I wasn’t born into a bright future or even given a clear path to success. It was my own life experience — both the pitfalls and the triumphs — that proved to me that true achievement is rooted in something other than luck, fantasy, or circumstance.

I grew up in a working-class neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago, and my parents divorced when I was 10 years old. I joined the Army right out of high school and it was there that I got my first real taste of what a clear vision and a commitment to excellence could do, both for my confidence and my outcomes.

Over a 12-year career as US Army Special Forces (Green Beret), I completed six deployments, honed my leadership skills in some of the most challenging situations imaginable, and earned a bachelor’s degree in health science. After completing my military service, I earned my MBA, then went to work on Wall Street as an investment banker briefly — far exceeding any vision I’d had for myself and my life.

That trajectory from broken home to barracks to boardroom shaped the person I am today. It gave me grit. It honed my values. It showed me that anything is possible, with the right mindset and a staunch refusal to limit oneself.

Today, I’m a coach and mentor, supporting high-performing men who are ready to push past their limits and unlock new levels of success, professionally and personally. My coaching is based on powerful, practical principles for defining your vision and then achieving it, in the shortest amount of time possible. It’s not just for people born on third base, or those with a specific background, skill set, or career path. These principles work, for every goal, every ambition, every person — provided you’re willing to put in the time and effort.