2022 Difference Maker Sneak Peek: Where the Improbable Becomes Reality

Last week, the National Hockey League mourned the loss of one of the sport’s greatest goal scorers in Mike Bossy, who succumbed to cancer at the age of 65. For those unfamiliar with the sport or the athlete, Bossy enjoyed a wildly successful career that included four Stanley Cup championship titles and numerous records for goal-scoring, but his career was shortened by a back injury.

Five years ago, Bossy wrote a letter to his 14-year-old self that was featured in sports publications. A passage toward the end of this reflective piece was particularly compelling. In part, he told his younger self, “You’re not going to be able to write the ending to your story on your own terms. And that will be a very tough pill to swallow. But it will also be a good lesson for you as a young man. It’s just how life works. There’s only so much of our story that we can write ourselves. A lot of it is prewritten for us.”

While there is much truth in Bossy’s words, we are also reminded that despite the circumstances that are out of our control, there are opportunities we can take to write a significant portion of our own tales. He is also a shining example of what can be accomplished within a relatively short window of time.

In that vein, we celebrate the 63 men and women recognized as 2022 ENX Magazine Difference Makers, many of whom have spent a lifetime in the industry, while others have shone brightly despite being relative newcomers. What they have been able to “write” during their careers is a testament to seizing the time we have at our disposal, particularly in light of (for some) very challenging circumstances.

This article serves as a teaser for next week, when we will reveal the names of our honorees. For now, here’s a snippet of some remarkable points of interest regarding our crop of Difference Makers:

  • One woman is a former practicing attorney serving the entertainment industry.
  • Our list includes a crop of college athletes, including lacrosse and hockey, along with a fitness instructor, numerous youth coaches and a former minor league baseball player.
  • Several honorees had interesting and unique former careers, including an ophthalmic dispenser, real estate investors and a theatrical actress.
  • Our Difference Makers are multicultural and multilingual. One honoree speaks four languages, another three. One Japan-born honoree has crisscrossed the continents.
  • A number of our honorees have served in the military, including the U.S. Marine Corps, Army (with Iraq and Afghanistan deployments) and Navy.
  • Many of our Difference Makers have a soft spot for helping children around and within their community, participating in organizations including Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts of America.
  • And perhaps one of the most improbable success stories involves a woman who was homeless at one point during her teen years. Overcoming such long odds to be able to write a more positive outcome to her story is as remarkable as it is inspiring.

Please check back with us next week for the official reveal of the 2022 ENX Magazine Difference Makers.

Erik Cagle
About the Author
Erik Cagle is the editorial director of ENX Magazine. He is an author, writer and editor who spent 18 years covering the commercial printing industry.