I was born in the projects—literally in a project building—with no blueprint for success and no father to guide me. My dad died when I was just one. I dropped out of high school, not because I didn’t care, but because I wanted to grow up faster—to help my mom.
At 17, I fulfilled a childhood dream: I bought my mom a car and drove her home. She had never owned a car, never even learned to drive—but that didn’t matter. I made a promise and I kept it. She passed away a year later from cancer. Before she transitioned, I asked what she wanted most from me. Her answer: “Finish what you started.”
So I did. I got my GED. Then I took it further—earning degrees in Computer Information Systems and Business. I started my first business in college, which eventually failed—but the experience changed everything.
I moved from Montgomery, Alabama to Hawaii, where I rebuilt. I’ve worked with a State Senator, top law firms, a world-renowned doctor, and the largest nonprofit in Hawaii. I’ve acted in blockbuster movies and TV shows, lived in Jamaica, authored a book, taught business internationally, and built a course and online community to help others escape the 9-to-5.
I've done a lot, however, my greatest lesson learned is you don't need degrees or have to be famous. You just need to take a step. From project buildings to boardrooms—I didn’t just beat the odds. I rewrote the rules.