Meet the coaches

I was born and have lived in Georgia most of my life. I grew up playing American Football, swimming, baseball and doing cross-country.

During my formative years, my father was psychologically and physically abusive, teaching me that men or boys did not show emotion at any point. Death was not unfamiliar territory as both my grandfathers died before I turned 10, the suicide of a family friend and the traumatic death of a close friend from a lightning strike. I learned to deal with everything through anger and fighting. I became independent at a young age. At age 16, I was kicked out of my parents’ house for yelling at my mother.

At age 17, I joined the delayed entry program in the United States Army until I turned 18. I spent the next 23-plus years in the Army where I ascended through the ranks to the rank of First Sergeant. My many assignments took me throughout the United States and to Germany. I also undertook three combat tours in Iraq: namely Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom 2004-2005 and 2006-2007. In addition to numerous citations, additional awards and badges consist of Sapper Tab, Master Parachutist Wings, Combat Action Badge, and German Jump Wings.

I was married and divorced twice while on active duty. It was during my last deployment I was asked for a divorce by my then second wife.

My religious beliefs at the time meant I would not consider granting the divorce for months. It was not until I had a conversation with a friend, my chaplain, that woke me up to the option of divorce. Still observing my values, I became divorced for a second time.

In my over 23 years in the military, I was always told to read books that would improve me. These were based on tactics, operations and military leadership. I had never heard of Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield or Zig Ziglar before 2013. They do not write books tailored to the military.

My reentry into civilian life was not a smooth process by any means. I retired four months after my last tour in Iraq and less than six months after my second divorce. In fact, I was considered homeless for that first 10 months after my retirement.

I had a hard decision to make. I was in the difficult position of having to choose to live in an area where I could participate fully in my child’s life versus an area where I owned a home and had a job. Let me be clear: my child was somewhere I had no intention of returning to and the prospects were less than ideal. I chose to live near my child. I wanted to participate in her life and spend quality time with her, no matter the sacrifice. By moving to be a part of my child’s life, I knew I would be grounded, and this would give me a reason to continue and not just ‘exist’.

Moving back to Georgia brought about the honor and pleasure of being a father. And, ultimately, leading me to meet the love of my life, Cathy. She lifted me up and provided a glimmer of hope for the future. Thanks to her support and encouragement I completed my Bachelor of Science Degree in Resources Management at Troy University and began a master’s degree in Business Administration from Liberty University.

My retirement revealed that while the military does an amazing job at introducing service members to military traditions, exposing service members to life-changing experiences and building unit cohesion, neither it nor the Veterans Administration can prepare service members for reentry into civilian life.

It was during my master’s program I realized I had challenges reintegrating into civilian life. Much of this was owed to traumas and injuries from my time in the military. I felt the Veterans Administration was not providing effective assistance. A great deal of this is due to an overwhelming caseload of veterans with not enough funding and treatment based on drug therapy and little else. I began to seek out other solutions to help me deal with my past.

Through trial and error, I investigated other means of healing traumas through reading, attending seminars and studying the teachings of people like Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, Sara Thompson and Sean Smith. This study and practical application helped me gain new perspective and understanding of humanity. It has been a gradual awareness, not a lightbulb moment.

I have found ways to come through on the other side of the fire as a better person. With my child, there were plenty of arguments, tears and fights as I worked through my journey. But I have grown and reconnected and learnt to hear her perspective instead of focusing on mine. It was through Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) I found a healing tool that worked. I was able to perceive how to work through assimilating back into civilian life successfully. The results I have in my personal life with my child and Cathy inspired me to be a coach and pass on my knowledge to give others hope on the other side of disappointment and failing. It is this technique I use to guide numerous people through tough and testing times.

I am invested in being a better person every day. Since my retirement from the United States Army I have mentored soldiers joining the Army as Officers through North Georgia College and State University as well as high school students enlisting in the United States Armed Forces.

I am a volunteer Firefighter and volunteer my services with Team Rubicon. I mentor and coach members of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) program.

I continuously look for new ways to make a positive and impactful difference in people’s lives: veterans, veteran family members, first responders and civilians. I truly believe life is a moment in the grand scheme of time on earth.

What are you doing to make every moment the absolute best moment you can?

It sounds crazy right? And you may think I am an anomaly. Let me assure you – I am not. I still work through my fantastic ability to self-sabotage, procrastinate and judge myself so much harder than others around me.

Do any of those things sound like you? There is hope because over the years I became skillful in the art of being excited.

I am the youngest of six children. We were like the Brady Bunch with three boys and three girls.

Since I was about seven years old, my mom raised us by herself. She could only teach us what she knew whilst struggling to house, clothe and feed us. My Dad was not a kind man during that time, and it affected her greatly. Based on this, she taught us girls to be self-sufficient. Amongst this were gems like, ‘’You can do or be anything you want in life’’, ‘’Eat dessert first as you never know how much time we have’’, and ‘’Enjoy life to the fullest’’.

My mom took all of us to see a counselor after my parents divorced. What a smart woman she was at such a young age. From a young age I learned the value of talking about things bothering me, seeking answers for why I felt the way I did.

Through abuse as a child, attempted suicide and abusive relationships I realized I had become a people pleaser. During this process I lost more and more of myself each time. I looked to others to validate that I was lovable and enough. There was no such thing as selflove, nor did I understand what that meant. I was strong and very independent which is not what most men are looking for in a relationship. I ended up having unhealthy relationships. Does this sound like you?

I always knew I wanted to make a difference in the world but had no idea what that would look like. I joined the military became part of a unique family. I served in reserves and on active duty based in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Fort Reilly and Kansas. In addition, I served in law enforcement.

My health began declining. It made me question so much in my life and wonder what steps to take that would assist in resolving my health issues.

Something was missing in my life and I could not put my finger on it.

Does this sound like a familiar song to you? I can tell you there is hope. Through my desire to learn I began to understand and see what defined a healthy relationship. As my mother never had one, she could not teach me how to have one. The resources I discovered proved invaluable and, when life got rough for me, I knew I had people I could turn to for help. I never thought I would end up being one of those resources.

In 2013, I was introduced to entrepreneurship and self-development. The military has some recommended readings but is mostly geared towards tactical, operational or strategic studies. This was different. This was working on me, my inner self.

I found a hunger that could not be contained.

My mentor set me to read ten pages per day of a self-development book. This turned into more. I was going through books like my brain had been starved for years. It was not a beautiful enlightening process at first and not always easy. However, I wanted more.

In 2014, I met an amazing woman who would not let me settle for less than the best. She challenged me to take my life to the next level. So, I found myself attending my first, live self-development seminar in Dallas, TX with my husband and daughter. To say this was life changing for our family would be an understatement. I was so blown away by the conversations I was having with my 14-year-old daughter. How this was changing the limiting beliefs in her head; how she could literally change the record she was playing constantly to something new, worthy and enlightening. And reinforced my life path in changing for the better.

I walked across burning coals, and, in that moment, I literally ignited a fire within myself. I can!!

My life took a dramatic shift from then. I was asked by someone I highly respected if I ever thought about being a life coach. I chuckled and said, ‘’Who me?’’ I knew I had so much to discover about myself in life. How do I help others if I am not ‘fixed’ yet? My rude awakening is to find that growing and working through blocks is a continuous process.

I call this cleaning my mirror. The only time I will be done with working through things is when I am dead. I am not rushing that!

I have learned this through my life path: there is one common theme. Everyone wants to be heard, know they are enough and that they are loved. I am here to help you through this process.

The day you were born you were ENOUGH, you are LOVED, and what you have to SAY is important.