My favorite photo of Dana and me. Best wife a man could have.
Hometown: Jonesboro, Arkansas
I’m the founder and CEO of The Legacy Firm, LLC, a company with broad interests in both traditional and social media branding and marketing, blog management, self-publishing, and a number of additional entrepreneurial ventures in Ecuador’s Manabi Province. Dana and I split time between Jonesboro, AR and Puerto Cayo, Ecuador.
Professional background: All things mass communication with a global perspective: newspaper journalist, congressional press secretary, private foundation director, business/life coach, marketing and publishing. Have interviewed more than 15,000 subjects during my career in journalism.
Married to: Dana Hoggard Watkins blogging at http://www.mywindow2theworld.wordpress.com
DOB: 2-10-66
Secondary blog: www.latitudeone.wordpress.com designed to chronicle another chapter in my life.
Blogging professionally @ www.laspalmasecuador.wordpress.com
Featured topics on this blog: faith, politics, inspiration and any thought I may feel like being transparent about on a given day.
10 words that describe me: writer, adventurer, missionary, High D, status quo, rule-breaker, loyal, transparent, driven and quirky.
Pet Peeves: bad listeners and passive-aggressive manipulators.
Favorite Tweet I ever tweeted: ANNtoinette Romney says to #YouPeople #LetThemEatCake
Why I blog: As a former journalist it gives me a platform and I’m naive egocentric enough to believe people are interested in what I have to say.
Purpose of this blog: To make the reader think differently about a particular topic than they may have before.
Two big projects I’m currently undertaking: Building a second home in
Puerto Cayo, Ecuador (the photo at right is dated 12-8-2012) and completing my first book: “Light Wins: and the darkness is defeated forever”
I would never: bungee jump.
Fear of: heights and failure.
Favorite Bible Verse: “And God said, ‘Let there be light, and there was light.’” Genesis 1:3
I’m not that good at: what I’d call meaningless chit-chat.
Favorite movies: Gladiator, Braveheart, Lonesome Dove, Hunt for Red October, Shawshank Redemption.
Favorite TV shows: Seinfeld, King of Queens, Everybody Loves Raymond.
Bucket List: Final Four, Masters, stand on the equator (just did that so check), meet Pat Conroy, make Freshly Pressed, visit Antarctica, eat at the Heart Attack Grill in Vegas, learn to understand soccer, post a 79 for 18 holes, and visit every country in South America.
Always wanted to kiss a hot chick in the middle of the world.
Most people who don’t know me would call me: guarded, hard to get to know and distant.
Love playing golf with the dude above.
People who know me best would say: He’d do anything in the world for you.
Secret ambition: To be a world-champion BBQ Master
Significant accomplishments: Ran 3 marathons in 18 months 2006-07.
Hobbies: yard work, reading, writing/blogging, art collecting.
A defining moment in my life: When a career pastor refused to baptize my father in the hospital because he could not be fully immersed.
Contact information: stevewatkins71@yahoo.com
or 870-926-4055 or @lightsequation.
Hi, nice to meet you. I am looking forward to exploring your blog. Thank you for following Source of Inspiration. Hugs, pat
I’ve only read your About section so far, and I already support your being freshly pressed – I can tell this blog is going to be highly enjoyable!!
Thanks so much. PS. Despite my comments, I love cooking. I’m a huge BBQ guy. Have a great weekend. … steve
So if my fiancee – I’ve done a few BBQ recipes and I’m sure I will do a lot more!
Hi Steve. Just found your blog and am interested in what you know about Puerto Cayo and where abouts you are building in Puerto Cayo. Also how you found the lot and the process you are going through to build there. We are thinking about a trip to this area (never been to Ecuador) instead of Salinas. We are thinking about sometime in January but are now concerned that it is the rainy season that month. We are flexible in getting there, but the earliest is January. Would also be interested in your thoughts of retiring there. It seems like all of the necessary services (groceries, medical, dental) are available in Manta. Also any recommendations for a hotel there in Puerto Cayo. So much to find out about Puerto Cayo.
Thanks,
Alden
Alden: Are you in the states? If so, it would probably be better if we spoke by phone, and I don’t mind at all giving you a call. Yes, if this is something you’re serious about, there are lots of questions. I have lots of answers. The first trip my wife and I took was a total adventure, rental car and a road map (which did us absolutely no good). If you’re in the states, send me your number and I’ll give you a call. If not, we can email.
steve
Mr. Watkins,
I met you at the writer’s conferance in Tennessee. I wanted to hear you speak,but I was in another workshop. The Lord had been speaking to me about Ezekiel 37. I was so moved that you were speaking on that book of the Bible. God wanted me to have Life breathed back into my life as well as my writing.
Any thing I can do for you, or any way I can help?
Thanks for coming by our blog. In the AFLC (Association of Free Lutheran Congregations) we have missionaries in Ecuador, Justo and Patiricia Pillman and their son Nathanael. We will have info on them from time to time on our blog. You can also follow them at http://aflc-wm.blogspot.com/
Thank you. I would love to know more about them and perhaps meet them. Do you know the region of Ecuador where they are based?
Steven: They are in Cuenca…I do not know where in Ecuador that is but you probably do. Here is their website: http://pillmanfamily.org/ I know they would love to hear from you!
Beautiful…
http://ofglassandpaper.com/2013/01/03/tellmeaboutyourself-an-award/