Here’s what was happening...

I’d let my confidence come from external validation

The way I played sports, the way I looked, my “rep”

And what happened was confidence was like a roller coaster.. it’d go up and down based on what was happening in my life

Here’s how it changed and put me in the driver seat

I get confidence from sticking to my core values

I get confidence from doing what I say I’m going to do

I get confidence from spending more time with family and friends

My confidence is now internal and the human being I want to become... business and success is just an added bonus

I thought freedom occurred financially

I thought it occurred when I reached a certain level of success

My first true freedom came when I realized I didn’t have to do everything alone

I can reach out to my partners when I have a problem

I can reach out to mentors to figure out the next step

My first true freedom was clarity

I’m 31 floors up in Tampa Bay at my 23 year old cousins apartment Ryan Loede

I love coming here because whether it’s a day later or month we grow each time

We push each other to take more action and stay COMMITTED to the work

We all have an image of our life that we want... but are we committed to doing what’s necessary to get there

I looked myself in the mirror and asked myself “what’s one thing holding me back from hitting my goals”

Now something I’ve learned is being supercritical and REAL when I look myself in the mirror

And the answer was simple....

Drinking was holding me back from hitting the next level of my life

These last 5 months I’ve been waking up earlier, more clarity and focus than ever before

My workflow does not break its routine anymore and it keeps me in RHYTHM

When I make decisions I always look for a model to follow... someone that is doing something at a high level that I can relate to

And recently I was actually able to thank him privately... now I’d like to thank him publicly

Thank you Jon Cheplak for showing the path for success for my next chapter

And I’ll let you what... it’s been the sanest decision now that I look back on it

Here’s how I used to attack my days

I’d try and solve this huge problem

I’d identified something I think would be cool for agents to do or a shiny object for people

That all changed when I attended a mastermind in Key West

Then I startled doing this...

Following the leader the leader the leader following the leader

A couple of weekends ago I went back to Cleveland and had a SOLID boys night

One of my good buddies asked how I wake up every day so happy and full of energy because he doesn’t

And I paused because it was a good question

But the truth of it is... I don’t

I have tough mornings, tough nights, but I believe I have a decision every day

I can choose to let the morning affect my entire day

Or I can look for ways to motivate myself, I can tell myself in the mirror how great of a day I’m having

Or, just like this past weekend, I can reach out to my boys when I’m having a rough time to pick me up

For me, I found my strength when I decided to reach out for help and allow myself to get picked up when I need it

This is a question that creeps into my mind every now and then

I see the world and things I want to change but how much power do I really have

But then I remember a quote

“If not me then who”

Am I going to sit back and wait or go out there and do my part

It sucks because I’m speaking at an event in Milwaukee and they rented out a place, marketed etc

And I’m supposed to be spending time with my family for Easter... haven’t been back in 3 months

Woke up with plenty of time and had my Uber scheduled... great start

Then I wait outside for my Uber..

10 minutes late

20 minutes late

At this point the Uber app says “thanks for your ride rate us”

Apparently someone hopped in my Uber and needed a ride to the airport.. thanks buddy

Now I try to order an Uber it there’s none nearby

So I drive myself and finally find parking but have to take the trolly... that took another 30 minutes

And now TSA has a line backed up with about a 45 minute to one hour wait and my plane closes the doors in 20 minutes

No chance.. so I decide to ask the person if I could go in front since my plane is about to takeoff

They hesitated but let me go and I continued to ask my way

It got to the point where people relayed the message through the line and the airline wouldn’t let me cut to the front but each and every person did

So much negativity out there today but let me tell you about everyday people... they won the day for me

And it really got me thinking...

I don’t go out as much as I used to

I don’t go to parties like I used to

All I do is work and hang out with people who work like I do

And then yesterday I got to hang out with some great people and we just so happened to talk about this topic

Here was my takeaway

I REFUSE to have “fun” at the expense of my success

In honor of women history month I want to shoutout some women who are making history as we speak and absolutely crushing it! These women I look to as inspiration and leaders and want to share them with you

I challenge you to shoot a video shouting out 5 women who are crushing it as well!

I can't make this list without saying how much my mom and grandma led the way for me... both very strong and passionate women in their own way.

First I want to shoutout Michelle Witmer Humes. She has done AMAZING things as a leader and building her team. Also, from the beginning video may not have been her favorite but she would do it and now is one of the best I know

Next I want to do one outside of real estate, Brooklyn Mckenzie is one of my best friends sister growing up and doing a great job as a leader of the community. She is a police officer downtown Cleveland and get this... she through a birthday party for someone in her zone and really brought the community together during some trying times. Keep crushing it

Christina Dalton... it's not my story to tell but she has an amazing one and continues to lead the way. Also we got her on her first live Facebook video and she crushed that too

Kelly McCarthy is easily one of my favorite people to work with. She does what she says she's going to do AND always makes working with her fun.

Eloisa Licha Morales is just as advertised online. I've seen her crushing it in video and just had the pleasure of meeting her here in Orlando. Again great story to her and is always working to better herself whether it's in the ring or in business

There are many more to shoutout but the challenge is to shoutout 5! Y'all inspire me everyday and I know you inspire many more around you!