On this episode of SHLTMM, you'll hear my guest Alan Lazaros share stories of his single mom Beth. At 28 years old, Alan's father died tragically in a horrific car accident, leaving Beth with two young children. In time she remarried, but unfortunately the marriage did not last. The sorrow that surrounded Alan and the family throughout his childhood was oppressive. Alan explains how his mom did her very best to encourage her children to complete higher education, something her parents never did. Beth felt that having a college degree could guarantee a bigger, bolder and brighter future. One that she wasn't capable of reaching.
Beth was raised in Worcester, MA and she was the youngest of three children. Unfortunately, she was born seventeen years after her second oldest sister. She was basically raised as an only child and unfortunately didn't get much attention from her parents. Alan's grandparents felt that she was a pretty blond haired, blue eyed young lady and that she'd get married and start a family. They never instilled any ideals about higher education and basically left her to fend for herself.
Well, she and her husband did fall in love and started a loving family but then her dreams were crushed when she suddenly lost the love of her life and the father of her two children in the car accident.
Beth did her best to encourage her children to shoot for the stars, aim high and big, go to college, many more doors will open for you. Alan says he's so grateful to his mom for "teaching him to aim high. She'd say you'll have choices. She taught me to care about school." My guest completed his Engineering degree at WPI, Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Though very successful, he felt as though he wasn't satisfied.
At this crossroads of his life, Alan felt as though he wasn't "as focused on the inside-out, I was focused on the outside-in and I didn't realize it." Loosing his father at 2 1/2-3 years old was crushing for the entire family and says "loosing a father very young, it takes a lot of humility to admit that you need hope. Hope inspires others to better their best."
One thing that Alan struggled with is that he didn't feel that his mother's advice matched her actions. "No one ever really led by example. So I've invested the last ten years, time and effort, on my own self improvement." Alan is now the CEO and Podcast Co-host of Next Level University as well as the Co Host of The Conscious Couples Podcast. Alan is a business and life coach. He'll help you stay focused, track your progress and achieve your best life.
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