Meet Ricky Bartlett

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ricky Bartlett a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ricky, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience is another word for survival.

I get my resilience from my mother, who worked three jobs to raise me as a single parent. The same woman who taught me to strive for better than the projects we lived in. To know there are people who will love you for who you are inside, while looking in the mirror and loving the reflection peering back.

Despite being left by my father at the age 5 years old, and the death of my brother, this same woman instilled strength from those losses.

These are the building blocks that forged my resilience. So when I lost my legs to flesh-eating and bone disease as an adult, the view of a positive future and need to overcome was already instilled in me from my childhood.

Resilience. Is. Survival.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am originated from Columbus, Georgia and have been in broadcasting for many years; whether in television news or radio. However, I didn’t truly start living life until after tragedy struck.

In 2014, I lost my left-leg to Necrotizing Fasciitis (flesh-eating disease), associated from a small cut on my left foot before stepping in mud after a rain shower in the Badlands; while on a GIS trip to Wyoming & South Dakota.

In 2022, I lost my right-leg to bone disease associated from the prior amputation.

But good things can come from tragedy. It was because I saw the positivity in these losses that I sought more in my life.

For example, within 10 days in September 2019, I went from nothaving an agent to being cast as a co-star on NBCUniversal’s hit TV series, ‘Chicago P.D.’ and fulfilling a dream I’ve always had… to be an actor; a SAG-AFTRA actor.

I was recently a lead actor in the psychological thriller, ‘Intent Unknown,’ a feature length film with Academy Award & Golden Globe actor Eric Roberts. I am proud of this film because the character is disabled, which is rare in the film industry.

I also recently won a DANNY AWARD from the Daniel’s Music Foundation, a NY-based organization recognizing disabled musicians. The DMF is associated with the GRAMMY’S, Sony Music and The Orchard.

I have many other projects in the works, but still continue being the Morning Show Host for CBS Radio affiliate KMRY 93.1FM and voiceover roles.

Yet, through all this, my pride and joy are my wife Jennifer and daughter Jaclyn.

http://imdb.me/ ricky

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
#1.) A THICK SKIN I have gained one particular skill that I feel benefits me the most: a thick skin. During my career in broadcasting, I learned that having a ‘thick skin’ is a powerful tool to happiness. No matter who approves or disapproves of you, allowing yourself to take other’s judgements and letting them flow down your shoulders, like water off a duck’s back, creates harmony in everything you do.

#2.) COMPARTMENTALIZATION
Another great skill is to compartmentalize your daily agendas. I don’t become overwhelmed with the many tasks I have is because I can mentally separate the immediate demands with the secondary ones. This allows my brain to not swirl with “I’ve Got To Get This Done Now” thoughts. I simply picture a filing cabinet with prioritized tasks.

#3. POSITIVE THINKING
This may sound odd, but every morning I find something to be grateful for and think to myself, “What do I want to watch today? Do I want to watch a comedy, horror, drama, etc?” I ask myself this because I treat my thoughts as though they are television signals going to a satellite that returns as differing channels on a TV. Because I don’t want to invite negativity in my life, I choose to laugh or choose not to have drama in my life based on my own actions. The optimal word is ‘CHOOSE’. We all have the power of choice and I choose to have a POSITIVE day.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
Circling back, my mother instilled the ability to not accept the mundane; to always lift myself above others expectations… including my own. Also, no matter how poor the environment, she showed me that money isn’t the route to happiness. Self-respect and acknowledging the reflection in the mirror as your best friend will create the success abs drive to ACHIEVE.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Samantha Blake Terence Gordon Studio U

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