Robert “Fireman Rob” Verhelst is a dynamic storyteller with a unique, iconic story that brings your audience to life. From numerous years in the fire service to surviving on Discovery Channel’s show Ultimate Ninja Challenge to performing search and recovery after the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, the impact of his message resonates with everyone.

As an impact leader and in demand speaker/trainer, Fireman Rob impacts lives throughout the world via speaking, competing in fire gear, online training, books, and social media presence. Robert truly lives and emphatically believes that power of purpose and a strong mindset can overcome any challenge or fear.

Our lives depend on strength to thrive; otherwise, we struggle to find success in life. It is the stories that connect Fireman Rob to the audience, allowing for a unique, genuine, and down-to-earth presentation. Driven by a desire to impact positive action in lives, “Fireman Rob” delivers an engaging presentation built on overcoming adversity, validated under fire, and challenges each person to discover their purpose. His approach to purpose driven success pushes the uncomfortable, unknown limits of you and reveals simple, effective strategies that anyone can use to build mental strength, lead an “action based” lifestyle, and become a better personal leader.

Life isn’t easy and discovering the true you takes courage. I can’t give you that, but I will give you catalysts I learned forging my life's strength in fire. Life doesn’t get easier, you get stronger.

I wrote this book because I have found that throughout my far from linear life, I was able to continue to move one inch or one step forward, even in darkness or confusion, by using these seven catalysts. Now, I want you to know that I did not create these, nor are they magic. I just took the time to look backwards, forwards and in the present at myself and my surroundings, asking myself, “What are the catalysts that drive me to live daily and why?” My conclusion was these seven catalysts, individually strong, yet together, a powerful family of characteristics.

Will this book and the seven catalysts change your life or maybe a part of it? That will be up to you. Apply these catalysts to your life to see. You need to put the words to actions and the actions to habits to make a change. I hope you listen to this book and drive forward into your life of opportunity and live with passion. It is what you are meant to do.The seven catalysts tie together like this:

Our lives demand purpose or passion to move forward with motivation and desire to live. Once we find the purpose, then we can find the strength to take ownership of our actions, in-action, words and habits. This is so important, because it will create a strength in us to be able to make decisions without fear of success or failure. Making a decision to act is key, since understanding our path will lead us to be more emotionally in control when faced with adversity or fear. When we control our emotions through the darkness, we can build resilience by stepping outside our comfort zones to find our true potential. This resilience along with our purpose will drive us to have more faith in ourselves, and less fear of the unknown. With a piece of these six catalysts, we build our mental strength, which, I believe, is our greatest asset in finding ourselves and living our potential, forged in the fires.

My dad would always say, “You can’t control what someone else does, just control what you do.” We must try in our life to be not a person of success but rather a person of value.