Beauty from the Ashes: LeAnn & Steven Cyr
Excerpt from a recent pureinsurance.com article:
After three years, LeAnn and Steven Cyr are finally back in their newly restored home with a life-altering experience behind them and a renewed outlook on life.
They say a lot of good came from it: lasting friendships with some remarkable people, a more resilient family and a stronger marriage. They could have never predicted in those early days following the fire, that they would reflect on what had happened with any positivity.
On the night of May 19, 2021, the Cyrs’ Woodland, Texas home was struck by lightning and caught fire. Three fire crews arrived within minutes and battled the blaze for hours. The Cyrs watched from across the street as the flames grew bigger and bigger, and their beautiful home went up in smoke. But this isn’t where their story ends, nor where it begins.
“Your home is your sanctuary. You create that sanctuary with your family, and you can have that anywhere.”
LeAnn and Steven’s story starts at the Clark Air Base in the Philippines where both of their fathers were stationed on military assignments. They attended the same middle school and shared many of the same friends during their time in the Philippines, but eventually lost touch after eighth grade when their families returned to the states.
LeAnn attended George Mason University, earning both an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree in education. She began her professional life as a career counselor at Georgetown University where she developed a passion for helping students turn their academic successes into fulfilling careers. Following Georgetown, LeAnn worked for several years as... [read more]
Alexa’s Graduation Announcement
Congratulations to the graduating class of 2024, and in particular, to the exceptional young lady, Alexa Cyr, whom we are incredibly proud of.
Alexa graduated from UCLA with a (LSAC) GPA of 3.98, consistently earning a place on the dean's honors list every year. Additionally, she served as the President of one of the largest pre-law societies on campus.
Not only did Alexa complete her degree requirements ahead of schedule, but she also dedicated her time and talent as a staff writer for the Daily Bruin for an impressive four years. She actively engaged in research under the esteemed political science department, showcasing her commitment to academic exploration.
Since her freshman year, she has demonstrated her passion for the legal field by working as a legal assistant, gaining valuable hands-on experience that will undoubtedly serve her well in her future endeavors.
Congratulations Alexa we are so proud of you! ❤️🏆🎓
Launch Video for LeCyrLearning.com
I'm thrilled to announce the launch of our public sector version of my “College to Career” program. This program has been carefully designed to meet all federal and state guidelines for adoption in the public school system. It not only serves as an official College Career Readiness (CCR) program but also includes a Military Readiness (MR) component, preparing students for the ASVAB and careers in the military. The MR portion is taught by the esteemed Dr. Steven Cyr and incorporates a significant focus on STEM education.
These programs are incredibly important in preparing students for their future, regardless of whether they choose to pursue college, a career, or the military. With military enlistment at an all-time low in the past 30 years and schools struggling to meet TEA benchmarks for CCR/CCRM, we are confident that our programs will provide valuable solutions in the public sector, benefiting our children the most.
We will begin the outreach process by engaging state and local agencies, followed by a national rollout. If you know any high school superintendents in need of a CCR/CCMR program that meets all state and federal guidelines, including the bonus tracking requirements set out by the TEA, please feel free to share this information with them.
For more information, visit our website at www.lecyrconsulting.com and click on the “About Le Cyr Learning” box.
Thank you for your support in spreading the word about our program, which is very much needed in our public school systems.
Scholarship to Pepperdine Caruso School of Law
Congratulations to Alexa Cyr who was just informed yesterday that she was awarded a full ride merit based scholarship to Pepperdine Caruso School of Law under the Dean’s Merit Scholarship.
Her total scholarship awards for this law school cycle has been almost $400k. These awards have all been unsolicited.
Alexa will be making her decision on where she will accept a seat by next month.
We are proud of her accomplishments which are a direct result of the techniques deployed from the college to career program that she helped develop. Alexa has consistently been true to the principles espoused in the curriculum of following your natural inclinations, passions, and gifts to cultivate a meaningful career based on your innate talents and guiding principles. This ideology has served her well in her college, as well as law school, applications as she has never deterred from what our program teaches.
Alexa’s personal narrative has always been narrowly focused; she easily learned to say no early to obligations (and activities) inconsistent with her goals. She has remained true and steadfast, focused on the things that mattered in order to put together a cohesive resume, application, and personal narrative.
