Me in Three
- From ironworker to scholar | After graduating from high school, I worked as an ironworker erecting skyscrapers. My father was an ironworker so I followed in his footsteps. I loved every minute of it. I also got to see first hand what it took for my father to keep a house over our head and food on the table. He taught me how to work with my hands, but never to forget to use my head. In 1982, I started my own steel erection company until the union shut me down in 1993. I can look back now and be thankful of those experiences. Closing the company down forced me to reinvent myself, my career, and my life’s goals. Because of those events, my wife and I began taking college classes in the fall of 1993 and we both finished our doctorate degree this year.
- The worst of times and the best of times | In late 2002, my wife and I were both diagnosed with late stage cancer within six months of each other. It was the worst of times because of the uncertainty we both were facing, the medical treatments we had to undergo, and the toll it took on our lives. We knew that for two years, we had one major battle on our hands. It was also the best of times. If there is anything positive I can say about cancer is - it crystalizes everything. You make choices about what you want to do and who you want to spend your time with. It comes down to family and friends. To be truly satisfied with your life – do what you believe is great work. Cancer clarified that for us. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it, keep looking. With all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.
- The road to scholarship | After we completed the cancer treatments, we both knew we had been given the gift of life. And with that a responsibility to give back to others. When we reflected back on our lives, it was the teachers we met through our lives that made a difference. We discovered we wanted to change how people and organizations learn. In 2004, we both enrolled in a doctorate program in organizational leadership. This journey, as all journeys in life, had its own ups and downs. With a significant amount of perseverance and resiliency, we successfully navigated that road and graduated this year. May you find happiness in your life. | Drs. Stephen & Diana Burgan | Indianapolis, IN | May 2013
Stories, Hacks, & Barriers
Groundbreaking ideas and practices from Drs. Stephen & Diana Burgan