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Biography Childhood Young Adulthood Settling Down Business Success Financial Expertise Goals Philanthropy World TravelerBiography
Steve is the ultimate underdog, survivor, and achiever. Steve is best known for Motivation, Inspiration & Leadership and his niche in the area of Entrepreneurship, Small Business Finance, & Management. Steve's rags-to-riches-story has graced several business magazines, newspapers, and books and has been seen by over 20 million viewers on Oprah. It has been defined as one of the most amazing true success stories in the last 20 years.
His remarkable success as a Professional Speaker, Trainer, Author, and Business Consultant is just as astonishing. Through his business savvy, dynamic personality, and emphasis on customer service, he is growing another highly successful Speaking/Consulting business.
Steve believes in using a lot of humor to get his message across. He is a gifted storyteller and has many hilarious anecdotes from his world travels and many years as an Entrepreneur, Consultant, & Speaker.
Childhood
When Steve was growing up in Texas, he heard about John Goddard who made a list of all the things he wanted to do with his life. That list contained over 125 goals that he hoped to achieve. It included things like: Explore the Nile, Climb Mount Everest, and Run a 5 minute mile.
So when Steve was about 12 years old, he made a list of all the things he wanted to do in his life. When people saw Steve's list, they laughed at him and said he was DREAMING!
Steve repeated the 1st grade because he couldn't read and writing was difficult. He was put into Special Education classes
but was still unable to keep up academically.
However, he was passed from one grade to the next, and because all learning is sequential, he fell further and further behind. Even making the effort to keep up became more and more difficult for Steve. The youngest of six children; Steve's parents were brought to Family Court for Child Abuse and Child Neglect. Steve was a terrible D and F student, a very tumultuous youth, and was frequently in trouble with school authorities.
Unfortunately, everyone of importance in his life-teachers, classmates, friends, and family-told him that he was STUPID. The State of Texas Board of Education labeled him an Idiot. "When you fail all of your classes except Gym and Lunch-you begin to believe that you are stupid," he said.
Steve was 20 years old; just a few months short of his 21st birthday when he graduated High School. Steve was picked on all through elementary and middle school. He got into several fights in school. "Everyone called me STUPID-and I would punch them in the nose," he said.
His High School Principal suggested he take up boxing-and not fight in school, this lead to Steve participating in Texas Golden Gloves.
Young Adulthood
After High School, Steve joined the United States Marine Corps and saw the world thanks to Uncle Sam. After the Marines, Steve held and lost countless entry-level minimum wage jobs. He was a Ranch-Hand, Stable-Boy, Farm-Hand, turned Rodeo Cowboy, Horse Trainer and Blacksmith/Ferrier. He worked in an Animal Safari Park, and as a Tour Guide, an in a Wild West Show, Construction, etc.
Steve couldn't achieve in the academic arena and was only moderately successful at boxing, but was good enough at the rodeo events of Saddle-Bronc and Team Roping to get a small rodeo scholarship (along with his VA benefits) to attend Southwest Texas State University. But after 1 year he had flunked out of college.
Next he tried his hand at business. He loved horses, so starting a horse-drawn carriage service in Houston Texas seemed natural. Everyone laughed at him and told him: "You will never amount to much!" The business failed in under a year-because he did everything wrong. He mismanaged the company and his money, (it was too much wine, women and song) had his truck repossessed, was evicted from his apartment, and found himself homeless.
Steve spent 6 months in a shelter (looking for work); now Steve had some time on his hands and asked himself several profound questions that would not only alter his life, but the lives of countless others.
"What is the meaning of Life?" "Why are we here?" "Is Success like winning the lottery?" Or are there CHOICES a person can make to direct their future?
To find the answers he started reading, it was slow and tedious due to his yet undiagnosed learning disability-(he was homeless, so hanging out at the library was a safe, warm, dry place with clean bathrooms).
Over time, he read hundreds of books, (Business, Finance, History, Biographies, Self-Help, the Bible, the Torah, Animal Husbandry, Novels, etc). He loved Biographies of great Military Leaders, Inventors, U.S. Presidents, Explores, and Business Leaders.
