Dennis Miller has had his fair share of hardship.
He grew up in Carteret, N.J., in the home of a psychologically abusive father and a distant mother. His father was either ignoring his children or criticizing them, while his mother did her best to tune it all out. "I always grew up feeling like I was an orphan, because I really felt I had no parents," Mr. Miller said, according to the Epoch Times.
One day, the consistent abuse became too much for Mr. Miller and he attempted to murder his father with a butter knife. Though he was unsuccessful, his psychological problems quickly escalated and he began using illegal drugs. At age 20, he checked himself into a psychiatric hospital.
Eventually, things turned around. Mr. Miller utilized the help of Father Donald Gantley, whom he calls his "guardian angel," to get his life back on track. Father Gantley, a priest from a local church, visited Mr. Miller while he was in the hospital.
Mr. Miller went on to secure a position mopping floors at a Ramada Inn. With hard work and determination, he studied business at a local community college. From there, he attended New Brunswick, N.J.-based Rutgers University and New York City-based Columbia University.
A hallmark of his success was becoming president and CEO of Somerset (N.J.) Medical Center, a position he held from 1999 to 2004. But even his tenure at Somerset was marred by challenges. While Mr. Miller was CEO, a nurse named Charles Cullen murdered 13 patients and attempted to kill two more. Mr. Cullen, who has been dubbed one of the most prolific serial killers of all time, murdered at least 40 patients throughout his 16 years as a nurse. Authorities caught and charged him while he worked at Somerset.
"The Charles Cullen issue was a very difficult episode in my career," said Mr. Miller, according to the report. "There is no amount of training as a healthcare executive to ever prepare you to deal with a mass murderer employed by your organization."
Through it all, Mr. Miller has overcome his life's greatest difficulties with strength of mind. Now a motivational speaker and leadership coach, he has come to forgive his parents. Having recently published his autobiography, Moppin' Floors to CEO, he continues to encourage others to persevere.
"Regardless of your past or present life circumstances, regardless of how despairing it may be, regardless of how difficult it may be, there is hope, there is a path forward," Mr. Miller said, according to the report.