I’m in a defining moment right now in my life, and I am the one who defines the outcome. When adversity comes, it introduces you to who you truly are, at your core, and you get to meet the REAL you. I’ve already met the real me. 12.5 years ago, I crawled up from rock bottom with few believing in me and turned my life around. The unwavering support of my wife and the desire to inspire my boys pushed me to succeed.

When defining moments come, I need to make a choice. Either the moment defines me, or I define the moment! I can either decide to concern myself with the doubters and naysayers and play it safe, or I can focus on what I need to do to achieve the dreams that I have manifested. It’s easy to get bogged down by negative voices and self-doubt, but the real challenge and reward lie in pushing past those barriers and striving for greatness. The choices I make now are pivotal and will shape my future.

Ten years from now, I don’t want to look back and wonder, “What if I had taken a chance to go after my dreams and never gave up, and never gave in?” Adversity will not break me; it will shape me, continually carving me into the person I need to become to persevere in achieving more of my dreams. I am determined to turn every challenge into an opportunity for growth, to show my boys that anything is possible with dedication and resilience. This is my journey, and I am defining my destiny.