Children will excel if you give them a purpose and you allow them to navigate their journey into a fulfilling career. Allowing kids to do what brings them joy is the only way to truly succeed and be satisfied with the work that they do every single day.
One of the Best Books I’ve Read Recently
One of the best books I’ve read recently, Zero to One, helped me understand why the word “innovation” is so prevalent and peppered throughout most college applications. I’ve seen it more in recent years than ever before and Admission officers talk about it ad nauseam.
Higher education institutions are actively seeking innovators and fostering partnerships with the public sector, including government entities, to drive innovation, address societal challenges, and create collaborative opportunities.
I think it’s difficult to understand the admissions process in some of the leading institutions in America, without studying what is mandated by public policies.
In the public sector, you see a push towards funding for innovation and novel ideas. Public money being provided for entrepreneurship programs, research and development, and innovation policies.
This book gets to the heart of the issue regarding the need for innovation beautifully and is so well written…
In “Zero to One,” Peter Thiel emphasizes the importance of creating something new, or going from zero to one, as a key driver of economic growth. Thiel argues that true innovation and progress come from creating unique and valuable products or services that do not yet exist in the market. By focusing on innovation and creating something new, businesses can differentiate themselves, capture new markets, and generate substantial economic value.
Thiel suggests that incremental improvements or competition in existing markets (going from 1 to n) do not lead to significant advancements or sustainable growth. Instead, he advocates for disruptive innovation and the pursuit of original ideas that have the potential to revolutionize industries and create monopoly-like advantages.
By creating something new, entrepreneurs and businesses can break away from the status quo, disrupt traditional industries, and drive economic growth through the introduction of innovative solutions that address unmet needs and unlock new opportunities.
#CollegeAdmissions #CollegeAdvice #zerotoonebook #peterthiel #higheducation #innovation #highereducationpolicies
The Best Way to Beat The Competition
Innovation is the best way to beat the competition
Throughout our entire careers, competition has never really been an issue that concerned us. We never worried about what other medical practices were doing because it was irrelevant relative to what we were doing. We knew what we were doing was different, and we were not fishing in the same pond. Doing things differently neutralizes competition and creates a monopoly. Suddenly, you are the only one doing what you’re doing, so therefore, you have no competition. You have a monopoly.
This creates vertical growth versus horizontal growth.
When we started the medical practice, I knew a few things:
1️⃣ I did not want to set it up as a traditional medical practice for somewhat selfish reasons. I didn’t want to be put in a situation where, if Steven did not want to practice, I could no longer own the practice. Due to the “Corporate Practice of Medicine Act,” a non-physician cannot own a Medical Practice because an MD can’t be an employee of someone who is not an MD. They must be able to operate independently and make decisions unrestrained for obvious reasons. They have to be free to make decisions in the very best interest of the patients. So I set the practice up as a management company. Anyone can own a management company (as long as the doctors are not employees; they are contractors). This was an innovative way for me to have a medical practice but not be a doctor.
2️⃣ I also knew that I wanted the practice to be vertically integrated, and we have stayed true to that concept even 25 years later by incorporating wellness products and even OrthoSculpt/cosmetic surgery into the practice. Always integrating other lines of business and revenue sources.
3️⃣ I also marketed the practice in unconventional ways. We never depended on referrals from other doctors. Most of our patients came from direct marketing, which was, at the time, very unconventional for doctors. It was considered passé for doctors to put up billboards and be featured in print magazines, but I knew that I did not want to pander to Family Practice or other doctors for referrals. I felt that it was self-defeating to an extent, considering how much training Steve had been through to now go door-to-door. I went on one call with him and waited in the family practice waiting room for over an hour. I looked at Steve and said, never again is that happening.
Steven himself, as a surgeon, has always been very innovative. He did spine surgery very differently, which is probably why his success rates are well above the national average. Even before entering cosmetic surgery, he invented his own technique, OrthoSculpt, which is a fusion of his orthopedic knowledge and cosmetic surgery knowledge combined. I trademarked the procedure, so now we have a monopoly on it.
