Today we’d like to introduce you to KB Strawder Jr.
Hi KB, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I actually got into public speaking by accident or at least that’s what I thought at the time. I was going through a series of life lessons and started posting quotes and bits of wisdom on social media. Back then, Facebook was the main platform and Instagram was just starting to gain traction.
What began as me simply sharing my reflections turned into something bigger. Someone from a youth group came across my posts and asked me to come speak to their students. I had no formal experience, but I said yes. Honestly, I didn’t prepare a speech, I just answered questions and spoke from the heart. That moment changed everything.
From there, more opportunities started coming, and what once felt random began to make sense. I realized this was more than just talking, it was purpose. I didn’t have all the right techniques or a polished delivery back then, but I knew what I felt every time I stood up to speak: fulfillment.
Seeing the connections form in people’s minds the understanding, the sense of freedom that came from those moments of communication was powerful. It was freeing. And after each event, when people would come up to say, ‘Thank you, what you said helped me,’ or ‘You spoke directly to my situation,’ or even, ‘I’m glad I’m not the only one thinking and feeling this way,’ I knew deep in my soul that I had found what I was meant to do.
My story is one of purpose discovered through perseverance. I grew up understanding the value of hard work early on by the time I was 20, I had already held over 15 different jobs. I wasn’t afraid of putting in the work, but what I lacked was direction. I was chasing stability when, in reality, I was being prepared for purpose.
That journey led me to enlist in the United States Air Force, where I served as a Military Police Officer. The discipline, leadership, and structure I gained from my military service shaped my foundation but it also tested me in ways I never imagined. I faced personal battles that challenged my health, my relationships, and even my faith. There were seasons I had to completely rebuild not from a place of strength, but from brokenness.
In that space of uncertainty, I turned to prayer and reflection, asking God not for success, but for clarity. A promise that when he shows me my purpose I’d do my best to Live Better for him everyday. That’s when the vision for The Live Better Foundation. was born. It started as a personal pursuit to find meaning in my own pain, but it quickly became a calling to help others do the same.
Today, I’m a full-time entrepreneur, motivational speaker, leadership and business consultant traveling the country to help people identify purpose, build resilience, and live intentionally. Whether I’m standing in front of a corporate audience, a classroom of students, or a congregation, my goal remains the same: to inspire people to live better not someday, but today.
Every chapter of my story from military service to ministry, from setbacks to success has been a reminder that purpose doesn’t come from what you go through, but from what you grow through.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all. It’s been anything but smooth. But I’ve learned that the bumps, detours, and dead ends are often the very places where purpose gets revealed.
When I got out of the military, I thought discipline alone would guide me. I had structure, but I didn’t have direction. I was working multiple jobs, trying to keep things afloat, while quietly trying to figure out who I was outside the uniform. It was a strange place you can be surrounded by people, yet still feel completely lost.
There were times when life hit hard financially, emotionally, and spiritually. I’ve made a series of mistakes I’ve had to recover from. Some were choices that came from trying to move too fast, others from trusting the wrong people, family issues and a few from simply not knowing better at the time. Some were me thinking I could bypass certain lessons. But every single one became a classroom.
Those experiences humbled me and reminded me that growth doesn’t happen in perfection it happens in reflection. It’s easy to post the highlight reel, but behind every success was a night I thought about giving up. Behind every achievement was a moment of doubt.
What changed everything for me was realizing that my mistakes didn’t disqualify me they developed me. They gave me empathy, patience, and perspective. They taught me how to extend grace to others and to myself.
So no, it hasn’t been smooth but it’s been meaningful. And if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t erase a single struggle, because those moments gave me the message I now share with the world: your pain can produce purpose if you’re willing to grow through it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At the heart of everything I do is a simple message Live Better. That’s not just a slogan; it’s a movement. Not good, not great, not perfect…just Better. If we could practice living our lives one day at time just being better than the day before. Then we could get good and be great. We’ll never reach perfection but at least we have sense of solid direction.
The Live Better Foundation was born out of a personal journey of rediscovery a time when I was rebuilding after the military and asking deeper questions about meaning, direction, and purpose. I realized that many people look successful on the outside but feel empty on the inside. I wanted to create something that helped people reconnect with who they truly are and what they’re truly called to do.
Through The Live Better Foundation, we focus on purpose, leadership, and impact. We offer workshops, leadership training, motivational speaking, and community-based initiatives that help individuals and organizations unlock their potential and live intentionally. We also provide mentorship, scholarships, and personal development programs for young men, because I believe true success isn’t about how far you go it’s about how many people you bring with you.
What sets us apart is authenticity. I don’t speak from theory, I speak from experience. Every lesson, story, and principle comes from something I’ve lived through. When people hear me speak or engage with the foundation’s work, they don’t just hear motivation, they feel transformation.
I’m most proud of how Live Better has become more than an organization it’s a growing movement of purpose-driven people who believe in change, compassion, and community. From classrooms to corporate settings, churches to correctional facilities, the message of “Live Better” continues to reach people where they are and inspire them to rise to who they’re meant to be.
My personal motto: “Find a purpose to serve, not just a lifestyle to live” sits at the core of everything I do. It’s a daily reminder that fulfillment doesn’t come from what we achieve, but from who we impact.
That’s also the spirit behind Purpose Only, my personal brand and philosophy. It’s about prioritizing purpose over popularity, meaning over money, and impact over image. Whether it’s through apparel, speaking, or my upcoming book series, I want everything connected to my name to help people see themselves differently and remind them that it’s never too late to live better starting right now.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Realistically… food, really good food that’s an instant win for me.
Beyond traveling, reading, learning, and my self-care days. But what really makes me happy is peace. Not the kind of peace that comes from everything being perfect, but the peace that comes from knowing who I am, where I’m going, and what I’m called to do.
I’ve reached a point where happiness looks like alignment being connected to God, surrounded by love, and walking in purpose. It’s the quiet moments when I can reflect and see growth, or when I can genuinely celebrate others without comparison.
Happiness also shows up in impact seeing someone’s life change because of a word I shared, a program we launched, or an opportunity created through The Live Better Foundation. It reminds me that joy isn’t found in the spotlight; it’s found in the service.
At this stage in my life, happiness is simple: purpose, peace, and pleasure. Everything else is a bonus but if you add good food and laughter, it’s a perfect day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kbstrawderjr.wixsite.com/home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/real_kb
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealKBSJ
- Twitter: https://x.com/real_kb
