MICHAEL ALTSHULER

It was about a week before my thirteenth birthday, and I sat down to hand write a simple one-page Bar Mitzvah speech (actual copy below).  I really didn't know what would come off my pencil. In fact, I really didn't give it much thought.  I just started writing.  I could tell you this though, what came off that pencil in the next 30 minutes or so was 100% uncensored, unfiltered, and straight from the heart (and from God).  That speech on that special day revealed with total clarity who I was as a person and more importantly why I was put here on this earth.  Without question my calling was to do something of EPIC proportion that would profoundly impact the lives of countless thousands in need, especially children here in America and eventually around the world.

 

Over many years that desire I had in my heart to help those children marginalized by society and circumstances grew and finally manifested itself in my launching of "Christmas for the Kids" when I had my business back in New Jersey.  This program made Christmas very special for close to 1000 homeless children over a period of 10 years.  It became the area's largest privately funded program of its kind. On this memorable night, each and every child received specially selected gifts (all were wrapped; unwrapping the gift is half the fun), a visit to a fantasy Storybook amusement park decked out with one million Christmas lights complete with rides and visit with Santa, a private show, and a big dinner.  The amazing night was filled lots of love and hope for these precious kids.  And, it was after this special night each year when I hopped on the bus and rode back with these kids to their Shelter that I knew without question, that no amount of financial success or personal possessions that I had ever attained or would attain (and being a millionaire I had my fair share)  would ever come close to the euphoric feeling I had when I saw the sheer joy on these kids and some of their parent’s faces throughout the evening.  It was again, a clear reminder that this was my calling and my purpose here on earth.  

 

But living that calling wasn’t easy until, I attended a Wild at Heart Retreat. It was then that I asked myself this important life-changing question: "If I know, if I really know, what my calling is (and I did), why am I not answering it?"  Quite frankly the answer was, I was scared.  I was scared to give up the things of the material world to do something that was more of the spiritual world.  A calling is not something you can touch or see, it's something you feel, deep in your heart.  As an entrepreneur, keynote speaker and success coach, and having built a multi-million-dollar company that I sold to a public company,  I spent the majority of my adult life entrenched in the business world and that became who I was. Now I had to take the huge leap and answer my calling. The world tells you this is crazy. I decided that to not live my calling, now that would be crazy. 

 

So, here we are today. The manifestation of all my life’s experiences, where I finally get to put to use all my skills, talents, abilities along with my heart to serve God and to positively impact and change the lives of countless underserved children.  I want the Young Achievers Mastermind to be my defining legacy.  The ship has left the pier, the pier burnt down and there's no turning back.

 

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your interest in participating on this magical journey with me. So together we can help these precious, under-served children live the lives they truly desire and deserve.