When you become a millionaire at an early age — in my case, at 30 — it’s easy to let it go to your head. That’s exactly what I had done. By 1984, I was living the dream … until, in 1984, the homebuilding market went bust and I lost it all. I promised myself that if I were given a second chance, I wouldn’t screw it up.

It wasn’t that I wanted more fancy houses or cars, though. I wanted my success to truly mean something. I wanted a second chance so I could make a significant difference by giving back to the world. Years earlier, I had seen author Stanley Tam (“God Owns My Business”) give a rousing speech on offering 50 percent of one’s earnings to charity. His words lodged in my mind as I began to envision an Evergreen company.