Finding your passion and living your dream is something all of us strive for in life. But what happens when you have all that and then lose it? Jauquin Hawkins was playing professional basketball for over a decade and filled his life with a supportive wife and three daughters…but everything changed when he suffered a stroke on the court in Australia. Although he recovered, he wasn’t at 100% and his team eventually released him. This was the beginning of his downward spiral. He was drowning in his story and depression which was keeping him from finding work and jeopardizing his family’s security. His family was in need of a new coach that could help bring him back to living life.

This was where Tony Robbin’s stepped into the game. He began by bringing Jauquin and his wife, Kim, to Fiji. After getting his focus on change, Tony sent him into the village to live amongst the people who work hard to just survive. A community that required him to be a whole new team member. He worked all day, slept on the floor, fed the animals and even had to stand by as the village killed a pig so they could feed their families. Realizing he had been complaining about living like a king, Jauquin’s perspective changed. This was real life and their teamwork depended on the village’s survival. Tony left him there until he got it. It wasn’t about the job anymore. It was about putting his family first and providing for them. By day 12, the lesson finally came and he was heading home.

Once he returned Tony had another surprise for Jauquin…the coach that had fired him. This was the person that Jauquin had focused all of his resentment on. A man he felt had abandoned and disappointed him. Following an intense conversation Jauquin finally realized that his coach cared, but there were serious concerns about Jauquin’s health. The doctors had noted he wouldn’t fully recover cognitively for two years…and that was the reason he was released. By the end of the session, both men had tears in their eyes. Finally Jauquin could let go of his anger and try to focus on creating a new story.

The conversations weren’t over. Tony then pulled Jauquin’s family together and had him disclose his financial crisis to them. Suddenly by opening up, he had his own team who wanted to see him succeed. Before the moment was over, Tony informed Jauquin that he was going to work. It wasn’t as glamorous as playing ball, but it hard work that he could feel proud of. He was up before the sun and reporting as the newest member of the waste management team. Reflecting back on his Fiji lessons, he didn’t care. His goal was simply to take care of his family by whatever means it would take. When the first paycheck arrived, he was proud and he knew that he could do it.

What I loved was that by the end of the show, like most of Breakthrough shows, Jauquin was a changed man and his life and family were back on track. However in the end, Tony arranged for Jauquin to live his true passion. Jauquin had mentioned the love he had for kids and his desire to teach them. We find in the end that he will get that opportunity as a youth coach…and the moment was clear. What you believe is your path may only be a step stone to what you are meant to do. Stay open and embrace the change. You may find that you are happier than you could ever imagine!