Journaling Your Purpose Into Productivity

I left home just before I turned 17. No degree, no safety net, just a drive to build something real. I dropped out, went into construction, and started my first business: a picker crane company. I grew it fast and sold it back to the same company I originally worked for. That win proved I could create something from nothing.

I built more startups after that. Some succeeded, some crashed, but each one taught me what works, what doesn't, and who I was becoming. Then I became a father, and everything changed. It gave my life purpose and raised the stakes on the legacy I wanted to leave.

One day, I was in a serious car accident with my son in the car. We hit a wall at high speed. I crushed my spine and lived with constant pain for years, still pushing like I could power through it. Eventually the pain turned into depression, burnout, and a suicide attempt. I spent four weeks in the hospital and realized I had to take control of my life again.

That's when I rebuilt from the inside out. I chose what was true over what looked good, rebuilt my life, and learned to co-parent in a healthier way. I started traveling, building online businesses, and designing a life that felt like mine. The tool that kept saving me was journaling: deep, honest questions that cut through the noise and gave me clarity when I had none.