The Hard Part Was the Point: On Leadership, Legacy, and Purpose

From the decks of Coast Guard cutters to the boardrooms of business, Kevin D. Harkins has lived through storms, literal and metaphorical, that tested everything he believed about leadership, purpose, and personal growth.

The Hard Part Was the Point: On Leadership, Legacy, and Purpose traces his journey through decades of military service, entrepreneurial ventures, legal battles, and personal reinvention. It reveals how grit, faith, and responsibility shaped a career forged in conflict and refined by reflection. Harkins doesn’t just tell war stories, he shares the hard truths behind public success and private struggle, reminding us that leadership isn’t about getting it right every time. It’s about showing up, standing firm, and owning your choices when it counts.

Candid, thoughtful, and deeply human, this memoir offers a glimpse into a life of service, sacrifice, and deliberate growth. It challenges a culture obsessed with ease by making a bold case for the value of doing what’s difficult.

Kevin D. Harkins is the author of The Hard Part Was the Point, a memoir of leadership, legacy, and intentional living. His writing and speaking focus on leadership, performance, and purpose, delivered to audiences including veterans, executives, and business professionals.After graduating from the US Coast Guard Academy, Kevin served twenty years as an officer, including multiple sea tours, time at the Pentagon, and senior policy roles in Washington, DC. Following retirement, he co-founded Harkcon Inc. He also co-launched two craft breweries and continues to advise leaders across business, government, and the military. Kevin holds a PhD in applied management and decision sciences and degrees from the Coast Guard Academy, Central Michigan, and Walden Universities. He lives in Virginia with his wife.