Most of us go through life thinking…

“That won’t ever happen to me”

…and when it does happen, we are shocked and resentful.

One moment in time can change your entire destiny.

Just ask the guy who stops for happy hour, never intending to have one too many, and gets a DUI on his way home. Or the woman who stays in an abusive relationship and ends up shooting her perpetrator. Even the high school cheerleader who falls for the “star” quarterback, both with college aspirations until she winds up pregnant. Some adversity is just a result of living life but sometimes it’s due to our poor choices.

Yes, one moment, one poor decision can alter your entire destiny.

But if this is true then one smart choice or decision can turn your life around!

So we make decisions… some bad and some good but we always must deal with the consequences. There are as many ways of dealing with consequences as there are people. Some of us try to drink them away, drug them away or work them away. The problem is where ever you go; there you are!

…some bad and some good but we always must deal with the consequences. There are as many ways of dealing with consequences as there are people. Some of us try to drink them away, drug them away or work them away. The problem is where ever you go; there you are!

There are as many ways of dealing with consequences as there are people. Some of us try to…

• drink them away
• drug them away
• or work them away

The problem is where ever you go; there you are!

Ponder the words of Napoleon Hill:

Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit, we come to believe that sometimes it is adversity that brings about the ability to become successful.

Addiction, jail, homelessness, prostitution and domestic violence should have killed me.

Instead, it released a potential that may have lied dormant in my life if not watered by these storms of adversity. Challenges can turn us into extremely resourceful people. Overcoming adversity always adds an extra dimension to life.

The ability to manage and overcome problems builds confidence and helps us see our value. Recognizing this value stirs up a passion to share this victory with the world.

This is how character develops.

You know the old adage “no pain, no gain”- Mountaintops are awesome, but we grow in the valley’s of life. Being able to achieve results and overcome obstacles ignites and excites you, your team and people around you.

Facing challenges head on, naming them, and then applying strategies derived from that enriches your ability to evaluate, propose change and help others succeed.

I knew that my successful transition from incarceration back to society was valuable and that it could help women going through the same thing. This was the catalyst for creating New Vision, a residential transitional program for women being released from incarceration.

Living in the world as an addict you develop resilience.

You learn how to focus on what you have to do to get what you need. Although I was focused on the wrong thing when my motives changed, this way of thinking was no longer a defect but it became an asset.

In pursuit of developing New Vision…

…the combination of persistence and passion proved to be the right combination for philanthropist Doris Buffett. She was inspired by my story, along with pro-athletes, politicians, clergy and corporate executives, with their support over $1 million dollars was raised for New Vision over six years.

It wasn’t my formal education or lack thereof, but rather my transparency that helped them overcome the stigma of recovering drug addicts and former offenders.

Now let’s not take this out of context…

…everything cannot be measured on experience alone.

Surely you wouldn’t allow a man to perform a medical procedure on you based solely on his “enthusiasm”?

It’s not just about your resume, but also your passion!

Every single day we have the opportunity to learn something. Think of all the days you have lived and how much experience you have acquired.

What not put it to good use?