Today we’d like to introduce you to Cam F Awesome.
Hi Cam, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I relocated to Kansas City in 2008 to pursue a boxing career. In a collaborative agreement with my trainer, I received coaching in exchange for visiting local schools and sharing my journey, encouraging students to explore boxing. Over the years, I achieved significant milestones in my boxing career, including winning 12 national championships, winning three Olympic trials, and serving as the former USA national boxing team captain for over a decade. Concurrently, I strategically used my time as an athlete to establish a foundation for my post-sports future. While actively competing, I dedicated myself to building my speaking business. Following my retirement from boxing, I seamlessly transitioned into full-time speaking, which is my business.
Contrary to the conventional path of becoming a professional boxer, my goal was to leverage sports as a platform to craft a lasting career for myself. In addition to my accomplishments in sports and speaking, I am also a published author. My book, “Becoming Awesome: How to Make Success Inevitable,” is available on Amazon and my website. B boxing is the ultimate metaphor for life, as each individual is engaged in unique personal battles. On stage, I discuss diverse challenges and share insights on overcoming them by cultivating a Championship mindset.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey has been far from a smooth road. I share my story of resilience because I’ve faced numerous challenges where resilience was the key. In 2012, I experienced a significant setback when I was removed from the Olympic boxing team and suspended for a year. This unexpected turn of events disrupted my aspirations of becoming an Olympic boxer, leading me to navigate through a period of self-discovery and coping with setbacks. During that time, I came to realize the profound importance of self-belief. I acknowledged that in 2012, I wasn’t my biggest supporter; I was overly critical, challenging myself, and discontent with the person I had become. Determined to foster a positive outlook, I took a transformative step and legally changed my last name to Awesome as a constant reminder to believe in myself. This newfound self-belief empowered me to pursue my aspirations without letting obstacles appear insurmountable. In 2017, I embarked on my inaugural speaking tour, spanning 51 days, to build my brand and business. However, three hours into the journey, my car broke down, seemingly derailing my plans to become a speaker. I turned adversity into opportunity and used the insurance money to purchase a Dodge Sprinter van. What initially appeared as a setback led me to live in the van for three years as I traveled across the country, speaking at schools and festivals, engaging in corporate events, and even trying my hand at stand-up comedy. The unexpected twist allowed me to adapt and grow my business uniquely and prompted me to speak on gratitude. What I initially perceived as a wrench in my plans turned out to be a blessing in disguise, and now I share my insights based on my own experiences. I speak from the heart about what I truly know.
I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Awesome Talks?
I’m a Keynote Speaker and Diversity Consultant. I speak on Developing a Championship Mindset through Resilience & Gratitude. I share simple mind hacks that allowed me to win 12 Heavyweight National Championships. I address these lessons in my book “Becoming Awesome: How to Make Success Inevitable.”
What are your plans for the future?
I previously captivated students during school-wide assemblies, but in the past few years, I have focused my effort on sharing my message with corporate audiences. I will be doing more conferences and workshops.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.camfawesome.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/camfawesome
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/camfawesome
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/camfawesome
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/camfawesome
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/camfawesome
Image Credits
Chris Douglas (both photos)
