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