He Survived Two Heart Transplants. What He Did Next Will Change How You Think About Time.

What happens when your heart fails you not once, but twice, and you still choose to build?Lester E. Crowell Jr. was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition at 13. By 40, he was in full congestive heart failure. By 42, he received his first heart transplant after spending just five days on the waiting list. Nine years later, blockages in all three arteries meant he needed a second. He waited a year and a half for that call. It came at dawn on December 3rd, 2010.Today, Lester is 26 years into life with a transplanted heart. He is the managing partner of 313 Salon Spa and Boutique, a business approaching its 52nd year with 85 employees. He serves on the board of the Georgia Transplant Foundation and founded Angels of Life, an annual charity event now in its 16th year raising awareness and funds for transplant recipients across Georgia.In this conversation, Lester walks us through every stage of his journey: the terrifying 1 AM phone calls from transplant coordinators, the emotional weight of knowing someone else's loss became his survival, the rejection episodes that tested his mental health, and the moment he decided, while still recovering in his hospital bed, to turn his pain into something that helps others.This is not just a medical story. This is about what it means to truly value the time you have, how purpose becomes the ultimate performance driver, and why the choice to be an organ donor is one of the most important decisions a person can make.In this episode, you will learn:- What it is actually like to receive the call from a transplant coordinator and how the body and mind respond- The emotional reality of living with someone else's heart, including rejection, grief, and gratitude- How the recovery process differs between a first and second heart transplant-The role of the Georgia Transplant Foundation in supporting transplant recipients with financial, emotional, and mentor-based resources- How Lester created Angels of Life, a charity event running 16 consecutive years supporting organ donation awareness- Why Lester believes organ donation should be opt-out rather than opt-inAbout Our Guest:Lester E. Crowell Jr. is the managing partner of 313 Salon Spa and Boutique, a business he has led for over five decades in the Atlanta metro area. A two-time heart transplant recipient, Lester serves on the board of the Georgia Transplant Foundation and founded Angels of Life, now in its 16th year supporting transplant recipients throughout Georgia. Next Angels of Life event: October 25, 2026 at the Marriott Northwest near the Battery in Atlanta.Connect with Lester: three-13.com (Angels tab for event info)Connect with Pain to Performance:Website: paintoperformancepodcast.comEmail: [email protected] Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pain-to-performance/id1858153077