Life 2.0 is why we walk

Let me tell you what I mean.

I have spent the better part of my vast career inspiring, leading, and coaching professional sales people. I have mined my experience to find the recipe for my professional success and have applied the ingredients of that recipe for many years. I am deeply proud of my profession and eternally grateful for the blessing to work with—and compete against—countless outstanding and talented people. I attribute my many career accomplishments to my loving family and God.

If I am honest with myself, more often than not throughout my career, I have taken for granted the most human opportunities it afforded me: to work with my colleagues and customers, and in some cases, to mentor “up and comers” in the business. I don’t recall ever giving a blessing of thanks, just for the opportunity to do those things and indulge in my profession. Instead, I reserved those blessings for my family, loved ones, and friends, mostly at holidays and celebrations during the year. It seems ironic that now, during the later stage of my career, I recognize how deeply I appreciate my job and everyone who has been a part of it, directly or indirectly, past and present.

My newfound, profound appreciation for others is ignited by an event that occurred a few years ago.

I always felt great, invincible, on top of the world. Until, that is, one day when my life suddenly turned upside down: With no prior symptoms or warning of any kind, I learned, while on a business trip, that I was in immediate grave danger, at extreme risk of a highly probable fatal cardiac event; I could be dead in any given moment.

My only option for survival was emergency open heart surgery. My career has taught me to approach problems with a high sense of urgency. It is no surprise I did the same with this one. The difference was, in this case, my bonus came not in dollars and cents, but in years.

By the Grace of God, I am alive today and truly blessed with many opportunities to positively impact the lives of others through public speaking and appearances on the internet, television, and even on billboards. My hope is that by sharing this story, perhaps another person’s life will be extended as mine was, giving them more time to pursue their career and life itself.

My new life, I call “Life 2.0,” is one I never imagined possible, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It is built upon the example of countless, selfless, clinical and non-clinical cardiac caregivers. Life 2.0 puts the focus on others, as opposed to what was always about myself.

The American Heart Association has been there with me the entire way, as they wage an intense war on heart disease, now not only the #1 killer in the United States but also the #1 killer worldwide. Each of us, most probably, is affected in some way by this terrible disease, whether that be firsthand, through loved ones, friends, or just people we know.

The American Heart Association sponsors an annual event, the Heart Walk, aimed at building awareness, support, and funding for lifesaving science that will teach us all how to live longer and be healthy.

This year, my son, Kevin Jr., and I are joining the fight by participating in the Heart Walk on September 14th. We invite you to support us in this walk, either by raising awareness by sharing this story or, if you are able, by making a donation. Your support will contribute to the efforts of so many good people saving, restoring, extending, and enhancing the lives of others.

By clicking on the photo below (American Heart Association Heart Walk), you will find more about my story, including a video that was published on the Internet by the organization that cared for me. There, if you feel so moved, you may click on a “Donate to the Team” link.

I want to thank you for taking your precious time in consideration of my journey toward personal health and my mission in support of the health of others. I can only pray it is helpful to someone else, and that your support and willingness to share with others what happened to me and my family will give another person the gift of Life 2.0.

Very Truly Yours

Kevin “K2.0” Kirksey

Click on this picture to read more of my story and to support my son and me in the Heart Walk