How did they become successful? He wandered, "Were they born for greatness?" "Was greatness thrust upon them?" "Was it their family?" "Was it their wealth?" "Was it education?" "Was it their family connections?" "Was it destiny?" "Or were their decisions made at critical junctures in their lives that led to success?"
Settling Down
After Steve spent 6 months in a shelter (his parents had moved up to New Jersey for work about 2 years prior to Steve's homeless ordeal) he found himself in New Jersey, where he met and married the woman who changed his life; Angela. She encouraged him to return to school, where Steve was diagnosed with DYSLEXIA-a learning disability in which the brain inverts numbers and letters making reading, writing and phonics difficult. Steve, at the age of 27, was told he only had a 4th grade reading/writing ability and was functionally illiterate. In addition to the hardships that accompany his disability, the most divesting event in his life occurred; the death of his infant son, Paul Joseph Bacque.
One heart breaking part of his tragedy for Steve was that his son would never experience the simple things that children do, such as play with toys. Perhaps that was the motivation behind Steve's next move, designing toys for children. A native Texan, Steve had always loved the west and cowboys. One day, he made a trick rope (lasso) and began to refine it into a safe toy-the type of toy he felt that Paul Joseph (PJ) could have played with. With this endeavor came a vision that became Steve's obsession; creating safe toys for children.
This mission helped him work through his grief. In November of 1991 Steve started a one-man operation toy company in his basement making western-themed toys. Those toys caught on and the company grew quickly.
Business
He started his toy manufacturing company with less than $ 3,000 dollars. He had no prior business experience or education. Because of his own difficulties in life and the double appeal of hiring the disabled and creating toys that his own son (PJ) would have enjoyed playing with, Steve became enmeshed in doing things for others.
The philosophy that "You can have everything in life that money can buy, and more importantly everything that money can't buy if you just help enough other people get what they want." emerged. By giving jobs to over 850 people with disabilities he helped others to circumvent their limitations, just as he was trying to conquer his own.
His creative, nonviolent (no toy guns were included in his inventory) educational cowboy toys, made by people with disabilities (over 850 contracted labor employees in less than 5 years) won him the President's "E" Award for Excellence in Exporting, and for the "Most Inventive Toy by the Toy Knights Association. In less than five years, he brought more than 60 products onto the retail market in the United States and 6 foreign markets. His toys could be found in Wal-mart, K-mart, Toys "R" Us, in catalogs, theme-parks, and in fast-food children's meals and thousands of western wear retail shops, and tourist spots in the western United States. Steve also created toys based on Disney and Sesame Street characters.
Steve funded his company with a combination of Bank loans, SBA loans, Private-Accredited-"Angel" Investors, Venture Capital funding, Government Grants, Purchase Order Financing, and Factoring of Accounts Receivable. Steve sold his highly successful toy company (in less than 5 years of inception) in June of 1995 to the 4th largest (multiple hundred million) toy conglomerate in the United States, and stayed until mid 1997 as a Senior Executive with them.
Success
Along the way he earned several honors including the highly prestigious "Entrepreneur of the Year"-(sponsored by Merrill Lynch, Ernst & Young and Inc. Magazine), The Small Business Administration's "Small Business Success Award," "Inventor of the Year," "Congressional Businessman of the Year," "Who's Who of Business," "The Chamber of Commerce Blue Chip Enterprise Award," ete . . .
His business success and life story has been featured on OPRAH, CNN, Today, Good Morning America, CNBC, 20/20 and in Zig Ziglar's Book-"Success for Dummies", The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur Magazine, Success Magazine, Forbes Magazine, Inc. Magazine, World Trade Magazine, Venture Magazine, New Jersey Business Magazine and Inventor's Digest Magazine.
Steve took what he learned (raising capital) from his rapidly growing toy manufacturing company and started helping other entrepreneur's raise funding.
Specialized Financial Expertise
Dr. Bacque helps structure and manage the execution of investments for several venture capital funds. He focuses on strategic investments & numerous equity transactions including Private Placements, Public Offerings, and Acquisitions. Dr. Bacque manages all aspects of due diligence, direct co-investing, management, financial reporting, mergers, and acquisitions on all prospective investments for several venture capital firms as a EIR- "Entrepreneur in Residence" as well as certain select Private Placement-with direct responsibility for revenue generation, general administration, and accounting.
