A Leap Year of Firsts

When Keith Baldwin started his innocent and fun quest of "firsts" on January 1st, 2020, it ended up turning into a year like no other. A year where he did something EVERY day for the "first" time in his life. A year that turned into chaos, opportunity and a few unthinkable "firsts." Ride along as Keith takes you on a journey where we experienced a pandemic like 1918, unemployment and depression like the Great one in 1929, Civil unrest like the 1960s, and an election that brought back images of our Civil War. Although it was a year with "firsts", it also was a year when the author discovered his "WHY".

When Keith Baldwin started his innocent and fun quest of "firsts" on January 1st, 2020, it ended up turning into a year like no other. Ride along as Keith takes you on a journey where we experienced a pandemic like 1918, unemployment and depression like the Great one in 1929, Civil unrest like the 1960s, and an election that brought back images of our Civil War. Although it was a year with "firsts", it also was a year when the author discovered his "WHY". Dive into Keith's adventure and join him as he experiences a bucket list of firsts. He believes he did the best job of his life for free, but he was paid more than he had ever been paid in his life, just in so many other ways. Throughout his life-changing journey, there were many along the way who threw a pebble in his pond that created many ripples which effected many others. He hopes to pay it forward in some small way by sharing this book.

Keith L. Baldwin has spent over forty years in the Awards and Recognition business for one company on a journey from a teenage employee to an owner. He has worked in all aspects of the business from assembly and engraving to his current position as Chief Relationship Officer and Majority Partner of Spike's Trophies, Ltd. Spike's is an award winning Retailer and Manufacturer of the year recipient in the industry nationally and in the local community since 1929. Spike's is also a distributor of Promotional Products and a manufacturer of interior Signage with three retail locations in Philadelphia and surrounding areas. Mr. Baldwin is President of the largest buying consortium in the awards industry, the Award Associates of America. In addition, Keith is a contributing member of the following groups: Business Clubs of America, Philadelphia Business Executives, Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center's CEO Forum, and Chair of the Small Business Council of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. He is also a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program Alumni and host of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame Preview Gallery. Keith spends his free time on the golf course, writing, traveling with friends, and doing "firsts". He resides in South Jersey with his wife, Beverly, his 85 year old Mother, and dog, Elliot. Keith is the proud father of his son, Jake and his daughter, Kasey. He spend his Thursdays with Luke, his first grandson.