By: Ray Simpson, The Arc MN Self-Advocacy Program Intern
“It’s not about perfection, it’s about progress.” – Steve Reinardy
This month for our self-advocacy spotlight, Steve Reinardy shared his story about creating and achieving goals. Steve has been formally a self-advocate for about 2 years. Steve started learning how to advocate for himself about 10 years ago after a difficult life experience with his health and his former job. In 2010, Steve’s former job downsized diverse workers, and he was let go. Shortly after that, Steve had severe health issues. None of this stopped him from moving ahead and creating new goals.
Steve was hired as a janitor at Minnesota Diversified Industries (MDI) in 2011. He has been promoted several times because of his passion to learn. He is now a safety coordinator and gives trainings. Steve has an amazing wall that is filled with certificates and awards. Steve shared he likes to have his awards up, but they aren’t to brag. He likes to tell people, “Look what I have done. If I can do it, you can do it too.” Steve has also been trained in CPR, fire safety, and fire extinguishers since working at MDI.
Steve’s most recent goal he reached was getting a master’s certificate as a life coach. His decision to become a life coach came after he decided to work on himself. “If you don’t work on yourself, it is very hard to help others. When asked how he supports others as a life
coach he replied, “I listen to them carefully before I speak. I try to get as much information as I can, and then I throw in my ideas. If they want more advice after, I will give it to them.”
When asked how it feels to accomplish his goals, Steve replied, “It feel amazing. I am one of those people that when I achieve my goal, I give thanks. I like to relish in my accomplishment before I move on. I like to share my awards online and be grateful. I like to share it with my friends and family.”
Steve has many supporters in creating and achieving his goals. His work offers him an employment support group where he goes if he needs accommodations or advice. Outside of work, Steve has his friends Steph and Shay at a group called Mindpower Coaching. For general life issues, Steve turns to his mom, aunt, and uncles.
Steve shared advice for anyone who wants to create and achieve goals. “The best advice given to me by my mentor was, it’s not about perfection, it’s about progress. You can’t really do or finish anything that you don’t start.” Steve also shared the importance of writing your goals down on paper. “It’s been said that a goal you write down will be three to four more times likely to be achieved if you write it down, then if you just say it.”