Real Life Real faith Journey to Wellness Journey to Wellness September/October | Page 19

When we think of success and promise in life, Harold Leffall comes to mind, he inspires, educates and
empowers people to go for their dreams, build business and live their lives. Harold is a speaker, teacher,
entrepreneur and non-profit executive who has appeared in Best Self Atlanta, Black Enterprise, Entrepreneur
and Essence magazines. He started his first multi-million dollar business at the age of 29 which lead him to

“Brother CEO: A Business Success Guide for African American Men.” Over a decade later
after he found himself in a financial set-back, he wrote his second book “Living from Within: Getting to the
Heart of True Happiness, Self-Acceptance and Peace.” His third book “HOPE” will be released October 2016.
write his first book

We were blessed to have the opportunity to chat with Harold to find out just a little about his journey. Harold is
not just a successful entrepreneur who has battled the ups and downs of being in business but, he had the fight
of his life when he had to battle cancer but he was not defeated for he is more than a conqueror. Harold shares
with us just a piece of what that experience was like and how he made it through to the other side.

When did you know you had the gift of both the written and spoken word?

I wrote my first book Brother CEO because when I started my first business there were no books I could find
that really spoke to what it takes to start a business as an African American man. There were tons of books on
how to write a business plan but I could not find any that captured the true essence of the courage and passion
necessary to start and grow a business. So I really discovered I could write and gained an appreciation for it
because I wanted to help others by sharing what I had learned as an entrepreneur. I began to get request to
speak after my book came out. I remember back in college during a time when I was really struggling
academically I turned on the television and this man by the name of Les Brown was talking about ‘You Have to
Be Hungry.” I was so inspired by his message that, was both transparent and instructional, I remember thinking
I want to be able to do that. I want to be able to encourage and uplift people who are feeling discouraged and
hopeless. What I did not know, that in order to do that there is a cost. I find that the most effective speaker are
those that have been through some dark times but managed to come out better and not bitter.

Was there a pivotal moment that confirmed your success?

It was when I was featured in Black Enterprise. I grew up reading the magazine and the fact that out of all of
the black businesses in the country that they selected me was a huge accomplishment. The article spoke of how
I took a $25K mortgage and built a multi-million dollar staffing firm. It talked about how just two years prior I
had filed bankruptcy and lost my home and car and now my business was thriving to the tune of $3.9 million in
sales at the time.

When did you discover you had cancer?

Last year, at age 48, I received the results of my biopsy,

“you have cancer.” It was during a routine visit with

…is there a family history of diabetes, high blood

my doctor who asked me the standard questions doctors ask

pressure, cancer, etc. My mom had high blood pressure and my dad had prostate cancer (so I thought). I later
discovered from my dad that he never had prostate cancer, he had an enlarged prostate. It was this error that
prompted my doctor to do a PSA screen for prostate cancer.