Good morning Gents! I've never been the guy to have a new year resolution because I've always focused on the present. Now, please do not think that I am saying you aren't supposed to set short and long term goals. By no means am I insinuating that; however, it should be understood that in order to become the guy that you want to be tomorrow, you have to do the work today. While it is understood that you cannot do it all in one day, but you can damn sure make a strong start.

This blog entry will be a synopsis of my 2018 as well as a follow-up to what I desire for my future. If I had a phrase to describe what my 2018 looked like, it would be "the year of transition/transformation." There were more low points than there was high points. It should be understood that in those low moments that I discovered the most important attributes about myself. This was a year in which I was denied stages, places, and opportunities that I felt were due unto me *insert laugh here*. Nonetheless, I had friends that truly stuck it out for me.

This was a year in which I was forced to look down at my feet and actually watch where I stepped. You see, there is no "warning wet floor sign" in life, you do get many notions to tell you to watch your step. Taking heed to what people say and what they do is very important. While we can't control those forces outside of use we can control how we respond to them. This is a year that taught me that I needed to work on being more resilient. I won't take the full credit for any of this because I did solicit the help from a therapist. Nonetheless, I noticed that when people recognize that they cannot control your reaction or your emotions, they recognize that they can no longer have control over you.

I noticed that this year that there is power in prayer. I am not pushing religion or spirituality on any of you, but I would like for you to understand that the energy you put into the universe has to go somewhere. While I was praying for a certain severance in a business relationship, it did not happened how I expected it too. It was not on my timing. It wasn't until the latter that I realized I had gotten just what I asked for. This would more formally be referred to as hindsight. This free moment in time allowed me to even focus more so on myself and realign who I am as a man. I am now able to prioritize myself and put those shattered pieces from my 2018 and make sense and cents of them. What was once a bowed head is now a gleaming smile. I am not saying

that every moment in your life should be reminisced with a smile, but it is when you have understanding that you should smile. Take time to experience any emotion that you feel necessary, but do not stay in an emotional state. Re-frame and realign yourself to make certain that what you are experiencing is important to the makings of you. We here the phrase many times that "it builds character." This is true, life will build you when you don't allow it to destroy you. Just consider what the alternative to living which is dying. Celebrate your life and understand that experiencing the lows as well as the highs is building your character.

A mentor of mine many times says, "When you are comfortable, you are not growing." This is true. Many of us stick to the same careers because they aren't challenging. We stay in the same relationship because it is something we know and expect. We visit the same restaurants because we know the familiar taste, we shop at the same stores because we know the fit of their clothes, we hold on to the same friendships, because we expect the same let down. Well, I am here to tell you today, I didn't set a goal for 2019. I started with the days given to me in 2018 to make this change for myself.Remember don't always move in silence, because when you fail in silence those who could offer you guidance and assistance had no clue to what you were trying to achieve initially. There is only one difference between 2018 and 2019 or a New Year- that's one day! You have to start today doing the work to become the man that you want to be tomorrow. This is the reason for me reviving my brand HEIZME which is all around self-affirmation. Anyway Gents...this has gone much longer than I anticipated. Enjoy the remainder of your 2018 and have a plentiful and productive 2019! Oh...and remember to protect your peace as you progress to excellence!