re: Other than a parent/family member who was the most influential person to you?

That's a hard question to answer, because it's a toss up, and believe it or not, both taught me pretty much the same thing.

Bob Dylan and one of my Marine Corps Drill Instructors.

The lesson was: The only person that can get in your way, is yourself. Trust yourself,you are capable of anything humanly possible.

Now, I have failed at a bunch of shite in my life, but each failure, I can see where it was my own damn fault. I am sure I have more failures in my future, but I sure am not afraid to try.