He has participated in multiple Venture Capital and Private Equity transactions including:
- Equity Investments & Convertible Debentures
- Reverse Mergers into a Shell & Asset Acquisitions
- Asset Disposition & Reverse Triangular Mergers
Steve has first-hand experience in raising capital from small private investors, banks, revolving lines of credit and venture capital funding- ranging from his own start-up to multi-million dollar acquisitions. His team has raised hundreds of millions in finance (equity & debt equity) for clients.
Dr. Bacque has been involved in several ventures including: Book Publishing company, Two Film Production companies, Film Post Production/Special Effects Company Movie/TV-Equipment Rental Company, Indie Film Magazine, Chain of Restaurants, Two toy companies, Ten Websites, Three Healthcare Providers, Seven Technology firms, Four Real Estate Development deals, Home Builder/General Contractor, Boat Manufacture, Engine Design/production company, Three TV Infomercials, Finance/Consumer Credit Company, Finance-Factoring of Receivables Company, Forty-seven Patented products/Licensing deals, Two Child Care Facilities, On-line-Dating site, Two Car Dealerships, Five Educational Programs, Ten Energy (R/D Firms) and Equipment Leasing Operation (which were all VC or Angel Backed).
His Motivational Speech programs have been modified and delivered to more than 40 High schools, 12 Elementary schools, and over 100 companies. Steve has traveled to over 50 countries, 28 Islands and 6 continents and from coast-to-coast as a speaker and lecturer. He addresses tens of thousands of people every year at his training programs, businesses, sales organizations, trade groups, schools and church groups. He also reaches countless numbers through his magazine articles, books, workbooks, newsletters, television, and radio appearances.
Steve spoke at Harvard's Graduate School of Business. He had a 10 page Speech Handout on how he built his business and raised capital. The Dean told he should go back to college and complete his college education, and write a book about his life, and a book about business. So Steve went back to college.
While working on his Master of Business Administration-he expanded that speech handout into his MBA thesis. Then he did more research, and expanded it into his doctoral dissertation for his Ph.D. this was the bases of his workbook series "Dream It Plan It Fund It" on starting, growing and raising capital for a small business.
Steve has always been a dreamer-setting goals for himself . . .
Goals
Steve pulled out the List of Goals and Dreams he wrote when he was 12 years old. The list included things like : Travel the World, Sail the Seven Seas, Run with the Bulls in Spain, Ride an Elephant through the jungle, Ride a Camel through the desert, Skydive, Scuba dive, Write a Book, Graduate College, See the Seven Wonders of the World, Go Whitewater Rafting, Bungee Jump off a bridge, Go Dog Sledding in Alaska, Go Spelunking, Be a Male Model, Be in a Movie, Be in a TV Commercial, become a United States Marine, compete in Rodeos, become a Boxer, study martial arts and earn his Black Belt, Meet the President of the United States, Own his own business, and become a Millionaire before 40.
When you ask Steve how he went from being HOMELESS and a terrible student to being a self-made millionaire in his mid 30's, earning his Ph.D. he will tell you that the answer lies in his deep-rooted faith.
He believes that to be truly successful in every aspect of life; your life must be centered around and founded in God. Steve constantly reminds himself of the words from the Bible: "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?"
After the toy company, Steve became a Professional Motivational/Inspirational Speaker and started traveling. Next he decided to conquer his life-long learning disability (DYSLEXICA) and went back to college. Steve received his BBA in business in 1999, his MBA-Business/Finance in 2003 and was bestowed his Ph.D. in Business/Entrepreneurship/Finance in 2004 all from the University of Northern Washington.
He wrote 12 books and also writes columns in several business magazines. Now Steve is a successful business owner/entrepreneur, university lector, decorated United States Marine, avid outdoorsman, former rodeo cowboy and boxer. He is widely published and actively lectures around the world-(he has been to over 50 countries, more than 28 Islands and 6 continents and all 50 states). He has received numerous Community Service and Humanitarian awards, and has lectured at Harvard, Yale, Brown, Princeton and countless other universities.
