U. Nebraska-Omaha alumnus Paul Bryant already has an impressive legacy. After graduating from the university with two masters’ degrees in urban studies and urban education, Bryant quickly set off on the fast track to success.
His latest achievement? His book, “The Purpose-Living Leader,” released in July of 2009, has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
Throughout the book, he uses his own experiences to illustrate the ups and downs of purpose and destiny.
“I’m hoping that people can be entertained by humorous bits of my life, share a laugh or a cry at my expense,” Bryant said.
He hopes that sharing his own experiences with others will cause them to examine their own lives.
Bryant is no stranger to accomplishment and award.
He founded the Leadership Institute for Urban Education and is a board member of Leadership for Life, and that’s just the beginning. His latest book was a long work in progress.
“I was returning from a retreat on a corporate member’s private jet, looking back over the events of the retreat in luxury,” Bryant said. “I picked up a pen and started writing different experiences in my life.”
“I felt compelled to finish the book as a result of the Obama election because his winning inspired me,” Bryant said.
Obama winning the presidency had a profound effect on Bryant, and inspired him to finish his own work.
“I looked at an African-American male around the same age as myself, educated like myself, with a young family like myself, and thought ‘What is my legacy?'” he said. “It inspired me to finish what had been sitting on my computer for years. It was a good thing.”
He has received numerous awards, including UNO’s Alumnus Achievement Award and the Martin Luther King “Living the Dream” Award.
Soon, Bryant may be able to add a Pulitzer Prize to his long list of accomplishments.
Bryant has more exciting plans for the near future.
He will be teaching an organizational leadership course in the CPACS division at UNO this year.
“I’m absolutely excited. I’m honored. I’m teching a class at Creighton this summer for the Upward Bound program and the students are using my book, the ACE program at Metro uses my book,” Bryant said.
The book sold more than 500 copies within its first month, when it was nominated for the Pulitzer.
According to an online press release, the book has initiated a movement within high schools, universities and book clubs to help leaders find their purpose.
But students don’t need to wait to take the course to get a bit of advice from this successful man.
Bryant said that money should never be a student’s primary goal.
“Don’t just chase dollars,” he said, “because you’ll reach that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and you’ll find that it’s just not enough.”
What matters, Bryant said, is that students find something they’re good at and stick with it. Money comes naturally from doing what you love.
“True hapiness isn’t about the BMW and the bank account, those should just be accessories. I challange them to truly find their talent and pursue a career that paid a premium for their talent.”
For more information on Bryant, his work and his Pulitzer-nominated book, visit www.thepurposelivingleader.com.