Today, I’m grateful for the parents and educators who subtly pushed me to tap into a vision I’ve carried for more than 30 years.

Reflection/Why I’m Grateful:

When I was in my 20s—after I had graduated college—I remember sitting back and thinking about my journey up to that point. The pain was still raw, but my heart and mind were thawed by the work I had put in and the people who took a chance on me after I took a chance on myself.

My vision then was simple but bold: to take my experience and my social work education and develop a path that leveraged the lessons of my life to help people who had experienced tough things push through those things and achieve their God-given potential.

This past year, after completing Twice Over a Man and hearing from my first handful of readers, I started getting an unexpected question—from parents. They told me how powerful the book was and how deeply it moved them, but they wondered how it might land with their kids. Some allowed their teens to read it; others hesitated because of how raw and honest the stories are.

That tension—between truth and tenderness—got me thinking: Could I keep the power of Twice Over a Man and make it accessible to younger readers without losing its heart? The answer was yes.

And it’s been humbling to see how far this message has traveled. Even among my colleagues at the bank—and beyond—I’ve met families whose spouses are educators, and many of them have read the book or shared it with their students. It’s reminded me that what we build professionally and what we nurture personally don’t have to be separate. When our work and our purpose align, both can serve the greater good.

So I went back to my publisher and began creating what I call The Thriver’s Path™ Youth Collection—two companion books designed to help young people grow into their God-given potential.

The first, More Than a Conqueror, is written for ages 11–18. It’s story-driven, fast-moving, and filled with lessons about resilience, faith, and purpose. It meets young people right where they are—in the tension between growing up and becoming who they were created to be.

The second, Ward and the State, is for children ages 5–10. It’s rooted in a phrase I first heard as a boy in foster care: “He’s a ward of the state.” Back then, I didn’t know what that meant. But over time, I realized it defined how the system saw me—not who I was.
This book helps children understand identity and possibility early, showing them that their circumstances don’t define their capacity.

Both books are extensions of Twice Over a Man—not watered down, but reframed to meet young hearts where they are. They carry the same message: Setbacks may be inevitable, but failure is not an option when we think differently, act on what’s in our control, and surround ourselves with good people who lift us higher.

All of this connects back to The Thriver’s Path™—the broader framework guiding my work today. Through the platform I have at the bank, along with my books, courses, and resources for corporations, educators, mentors, and parents, it’s designed to help people of all ages move from being stuck to being strengthened.

That’s what the upcoming Educator’s Corner on my website will be all about—practical tools and heart-centered resources that help teachers, mentors, and faith leaders inspire the next generation of Thrivers.

Because resilience, persistence, and purpose are already in our DNA. We just need to create the conditions for them to grow.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”— Proverbs 22:6