Philanthropy
Steve's next move was to help others. He became somewhat of a philanthropist He will tell you that the Bible says: "To whom much is given-much is expected." Organizing his church and children's school to sending needed supplies (water bottles, food, dog food and money) to the Rescue works at "Ground Zero in New York City after 9/11. Volunteering with the "Bridges" program-(feeding the homeless under the bridges of New York City in the middle of the night), Helping with the Marines Toys for Tots program, He was the master-mind and Chairman of "Operation Teddy Bear" sending thousands of stuffed animals to orphan children of the December 2004 Tsunami in Thailand. He volunteers for "Habit for Humanity"-(helping build homes for the homeless and low income).
He was the Chairman of the Board of LINCS-a Food Bank/Pantry and Soup Kitchen feeding the Homeless and giving out food to low income families. Organizing Can Food drives, Clothes Drives for the needy. Diabetes Walks, March of Dimes Walks, Walk for the Cure-Breast Cancer, Autism Walks, etc. He has traveled to the far corners of the globe-comforting victims of the Tsunami, to working with "Doctors Without Borders," to serving on the Board of Directors of "Pathways" (working with disabled children).
Choices
When you speak with Steve, he will tell you: "I made some very poor CHOICES in life and Business" (that lead to me being HOMELESS). He then decided if-"I can get myself into this mess-I can get myself out too. By making better CHOICES." Steve Bacque doesn't see his story as a rags-to-riches fairy tale. Rather, he says, "Mine is a story of how to empower yourself-have a VISION and DREAM-and beat the odds stacked against you." "My life could have been easily derailed by my learning disability, tumultuous youth, homelessness, the death of my 1st child, a chain of dead-end minimum wage jobs, but I made a CHOICE to not let those things sink me." "I never quit dreaming and Trying!" "You can break the self-destructive cycles that enslave you. Be smart-have a VISION, a DREAM-Have a PLAN-of what you want your life to be." "Hold onto your Dreams and the love ones in your life-as if your very life depends on it-because it does . . ."
It requires courage for a man, especially a successful man, to acknowledge publicly that he could only read/write at a 4th grade level at 27 years old. He said: "I struggled to write and spell the words in my head, and the dreams in my heart." "I had all of this negativity. All I heard was quit dreaming." "You're STUPID." "You're a Loser!" "You will never amount to much in life." All of this negativity. But, then I learned that a POSTIVE Word is MUCH more Powerful.
Faith, hard work, and persistence are powerful factors in success. Though he was discouraged, Steve never gave up on himself.
It's ironic that the death of his son, one of the most devastating events in his life, provided his inspirational and drew out of him the commitment and desire to do something that benefited others and, in the process, benefited him.
Stephen Bacque went from an Abused Illiterate Child, to Golden Gloves Boxer, to a United States Marine, Rodeo Cowboy-Ranch-Hand, to a Homeless man, to Successful Entrepreneur, turned Professional Speaker/Author, University Lector, Philanthropist, to Earning his Ph.D. and being an Accredited "Angel" Investor, Venture Capitalist and World Traveler.
Now close to his 50's, Steve have continued (as an on-going, life-long learning process) extensive post graduate (extension-education) studies in: History, Architecture, Art, Literature, Cultural Trends, Maritime History, and Zoology/Animal Husbandry.
World Traveler
Steve weaves the experiences of his interesting life into his lectures. He tells fascinating true and often entertaining stories about his world travels and mishaps (learning while laughing) life lessons not easily acquired in the classroom alone. He has traveled to more than 50 countries, 28 Islands and 6 continents to date.
These adventures include first hand events such as- being chased by a Bear in Alaska, knocked off the top of an Elephant in Thailand, a Shark encounter on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, Dog Sledding, riding a Camel in Egypt, Spelunking, Rock-Climbing, Sky Diving, Bungee Jumping, Whitewater Rafting, swimming with Dolphins, Scuba Diving with Hump Back Whales, a Texas Cattle Drive, the Running of the Bulls in Spain. Steve has meet two U.S. Presidents, appeared in a TV Commercial, and a Movie, and he was a Child Model.
Remember that List of Goals and Dreams that Steve wrote when he was 12 years old? Well, he has been able to mark all of them as DONE!