I learned this lesson at a young age in Cherry Hill, a tough neighborhood in South Baltimore where competition wasn’t just about sports or school—it extended into the streets. As misguided teenagers, we saw conflict with rival neighborhoods as inevitable, and when we had to fight, we never went in unprepared. We strategized like generals, understanding that one approach was never enough.

Lessons from the Military: Always Have a Backup

Military special forces are trained to think ahead. My older brothers who served in Vietnam for example, never entered into an operation without multiple contingency plans. If the primary extraction point is compromised, they had an alternative. If communication lines were cut, they had non-verbal signals. If weapons jammed, they had secondary firearms. They never relied on just one path to victory because they understood that in high-stakes situations, failure to prepare means preparing to fail.

Street Strategy: The Cherry Hill Way

We might not have had military training, but we had instincts. When we knew a fight with a rival neighborhood was brewing, we didn’t just show up hoping for the best. We made sure we had more than one route to get in and out safely. We designated roles—some of us would engage while others watched for unexpected threats. If the original plan failed, we had an alternative strategy to regroup and avoid disaster. It wasn’t just about brute force; it was about smart planning. That’s what kept us from being caught off guard and remaining alive.

Applying “One Is None. Two is one” to Your Life

You don’t have to be a soldier or a street warrior to benefit from this principle. Whether you’re in business, sports, or simply navigating life’s challenges, having a contingency plan is crucial. Here are three ways you can implement this strategy today:

1. Always Have an Alternative Path – If you’re chasing a goal, don’t rely on just one way to get there. If your first job application doesn’t work out, have others lined up. If your business depends on a single client, diversify.

2. Prepare for Worst-Case Scenarios – Think ahead about what could go wrong and have solutions ready. If you’re giving a big presentation, know what to do if the projector fails. If you’re traveling, have a backup route in case of traffic.

3. Surround Yourself with a Strong Team (Read my book, “Strategic Partnerships”) – Just like special forces operate in units, you need people around you who can step up when things go south. Build a network of mentors, colleagues, and friends who can support you when Plan A doesn’t work.

Success in any area of life requires more than just hope—it requires preparation. Remember, “One is none. Two is one.” Have a backup, and you’ll always stay ahead of the game.

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1. You feel anxious before you even answer their call.
   (Your stomach tightens like you just ate a questionable gas station hot dog.)

2. Every conversation somehow ends with them “needing a little favor.”
   (And somehow, that favor always involves your money, your car, or your Netflix password.)

3. You leave every encounter feeling drained, guilty, or furious.
   (Or all three, in that order.)

4. They treat your success like it’s a community property they should benefit from... immediately.
   (“Bro, you graduated. WE graduated!”)

5. You hear the words, “You forgot where you came from,” at least once per visit.
   (Followed by, “So let me hold something.”)

6. Your therapist or barber keeps subtly suggesting a restraining order.
   (“Not saying you should... but maybe look into it.”)

7. You spend more time making escape plans than making memories with them.
   (“Okay, I’ll stay for 20 minutes, fake a phone call, then roll out.”)

8. You realize you’re enabling them instead of empowering them.
   (Helping them stay stuck instead of helping them grow.)

9. They celebrate your success... as long as it’s available for withdrawal.
   (You’re basically an emotional ATM with sneakers on.)

10. Deep down, you know you’re called to love them — not rescue them.
    (Only God can do that — and He charges no interest.)

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Growing up in the housing projects of Baltimore, I was the kid with his nose in a book while everyone else had their nose in other people’s business. While my friends were mastering the art of trash talk and street football, I was mastering calculus, algebra, dreaming of torque equations, and plotting my great escape. Thanks to God’s grace and a lot of late-night studying under a dim, desk lamp that dad bought from Salvation Army, I earned a scholarship to the University of Pennsylvania to study Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics.

Now, let me tell you, Penn was a whole different world. At Penn, people worried about midterms and internships — not about whether your bike would still be chained up by morning. And while I was grinding through thermodynamics and quantum mechanics, something gnawed at me: guilt. Pure, unfiltered, Baltimore-born guilt.

You see, a part of me felt I had betrayed my roots by leaving. Most of my childhood friends were still back there, caught in the same traps we all grew up with: poverty, addiction, violence, and what I call “the gravitational pull of mediocrity.” Every time I came home for a break, I felt this invisible weight around my neck, dragging me back into conversations that started with, “Man, you changed,” and ended with, “Yo, let me hold a little something till Friday.”

