I grew up in a small industrial town called Deer Park, TX with a single mother. I was an only child. Mom managed all our needs and provided a loving, caring home and got my work ethic from her as she worked multiple jobs to make ends meet early in our life then advanced from being a paralegal to becoming the City Secretary of Pasadena, TX.
I attended public schools but was not that interested in my academics. My grades were good but the school did not inspire me. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur.
I am a passionate connector who seeks to serve others. I view my work as a form of ministry and I look to leverage my network to create solutions for those that I meet. My internal drive comes from wanting to make an impact on the world by adding value to the people I meet.
The person who comes to mind was Harry Reo, my first district manager. Harry identified me as a talented individual—a young leader. I had made some poor decisions and Harry just wouldn’t stand for it. He cared about me professionally and personally. He helped me to become a better man. He went above and beyond to invest in me as a person than an employee which was a great model for me.
My earliest jobs were at a grocery store and waiting tables. I have the personality for hospitality. Right out of high school, I became a personal trainer and was running health clubs by the time I was 20. By age 25, I was running multiple locations. I moved to Denver for a while and worked in parts of Kansas. I spent sixteen years in the fitness industry. I had my first stint in financial services and went back to fitness. Now I have transitioned from health to wealth: I help people achieve their personal goals by walking along beside them. I like to create long-term relationships.
Personally, I hope to seek some additional education, Ironically I love learning and growing considering I did not seek education early in my life. Professionally I hope to continue growing our practice and have a team of advisors working with us and adding value to their development.
The first time I felt like a failure was when I had moved out of leadership and into an entrepreneurial role. I had some personal issues at the time as well. My personal mentor taught me that there was more to life than just work. Work is not a reflection of who you are as a man. Free from that sentiment. I moved on to view work as a way to serve others and then the business follows. It has been a formula for success.
My current projects are complex and multi-faceted. I love learning how to tell our story and find it challenging and engaging. Advice for newbies in the fin industry. It’s a numbers game. You have to be committed to failing multiple times. Learning to push through rejections will pay off eventually. You have to remind yourself that it may not be the right time for your prospect. But seek to add value every time you can and eventually, they will think of you as a trusted resource.
My current projects are complex and multi-faceted. I love learning how to tell our story and find it challenging and engaging. Advice for newbies in the fin industry. It’s a numbers game. You have to be committed to failing multiple times. Learning to push through rejections will pay off eventually. You have to remind yourself that it may not be the right time for your prospect. But seek to add value every time you can and eventually, they will think of you as a trusted resource.
I think it is a great thing to bring energetic leaders together and leverage platforms to share their stories and best practices. People tend to relate to others with similar stories and I think by sharing these
stories it could lead to inspiration for those who are seeking to grow.