What would motivate someone to become a criminal defense lawyer? For 20 years. Then leave to become a humanitarian chocolatier? I’ve chosen this show with Shawn Askinosie as my first guest appearance on the Motive podcast because it got to the heart of my desired focus. His company, Askinosie Chocolate, was recently named by Forbes “One of the 25 Best Small Companies in America.” The Oprah Magazine “One of 15 Guys Who Are Saving the World.” Friends, if you are a chocolate lover...of real, fine chocolate, do yourself a favor. Go to Askinosie.com/. But to this show, Shawn's dad died at 14 and tore his world apart, he set a maniacal pace to accomplish big achievements and prove to God he didn't need him. He ultimately pursued law school and withstood 11 law school rejections, and went on to have an exemplary career. But he never overcame his dad's sickness and death. This led him to volunteering for palliative care at a hospital and starting a five year journey to a different vocation. A significant statement from him in this episode is this, “It’s a funny paradox, but the first step in sorting myself out was actually not to think about myself, and instead to focus on other people.” Shawn wrote a book that was first sent to me, along with some great chocolate, by my Dad, Dan Miller, who got to know and greatly appreciate Shawn. The book is called, Meaningful Work - A Quest To Do Great Business, Find Your Calling, and Feed Your Soul. I highly recommend it and you can find it wherever you buy books, and at his website, shawnaskinosie. Let me say this, if you want a great taste of what this Motive podcast is about, this is a show to listen to.