In setting up Le CYR Consulting, I knew that I wanted to teach kids the pathway to college and their career in a different way, as a roadmap, I wanted to teach them more from a practical standpoint that made sense and was consistent with the underlying self-affirming beliefs that everyone has natural talents that they are born with. These ideas were predicated on education and psychological theories such as those of Howard Gardner and Carl Rogers. A practical approach to college and career planning that sprung from the belief that a talent-focused workforce where kids are taught purpose and passion is the only way to create innovators and leaders who truly are passionate about what they do every day, which will allow them to be more vested in getting good grades because it actually benefits them, not the adults in their lives.
I just finished reading a fantastic book. I try to always have one or two books going at a time, and this one was absolutely unbelievable. It is called Zero to One; when I read it, I realized why I had this mentality that I do. Steve and I are both creators; we like to create things. I guess the modern buzzard is now innovators, but we’ve always been this way, and we are both independent like that.
We have absolutely no interest in re-creating something that someone else has already done. Or opening a business that someone has created and then duplicating it. There's nothing wrong with that; that’s just not what we’re interested in doing.
In the book "Zero to One," Peter Thiel argues that competition is not always beneficial for businesses. He suggests that instead of focusing on competing within an existing market, companies should strive to create new markets or innovate within existing markets. Thiel refers to this as "vertical growth" or "doing something new."
Horizontal growth, on the other hand, refers to the act of competing within an established market by offering similar products or services. Thiel believes that horizontal growth is limited in its potential because it often leads to a race to the bottom, where companies are constantly trying to undercut each other and gain a larger market share.
Thiel's point is that true innovation and substantial growth come from creating something new or significantly improving upon existing products or services. By pursuing vertical growth, companies have the opportunity to differentiate themselves and capture a larger share of the market, rather than getting caught in the cycle of intense competition.
Innovation makes competition irrelevant. ☺️
Katy Angels Recognition
Last night, Le CYR Consulting received a very kind recognition from NPO Katy Angels for the work we are doing to help kids in the community develop a roadmap to success.
Katy Angels also sponsored 3 scholarships for students to receive the “College To Career” educational curriculum. 🙏
#katyangels #philanthropy #CommunitySupport #scholarships #educationforall
What a Year!
As I reflect on this past year, the word that comes to mind is adaptability. In this ever-changing world, I’ve seen businesses, entrepreneurs, and people rise and fall due to their ability or inability to adapt. The changes in our societal "norms" have at times been good, but some not so good. Among the worst, in my opinion, is the blatant intolerance of opinions diametrically opposed to our own. The rise of social media has brought the expansion of a proverbial modern-day peanut gallery.
But it’s also brought out a new crop of entrepreneurs with innovative ideas, access to information, and more direct consumer marketing. The latter we have been able to capitalize on for the most part.
We have seen the growth of SASpine & CYRxMD in both Houston and San Antonio to a point where there is an even distribution of patients served between both markets. We are extremely grateful to our patients for their trust in our clinic, and especially in Dr. Cyr.
We have expanded Le CYR Consulting's government contracting opportunities and private sector opportunities by adding an online curriculum for schools to assist in college and career readiness.
We even started a liquor business (more to come in 2024 on that).
On a personal note... Alexa successfully applied to law school with acceptances to USC, UCLA, and Vandy on a scholarship (she is still waiting for two more acceptances before deciding).
Caden started at Vandy as an Ingram Scholar and is adjusting to college life very well.
Colton and Ava have both been accepted to TJC School and will begin Jan 2024.
Colton took up competitive rowing and participated in his first two regattas this fall. He continues practicing mixed martial arts as well, focusing on Chinese kickboxing.
Ava is progressing in her coding interest and has successfully written over 100 scripts of code for a programming project she’s been working on for about a year. She’s definitely my little STEM girl.
Steve and I celebrated 24 years of marriage and moved back to our home after a two-year rebuild.
All in all, 2023 was a great year, and we are excited to see what 2024 has in store for us. 🙏❤️
Dean’s Scholarship and Dean’s Leadership Award
We just found out that Alexa received acceptance to Vanderbilt Law School and was awarded the Dean’s Scholarship and Dean’s Leadership Award. She still hasn’t made a decision and is waiting on two more law school decisions, but I want to make a point about this accomplishment and encourage everybody with her hard work.
