Conquering with Kindness - How to Pursue a Successful and Meaningful Life Serving Others while Discovering and Living Your Purpose to Be Your Best Self

BY BOGDAN MATUSZYNSKI

Having seen in person some of the worst things humanity has done and some of the most beautiful and unimaginable parts of the world, have navigated storms of uncertainty and near death. Yet, there exist two powerful, transformative, and positive forces that can serve as a beacon of hope - the power of kindness and servant leadership which are effective globally.

This isn’t just a concept; it’s a lifestyle I’ve embraced as the founder of iSERVE. I’ve spent the last decade channeling this power, helping to open doors for people like you who read this type of thought leader newspaper edition.

Through education and globally meaningful experiences, you can begin setting off a kindness ripple effect, creating positive vibes that spread from your personal circle to other global communities. If you don’t believe me, let me show you how turned my own trauma and vulnerability into a positive force for good because taking care of ourselves and others is more crucial now than ever.

My journey, rich with international awards, including Rotary Peace Fellowships, International Conflict Resolution Leadership Experience, Fulbright Teaching Award, and opportunities to advise of international opportunities, stands testament to the impact have had through my work and helping others live these principles.

Raised in a multicultural, multilingual home and having worked or studied in over 44 countries, I’ve had my taste of the world. Now, I’m here to guide you on your own transformative journey. My goal is to help you discover your untapped potential, develop essential diplomacy skills, and master the art of designing award-winning essays for scholarships, university admissions, and grants. Together, we can turn your dreams into reality to help add value to your life and the lives of others while you discover and live your meaningful purpose. Let’s conquer the world with kindness.

Life will throw us curveballs. We all will experience pain, adversity, and times that test our resilience. These circumstances and unexpected stress can either beat us down to surrender or inspire us to reassess our lives and values.

That’s what happened to me when a personal crisis plunged me into a whirlwind of grief. In that storm, witnessing unwavering kindness became my life-raft, with my wife Tiffany, my family, and my community offering unwavering support that allowed me to bounce back and get the help I needed.

This journey awakened me to the power of serving others and empathy’s role in transforming communities. This, along with my mentor Cheryl’s advice, sparked the development of iSERVE an initiative transforming lives, fostering self-empowerment, and inspiring global leadership. However, service is more than just an opportunity provider; it’s about instilling a lifestyle of servant leadership that values community contributions and using one’s resources for the greater good.

iSERVE is about creating ripples of change that reach far beyond the individual, extending into the wider society. We use education as a lever for change, following Nelson Mandela’s call to action: “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.”

Our mission isn’t just to heal the individual but to equip them with the skills for conflict resolution, promote internal peace, and offer realistic hope through servant leadership. When you decide to “conquer with kindness,” you better yourself while also experiencing enhanced well-being and happiness.

Admittedly, this journey has its hurdles limited resources, living or working in conflict zones, and the task of achieving systemic change. However, it’s within these challenges that we can find our own growth and opportunities for innovation.

iSERVE’s work in global communities, like our capacity-building workshops in under-resourced areas, showcases the power of servant leadership to give back to others who will continue to give back. We’ve helped leaders worldwide secure scholarships, grants, and valuable training, spreading our impact globally - just ask Ly Chhay Loem from a fishing village in Cambodia, who was the first in her community to go to university as a woman and has now secured a prestigious scholarship to study in Australia through our support, creating a pathway for her to uplift herself and her community.

In a similar nature of conquering with kindness as a servant leader, we have looked at opportunities in the Cali-Baja region in collaboration with San Diego Coastal Rotary Club President, Fernanda Torres, to advocate for peace by working on community conservation projects, training students, engaging in conflict resolution through peace-building efforts with community partners and developing student leaders through Model United Nations programming. These individuals are now pivotal in making peace-building and kindness contagious, promoting the ideal of resolving conflicts in their respective communities, and utilizing their acquired knowledge and skills to promote positive opportunities and support to those in need.

We also held a scholarship and fellowship workshop, and iSERVE assisted a student in earning a Fulbright Fellowship. Additionally, we collaborated with the Founder of Pundutso Financial Education Trust and a Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumnus, Leslie Makwembere, along with the U.S. Embassy of Zimbabwe’s Education USA Team to help Zimbabwean students to unlock their hero’s journey storytelling skills so they can apply to international universities and fellowships.

iSERVE has also collaborated with AlphaGamma Founders Arthur and Eric Gopak to support initiatives around content marketing, education about how to get the most out of accessible opportunities, and sharing information about how to search the AlphaGamma Business portal for young professionals to get selected for some of the worldwide opportunities.

We’re not merely offering solutions, but encouraging people to tackle their challenges head-on, fostering resilience and hope through practical opportunities. In this regard, Servant Leadership resonates strongly. It’s not just about empathy and humility; it’s about creating actionable outcomes that enrich lives, and we echo the need for those we train or assist to keep the cycle of serving going.

Some of my mentors showed me that understanding team well-being isn’t just about empathy and offering practical resources that nurture resiliency and wellness. This roadmap promotes healthier environments championing empathy, compassion, kindness, and opportunity awareness.

Remember, kindness isn’t passive; it’s about adding value. It’s about attentive listening, helping neighbors, and offering support, making every act a catalyst for significant positive change. As we ‘Conquer with Kindness,’ we inspire others to do the same, cultivating hope in our communities.

If you want to learn more about integrating kindness and servant leadership into your lives, check out the book, “Conquering with Kindness How to Pursue a Successful and Meaningful Life Serving Others while Discovering and Living Your Purpose to Be Your Best Self” that’s set to be released soon. Let’s continue our shared responsibility and privilege to serve others and conquer with kindness!

No matter your industry or role, it’s in serving others that we truly lead. It’s through kindness that we truly conquer.

It’s in transforming ourselves that we can actually begin to transform the world one person at a time. The journey is demanding, and the challenges are many, but the rewards are fulfilling.

About the Author:

Bogdan Matuszynski, a first-generation Polish-Mexican-American, has used his experiences and skills to make education and opportunities more accessible to others globally, propelling his mission of service in his founding of iSERVE. In his role through iSERVE, Bogdan acts as a Scholarships & International Opportunities Advisor, teaching leaders diplomacy skills, international project development, and the art of designing award-winning essays for scholarships, fellowships, university admissions, and grants to help people access life-changing opportunities.

His commitment to service earned him prestigious international fellowships and grants, such as the Ambassador Charles Hostler Fellowship, the Hansen Summer Institute on Leadership and International Cooperation, the U.S. Department of State’s Fulbright Spain Teaching Grant, and the Rotary Peace Fellowship. He has also earned the RISE San Diego Urban Leadership Fellowship, the San Diego State University’s “Quest for the Best” Vice Presidential Student Service Award, and Congressional Recognition for his activity related to Model United Nations.

Bogdan holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Security and Conflict Resolution, with minors in Islamic & Arabic Studies and Latin American Studies, and is set to complete a Master’s Degree in Defense & Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. Additionally, he enjoys serving by volunteering at community events, helping social organizations as a brand ambassador, and has organized educational activities worldwide to use education as a tool to promote peace.

Find out more about Bogdan:

1. Website

2. LinkedIn