I had a long-term relationship ending not by my choice. I have an African-American

foster son who was wrongfully going to prison, went to San Clinton until eight months

later a federal judge let him out and said he was not guilty.

But it was like he came out a very different man.

They were starting to lose friends.

One of them named Chip, one of my five friends who committed suicide or took their life was named

Chip. Very close friend of mine. I was running out of cash. So the Great Recession was in the early stages, but

you know, we were growing faster than ever before but we didn't see

the recession coming and frankly like I didn't want to be doing what I was doing anymore I was in my own

prison in my own mind that my identity as the founder and CEO of Joatt Aviv with all of the

VIP status that came with that, I felt like I couldn't leave it and I wanted to and so I was having nightmares about cancer and car crashes and then lo and behold I had my NDE.

I was in St. Louis giving a speech because I had a new book come out and after being

on crutches giving the speech I sat down to sign books and I was one out unconscious and

thankfully I didn't go flatline yet until the paramedics showed up.

I was actually unconscious for five minutes though. Paramedics showed up, hang on a gurney and that was the first

of nine times that I went to flatline and you know they had pulled the paddles out and shocking me back to life I was 47 years old

They had no idea what was wrong with me

Hello friends welcome back to the Light Watkins show this is your first time here I interview ordinary people just like you and me who've taken extraordinary leaps of faith

often in the direction of their path, their

purpose, or their mission. And in doing so, they've been able to positively impact the

lives of many others who've either heard about their story or who've witnessed them in action or who've directly benefited from their work.

Today I am super honored to be in conversation with a friend and one of my inspirations. His name is Chip Conley. So Chip has a really fascinating story. He

...