What happens when life throws something at you that you didn’t see coming? 

In this personal solo episode, Damon opens up about a life-altering diagnosis that challenged his vision—both physically and metaphorically.  

Whether you're navigating personal challenges or professional setbacks, this episode offers a roadmap to move forward with resilience, community, and purpose. 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• The surprising diagnosis that reshaped Damon’s outlook on leadership and life 
• How to reject the victim mindset and replace it with gratitude 
• The role of community and connection in overcoming struggle 
• How constraints can actually sharpen your leadership and focus 
• What it means to lead by example—especially when life gets hard 

Timestamps 

00:00 – Damon introduces a personal story about unexpected adversity 

00:48 – Early signs something was off—on the tennis and basketball court 

01:30 – A trip to the optometrist turns serious 

01:55 – Diagnosis: PRPH2, a rare degenerative eye disease 

02:35 – Processing the fear, uncertainty, and future ahead 

03:00 – The 5-step playbook for facing adversity 

03:20 – Step 1: Acceptance—“There is no cure, but I can move forward” 

03:50 – Step 2: Refuse the victim mentality—"Why not me?" 

04:40 – Step 3: Faith—in family, skills, and what you can control 

05:10 – Step 4: Community—why you don’t have to go through it alone 

05:55 – Foundation Fighting Blindness and the power of peer groups 

06:30 – Step 5: Lead by example—turning constraints into strengths 

07:05 – Lessons for his kids and why vulnerability builds strength 

07:50 – The final takeaway: adversity is inevitable, but it doesn’t define you 

08:10 – Connect with Damon to share or seek support 

Resources Mentioned: 

• Foundation Fighting Blindness 

Connect With Us 

• Uplevel yourself and your team with our trainings: www.learnit.com 
• Email us: [email protected] 
• Follow Damon on LinkedIn