FOR YEARS, I BOUGHT INTO A LIE...
I believed that to "be a man," I had to fit in—through strength, control, athletic prowess, and unwavering confidence. I pretended to care about impressing others, though deep down I was trapped in a tug of war between what I showed the world and who I truly was. The worst part? I wasn’t just lying to others—I was lying to myself.
I watched my dad struggle too, as his identity crumbled when he lost his job. His silence in suffering was a lesson I couldn’t ignore. I swore I’d never let my worth be tied to a paycheck, yet I found myself avoiding real success just to avoid the fear of failure. Instead of facing rejection, I rejected the traditional path altogether. My life was a cycle of highs and lows: getting promotions, quitting, running from relationships, drinking to escape. I couldn’t lead others because I wasn’t leading myself.
But what I realized in those dark moments is this: the struggle to “be enough” doesn’t just belong to me. It’s something most men face, yet no one talks about. We’re all taught to measure ourselves by achievements, status, and strength, but it’s in breaking away from that mold that we find who we really are. When I embraced that truth, I discovered that true leadership begins from within—first leading myself and then my family.