Alexa has many personality characteristics that I admire, but the most significant one is her work ethic and persistence. Yes, she is intelligent, but that would be nothing if she could not properly channel it towards some meaningful end.
Her natural gift, and I believe ALL children have natural gifts, is her linguistic intelligence. She is an extremely talented writer, speaker, and communicator. She also has incredible interpersonal skills.
But the reason she is where she is, is because of her 100% pure drive and determination to succeed. I have never met a harder worker, so when I tell you that she deserves everything that is coming to her, I mean that sincerely and from a place of wanting to encourage others to persevere.
I know that there were times when she was very stressed out studying nonstop, but I never discouraged her because I knew that it was for a season. There doesn’t have to be balance in your life every single day; there just has to be balance over time. There are times when you buckle down: preparing for law school entrance exams, the SAT, or a competition.
Although she is well-rounded, she’s not well-rounded every day. There are days when she studies 20 hours straight and works nonstop, and there are days when she goes to the beach with her friends.
When it’s time to work, work hard and passionately towards your goal. And when it’s time to rest, rest and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Congratulations, Alexa.
1. UCLA School of Law
2. USC Gould School of Law
3. Vanderbilt Law Schhol
4. Pepperdine Law School
5.
6.
#Scholarships #CollegeAdvice #CollegeAdmissions #CollegeEssays #RésuméWriting #InterviewingSkills #lawschool #collegetocareercoaching
CollegeToCareer.ORG On Air with KHOU-11
HOUSTON — The college admissions process can be daunting and extremely competitive. After navigating the process with her own kids successfully, Houston mom Leann Cyr wanted to help others do the same.
She found colleges want to see students’ personalities and passions shine through in their applications.
“Between the two of (my children), they collectively received over half a million dollars in merit-based scholarships,” Cyr said.
She turned her experience into a business, launching CollegetoCareer.org.
“We’re not teaching the kids reading, writing and arithmetic,” she said. “Ultimately, that’s the job of the teachers. What we’re teaching them is everything else required to get into college.”
Glenn Flojo enrolled his son in the program after learning how complicated the process has... read more right here!
CollegeToCareer.ORG CW39 Interview
Thank you Sharron Melton @ CW39 Houston for inviting me to discuss my new passion project www.CollegeToCareer.ORG
This has been a labor of love and I’m excited about the potential to help all students find their way towards a brighter future. 🏆
https://muckrack.com/ broadcast/savedclips/view/9rvrB5LDeB
#collegetocareer #CareerAdvice #InterviewingSkills #EssayWriting #RésuméWriting #StartingABusiness #ProfessionalDevelopment #careerdevelopment #collegeprep #collegeadvice
Quite a Few People Ask Me About This
I've had quite a few people ask me about how my classes are formatted to deliver the information in a way that is easy to follow.
I'm attaching a small snippet of module 4, which is about interviewing, lesson 2, which is going over the "top 20" most popular interview questions.
There are also downloadable documents, slides, and worksheets associated with every class.
To see the full list of all 20 classes, go to www.CollegeToCareer.org ☺️
This is literally a step-by-step guide that I am navigating for the entire program. The only section that I don't do personally is the SAT preparation section, which Alexa does.
#InterviewingQuestions #InterviewingTips #InterviewingSkills #CollegeToCareer
C2C Donates 5 Scholarships
CollegeToCareer.ORG (with the help of CommuniCare) has recently donated 5 scholarships to the Rey Feo Organization, a membership-based nonprofit that awards scholarships to qualified San Antonio area students.
Be sure to check out The Steven And Leann CYR Family Charitable Fund for more details on scholarships!
This Issue Affects All of Us
Texas Education Agency delays release of 2023 A-F accountability ratings by a month
This is an issue that affects all of us. Even if we do not have kids in public schools, the ongoing issues with our public school system does have an indirect impact on the value of our properties.
Strong educational systems and schools with a reputation for producing well-prepared graduates are often seen as desirable factors for families when considering where to live.
Areas with high-performing schools and a track record of college readiness tend to attract more homebuyers, which can contribute to increased property values.