There was one friend in particular — let’s call him Tony (not his real name but he will know I am talking about him because he still owes me $327).Tony was the master of emotional blackmail. He could make asking for money sound like a biblical commandment:
“Bro, it’s your DUTY to help your people. You in that Ivy League now — don’t forget where you came from!”

At first, I tried to help. Twenty dollars here. Fifty dollars there. One time, I even “loaned” him enough to fix his car, only to find out he used it to host an epic Baltimore crab feast (to which, might I add, I was not invited).

It got to a point where every time I saw Tony, my wallet got the cold sweats. I realized that my loyalty and guilt were becoming weapons used against me.

That’s when I learned about the powerful art of intimate distancing.

You see, distance doesn’t mean you don’t love someone. It means you love yourself too.
It means you honor the relationship enough not to let it rot under the strain of resentment.
It means you can still pray for someone, wish them the best, maybe even send a birthday text — all without letting them crash your emotional economy.

So, one day, after yet another “let me hold” conversation that made my blood pressure spike to dangerous levels, I made the decision:
I would love Tony... from a distance.
From a wide, high-speed-internet, preferably-different-area-code distance.
And guess what?
We actually get along better now!
We don’t argue about money. We don’t exchange side-eyes.
He calls sometimes to “see how I’m doing,” and I answer warmly — while simultaneously checking my Venmo balance for safety.

The Lesson?
Not every relationship is meant to stay in close orbit. Some people are like the sun: vital, beautiful... and if you get too close, they’ll burn you alive.

Creating distance isn’t cruelty. It’s stewardship. It’s recognizing that love has many forms — and sometimes the healthiest, kindest thing you can do for both of you is wave from across the galaxy.

If you’re struggling with this, here’s what I recommend:

1. Set clear boundaries — and stick to them.

2. Communicate your love — but not your PIN number.

3. Release the guilt — your success is not a betrayal; it’s a blueprint.

Remember: sometimes the most intimate thing you can say is,
“I love you, but I love me too.”

And if all else fails, change your number and move to Montana.

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This isn’t hyperbole. It’s lived reality.

When I ran for Mayor of Baltimore, it all felt straightforward at first: share ideas, debate, try to convince, maybe lose with dignity if it didn’t work out. But this is 2025 America. Civic life has become a blood sport. Suddenly, I was facing threats on my life. Not just angry tweets—credible threats. I had to hire security.

My family worried every day. My team started whispering about which events I might have to skip. I never found out if it was my actual opponents, but does it matter? The atmosphere was so poisoned—so fueled by a sense of “win at all costs, destroy the enemy”—that violence became just another campaign tactic.

It changes you. You stop thinking about how to help the city and start thinking about how to get home alive. The campaign became less about hope, more about survival.

And this isn’t just my story, or just politics.
Let’s look around:

Politics: Poison in the Well

Politicians now treat every election like trench warfare. Smear, intimidate, investigate, attack. But guess what? The ones who climb up by burning bridges don’t get to walk back across them later. Washington is littered with the ruins of politicians who made enemies everywhere and ended up powerless, friendless, and alone.

Business: The Cost of Carnage

Corporate America loves to talk about disruption, but sometimes it’s just destruction. When CEOs devote themselves to slashing and burning competitors—launching dirty tricks, legal sabotage, hostile PR wars—they don’t grow. They rot. The brand gets toxic. Partners flee. Customers pick up on the stench and leave too. Plenty of once-mighty companies have collapsed under the weight of their own vendetta.

Culture: Eat or Be Eaten

Online, it’s cancelled or be canceled. One wrong meme, one imperfect phrase, and the mob comes for blood. But here’s the joke: today’s top canceller is tomorrow’s target. Reputation becomes a ticking bomb. Even “winners” are just waiting for their own number to come up.

This Game Is Unwinnable

Smash-or-be-smashed works for a minute, but then you’re living in a minefield. Nobody trusts, nobody talks, nobody builds. There are no allies, only enemies not-yet-destroyed.

I lived it. The fear, the exhaustion, the iron taste of never knowing if that shout from the crowd is just heckling—or something worse. Anyone who thinks this is the way to win needs to take a hard look at where this road leads.

Want a Way Out? Here’s How:

1. Talk.
   Forget the battle lines. Sit down and wrestle with the disagreement. Listen for the common ground before reaching for the sword.

