Florida Any Way You Can

Steve Sheridan was a college dropout and drifting between jobs. His medical history was of the sort most people would not expect too many physical successes to spring from with severe asthma, growth and muscle deficiencies which plagued him throughout his grade school years.

As a college dropout he was not on the best of terms with his family and had been living in a warehouse, walking to whatever jobs he could get since he could not keep up the repairs on his vehicle and he had crashed his bike one too many times trying to dodge traffic during his commutes. In the fall of 1988 his father played a tape from a Florida Public Radio show which showcased the Florida Trail. After the tape was complete his father asked him if he would be interested in attempting to become the first person to hike the trail end to end. With little hesitation he said yes.

The story that follows looks back on two trips actually; hiking the Florida Trail and then canoeing the length of the state through the rivers lakes and canals. You will follow him along his journey which was more than just the physical aspect of hiking and canoeing. He tells the story of running out of water, being chased by a bull, alligators banging into his canoe and more.

After completing the two trips he went on to become a police officer with the Florida Marine Patrol and the Fish & Wildlife Commission. The trips instilled in him knowledge of what his potential may be. He went on to train Special Operations teams, take leadership positions within law enforcement, earn black belts in a number of martial arts and then open a martial arts academy and start his own consulting firm (Leadership & Training Research Institute – LTRI) teaching corporations and agencies how to lead and teach.

The Florida outdoors has much to offer in the way of beauty, adventure, and even helping someone find themselves and their potential.

-- Steven M Sheridan