Fin. Today is my birthday. I’m 44 now. A year ago today, I had no idea how much The Grind would change my life, or help others navigate theirs. There is something about The Grind that resonated with people. Of course, there’s the title. Many people believe that life is nothing more than a grind.…

Decide to transform I figured something out this year. I don’t know that anyone was lying to me. Still, somewhere along the line, I got the idea that money was the answer to most problems, and that making money always needed to be the priority. That was the mindset I had, and it seemed to…

The first action the hero makes is the refusal of the call. The refusal is the signal of the significant fear one must overcome to start the process of transformation. The first and most important thing we do on the way to greatness is change our minds. No one constantly hurdles through life making brave…

I can’t play small anymore It’s time to admit that I don’t want to let go. I found a groove, and it’s comfortable. I found it here, in this newsletter to you every week. This was the place that I put down the burden of my shadows and allowed them to find sunlight. This is…

The realm of diminishing returns I took the first week of November off from work at Jumpstart / Health:Further to focus on one last editing pass on my book before I submitted it to my publisher for their edit. That went really well, and the book is off with the editors now getting a thorough…

what it feels like to be naturally happy Today marks one year and one day since the last time I drank alcohol. I’ve talked about quitting alcohol quite a bit. As this date drew closer, I’ve been feeling like it’s something I want to stop talking about so much. But with this milestone, it’s worth…

The disorientation of being initiated Two weeks ago, I decided to start a new journey. Something I had been mulling over for a while. I started practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). Four years ago, I began practicing Hapkido and a year ago earned my first degree Black Belt. I love Hapkido and intend to continue…

The arbitrage of not giving a damn Last week I took some time away from my standard work schedule to work on some creative projects and reflect. While doing so, I couldn’t help but see things in the context of next year. 2020 is looking like a great year for me. I spent a ton…

The engine of happiness My father recently turned 82 years old. He has lived an incredible life. Quite frankly, I marvel at any African American who was born in the 30s or before who is still alive and well. The shifts in society they lived through are hard for me to imagine. The progress they…

Emotions don’t care about what’s fair It’s Fall. It’s getting darker, earlier. The temperature is dropping, and the holiday season is upon us. In conversations these days, we ask questions of ourselves and others that are both reflective and forecasting. “How has the year gone?” “What are we doing for the holidays?” “Any big plans…