Daily Inspiration: Meet Roger Barbieri

Today we’d like to introduce you to Roger Barbieri.

Hi Roger, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
First and foremost, it’s important to start with the most important thing in my life… my family. My wife, Amanda, and I have been together for 10 years and we’re blessed with our 8-year-old son, and 3 and 4-year-old daughters. My wife and my children are my world and they’re my most amazing motivation.

I was born and raised in Overland Park, and my journey really begins with musical theater around 6th grade where I found I had a passion and talent that eventually took me to New York City. I grew up performing here in the Kansas City area and went to Rockhurst High School where I was a member of the Speech and Forensics Team. While competing in High School I was a two-time National Semi-Finalist and four-time State Champion.

Speech and Forensics are what took me got me into Seton Hall University (in New Jersey) and I completed 4 years there and eventually won a National Title.

After that, I made my way to New York City where I began my professional acting career with the European Tour of West Side Story. For the next 4 years, I traveled the world and the country performing in Broadway National Tours. I retired at a young age and eventually found my second calling in Higher Education.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have earned the positions of Executive Director/Campus President for Colorado Media School, Campus Director and Ambassador for University of the Rockies, Director of Sales for InsideAcademics, Director of Admissions for Ashford University, and Director of Sales for Hands-On Labs. I also received my Master’s during all of this… only fitting since I was in higher education.

My family and I moved back to Kansas City (Lenexa) about 5 years ago to be closer to family and it feels great to finally have roots again.

So where are we now?

Well… we’re pretty busy! I’m the CEO and founder of Barton Street Books, which is a Children’s Book publishing company.  We published our first book, “The Power of You,” last year and are looking to have a few more published by the end of 2022.

My wife and I are also Real Estate Agents here in the Kansas City area and have practiced for a little over 4 years.

In addition I’m also a competitive bodybuilder (NPC All Stars Masters Champ ‘21) and am about to launch a new fitness and athletics brand, Ghost Light.

I’m a proud member of the Board of Directors for Stageworx, a Children’s Theater Summer Camp; and finally…

I’m the host of a brand new Podcast… That Bald Guy. You can find us on YouTube or check my Facebook and Instagram for more.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not smooth at all. The theater is filled with rejection. I heard “no” at least 2 or 3 times a week in between gigs… I mean, you’ve gotta be perfect for the part. I’ve lived the starving artist life and then reaped the rewards of the struggle (persistence and passion pay off).

In corporate America I’ve been laid off before and had to figure out how to not only pay the mortgage and the cars but also how to put food in my family’s mouth.

I’ve had failed start-up businesses along with successful ones… and my path hasn’t always been an easy one, but it’s definitely been one of determination and success bred through determination. It’s my failures, though, that created valuable learning experiences that then built successes. I believe that failure should be good thing. It’s all about perspective and the willingness to look failure in the mouth and truly process everything it’s squawking at you.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a believer in return on relationships… you have to invest in others in order for anything magical to happen… and it has to be genuine.

I’m known for building and revamping sales teams, but more so, creating cultures in which people thrive. I’ve been told that my reputation for motivation and inspiration precedes me, but for me, it’s all a matter of helping people achieve their greatest potential of themselves.

Startups aren’t easy… we’ve had losses, break-evens, and some with a positive gain. I’m proud to say our motto is “Can’t stop, won’t stop.”

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Seeing people succeed makes me happy.

Watching people thrive together in a culture that breeds success and engagement makes me happy.

My wife, her smile, and if we’re able to spend a few minutes together in quiet… away from our 3 children… icing on the cake… makes me happy.

My children… they are my soul.

Ventura Highway – by America.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @fit_bald_guy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/roger.barbieri.1
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDr87v8JzYI_cFuVYWST1eA
• TikTok: @fit.bald.guy /and/ @that.bald.guy1
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/TBTSellsKC