Episode 018: When Life Hands You Lemons with Hal Hargrave
Hal Hargrave Jr was injured in an auto accident on July 26, 2007, which left him paralyzed from the neck down making him a quadriplegic. Hal Junior spent over 70 days in acute care and rehabilitation hospitals. The doctors said there was only a 1-3% chance that he could walk again. Despite this news, Hal’s emotional and mental outlook was strong. This was due to one single line of thinking Hal carried with him that made the future feel brighter – he could still “be perfect”. Inspired by the movie Friday Night Lights, the idea was that if you could look the people you love in the eye and tell them that you did absolutely everything you could – gave every ounce you had – then it didn’t matter whether you won or lost. Hal realized that he could “Be Perfect” whether or not he ever walked another day in his life. In Hal's terms: Be Perfect meant getting the most out of himself each and every day. The Be Perfect Foundation has remained Hal's passion ever since the idea came about in 2007. As a founding member of The Be Perfect Foundation, Hal wakes up every day with an intent to make a difference in the field of paralysis recovery. Hal Jr's day-to-day involvement with the foundation resides in decision-making, community relations, client outreach, event coordinating and planning, and marketing. Additionally, Hal Hargrave is the owner and founder of The Perfect Step (a center for paralysis recovery) also called “TPS”, and presently serves a role as the Facilities Manager (overseeing a staff of 20) as well as the Educational and Marketing Director at their location in Pomona, CA. “The Perfect Step is one that is taken by the individual who is suffering. It is deemed the perfect step because it is one that is taken in the right direction down a path that might seem long and grueling, but the only thing that matters is that, that individual is moving forward and not stopping.” Hal hopes that they are able to take The Perfect Step nationwide and provide services of paralysis recovery to every major region of the United States. What started as a tragic accident has turned into one of the greatest blessings of all. It’s The Perfect Step in the right direction. In Hal’s own words: “When my accident happened, I quickly recognized that my accident affected not just me, but my entire family and those around me. Fortunately, I have an incredible family with a wife, parents, brothers and sisters and extended family who have never left my side. Additionally, the community has rallied around them and when some stepped away, others stepped up. The Be Perfect Foundation and The Perfect Step have been the biggest blessings (aside from god, my injury, my wife and my family) that has ever happened to me. It has given me newfound perspective, newfound purpose, and a reason to get up every morning and be proud of who I am and what I'm doing. However, I understand that the only way that this is possible is through a supportive family, a supportive community, support of donors, support of board members and volunteers, and namely grateful individuals who the foundation supports. The unfortunate part in all of this is knowing that people continue to have terrible diagnosis, terrible injuries and terrible stories to tell. However, the fortunate part is knowing that the foundation is there to make a difference. I know that I'm nothing without each and every one of you, our supporters and donors. I owe it all to them.”
You can connect with Hal at The Perfect Step Website
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-perfect-step/?viewAsMember=true Or the Be Perfect Foundation beperfectfoundation.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/be_perfect_foundation/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beperfectfoundation