In this show, Alex has conversations with ambitious individuals about their continual journey toward personal success. These conversations hope to inspire you to realize that it's not about having everything figured out, it's about striving to be the best version of yourself everyday and embracing your lifestyle of growth through the journey.
Here's what's been on my mind and what I've done the past week. From organizing a fitness crawl, testing a new format for the podcast that became one of my favorite conversations, favorite quotes from the past week, sharing my little joys list, and answering what I've learned about myself this past year that has surprised me.
Here's the book I referenced by Derek Sivers, How To Live.
Here's my full paragraph on why little joys are important :)
Notice the little joys. I think when we look back at our lives we see the big moments. The most memorable. But life on a day to day isn't filled with moments that you'll remember forever. Most of life, 90-95% of it, are moments that you will forget. But that shouldn't and doesn't discredit those times. Your feelings you had during those times. Your thoughts. It should be a compliment actually when you're life is filled with so many moments that a lot of them you forget. But this is why I want to make note of these little moments. These little joys. Whenever I can. The little interactions at the store, the compliment you get from a friend, the joke you can't stop laughing from. These are the moments that you forget but are essential for the moments you remember. Because it's in the day to day, in the mundane, that builds you for the moments worth remembering about.
I had a phone call with Vanessa last week that sparked this idea.
One of the rules I had set with this podcast was doing every conversation in-person. The biggest reward I get from doing these are the connections I am able to foster and I feel they are far more powerful when done in person. That being said, I've struggled to consistently schedule conversations. With my busy schedule and with the busy schedules of the exceptional people I want to have on, it became harder and harder to find the time. And above any rule I set comes sharing these conversations more consistently...so anything that helps me do that is the right solution.
Vanessa explained to me over the phone that her and her friends face the same problem. They all live in different parts of the world, on different time zones, on different schedules, and thus makes it very difficult to find time to call and catch up. So instead they send each other audio messages. They call it podcasts. So we gave that format a try with this conversation. Starting with a question. And it turned out amazing. Not only did it remove a lot of the friction of planning, but it also gave us control of our time for when to share and respond while maintaining that free-flowing and intentional nature I value in the in-person conversations I have.
I still deeply value the in-person conversations. They are not going away and I plan on capturing video for those in the near future! But if the whole reason I started this podcast was to have more conversations and share more perspectives with the world...why not say yes to the methods that help me do that. This is just the start, hope you enjoy.
Spent last weekend in San Diego for ACW super guest Brian Weitzenkamp's wedding. Major congrats to him and his wife, Kayla.
I spent the early Saturday morning at The Yard Gym in Pacific Beach. You'll hear my pre and post thoughts shared here and a couple of my take aways about the culture and camaraderie that I loved. Enjoy!
Luke and I start the pod with a pre-run check in before our 8 mile destination run in Pacifica, CA. We then chat about Luke's experience growing up in Michigan, life in San Francisco, solo activities, and Luke's ideal day. Enjoy.
Trying something new...a conversation now on video! I talk about my latest conversation with Andrea Chen, my trip to New York, my evolving interests and what i've been learning about myself, how I'm showing up every day intentionally, and what I'm looking forward to the most for the rest of the year. Enjoy !
Andrea and I met through a mutual friend while in San Francisco. I owe a lot of my new experiences and approach to trying new things to Andrea's welcoming and adventurous nature, and it's been a long time coming to have this conversation. Enjoy.
Check out Andrea's artwork @ssoleilstudio
If you could give any piece of advice to yourself a few years ago, what would that advice be?
I had a tough week. I was not myself. I did not feel mentally or physically strong. I let my negative voice have too much air time. I lost the plot. How do I jump back?
I talk about launchpad activities, traveling for my family reunion, maintaining my personal confidence, and the piece of advice I would give my younger self.
Aditi is that one friend of mine who always seems to be doing something fun and trying something new every week. From training for a marathon to backpacking in the Sierra mountains, she's always on some electrifying side quest. I was curious about what made her so adventurous, what makes her say yes to trying new things, how she committed to run a marathon, and much more. So we had a conversation. Enjoy.
How do you decide what’s truly important, and why have you chosen to value the things you value most?
I also answer, am I happy?, discuss arguing to understand over arguing to be right, my reflections on the Netflix show Adolescence, and my thoughts on masculinity, social media, and trust.
Thanks for being here! Enjoy.
Eamonn and I got carried away yapping for the first 45 minutes. At [44:10] we start talking about his next chapter to med school in Philadelphia, what led him to choosing this path of academia, the importance of community, third spaces, stepping out of your comfort zone, swimming with sharks, and creating the life you want to live. Enjoy!
I talk about my recent trip to Chicago, why I love plane rides sometimes more than the destination, Matthew McConaughey's walk-abouts, and something I wanted to share. No frameworks. Another diary entry. Enjoy.
Listen to my uncle's yoga journey on Yoga with Elias Lopez.
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey. I love paperback. Write in your books more.
Listen to the last conversation I did with Nicolas DiDonato.