Conversely, if a community or school district consistently struggles with students not being adequately prepared for college, it can lead to a decline in property values.
Investing in education and ensuring students are well-prepared for college can have positive long-term effects on property values by fostering a thriving community with a strong educational system.
One of the ongoing challenges in the Texas educational system (see attached article) is the issue of students not being adequately prepared for college. Many students face difficulties in transitioning from high school to higher education institutions due to a lack of essential skills and knowledge.
There are several factors including inadequate college and career counseling and planning. Students may not receive sufficient guidance on course selection, college applications, or financial aid options. This lack of support can leave them uninformed about the expectations and processes involved in pursuing higher education.
The curriculum that I developed (CollegeToCareer.ORG) addresses this issue head on, and is a SOLUTION for this pervasive problem in our educational system, not just in Texas, but around the country.
(Discussion with @sharronmelton1 with CW39 Houston)
Be sure to check out The Steven And Leann CYR Family Charitable Fund for more details on scholarships!
CollegeToCareer.ORG Scholarships!
We are currently releasing 50 scholarships.
Our scholarship program aims to award students from diverse backgrounds with free access to the CollegeToCareer.ORG curriculum. Scholarships are sponsored by Corporate Donations and evaluated by the Executive Team based on financial need. Requirements for students to be placed in contention for free access is a one-page (600 word) diversity statement using the following guidelines described on our website, CollegeToCareer.ORG
CollegeToCareer.ORG Finally Launches!
I have FINALLY completed a passion project CollegeToCareer.ORG that I’ve been working on for six months! Although it’s taken six months, it’s actually been a lifetime in the making.
I’ve developed a comprehensive online curriculum of 20 classes detailing how to get from high school to college and segue into a career. A detailed step-by-step guide that will help any child from any background.
It starts in ninth grade and carries them all the way to the onset of their career.
The five modules are:
1 - Essay writing
2 - SAT preparation
3 - Resume writing
4 - Interviewing
5 - Starting a business
It’s based on my 25 years of work experience along with the hundreds of thousands of dollars I’ve spent on my own children’s education, private tutors, coaches, and advisors. An exorbitant amount of money that the average student cannot afford. Until now.
I’ve consolidated the information and combined it with my own experiences, background, and education in order to help EVERY child have access, not just the top 1%.
My long-term goal is to have it adopted by the public, charter, and private school systems in all areas, especially underserved areas, so that all children eventually have access to this information for FREE!
Please check it out at www.CollegeToCareer.ORG
I will be making scholarships available (students apply through the website), so if you are interested in being a corporate sponsor to help a student applicant, please message me. 🙏❤️
Special thanks to my beautiful daughter, Alexa Cyr, for all your help with this project. ☺️
One of Colton’s Worst Experiences
Not too long ago, my son went through something that was pretty rough. It had him feeling alone and betrayed. Fortunately, he has a family that loves him so much and a mom who is a fierce warrior and advocate for him, but I felt very heavy-hearted.
I walked alongside him as best I could…when he cried…I cried, when he retreated to his room…I went with him, when he felt alone…I was there. I became his best friend, and in a lot of ways, it was a pivotal point in our relationship at such a formative period.
I think it was important for me to be there for him, but it was even more important for him to SEE that I was there for him, but it did make me think: what do all of those pre-teen boys and girls who go through things like this do when they don’t have parents or someone that is there for them? It makes me incredibly sad to think that every single child doesn’t have that kind of support system; that a lot of children feel alone. There are kids that don’t have parents that will crawl into their bed and give them a hug… even when they don’t want them to or make their favorite dinners or just watch TV with them.
It was one of the worst experiences that I think he’s had in his 13 years, but it ended up being one of the best things that ever happened to him. It forced him out of a group that was not a good fit for him (he was starting to lose his identity), but it eventually steered him in another direction where the energy was more positive and built around a common goal and like-minded interests.
I can’t even tell you how difficult it was to see the light at the end of the tunnel while you’re in the throes of battle, but it really did come full circle. I don’t think I would have made the strides with him that I did in such a short time unless the situation was as severe as it was.