2. Find the Win for Both.
   Real power isn’t about one person drowning the other—it’s about building platforms where both can stand taller.

3. Play the Long Game.
   Burning bridges is fast. Building trust lasts. Decide what kind of legacy, business, or country you want to leave behind.

We’re all one step away from being the next victim of this “crush or be crushed” culture. Until we wake up and choose another way, the only thing we’re building is our own ruin.

Don’t just win. Build.

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God’s handiwork is everywhere. We see it in the vast resources of the earth—the air we breathe, the water that sustains us, the soil that produces our food, and the minerals that form the backbone of industry and innovation. These are not random accidents of existence, but purposeful provisions entrusted to mankind. To work the works of God is to steward these gifts faithfully, to use them wisely, and to innovate responsibly so that communities may prosper and future generations may thrive.

Beyond the physical, God has granted us the spheres of knowledge and intellect. Human imagination, science, art, philosophy, and technology are all extensions of the intellectual fields given by the Creator. They reflect His infinite wisdom made accessible to humanity in finite portions. To explore, to discover, to seek understanding in these fields is not to wander away from God but rather to walk deeper into His design. Every scientific breakthrough, every medical advancement, every technological solution—at their core—draw upon this gift of God’s intellectual works. When used with humility and love, they become tools of healing, growth, and liberation.

Above both the physical and intellectual realms lies the spiritual dimension of existence. Here we find the essence of God’s power filtering into every corner of life. It is the unseen but ever-present Spirit that breathes possibility into impossibility. It empowers leaders to guide with compassion, fuels visionaries with courage, and strengthens the weary with hope. Working the works of God requires us to acknowledge this spiritual force as central to everything we undertake. Without it, our physical and intellectual labors fall short of their eternal purpose.

As I reflect on my own journey, I’ve come to realize that the revelations God grants us are not just flashes of inspiration or good ideas—they are divine assignments. They are opportunities to join Heaven’s agenda with Earth’s reality. What I have discovered is this: the works of God are never bound by scarcity, but overflow with abundance. They do not drain us; they empower us. They do not limit creativity; they release innovation.

When we truly commit ourselves to working the works of God, we become participants in solutions that change the course of humanity. Poverty gives way to provision. Ignorance yields to understanding. Brokenness is mended by healing. Every discovery, invention, or strategy that uplifts life and glorifies the Creator belongs to this sacred work. To neglect this calling is to live below our God-given potential. To embrace it is to join hands with God in shaping eternity’s legacy.

So how can today’s entrepreneurs and leaders faithfully work the works of God? I give you three guiding principles:

1. Seek God First. Begin every decision, venture, and innovation with prayerful humility. When your goals are aligned with God’s purposes, your work transcends mere success and becomes Kingdom-significant.

2. Steward Resources Responsibly. Whether managing financial capital, human talent, or natural assets, treat every resource as a gift from God. Lead with integrity, accountability, and a deep sense of care for people and the environment entrusted to you.

3. Fuse Faith with Innovation. Refuse to separate the spiritual from the practical. Allow God’s Spirit to energize your creativity so that the innovations you develop not only solve problems but also reflect His glory.

To work the works of God is to embrace a life of impact, purpose, and meaning. It is to honor the gifts of creation, knowledge, and the Spirit as channels of divine possibility. And in doing so, we weave our lives into the unfolding story of God’s great work in this world.

There I sat—wedged between heroin and glue, destruction on both sides. These weren’t strangers. They were my friends, kids I grew up with, kids I cared about. And while I could empathize with their pain and their desperate search for escape, I knew one thing with absolute clarity: if I chose their path, my future was finished.

I entertained the thought: What if I tried it, just once? But then I let the thought play forward, like a filmstrip unraveling. I saw wasted years, broken dreams, and my parents’ faces lined with grief. And so, in that moment, even as I sat in the middle of it, I decided: Not me. Not my life.

It would be years later before I encountered Aristotle’s words: “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” That night in Cherry Hill, I didn’t know Aristotle’s name, but I was living his principle. The ability to weigh an idea, to sit with it, to understand it without surrendering to it—that skill saved my life.

And it didn’t stop there. This practice of entertaining thoughts without accepting them has guided me in boardrooms, in churches, and in community work. It has given me the courage to listen to voices I disagree with, to consider perspectives foreign to my own, and to sharpen my convictions by engaging deeply with ideas others fear.

