I’m a lot like you. I believe that we each have a choice in how we live our lives and that our past does not determine our future. Each day is a new opportunity to be better, do better, achieve more and make our mark on this world.

Growing up, my environment was not ideal for wealth building. Many in my community were looking for quick money and quick fixes without any thoughts toward investing or making money last. But, I don’t blame them. When you’re not given the proper tools, you make do with what you have and try to make it work. I did learn the importance of having my own money and making my own way which has served me well.

I guess I was cut from a different cloth because I never quite fit in with the way others did things. I was the one with the lawn mowing business before I was old enough to work with so many lawns that I paid friends with lawn mowers to help out. I would give them a cut of the total and pocket the rest. I also had a paper route. I even bought 2 cars with my own money before I could drive. Not very practical, I know, but when you realize at a young age, that you have a hand in your own destiny, there’s a mindset shift, and that’s what happened to me and continues to this day.