The HARD PART
was the POINT

This is a memoir for anyone who's ever been tested and wondered if they had what it takes. Blending grit, faith, and leadership forged at sea and in business, The Hard Part Was the Point shows how real growth happens on the other side of hardship. It’s a field guide for men and women who believe the tough moments shape who we become. 

 

“Leadership isn’t clean or easy. Most of the time, it’s messy, uncomfortable, and painfully human. But it was the hard part that shaped me, and I wouldn’t trade it.” 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 traces his journey across two decades of military service, entrepreneurial ventures, legal battles, and personal reinvention. Each chapter 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, The Hard Part Was the Point offers a rare 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 and why that’s where transformation lives. Hard is not the obstacle. It’s the invitation. And this story proves it.