History proves the power of this principle:

• Frederick Douglass secretly read books that offered ideas of freedom. Though enslaved, he entertained the radical thought of liberty until it fueled his rise as one of America’s greatest voices for justice.

• Marie Curie refused to accept the thought that women could not be serious scientists. By entertaining bold, unconventional ideas about radiation, she revolutionized science and earned two Nobel Prizes.

• Nelson Mandela, imprisoned for 27 years, entertained the thought of reconciliation with his oppressors. By refusing to accept hatred as inevitable, he led South Africa into a new era of unity.

Each of these leaders shows us that strength is not in blind rejection or blind acceptance, but in disciplined examination.

So how can we master this principle today?

1. Read broadly, including ideas you disagree with. Growth comes from engagement, not echo chambers.

2. Run mental simulations. Ask: If I lived out this thought, where would it take me?

3. Encourage questioning in your family. Strong minds are formed in safe environments where ideas can be tested.

4. Practice it at work and in church. Invite differing voices and see them as assets, not threats.

5. Model it in your community. Show others that open-mindedness builds strength, not weakness.

That night in the basement, sitting between heroin and glue, I learned one of the greatest lessons of my life: you can look a dangerous thought in the eye, even feel its pull—and still walk away. That is the mark of an educated, courageous, and truly free mind.

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I learned this principle early in life. Growing up in Cherry Hill, South Baltimore, I was surrounded by young men who, sadly, became addicted to drugs and alcohol. These were my friends. I loved them, and we spent time together. But even as a teenager, I could see that if those addictions were not broken, they would eventually kill them. And for many, that’s exactly what happened.

The difference for me was a choice. Though I was in it, I decided I would not be of it. I knew that if I kept beholding that destructive lifestyle, I would become it. So I began to create other pathways for myself. I expanded my network beyond the neighborhood. I sought to travel and see the world beyond Baltimore’s city limits. I actively looked for opportunities to interact with people from different cultures, backgrounds, and walks of life.

That decision—to behold something different—shaped my destiny. And history shows that this principle has held true for some of the most influential leaders in politics, business, and religion.

Three Examples of “Becoming What You Behold”

1. Politics – Barack Obama
   Barack Obama grew up in modest circumstances, with an absent father and a complex identity. But rather than behold dysfunction or defeat, he studied leaders, authors, and visionaries who inspired him. He immersed himself in ideas of justice, equality, and public service. By focusing his attention on hope and possibility, he became a leader who embodied those very principles and ultimately became the first African American President of the United States.
   

2. Business – Wilma Mankiller
   Wilma Mankiller, the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, faced daunting challenges: childhood poverty, systemic racism, gender discrimination, and even a near-fatal car accident. Surrounded by obstacles, she could have easily beheld despair and limitation. Instead, she turned her gaze toward empowerment, resilience, and the rich cultural heritage of her people.
   
   Mankiller studied the examples of community activists and spiritual leaders who taught that transformation begins in the mind and the heart. She immersed herself in Cherokee traditions, where perseverance and communal responsibility were central values. By beholding these truths—and not the negativity surrounding her—she became a leader who rebuilt housing, improved healthcare, and expanded education for the Cherokee Nation.

   Her life illustrates the biblical principle powerfully: what you behold, you become. Mankiller chose to fix her eyes on the vision of a thriving Cherokee Nation, and in time, that vision became her reality.
   

3. Religion – Martin Luther King Jr.
   Dr. King grew up in the segregated South, where hatred and racism were everyday realities. But he chose not to fix his gaze on bitterness. Instead, he studied the life of Jesus Christ and the nonviolent philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. By beholding these higher ideals, he became the face of the Civil Rights Movement, changing America’s moral compass forever.

Three Recommendations for Your Life

1. Audit Your Inputs. Take a hard look at what you read, watch, and listen to. If it doesn’t align with the future you want, stop feeding on it. Garbage in, garbage out.

2. Expand Your Associations. Surround yourself with people who are already living the life you aspire to. Their habits, perspectives, and values will rub off on you—whether you realize it or not.

3. Expose Yourself to New Horizons. Travel when you can. Read widely. Explore different cultures. The more you behold, the broader your possibilities become.

The truth is simple but sobering: you are always becoming something. The only question is—what are you beholding? Because whatever it is, it’s shaping you in its image.