Talking about the conversations on the pod since my last diary entry and reflecting on Emilio Carranza's (#022) ACW entry: What is your intention and what is the latest action you've taken to move toward that intention?
The last conversation with Nic for ACW was January 5, 2023. That was over zoom. For this conversation, we walked through Golden Gate Park on a beautiful Saturday in San Francisco. Enjoy.
Read more about Nic's perspective on Alignment.
A voiceover of Self-expression is self-care
Find my other writings on Substack
https://substack.com/@allexander
A Conversation with Oliver Coyle. As the first conversation of 2025, Oliver shares the lessons he's learned from 2024 and the intentions he's making for 2025. Hope you enjoy!
Join me as I talk about handling the times when things don't go according to plan, the desire to want everything now, a review of my 2024 calendar, and share my thoughts on Gabe's ACW entry, Carpe Diem.
A Conversation with Gabe Reed. I always enjoy the chats I get to have with Gabe. And here is an invite to one of those conversations. Enjoy :)
Join me as I yap about my life the past week, how I've documented my year, reflections from my conversation with Aaron Chen, and answer, "What was the last thing that brought you joy."
I've met very few people who think so deeply and passionately about life and who embrace the quest to learn about oneself as much as Aidan does. There's a lot to reflect on from this conversation and I hope you take some time to do so on some of the questions and concepts we explored. Enjoy.
The first conversation I recorded of this podcast was with Brian on October 30, 2021. A little over 2.5 years ago. So it was only right to bring him back on to start this next chapter of the show. I hope you enjoy.
Henrik Larsen is the Co-Founder and Film Producer at One Eyed King Films. An LA-based, full-service production company specializing in concept-driven content packages for up-and-coming musical artists. They have worked with various artists such as K.A.A.N, Ethan Fields, whokilledkenny, Will Tulip, Rick Patek, Saint Levant and more.
We talk about Henrik’s journey into film and starting a production company during college, being self-employed, the importance of taking a leap of faith, living the LA fantasy, strategies for combating burnout and much more. You can view the list of all the topics we talk about in the timestamps below.
Hope you enjoy!
[3:26] What Is the Role of a Producer?
[5:43] What is a Full-Service Production Company?
[8:30] Henrik’s Positive Mindset
[10:37] Coping with Overthinking and Being Self-Employed
[14:27] Initial Pull into Film and Creating a Production Company
[22:57] Taking the Leap
[28:54] LA Fantasy
[40:30] Henrik’s Current Watchlist
[42:27] Learning by Consumption
[48:05] Why is it called One Eyed King Films?
[55:35] New Project Process
[58:48] Working With Artists
[1:01:12] Growth from First Project
[1:11:00] Motivation and Goal-Setting
[1:16:16] Strategies for Combating Burnout
[1:19:22] What Has Henrik Learned About Himself?
[1:21:42] Imposter Syndrome
[1:25:11] Future Goals
[1:30:14] Rapid Fire Questions
[1:32:22] The Allmighty Question
Henrik's Links:
One Eyed King Films Website
My Links:
This podcast is fueled by coffee. If you enjoyed the conversation and want to support the show, consider fueling the next conversation by buying me a coffee!
Quinton Markett is a Researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine within the Immunology & Rheumatology Division, as well as the CEO and Co-Founder of a San Jose based non-profit organization called Good Samaritans of Silicon Valley focused on supporting the community of the Silicon Valley who don’t have healthy food to eat or essential items needed to live a healthy life.
Quinton is one of the most disciplined and driven individuals I have talked to. His dedication to a life of service in striving to become a physician centers around his "Why?" of "providing quality healthcare on a level he would want his family to receive." Along with the academic papers and books he wants to contribute to the medical community and the public.
We talk about his 3:45 am wake up routine he developed in college and its evolution to what it is now, personal discipline in how he operates through life and through his thoughts and actions, what he’s learned servicing his community and having conversations with the marginalized, and much much more.
You can watch the video recording of this episode on YouTube here.
[11:47] Introducing Good Samaritans Of Silicon Valley
[22:38] Balance Of Staying Connected Through Media
[33:45] Journey To Creating A Non-Profit
[36:51] Quinton’s Focus On Medical School
[46:19] Combating Imposter Syndrome With Self-Belief
[52:06] Stoicism & Discipline
[59:16] Day In The Life
[1:02:23] 3:45 AM Wake Up
[1:09:53] Daily Non-Negotiable & Setting A Routine
[1:21:42] Defining Quinton’s Personal Success
[1:27:41] Trusting The Process
[1:29:44] Quinton’s Favorite Books And Podcasts
[1:33:27] Bay Area Is Home
[1:38:12] Quinton’s Favorite Playlists And Music
[1:40:31] Quinton’s Role Models
[1:42:53] The Allmighty Question
Quinton's Contacts: Email (qmarkett@stanford.edu), LinkedIn
Good Samaritans of Silicon Valley: Instagram, LinkedIn, Website, Volunteer Form
Recommended Books: Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins, Dopamine Nation by Anna Lembke, Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel, Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday.
Recommended Podcasts: The Huberman Lab Podcast, The Mindset Mentor with Rob Dial, The Bay by KQED, Total SF by San Francisco Chronicle, WSJ What's News.
