12 years ago, I moved to America to chase the American Dream. Cliché as that may sound, but it was indeed true. I always had my eye on America, and even before I got here, I felt I had found my place where I could be myself. The things I would get laughed at for in my homeland was and is embraced here in America. That is freedom to be and freedom to create. With that freedom, it allows you to be the best version of yourself.  There is a chaos here that I love. I also felt that when I didn’t have the comforts of home and family to fall back on and just had to make it happen, I worked out a way because I had no other choice. All these years later, I still have that drive to get where I am going. Sure, that drive has ebbed and flowed over the years, but in 2023, it’s stronger than ever. I want to create that freedom for myself, my family and my team. I want that freedom to create the best products and create an ever expanding range that I stand behind. There is still a ways to go to achieve that, and it’s a step-by-step process, but the drive is there and there is no shortage of ideas or desire to be even better.

Another thing I have been thinking of lately is the balance of ego and humility when it comes to succeeding. I believe too much ego can be the death of you, but a touch of ego can be key to success if combined with the humility and hard work to understand that you know what you know, but you don’t know everything and that there is always room for improvement. All-ego wouldn’t see that need to improve or have the ability to observe one’s shortcomings. Nobody is perfect, and everyone has their challenges. So I believe this balance needs to be struck where you validate yourself for what you have done and what you do know and know you can get better. I feel sometimes I can be too hard on myself and put myself down. Those are the times when good people around you will tell you to snap out of it and get back to work. My wife is good at that. I re-adjust my eye on the mountain and keep climbing. We are all on our own journey, and we are all at different places on that journey. I enjoy striving for more freedom. Onwards and upwards.