I am a life long educator who battled bad habits and weight for decades. I found myself at the lowest point in my life in the fall of 2019. The bathroom scale had a limit of 600lbs and I had gotten so big it couldn’t weigh me anymore, I was addicted to nicotine and was using alcohol to self medicate. I found himself on a beach and was so large that after being knocked over by a wave I couldn’t get up off the ground. People on the beach were laughing and filming me trying to get up. It was at this point that I feared this event would become a viral moment in my life that would define me until the day I died. I knew this instance that the excuses, rationalizations and the “waiting for tomorrow to start” mentality had to stop right then and there.

I began to take control of my life with the help of my family, doctors and friends I would spend the next two years making changes to my life that were focused and centered around one simple mantra “when your commitment is greater than your feelings you get results.” When things became hard or it seemed like I couldn’t carry on I would repeat this mantra over and over again until the negative feelings passed. This simple act would make a transformative change that would catapult me to new heights not only in my own physical and mental health but also in my relationships on a personal and professional level.

I had always been a leader in my family, in my classroom, as a coach and later as a building principal. In doing so I always put others first often ignoring my own needs and my physical and mental health. I sought medical help and began to exercise eventually running more than 15 half marathons, 2 marathons and an ultra marathon while maintaining a run streak that has now reached 4 years and counting. I gave up tobacco and changed my relationships with food and alcohol. I began to see the importance in prioritizing myself first, realizing that if I couldn’t lead myself effectively how could I be the leader my family and staff deserved. In two years I had lost over 300lbs, changed jobs, was named a regional middle school principal of the year and started to speak at professional conferences to share my unique experiences in order to help others.

My passion for leadership and self improvement is the cornerstone of my message. If you want to inspire people in your school, company or organization then I’m the right person for you. My 28 years of experience in leadership positions and my own personal experiences give me the ability to connect with people from different backgrounds and interests groups.