Re: Former POW Brings Message of Motivation

Date: February 03, 2004

"Former POW brings his message of motivation
Col. Hubbard to speak at several events

By Kris Jensen ,Herald Staff Writer


Ed Hubbard will tell you that human potential is nothing more than a state of mind, and that potential is controlled by two things.

But he won't tell you what they are.

"If you want to know, you have to come to the speech," said the retired Air Force colonel and motivational speaker.

Hubbard is speaking several times today and Wednesday throughout the region, featuring a message that grew not from an easy life, but from six and a half years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

The experience - and how he adapted to life the lessons he learned - have given him a perspective that he hopes will change others' lives, too.

"My entire philosophy virtually was shaped by that, and it was reinforced by taking the philosophy and applying it to the Air Force mission for the rest of my career," he said by cell phone between flights Monday afternoon. "Because of that, I was able to achieve far greater success than the average guy - not because I'm so much smarter, but because I understood how the world really works. I took what I learned in prison and applied it."

Hubbard's message focuses on a pinpoint of forward motion: "spending time doing instead of talking about what needs to be done."

An escape from the box

A product of the Midwest, Hubbard spent his childhood in the Kansas City area. He joined the Air Force Reserve at age 17 and in 1962 entered active duty, receiving his navigator wings and commission through the Aviation Cadet program.

On July 20, 1966, on his 26th mission over North Vietnam, his plane was shot down. He spent 2,420 days in captivity, and the horrific experiences, rather than breaking him, helped him construct a frame of mind that would carry him through not just his captivity, but would bring him great success in the Air Force and beyond.

He culminated a 28-year active duty military career in August 1990.

He's an artist, motivational speaker and author of "Escape from the Box: The Wonder of Human Potential."

From his home in North Florida, Hubbard travels the world, estimating he's reached more than 1.5 million people in 11 countries. This is his second speaking trip to Grand Forks, he said, though he was never stationed here while in the Air Force.

His message, Hubbard said, is "for people who would like to improve the quality of their own lives, plus the people they come into contact with - whether that's students, children or employees. There's room for improvement in everything we do."