From Spark to Significance: How a Simple Email Ignited a Movement

Jun 19 / Aspire to Give Academy

A few years ago, I read a comment in an email thread from fellow West Point graduates that stopped me in my tracks.

It was one of those small moments that you don’t recognize as life-changing until much later. The thread — an ongoing conversation among alumni — centered on leadership. One graduate remarked that while West Point is globally recognized, what it’s truly known for is developing leadership in its graduates.

Then came the question that sparked it all:


“Why aren’t there other academies focused on SELF-leadership for everyday people, especially for young adults facing life’s journey?”


As a younger man, I might have skimmed past that line and moved on. But at this point in life — after years of growth, life’s ups and downs, and reflection — those words struck a deeper chord. They reminded me of my earliest days as a freshman plebe at West Point, where one of the first and most lasting lessons we were taught was simple yet profound:


You cannot lead others until you learn to lead yourself.


That was the spark. The idea kept tugging at me. Why wasn’t this foundational principle — self-leadership as the cornerstone of growth — more widely accessible beyond military or corporate settings? Why weren’t we teaching it as part of everyday life?

That question sparked the creation of Aspire to Give® Academy — and with it, the two-course Life Transition by Design program, drawn from our flagship offering: the Pivot to Purpose Learning Series®.

The Foundation Learned at West Point: Self-Leadership Comes First


At West Point, leadership was never just a title — it was a discipline. It began with self-awareness, responsibility, resilience, and integrity. As cadets, we were challenged to push past comfort, examine our values, and take ownership of every choice we made.

This inner work laid the foundation for everything that followed. Whether we led a squad, a team, a company, or an organization, we had to first lead ourselves — with purpose.

That foundation is the soul of Aspire to Give® Academy.


Why This Matters Now


Too many young adults and others navigate life transitions without guidance, without reflection, and without a framework to make sense of the change.

We created Aspire to Give® Academy to fill that gap.

We don’t just train young adults to manage change. We inspire them to lead themselves through it - to pivot toward a clear purpose. Toward a life of intention. Toward significance.

From an Email Thread to a Movement


Looking back, I’m grateful for that email thread. It planted a seed. It reminded me of the power of the foundation from West Point I received — and how urgently it’s needed by young adults and everyday people facing real-life transitions.

At Aspire to Give® Academy, we believe everyone deserves access to the tools of self-leadership, not just future CEOs or academy cadets.

Because self-leadership is about the courage to look inward, grow intentionally, and then give outward.

That’s where it begins. That’s where it always begins.


— Greg Doepke, Founder, Aspire to Give® Academy


If this resonates with you, we invite you to follow Aspire to Give Academy and stay connected for more stories, insights, and tips on navigating life’s transitions with purpose and generosity.