Next Steps Forward

Leadership is obvious from a mile away, and principled leaders prove that one person can make a difference with a compassionate vision that is bold enough to approach problems in new ways. In the process, such leaders find solutions that change and improve lives. Chris Meek has demonstrated this type of leadership throughout his life. His first book, Next Steps Forward, is more than a story of leadership-it's an inspiration. Following the terrorist attack on 9/11, a brave cadre of our nation's finest men and women took up arms to protect the freedoms and liberties we enjoy every day. Meek shares his unique vantage point of Ground Zero and the impact that day had on him. He walks us through his state of mind, and how the event motivated him to take action in support of others. Next Steps Forward chronicles the marriage of vision, determination, and evolving technology in order to support others and change lives. Chris's support has taken many forms since the 9/11 attacks. In the wake of the financial crisis, he helped educate families so they could keep their homes. Shortly thereafter, he mobilized a grassroots effort to send socks and supplies to deployed soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Starting in 2013, he and his organization shifted focus to helping wounded veterans take literal next steps, opening doors that put next-gen technology into the hands of VA medical personnel. Today, along with his BraveMind Alliance, Chris is furthering the reach of brain science and mental health in an effort to alleviate the scourge of unremitted PTSD. Just like many of the warriors who have benefited from his work, Chris does not stand still. As the book demonstrates, he believes that we must commit to being the best of our history: to go toward the frontier, then beyond, always pressing over the next hill, and past the horizon. He continues to strive to find new ways to serve our nation's veterans, active military personnel, and communities at large. As he puts it, "Just imagine what more we could accomplish if we were willing, able, and equipped to push past the roadblocks that hold innovation at bay." Next Steps Forward will motivate the reader to work harder, set more ambitious targets, and never be satisfied when there is more work to be done. It is a powerful reminder that in America, it's only impossible to become something or go someplace if you can't dream up the next horizon. Yes, sometimes, our steps are painful; some steps might require that we go backward first, then forward again. However, if every day we wake up taking the next steps toward these horizons, we will unlock this future.