If ever there was a survivor or "overcomer" story this is it! Episode 23 with Kieran brought a number of listeners to tears but this one potentially can redefine our definition of struggle and humble beginnings.  Raised by his grandmother, Hervin Thomas, a self proclaimed "praying man" had to fend for himself growing up. Scarce resources in the household would force him to learn how to make and sell what we call "paimie" in St. Lucia, "conkies" in Barbados and "blue draws" in Jamaica. A sustained blow to his pride would see him approaching neighbors and the public to offer this sweet Caribbean delicacy made from coconut,  cornmeal and pumpkin as his primary means of earning income as a teenager. That still was not adequate to help him achieve regular attendance at school, often forcing him to miss classes every other week  in search of odd jobs. This struggle would continue throughout high school forcing him to miss his final (CXC) exams because of the inability to pay for the entrance fees. Learn how he would teach himself how to read and write, find regular work and even capitalize on a gap in his former employer's service which would lead to him ultimately leaving and starting his own business. Track his creative journey in property investing and exactly what it took for him to secure his property portfolio and how he leveraged his core competencies to achieve economic independence and current success despite starting from "less than $0".