Four years ago I sat at this table with my sister in her apartment. I was incredibly burnt out, unfulfilled at my job in the NFL and at a low point I hadn’t yet felt in life. I had grinded most of my twenties away to achieve a goal; my dream job. A role that I thought would give me the sense of fulfillment in life that I was desperately chasing after. It did initially, but unforeseen circumstances made the green grass turn to brown very quickly. She asked me that day in an idyllic world what I would want to do moving forward. It was a great question. Just a few years earlier I thought that working in the NFL was all I ever wanted to do, so I didn’t even trust my own judgement as I wasn’t right the first time. After some good back and forth we concluded that I should quit my job, move to LA (great market and lifestyle change) and see if I can somehow sell the skills I had acquired in the NFL to get by. I spent the next year logistically planning my escape, saving as much as I could and mustering up the balls to quit on my terms. I followed through on the promise I made to myself and took the leap into a new, very unknown chapter of my life. A little over three years in, I can say with great clarity that it was the best decision I’ve ever made. It has never been easy, and if I told you it wasn’t overwhelming at times I would be lying. However, I discovered that at a time in my life where I had no direction and was just doing my best to get by and stay true to my values, I was the happiest I had been in a long time. I can’t ever repay the amount of unconditional love and support I have received from countless people along the way. But I can say what has transpired has little to do with me and is all about generosity and trust of so many amazing humans I’ve come to know. I sat down again today, same chair same table. Reflecting with pride about taking the leap and NOT being self-made; the opposite in fact. Turns out my life has been pretty similar to the the story in The Alchemist, except the treasure wasn’t the lessons or even the journey, it was all the people along the way. Forever grateful. -BK