We had the good fortune of connecting with Vince Morales and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Vince, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
During my time as a homeless veteran in San Diego, CA, I was re-reading a book by John C. Maxwell called, “Thinking for A Change.” In his book, Maxwell wrote, “One of the reasons people don’t achieve their dreams is that they desire to change their results without changing their thinking.”
I read that book and quote years before. But it struck me differently this time because of the homeless circumstances my wife and I were in. I reflected on the previous four months during that homeless time that I was spending a significant amount of time blaming veterans organizations, the Marine Corps, the VA, and people for being homeless. I decided to stop blaming others and take responsibility for our homeless circumstances. It was empowering. As long as my situation was “someone else’s fault” I didn’t have the power to change it. Once I own it, then I own the power and creative potential to change our circumstances.
On August 16, 2016, I made a mindset shift and launched into life coaching. I fully submerged myself in reading, and watching videos, while sitting in a local coffee shop. As I was training myself as a coach, I simultaneously took on coaching clients. I realized it was imperative I not fear making mistakes as a coach. I once heard a wise veteran coach say, “Take a leap and figure things out on the way down.”
Some of my coaching clients affectionately called me the “homeless life coach.” I was fine with that though I always got a chuckle out of that. But I also leveraged that “title” in my marketing which helped to grow my coaching business while I was still homeless.
Long story short, my wife and I leveraged streams of income that led to the end of our homeless time.
That quote from John C. Maxwell was inspiring, empowering, and galvanizing for me to uncover the reality that the answer was residing within me. Blaming others hides the “unlocking keys” that we never discover that we’ve always possessed. Changing my homeless circumstance was powerfully connected to the decision to think differently.
By the way, within a year later, I would go on to become a certified coach, trainer, and speaker for Maxwell Leadership founded by John C. Maxwell, the author of the book and quote that provoked me to change my thinking, that would change my homeless circumstances.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
In the realm of personal development and leadership, my journey has been one of continuous evolution and profound transformation. Distinguished by an unwavering commitment to excellence and a deep-rooted passion for empowering individuals, my business stands as a beacon for those seeking to unlock their full potential. What sets me apart is not just the array of certifications that I hold, including Master Certified Professional Coach (MCC), Certified Integrative Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner (CPNLP), and as a certified Maxwell DISC facilitator, but the personalized, transformational approach I take towards each individual’s journey towards self-improvement.
My pride and excitement stem from witnessing the transformative changes in the lives of those I coach and mentor. The path to where I stand today was by no means easy; it was paved with challenges that tested my resilience, grit, determination, dedication, and staying power. Overcoming these obstacles required an unwavering belief in my mission, purpose, and the courage to confront and grow from each setback. The lessons learned along this journey are manifold, but perhaps the most significant is the power of an empowering self-image and the transformative impact of confronting one’s fears and limitations head-on.
I wish for the world to recognize my brand and story as a testament to the potential within each individual to achieve greatness. Inspired by Maxwell Maltz’s insight, “You will never outperform your own self-image,” my philosophy revolves around the empowerment of individuals to confront and navigate the complexities of their lives with confidence and clarity. I am dedicated to guiding individuals towards not just achieving specific goals, but towards a holistic transformation that encompasses all areas of their lives.
As I look forward to the future, my aspiration is not only to continue this path of personal and professional growth but also to inspire and empower countless others to embark on their own journeys of transformation and self-discovery.
As for former homeless life coach, I encourage those inspired by my story to contact me and perhaps there is an opportunity for us to embark on this journey toward a life filled with purpose, achievement, and fulfillment.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For a week in San Diego, I’d recommend exploring the vibrant Gaslamp Quarter for its eclectic dining and nightlife, then relax at La Jolla Cove to watch sea lions and catch the sunset. In fact, catch a sunset at Sunset Cliffs or the Gliderport at Torrey Pines. For a wonderful dinner, dine on the open balcony area of The Mediterranean Restaurant at La Valencia Hotel in La Jolla for amazing views. We often do our anniversary dinners there. Visiting Balboa Park’s museums and gardens is a must, as is a day trip to Coronado Island. Explore the USS Midway Museum, and for a unique experience, catch the two-hour harbor cruise around San Diego Bay.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This is the easiest choice for me. I dedicate my shoutout to my extraordinary wife, Michelle, who was right there with me during our homeless time. The first four months of our homeless time was the darkest time in my life. She saved my life. She never left me. During our homeless time, she always told me she still believes in me and she has never stopped believing in me, despite so many who did stop believing in me. I never exert my energies trying to prove to people that they were wrong to believe I couldn’t. I focus my energy on showing my wife she was right to believe in me.
To my wife: I love you and thank you for always reminding me I could and that I was unstoppable if I just take another step forward.
My wife is my “Why” and she is “Why” I am the FORMER “Homeless, now “Homeful” Life Coach. But, because she is my “Why”, she is why I will never, ever let her end up homeless and living in a van again.
Website: https://www.ValidusCoaching.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/validusvince
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincemoralesceo/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValidusCoaching/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ValidusCoaching
Other: Check out my new YouTube Channel: The Traveling Coach https://www.youtube.com/@travelingcoach2 Maxwell Leadership: johncmaxwellgroup.com/vincemorales Brainz Magazine Senior Contributor brainzmagazine.com/executive-contributor/Vince-Morales My “Beyond Measure” Coaching Blog https://www.validuscoaching.com/blog
Image Credits
Credit: Vince Morales Credit: Maxwell Leadership
