OVERCOMING THE IMPOSSIBLE: From Death-Sentence Diagnosis to the Healing Power of Perception Medicine
Overcoming the Impossible shares Steve’s experience of ignoring the signs that his life – as well as his mind, mind, and spirit – were out of balance, which led to a diagnosis of terminal Stage 4 cancer at the age of 25. Unwilling to accept the verdict or subject his body to the chemical forces of Western medicine that promised only to help manage and not to heal – with debilitating side effects – he shares his astonishing journey to find a cure for the incurable. The result: full regression of the disease with no treatment and the transformation of his life to one of exuberance, adventure, openness, and business success.
Steve resolved to go to the edge of science, philosophy, psychology, medicine, and even mysticism to answer the question of what part of him was controlling his body’s biological systems and whether he could influence their programming.
His search for answers took him from the summit of Mt. Everest to the mechanisms that trigger the body’s inflammatory responses, from the latest research on the effects of meditation to new advancements in the emerging field of psychoneuroimmunology. He also highlights instances of remarkable healing and mind-over-matter achievements, including the fast-wound-healing rituals of Sufis, loincloth-clad monks melting snow in the Himalayas, the incredible endurance feats of Vim de Hof, and much more.
For Steve it’s a story about choice, the choices behind who we are today and those that will shape who we want to become tomorrow. As he writes, “Health is not a process or a destination. It is a way of being.” He has distilled his experience into a ten-step healing program that he believes can potentially reverse even the most serious of physical conditions.
EXTREME ENTREPRENEUR
Steve is an entrepreneur, leader, and innovator with a passion for business, science, and adventure. After leaving school at age 14 and achieving early success in sales, he started ZAG at age 19. With a $500 credit card, he grew ZAG to $5 million in annual sales in just 5 years. ZAG has grown over 800% in the past two years and is projected to reach $40 million in annual revenue in 2014 with 135 staff globally.
Today, ZAG is a pioneer and leader in the functional beverage industry, doing what no one else has done by bringing the healing power of plants to people in a meaningful, accessible, and affordable way that allows them to feel the benefits of the product immediately.
ZAG is one of the few companies in the world drawing the link between botanicals that relax the mind and demonstrate a cascading link of decreased inflammatory cytokines that initiate disease process. ZAG’s ongoing research and development into life-changing (and life-saving) products — which are a quantum leap for the industry — continues to develop new market segments.
WORLD ADVENTURER
Steve lives life to the fullest and is committed to philanthropy. He combines fun and excitement with meaningful endeavours, such as turning his life-long goal of summiting Mount Everest in 2012 into an opportunity to raise money for at-risk-youth.
He has a deep passion for traveling to new countries and is always on the hunt for thrilling adventures. His active lifestyle includes running, mountain climbing, and a wide range of of winter sports. Steve’s achievements to date include numerous awards and accomplishments including:
- Author
- Public Speaker
- Poet
- Singer/ Song Writer
- Artist
- Pilot
- Ironman
- Mountaineer, summiting many mountains including Mount Everest and Aconcagua
PHILANTHROPIST
Steve’s personal mission in life is to bring more love into the world. Steve has started two not-for-profits that further the advocacy and research into plant-based medicine and alternative health treatments bringing thought leaders from diverse fields together to shape the conversation around perception medicine and its underlining model of healing, and to ensure the continued access to botanicals and plant-based treatment modalities.
In 2014, Steve launched the HEARTBEATS initiative through ZAG Group to be a force for positive change in the world and inspiring others to do the same. ZAG has pledged to donate a minimum of 1% of yearly revenue to charitable causes. In 2009, Steve started Adventure2Advance, creating social awareness and change by inspiring people through adventures, including summiting Mount Everest, raising over $100,000 for at-risk youth. In 2006 Steve led a project to develop a pipeline that brought clean water to 3,000 people in Lesotho, Africa.