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This is one of them. I wrote it in March, about a night in Cherry Hill I have carried my whole life. I am sharing it again now because the lesson in it stopped being history and started being current events.

I am not going to tell you what to feel. I am asking you to sit with it.

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“The one who is wise in heart will be called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.”
— Proverbs 16:21

In every arena of life—whether business, education, or leadership—there exists a tug-of-war between fact and feeling. Emotions are powerful. They stir our passions, fuel our creativity, and make our joys rich. But when it comes to decision-making, especially in matters that shape the trajectory of our lives, emotions alone often make unreliable guides. Facts, on the other hand, may be less glamorous, less exhilarating in the moment, yet their grounded stability holds the power to produce long-term flourishing.

I learned this lesson in the halls of Baltimore’s education system. As a teenager, I wanted desperately to follow my friends—my “home boys”—to certain high schools. The emotions were real: loyalty to my circle, attraction to schools where there were more girls, and the sheer comfort of fitting in. But my father had a different vision. He insisted I attend an all-boys school designed specifically for students gifted in math and science. At the time, that choice felt like a denial of my youthful desires. But as life unfolded, I realized it was one of the most pivotal decisions ever made for me. The fact was simple: this school had the resources, training, and environment that would prepare me for extraordinary opportunities. That fact—and my father’s insistence on relying upon it—shaped the foundation of the man I am today.

This small story mirrors a larger truth: Facts may not initially appeal to our emotions, but they have a way of producing greater fruit over time. The sentinel leaders and innovators of history confirm this very principle.

Three Examples of Choosing Fact Over Emotion

1. Abraham Lincoln: As president during the Civil War, Lincoln was under enormous pressure to act from raw emotion. He felt the anger, grief, and passion of a nation divided. Yet rather than surrender to vengeance or sentiment, he relied on the hard facts of military strategy and timing. This sober, fact-based leadership allowed him to preserve the Union and ultimately end slavery.

2. Rosa Parks: Her famous refusal to give up her seat in Montgomery was not a sudden flare of emotion, but rather a carefully thought-out decision rooted in fact. Parks had long prepared, trained, and understood the legal and psychological dynamics of civil disobedience. Her act was courageous, yes, but it was factual reasoning about timing and symbolism that ignited the Civil Rights Movement.

3. Steve Jobs: While Jobs was known as a man of passion, his most transformative decisions often rested on facts. For example, when Apple introduced the iPhone, Jobs based his move on technological realities and market data: the facts that mobile devices and the internet were converging, and consumers would ultimately desire one integrated experience. That fact-based recognition changed global communication.

The Results Speak for Themselves
These leaders demonstrate one overarching lesson: while emotions are loud and immediate, facts are lasting and transformative. Emotion may get you in the door, but facts ensure you stay in the room.

Four Recommendations for Fact-Driven Choices

1. Pause Before Acting: Emotions push us toward haste; facts require patience. Before making a major decision, pause to collect the data that will inform you.

2. Ask “What Do I Know to Be True?”: Write down the non-negotiable facts of the situation. This exercise clears away the fog of feelings.

3. Seek Counsel from Fact-Driven Voices: Surround yourself with people who can balance blind spots in your reasoning. Wise mentors, like my father, see beyond the pull of the moment.

4. Train Daily Through Small Decisions: Practice fact-based reasoning in the everyday—budgeting, scheduling, diet choices. These small victories strengthen the muscles that protect you in life’s bigger crossroads.

Conclusion
Emotions can inspire, but facts sustain. My father’s insistence on facts over fleeting feelings gave me a life trajectory beyond what my young heart could have imagined. For leaders, entrepreneurs, and everyday people, the road to growth is paved not with emotions alone, but with the sturdiness of truth.

As Scripture reminds us, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Facts, aligned with truth, free us from the traps of our emotions and guide us toward the future we were meant to achieve.

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The ancient philosopher Marcus Aurelius once said, “The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.” I’d take it a step further: The soul becomes dyed with the character of those we admire.

Admiration is Imitation in Disguise

Admiration isn’t passive. It’s a subtle act of apprenticeship. You watch how someone walks, talks, earns respect, handles conflict, commands a room—or manipulates it. Over time, your brain, your values, even your posture begin to mimic what you admire.

That’s why we become like our heroes. And it’s also why we need to choose our heroes like our lives depend on it—because they do.

