If You’re Looking for a Sign, This Is It.

The world isn’t handed to you on a silver platter. It never has been, and it never will be. But here’s the truth: if you want something, if you really want it, there are NO shortcuts. You’ve got to be willing to dig deep, to put in the work, to show up every single day, even when it feels like the world is trying to knock you down. You’ve got to have the guts to climb mountains, knowing there will always be more peaks on the horizon. Even if you move forward just an inch at a time, keep going.

There’s nothing sexier than tenacity, ambition, empathy, intelligence, and integrity. Why? Because these qualities are rare—exceptionally rare. Today, people have a twisted view of what true work ethic is. Work isn’t just about punching a clock and collecting a paycheck. It’s about showing up for everything you do in life—being a parent, a friend, a spouse, a decent human being. If you’re not putting 100% into all of it, you need to seriously question what the hell you’re doing. I realize that some days, this might not be realistic. If all you can give is 100% of 60%, give it.

When my story is told, I want people to say, “That dude put his heart into everything he did. He made mistakes, sure, but he never stopped trying. He made the most of his life.” And guess what? You can too.

Remember this: "The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place, and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!" – Rocky Balboa

Work is just work; it doesn’t define you. YOU define you. Know your tribe—the people who love you, support you, and believe in you even when you don’t believe in yourself. Lean on them, let them hold you up, let them be your strength when yours falters. You are worth it. Your tribe knows that, and deep down, so do you.

You’ve spent your life fighting uphill battles. You’ve faced demons that could break anyone. You’ve sacrificed your health, your time, your sleep, your money, your relationships—all to prove to the world that you can do it. But here's the kicker: you’re not doing it for them. Not the critics, not the doubters, not the naysayers. You’re doing it for YOU.

Because in the end, there’s no harsher critic than that voice inside your head telling you that you can be, you will be, and you are better. Every setback is just a set-up for a greater comeback. Every failure is another lesson learned. Every obstacle is just another chance to show the world—and yourself—what you’re made of.

And remember what Churchill said: "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

This journey is not for the faint of heart. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. And every time you think about giving up, remember this: giving up means abandoning the possibility of achieving your dreams. Staying the course means unlocking a life well-lived.

Resilience is forged in the fires of adversity. Learning comes from failure. Growth comes from struggle. Momentum comes from persistence. And self-belief is born when you refuse to quit, when you choose to rise every damn time you fall.

This is your sign. Keep moving. Keep fighting. Keep believing. No regrets. No looking back. Just forward—inch by inch, step by step. Your dreams are waiting.

Now go out there and get them.

And as Harriet Tubman said: "If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If there’s shouting after you, keep going. Don’t ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going."

Keep going. Your freedom—your dreams—are waiting. - JL