I hate the parent philosophy of “they can figure it out on their own”. Yeah, that’s true to a certain extent, but it’s also overly used and such a cop-out, I’ve never let my kids “figure it out” on their own. I do let them figure it out, but definitely not on their own. That’s what parents are there for.
Don’t be afraid to make serious changes for your child if they are not in a good situation, whether that means moving schools, moving cities, changing sports, churches or yanking them out of a friend group and taking their phone for six months…whatever the case may be. Sticking it out in a bad situation does not prove anything - it is not a badge of honor. They come out the other side scarred, and they spend the rest of their lives trying to get over their childhood “trauma”, then having unresolved issues play out in other relationships in their lives much more important than those in middle school; like their spouse, kids or colleagues.
Trust me, you are better off alone than in bad company.
Some of the biggest changes I made for my kids in middle and high school directly impacted where they are today. Specifically, Alexa tells me that had we not moved her to Keystone in San Antonio from Geneva, her private Christian school, she does not think that she would be the student that she is today. As a Christian family, that was a bold move because she was going from a Christian school to a secular school. But I knew that the installation of her faith was not dependent on what school she went to. It was dependent on us.
Yes, you can let your kids fall, but just make sure they fall forward, not backwards, so when they get back up, they are still ahead.
Colton will do great things. Wait for it. 😎🙏
"Fall down seven times,
get up eight." 💪🏽🏆
- Japanese Proverb
This Was Hard!
This was hard. Realizing that half the reason you have for living on this earth has gone off on their own. We had to drop Caden off at college yesterday and it was very difficult. Alexa came then flew back to finish her senior year. It was nice that she could be there for her little brother.
I pride myself on being a very strong person, emotionally and mentally, but this one was hard. I’m always the “suffer in silence” kind of person. I don’t lean on too many people, but this was… a lot.
Alexa does such a good job keeping in touch and staying connected, but I think it’s going to be especially hard with Caden because he’s so much like me…and I know that he’s going to be fiercely independent and probably not reach out when he needs me the most. Maybe it’s our pride or maybe it’s our independence, who knows. But I hope that he does a little better than I did to avoid some of the mistakes that I made. He’s certainly smarter than I was at his age, but it’s wisdom, which comes with maturity, that I’m praying for now.
You work for 18 years to raise your kids to be everything they can be, you guide them right into being independent thinkers with their own mind, lives, opinions…it’s completely counterintuitive for a mom to do something that fosters separating from their offspring. Instinctively, we want to keep our children close, so we can protect them. It is by design that we are protective over our children so to see them off, and actually prepare them to leave, is so emotionally conflicting. There is nothing natural about this process.
The only thing worse is if they stayed; dependent or incapable of being their own person.
When it comes to parenting, the hard answer is usually the right answer. But it sucks.
Shapeshifting Superheroes!
Shapeshifting superheroes! * Working moms are masters at adapting, juggling careers, meetings, and deadlines while magically transforming into super moms, tending to their family needs with love and care.
It is a balancing act without a doubt.
#WorkingMomLife #SuperheroMoms #ShapeshiftingSkills #femaleentrepreneur #CollegeToCareer #careeradvice #CareerGoals #momtrepreneur #lifeadvice
This is Not a Religious Post…
You can not break Principles. You can only break yourself against them. - Paraphrasing Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
I paraphrased this quote from Stephen Covey. In the original text, he is referring to Cecil B DeMille’s quote regarding the 10 Commandments (laws) and he applied it to natural laws that cannot be broken. They are principles that serve as lighthouses in our lives.
This is not a religious post. I certainly don’t want people to use that as an excuse to tune out the message. It is a profound statement.
If you want to take a deeper, faith-based, dive into this idea, CS Lewis, in the first part of his apologetics book, Mere Christianity, discusses natural law as a way to explain the existence of God. His argument is that natural law exists across cultures and beliefs, and is timeless - it’s something that is innate and instinctive in all human beings. Which begs the question, where does that come from? How do we all have an innate universal sense of what is right and what is wrong; what is good and what is evil? If there is no God, where is this standard coming from?
Of course, there are always anomalies and aberrations, but generally speaking, we all have been governed over time by these natural laws and principles.
#happyhumpday #wednesdaywisdom
