I'm excited to share my journey of transformation and resilience. I was born and raised in Pacoima, California, where I earned a scholarship to play football at Washington State University. I went on to play for five years in the NFL and CFL before officially retiring in 1995. After my sports career, I became an entrepreneur, building one of Southern California’s top mortgage brokerages.
However, everything changed for me in 2008 when the mortgage meltdown hit. I faced significant losses, including my business, home, and family, which forced me to rebuild my life from scratch. During this challenging time—while sleeping on my mom's couch—I stumbled upon a life-changing idea. I decided to use mind mapping to make sense of my extensive collection of books, motivational tapes, and journals that I had accumulated over the years.
This six-month journey led me to create Mappineering, my style of mind mapping, and to develop my I AM System, a personal development approach rooted in self-discovery, growth, and resilience. The I AM System transformed my life, and I felt compelled to help others navigate their own challenges and live with purpose, clarity, and confidence.
My story resonates on multiple levels. I’m not just a former athlete and successful entrepreneur; I’ve redefined the purpose and application of mind mapping for personal growth. Mind mapping, often used in corporate and academic settings, has become a deeply personal tool for me and for those I work with—helping people tap into creativity, improve memory retention, reduce stress, and foster productivity.
Today, I’m a dynamic speaker, a devoted father raising two teenage daughters, and a leader in the mind-mapping community. I live in Gilbert, Arizona, where I balance my family life with running a mortgage software company and my passion for social dancing.
I'm excited to bring to your podcast and stage a powerful personal story and practical tools that can help your audience design lives filled with purpose and fulfillment, no matter where they’re starting from. My insights into mind mapping, the I AM System, and my unique concept of Mappineering are perfect for listeners eager to elevate their personal and professional lives. Can you DIGG it?