We were lucky to catch up with Chris Baldwin recently and have shared our conversation below.
Chris, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
The human spirit’s resilience is a remarkable testament to our ability to overcome adversity, foster determination, and inspire hope. It serves as an evolutionary mechanism that has allowed our species to persevere and survive through even the most challenging circumstances. I believe this innate capacity is present within most of us, waiting to be cultivated and strengthened over time.
My own journey began at a young age in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1971. Growing up as biracial children, my brother and I were born to a White mother and a Black father in a highly segregated Cleveland during the 60s, our struggles were compounded after our parents divorced and my brother and I were give up for adoption. By the age of 10, my brother and I had already experienced significant adversity after surviving the Catholic Charities foster care system where we endured physical abuse and torture inflicted by our foster parents. These experiences shaped my understanding of the darker aspects of human nature and left me with physical and emotional scars that remain to this day.
Life began to change when we were adopted by a Black couple, Dorothyea and Spencer Baldwin. But growing up with southern Black parents in the 60s and 70s had its own set of challenges, including corporal punishment both at home and at school, and the enforcement of strict gender roles. I was a tomboy. I was different. I wanted nothing to do with wearing dresses, patent leather shoes or pig tails in my hair. However, these experiences further honed my resilience, teaching me the importance of discipline and standing up for myself, even in the face of daunting authority.
My determination to carve my own path and break free from my mother’s domineering control led me to enlist in the Navy before even graduating high school. Ten days after receiving my diploma, I was shipped off to boot camp in Orlando, Florida. It was here that I learned invaluable lessons in leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, and survival, further strengthening the resilience that had been forged during my tumultuous childhood.
In recent years, I have once again witnessed the incredible power of resilience through my wife Shelbie’s journey with perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasms (PEComas), an extremely rare form of cancer. The uncertainty and unpredictability of this condition have made her battle all the more challenging, testing both her physical and emotional strength.
Despite these obstacles, Shelbie refuses to allow her illness to prevent her from living life to the fullest. Her unwavering determination to overcome this rare form of cancer is a true inspiration, demonstrating the transformative power of resilience, love, positivity and the will to live.
As we continue to face life’s adversities head-on, we encourage women to prioritize their health by performing regular self-exams, scheduling routine screenings, and staying informed about their family history. By doing so, they can increase their chances of detecting cancer early and build their own resilience in the face of life’s challenges.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am thrilled to share that I have come out of retirement to join Legaci Tomorrow Insurance & Financial Services, a dynamic and minority-owned firm headquartered in Sacramento. What drew me to Legaci Tomorrow is its unwavering commitment to empower community members and small business owners, and I am super excited to be part of this groundbreaking journey.
Our SoCal Legaci office has recently opened its doors in Beverly Hills, under the leadership of Managing Director Mya Dobson and our visionary Founder and Head of Agency, Thomas Le. The energy and enthusiasm at Legaci Tomorrow are palpable, driven by a shared passion for delivering exceptional service to our clients.
What makes Legaci Tomorrow truly special is our dedication to inclusivity and support for underserved communities. We are proud to be one of the few companies offering protective planning for our LGBTQ+ community and individuals diagnosed with HIV+. Our commitment to diversity and empathy sets us apart and fuels our desire to make a meaningful impact in our community. It also aligns with my values and the work I do in the LGBTQ+ community as President of The L-Project and Chair of the NAACP LGBTQ+ Committee for the Beverly Hills/Hollywood Branch.
As I look to 2025 and beyond, my focus will be on working closely with small business owners, particularly LGBTQ+, women, and veterans, to help them put those protective plans in place where needed. I’m so honored to have this opportunity to contribute to Legaci Tomorrow’s mission of fostering growth, prosperity, and empowerment for all.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My life has truly been an adventure! Looking back, I can certainly attribute my resilience as a key component to surviving tough situations. A couple of moments come to mind as I ventured out into the world at the age of 18 and never looked back:
1. Discovering My Grit and Determination: During a trip to Cape Trafalgar, in Andalusia, Spain, my shipmates and I found ourselves stranded on a rocky dirt road near a small town after our car broke down. It was 1980, and I’m a 19 year old masculine Black girl with no clue where I was, unable to speak the language and desperately needing to reach the Naval Base in Rota to report for duty in 36 hours. So I left my shipmates behind to find a phone to call for help or find a taxi. We were more than 50 miles from Base and I was determined to report for duty on time. This little venture turned out to be my first hitchhiking experience, in which I encountered some colorful characters along the way.. including the three Spanish sailors who helped us return to the Base safely. It was pure determination and resilience that I was able to navigate this challenging situation..having grit and determination is a must to survive.
2. My Spiritual Awakening: After being discharged from the Navy in 1987, I spent a few weeks homeless on a beach in Waimanalo, Hawaii, during which time, I experienced a transformative spiritual awakening. This profound moment allowed me to break free from the constraints of my Christian upbringing and embrace a deeper sense of personal freedom and self-discovery. It also allowed me to move forward with my life expressing my true authentic self with a sense of purpose.
3. Developing Leadership and Life Skills: My military training, coupled with the survival skills, first aid training, and servant leadership training I’ve had over the years, has been crucial in shaping both my personal and professional growth. The discipline and skills I acquired during my service continue to be invaluable assets in all aspects of my life.
My advice for others who are early in their journey? Never stop learning. Never stop growing. Clarify your goals – write them down. Align your actions with those specific goals. Distance yourself and/or eliminate the toxic people in your life – even family. Lastly, stop giving AF about what other people think of you.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
Embarking on a career change and venturing into the world of finance has been an exhilarating experience! Although it feels like learning an entirely new language, I’m eager to embrace the challenges and growth opportunities that come with this transition. Despite falling short of a few monthly performance objectives, I remain committed to maintaining my identity as a top performer. With a focus on refining my customer relations skills, I’m confident that my perseverance and determination will set me up for success as we move into 2025.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://legacitomorrow.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baldwinlegaci
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/4vUOlQdPFFc?si=VeX6O1AmE_yDliIL
Image Credits
Image credits;
Thomas Le, Granite Bay/Legaci Tomorrow Insurance & Financial Services
Chris Baldwin
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