I remember when I first admired a man in our neighborhood who everyone feared. He always had money. Never seemed afraid. I started talking like him, walking like him, even arguing like him. It wasn’t until my father sat me down one evening—firmly, lovingly—and said, “Son, be careful who you’re trying to be. Not everyone who looks free is free.”

That conversation rewired my compass. I began seeking out new models—entrepreneurs, teachers, ministers, even athletes who carried their success with humility and faith. Slowly, my dreams expanded. My goals shifted. And most importantly, my behavior changed.

Today’s Admiration, Tomorrow’s Identity

Whether you’re a young man trying to escape a generational curse or a seasoned executive trying to redefine legacy, your path is still influenced by who you look up to.

Think of your admiration like spiritual Velcro. Whatever you admire sticks. Admire cruelty, you’ll become harder. Admire courage, you’ll become bolder. Admire wisdom, and you’ll grow deeper. It’s not magic. It’s neurological, psychological, and spiritual alignment.

In business, I have admired people like Reginald Lewis, who taught me that wealth without purpose is hollow. In life, I admire my mother, who battled addiction but never let go of God’s hand. In faith, I admire Christ—not just because of His power, but because of His restraint. Admiring them has shaped my decisions, my leadership, and my legacy.

But not all admiration leads upward.

That’s why this principle—we become like that which we admire—must be followed carefully.

Three Reasons Why This Path Must Be Walked with Caution

1. Not All Greatness Is Goodness
   Many people we admire have power but lack integrity. Charisma without character is a trap. Before admiring someone, ask: Do I want their life or just their lifestyle?

2. What You Admire May Be What Destroys You
   If you idolize perfection, wealth, or fame without grounding, you will constantly feel unworthy. Sometimes what we admire is the very thing that feeds our insecurity.

3. Admiration is a Mirror You Can’t Break
   Once you start becoming like who you admire, it’s hard to undo. Habits form. Values shift. Worldviews harden. Choose your models with eternity in mind, not just earnings or applause.

Final Thought:
Admiration is more than appreciation—it is transformation in progress. So choose wisely, observe carefully, and when in doubt, admire those whose lives produce fruit that lasts. Because in the end, you are becoming someone. Make sure it’s someone worth becoming.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
— Matthew 6:34

As we all know, we live in a pretty scary world, don’t we?

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I didn’t learn that in a theology course or from a bestselling book. I learned it in the brick-and-mortar reality of Cherry Hill, South Baltimore. I grew up with four brothers in a tiny house, two or three of us packed into a single bed, food sometimes scarce, but faith always overflowing. Momma and daddy didn’t talk about legacy or leadership. They lived it. They marched in the 1963 March On Washington. They helped neighbors with groceries even when we barely had enough. My mother—God rest her soul—would go to church on Sunday morning, in her nurse’s uniform after a long night shift, praising God with tears still in her eyes from life’s weight.

I remember one night in particular. I was maybe ten or eleven. My father had just come home from a tough day’s work and found out someone in the neighborhood needed money for medicine. Without a second thought, he handed over some cash he had planned to use for our food that week. I asked him why. He looked at me and said, “Because God gave it to us to give it away. God will provide.” That moment has never left me.

Too many of us today are building monuments to ourselves—accumulating accolades, chasing recognition, measuring success by the size of our bank account. But I’ve learned that the real measure of a life is not what you earn, but who you lift.

And I’ve been lifted. Granddaddy and grandmomma Curry, uncle Eugene, Mr. Harris, Ms. Francis, mentors at the University of Pennsylvania, professors at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, and wise elders in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, poured into me. They saw past my stutter, my awkwardness, my hunger for something more. And now, every time I speak on a stage, write a book, or mentor a young entrepreneur, I hear God whisper, “Make it count. This moment is not for your glory—it’s for Mine.”

When you live with that mindset—uplifting others and glorifying God—three things happen:

1. You gain clarity. Life’s decisions align when you know your work is sacred.

2. You gain endurance. You stop quitting when it gets hard because your “why” is eternal.

3. You gain legacy. I’ve written eight books, built multi-million-dollar companies, but the most meaningful reward is hearing someone say, “Because of you, I didn’t give up.”

So, I’ll ask again: What are you building?

Let your life be more than impressive—let it be impactful.
Let it be more than profitable—let it be purposeful.
Build something that matters. Build something that lasts. Build for God’s glory.