My Journey
How struggle, service, leadership, loss, and
reinvention became the foundation for MensLifeOutside.
I’ve lived a life built on hard lessons and earned perspective, shaped by a blue collar upbringing, forged through military service, tested in high stakes leadership, and refined by loss.
This is my story, and the road that led me here.
Where It Started
I was raised in South Carolina by a single mom who worked an hourly job renting movies and waiting tables. We didn't have much, but those years taught me the value of hard work, respect, and doing the right thing when no one is watching. It also made me realize that I wanted more in my life and needed to find opportunities to grow so I would have a different story later in life.
My grandfather (Pop-Pop) was my one of my biggest mentors of my life, he helped my mother out during the hard times and really made me feel loved and respected as a kid. He was the kind of guy that walked into any room and would light up the room with energy, everyone always wanted to be around Pop-Pop. He flew B-17 bombers in WWII and was a highly decorated Colonel through his 32 years of service. He was decorated with Silver star, Distinguished Flying Cross w/ Cluster, Air Medal w/ Cluster along with flying over 50 missions in his career. His example of courage, service, and discipline helped shape the man I wanted to become as I looked up to him as a young kid and all through my life and was able to allow my kids to meet him before he passed away.
Service & Structure
I realized when I was in high school that college wasn’t going to be my road, as I didn’t have the money for it and no one really talked to me about it when I was young. So I just assumed this wasn’t in my cards and needed to find a different plan for after high school.
I joined the Navy after high school and realized this would be my road, as my grandfather and father both chose this route and both served in wars during their service. I quickly found discipline, structure and a brotherhood that runs deep among veterans still today. This allowed me to travel the world, learn a skill and a language, all while serving my country.
It also provided me a lot of benefit later in life that I wouldn’t quite understand at the time of my enlistment.
Building the Man
I spent decades building skills, leading teams, and solving complex problems across various industries and around the world. Each chapter built the foundation for who I am today.
But the greatest lessons weren't found in boardrooms or job titles. They came from life's challenges, failures, relationships, and the constant pursuit of becoming a better man, leader, father, and mentor. Then one day, I realized something that changed everything. Millions of men are successful on paper yet quietly feel lost, disconnected, or stuck, chasing achievements without ever defining what truly matters. That's why I created MensLifeOutside. Not to tell you how to live your life, but to help you ask the questions most men never do, discover your purpose, and intentionally build a life you're proud to call your own.
Salvage Diver
Underwater work that built toughness, calm, and problem-solving under pressure.
Automotive Manufacturing
Lean, performance, and operational excellence at scale.
Startup Factory
Built from the ground up—turning ideas into systems and teams into success.
Aerospace Leadership
Leading large teams and programs with precision, integrity, and high standards.
Global Operations (Europe)
Leading across cultures and time zones to deliver real-world results.
The Fracture & The Reset
Success came at a cost. I lost people I loved. I lost myself. The fracture forced a hard reset—one that stripped away all the noise and brought me back to what matters.
Looking back, I realize my journey wasn’t about building a career or chasing success. It was about becoming the kind of man who could help other men build a life they’re proud to live. That’s why I created MensLifeOutside.
The Path
Navy Service
The Navy gave me discipline, direction, and a foundation that shaped everything that came next.
Global Experience
Learning Japanese. Living overseas. Working with different cultures. It opened my mind and built global perspective.
Hard Work, Real World
From the Gulf of Mexico to automotive manufacturing, I put in the work, learned fast, and earned opportunity.
Building & Leading
Leading startups. Building teams. Driving performance. Helping companies and people reach their potential.
Adventure & Growth
Mountain climbing, fitness, and yoga became the fuel that sharpened my mind and strengthened my life.
Reinvention & Purpose
Through success, failure, divorce, and timeless lessons, I rebuilt my life around what truly matters: Mind, Body, Purpose, Freedom.