08/19/2026
The hardest road is usually the one that teaches you the most.
I’ve been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for almost 15 years.
Back in 2016, my twin brother Logan and I took a leap of faith and opened our own Jiu-Jitsu gym in Bristol, Virginia.
We didn’t know exactly what we were doing. We just knew we believed in it enough to take the risk.
A few years later, I took another leap of faith and started my career with Edward Jones.
And honestly, it was hard.
I didn’t have a book of business.
I didn’t have a long list of people to call.
I didn’t have a network of clients waiting for me.
There were plenty of days when I had absolutely no idea where to start.
I chose to build my business the hard way — one conversation, one relationship and one client at a time.
But there was one thing I could count on.
When the workday was over, I could walk into the Jiu-Jitsu gym.
My friends were there. My brother was there. The mats were there.
And I was ready to grind.
Jiu-Jitsu taught me something that became incredibly important in building my business:
You have to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
On the mats, you get submitted. You get tired. You make mistakes. You find yourself in positions where you have no idea what to do.
But you don’t quit.
You learn. You adjust. You get back up and try again.
Building a business was no different.
There were plenty of times I felt like I was getting choked out professionally. 😂
But I kept showing up.
Nearly a decade later, I’m incredibly grateful for the path I chose.
Opening that gym with my brother gave me a community when I needed one most. Jiu-Jitsu gave me the mindset to keep pushing. And building my business at Edward Jones taught me what can happen when you’re willing to embrace the struggle instead of running from it.
Sometimes the thing that keeps you going through the hardest season isn’t the thing you’re building. It’s the people standing beside you while you build it.
Grateful for my brother Logan, my Jiu-Jitsu family, my colleagues, my clients, and everyone who has been part of the journey.
Still grinding. Still learning. Still showing up.