The Weight of Being First

Why I’ve learned to love being an example.

I grew up as the oldest of four. Two younger brothers behind me, watching my every move—copying what I wore, how I talked, what I did. And I hated it. “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” my parents would say. “They just want to be like you.” But as a kid? I didn’t want fans. I wanted freedom.

I didn’t have an older sibling to mimic. No footsteps to follow. I had to figure it out solo—what to wear, how to act, who to be. That’s the unseen weight of being first: you have no blueprint.

But now, decades later… I get it. I finally understand what my parents were trying to teach me.

Today, I love being the example. I welcome the responsibility of being watched. I embrace the opportunity to lead—not by telling—but by living.

I want people to see what’s possible:

• A thriving marriage

• Strong, connected relationships with my kids

• A fit and disciplined body

• A focused, growth-minded brain

• A life of purpose-driven wealth

I’ve made it my mission to prove a bold point: You don’t have to choose. You don’t have to sacrifice your family to grow your business. You don’t have to destroy your health to build your wealth. You don’t have to settle for “either/or.”

That’s a lie we’ve been sold. And I take it personally.

Because I am the example that it’s possible to have it all. Not by luck. But by discipline. Focus. And a relentless commitment to what matters most.

So if you feel like you’re walking alone… If you’re forging a path no one in your family has walked before… Let me remind you of something:

You’re not just building a life. You’re building the blueprint. And someday, someone’s going to thank you for being the example.

✅ Forward this to someone who needs to know it’s possible to have it all.