Where did you grow up, and what was your childhood like? Did you have any particular experiences/stories that shaped your adult life?

A single mom raised me in Richardson, TX. While we weren’t dirt poor, we weren’t exactly comfortable either. Money was always tight in my childhood. I remember walking into the apartment as a kid, and my mom was crying. Long story short, that was a day that inspired me to create wealth. Not for the sake of buying fancy things and stuff, I don’t need, but rather so I could provide for my family. I do some things for them that I wasn’t able to do as a child, provide for those who need help and take care of my mom. I’m very blessed to be able to check off all of those boxes.

What is something you wish you would’ve realized earlier in your life?

Enjoy the journey! I was a multi-millionaire in my early 20’s, and I woke up one day and realized I hadn’t enjoyed a single part of the journey. I was so focused on the end goal that I missed out on a lot of incredible moments.

What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?

“Fake it till you make it.” That’s one of the dumbest things I’ve ever heard. That’s why you see people buying things they cannot afford to impress people they don’t know. Real success requires authenticity and vulnerability, as those are the keys to connectivity. People don’t want a perfect person; they want an authentic person. Be real!

Tell me about one of the darker periods you’ve experienced in life. How you came out of it, and what you learned from it?

My wife and I grew up together since 7th grade. Our goal was to be set for life financially and THEN have children so we could enjoy that time. Ten years later, we were still trying to have kids. We went through infertility. Long story short, we have two healthy twins now. I believe every mess sets the stage for a powerful message. Our infertility issues led to a deep understanding of health and wellness and what we put in our bodies affects us in ways we cannot even comprehend. Therefore, we learned what eating organic and natural foods meant for our bodies. We learned that putting artificial ANYTHING in your body is not recognized by the body, and thus the body rebels, and we see obesity, depression, cancer, infertility, and more. Long story short, the books I’ve written, “Grit Factor” and others, are endorsed by some of the Sharks on the hit show Shark Tank.

After a news interview, a group approached me. They had created the world’s only TRULY personalized nutrition platform. This personalized nutritional platform gives you everything you need and nothing that you don’t. The concept blew my mind. I immediately realized this was the future of vitamins and nutrition. Why on earth would you, the reader, need the exact same nutrition as I do? We are different people with different DNA, etc.

Because of our infertility issues (our mess), we knew all about the health and wellness space, and thus we now have a powerful message. We formed IDLife about seven years ago. It’s been amazing to see how many lives have been impacted positively with how we equip people to look, feel and perform their best utilizing a personalized approach and DNA combined with real ingredients. But, of course, none of this would have happened if we didn’t experience the dark days of infertility.

What is one thing that you do that you feel has been the biggest contributor to your success so far?

Personal Growth. “We attract who we ARE, not what we want.” As I stated earlier, “when you grow you, everything around you grows.” I’m a living, breathing example of this. The people I once admired from afar are now the people I do business with, vacation with, and do my life with. Without a commitment to personal growth, there’s no way I’d be where I am today mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, relationally, or financially.

What is your morning routine?

Every morning of my adult life has been exactly the same regardless of where I am in the world. First, I wake up, read a daily devotional and personal growth, catch up on the news (read the paper), and then work out (6 days a week).

I can’t give what I don’t have, so I must fuel and take care of myself before adding value to others. Sleep is crucial to being the best YOU possible. I don’t concern myself with the exact time I wake up, but I do make sure I get my 8 hours of sleep. Some people do great with less sleep, and some need more. I have found I operate the best in 8 hours.

What habit or behavior that you have pursued for a few years has most improved your life?

Quality time with those I care about the most. I see too many people give their leftover time to those they love the most.

I was guilty of that. I want my wife, kids, and friends to get the best of me, not what’s left of me. Giving the best of me has enabled me to enjoy the journey.

What are your strategies for being productive and using your time most efficiently?

The majority of people exist through life versus intentionally designing their life.

I’m EXTREMELY intentional with my time because it’s the one thing we cannot get back. I have an offensive and defensive game plan for my life that helps me not waste time. What’s funny is I get hired to give keynote speeches all of the time, and I actually spoke on this topic for the first time, and it truly resonated with people. Listen, a great athletic team has to be excellent both offensively and defensively if they want to win a championship. They need to know what they are going to do and what they need to prevent from happening. This applies to life as well.

What book(s) have influenced your life the most? Why?

At the age of 17, I committed to personal growth, and I 100% believe it’s a primary reason I’ve had the success that I’ve had. “When you grow you, everything around you grows.” So there hasn’t been just one book, but rather a combination of the knowledge gained from all of them. John C. Maxwell is a very close friend, and his writings have certainly had an enormous influence on my life. And as John would tell you, pretty much everything he has written about comes from the Bible.

Do you have any quotes you live by or think of often?

“Successful people do daily what everyone else does occasionally.”