The Uncommon Life

The short story: I am an author, speaker, columnist, real estate investor, entrepreneur, a student of life, graphic designer, and an advocate of applied sciences in the realm of personal lifestyle.  But let’s be honest, describing oneself is essentially delusive.  As for stuff I can’t explain (or fail to acknowledge), I hope this blog sheds light on the missing pieces so you can get to know me better.

The rest of the story: I entered the world in San Jose, CA in the early 1980’s.  Regrettably, I don’t remember this quaint decade in the Technicolor that was the 80’s, but I do occasionally attempt to relive them on the dance floor.  At age 10 I moved “down under” to New Zealand where I remained for 8 fun and formative years.

Life took a sharp turn at age 15 after starting my first business. It became apparent that my conventional “education” was largely irrelevant and sometimes perilous.  Despite my initial disillusionment, discovering how little I knew inspired me to seek information from uncommon places.

Interviews, books, conventions, perpetual travel, and a series of personal life experiments exposed an alternative world of near infinite possibility.  Oh, the opportunity.  Naturally, abiding by the status quo seemed as worthwhile and fulfilling as wandering blindfolded through a jury-rigged maze.  I’ll pass.

But sometimes frustration encourages innovation.

Needless to say, I began writing my first book as a buoyant teenager, which was appropriately titled, “Cool Stuff” They Should Teach in School.  What followed was a whirlwind journey of public speaking (once my greatest fear), media appearances, and yes, more paradigm-bending life-lessons.  Along the way I was fortunate enough to meet, learn from, and personally work with some of the world’s leading experts on achievement while operating my own businesses.

Today I manage two businesses, write when my schedule permits, travel whenever possible, enjoy life with my wife.

I am a student of life with an insatiable appetite to learn about the dichotomies of modern life and our assumptions that frame our rather subjective understanding “reality.”  I started this blog to share life-lessons, thoughts, tips, and tricks to trounce the status quo and experience life on your own terms.

I hope you find this blog intriguing and share it with friends and family.

Be uncommon,

- Kent

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  • Maxims for Mavericks
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Other random facts:

Books written by yours truly:

• “Cool Stuff” They Should Teach in School
• Maxims for Mavericks
• The Success Principles for Teens (with Jack Canfield)
• The One Minute Student
• The “Cool Stuff” Coaching Course
• Chicken Soup for the Soul: Extraordinary Teens (With Jack Canfield & Mark Victor Hansen)
• I’m currently working on several new books that I will be releasing soon so keep your eyes peeled (most of these books I will be offering for free to subscribers so be sure to sign up).

Kent’s Top Travel Locations (in no particular order):

Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Hawaii, Bahamas, Fiji, London, Hungary, Italy, France, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Domincan Republic, China, Singapore, Slovakia, Dubai

Education:

High school:

• Bethlehem College   (Tauranga, New Zealand)
• Tauranga Boys College (Tauranga, New Zealand)
• Live Oak High School (Morgan Hill, Nor. Cal)
• Westlake Boys College  (Auckland, New Zealand)
• Los Altos High School (Nor. Cal)

College:

• Saddleback (So. Cal)
• Irivine Valley College (IVC – So. Cal)
• University Southern California  (USC – So. Cal)

Other:

• In a collegiate Business Honors program, Kent was selected by the Harvard Business School Association of Orange County to receive a monetary scholarship rewarding his entrepreneurial efforts.
• Kent was also invited to be a member of Phi Theta Kappa due to his dedication to scholarly success.
• Kent has become the go-to guy many twenty-somethings and young professionals turn to for practical advice on real world success.
• Kent is a respected guest lecturer at numerous schools and colleges nationwide.

Turn on’s: Life-hacking, learning, business, philosophy, productivity, surfing, wakeboarding, skimboarding, snowboarding, travel, good food.

Turn off’s: Small/close-mindedness, politics, sloth, excuses, complaining, coffee, celery.