My Contacts!: LinkedIn, Twitter
This podcast is fueled by coffee. If you enjoyed the conversation and want to support the show, consider fueling the next conversation by buying me a coffee!
Today’s conversation is with Nicolas DiDonato.
Nic is an ambitious and relentless entrepreneur and founder. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of BetterConnects, the personality-based social network. His vision for BetterConnects is rooted in his deep interest of personality psychology and understanding people at a deeper level.
Before this current endeavor, his experience that led to BetterConnects and being a founder includes starting a marketing company, a tea company, working in sales, and the various adventures along the way. We talk about this journey along with our relationships with social media, our quest to understand ourselves, psychedelics, philosophy and applying stoic ideals into our lives, the importance of facing hardships, and more. You can check the list of all the topics we cover within the timestamps below. As well as links to Nic's recommended book list, contact, and more.
And for the first time on the show, you can watch the video of this conversation on YouTube.
Hope you enjoy!
4:53 Nic’s intro
9:06 Why Nic started a tea company
12:37 Chasing perfection
13:54 Why BetterConnects?
16:35 Our relationship with social media
28:55 How do we create a better relationship with social media?
32:35 Personality psychology
41:57 Psychedelics experience
48:30 Nic’s personal development journey
59:09 Nic’s 3 pillars for life
1:04:08 Applying Stoic Ideals into your Life
1:07:37 Measuring Personal Success
1:12:32 Nic’s New Years Resolution
1:16:02 Eating the Toad First Thing in the Morning
1:22:23 Quickfire questions
1:31:55 The Allmighty Question
If you would like to connect with Nic, you can reach out to him on LinkedIn.
Nic's Favorite Books/Podcasts/Other
Want to learn more about BetterConnects? Check out the website or connect on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this conversation, have any feedback, or simply just want to chat, you can reach me via Twitter or connect with me on LinkedIn.
This podcast is fueled by coffee. If you enjoyed the conversation and want to support the show, consider fueling the next conversation by buying me a coffee!
*Note: This conversation was recorded in Q1 of 2022. So a lot of the conversation is outdated but still wanted to share for the value it holds.
Shaunak Pandit is a full-time Software Engineer at Chewy and the Co-Founder and CTO of a personality based social networking app called BetterConnects. This conversation focuses on Shaunak's academic journey that propelled him to become a software engineer and about BetterConnects and why he is passionate about creating a personality-based social networking platform. We also talk about our recent travels, Greek life in University, our views on data collection, and he offers some valuable advice to upcoming graduates.
Hope you enjoy!
3:43 Shaunak's Journey into SWE
8:30 Job Hunting Process
15:08 Greek Life
22:27 Traveling, TikTok, and Programming
35:36 Transitioning from UW to SCU
42:15 What is BetterConnects?
50:30 Motivation for Joining BetterConnects
56:12 Data Collection
1:02:12 Shaunak's Advice to Upcoming Graduates
1:05:51 The Allmighty Question
If you would like to connect with Shaunak, you can reach out to him on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this conversation, have any feedback, or simply just want to chat, you can reach me via Twitter or connect with me on LinkedIn.
This podcast is fueled by coffee. If you enjoyed the conversation and want to support the show, consider fueling the next conversation by buying me a coffee!
This conversation is with Brian Dao. He is an equities trader at SMB Capital, and he shares his journey from starting to day trade in the cold and early mornings on his college campus to now becoming a full time trader at his dream company. We dive into what his experience is like being a day trader and working a fully commission-based job, the motivation he had to keep pursuing his dream through months of market losses starting out, the quote he received from a peer that changed his life, goal setting, prioritizing your time, engineering luck, managing expectations, and much more.
He also shares many book and podcast recommendations that have helped him as a day trader and in his life. You can find the links to these recs in the resources shared section near the end of these show notes.
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
3:47 Trading at SMB Capital
11:26 Working in a commission based job
14:17 Brian’s start into day trading
19:19 Motivation through market losses & “Take every risk you can”
25:52 Having perspective on your accomplishments and time
30:29 Making goals that are in your control
33:17 You have to really love it
36:54 Working full-time while at school
43:10 Feeling after landing the job
46:16 “We’re going to be traders at SMB one day” & Facing doubts
51:23 Engineering Luck & applying 80/20
58:20 Skills Brian’s developed that are necessary for day trading
59:38 Managing expectations
1:09:47 Find the “play” in your life that works for you
1:13:58 Brian’s podcast and book recommendations
1:17:28 Allmighty Question & Outro
Resources Shared
Favorite Podcasts
Favorite Books
If you would like to connect with Brian, you can reach out to him on LinkedIn.
If you enjoyed this conversation, have any feedback, or simply just want to chat, you can reach me via Twitter or connect with me on LinkedIn.
This podcast is fueled by coffee. If you enjoyed the conversation and want to support the show, consider fueling the next conversation by buying me a coffee!
In this show, Alex has conversations with ambitious individuals about their continual journey toward personal success. These conversations hope to inspire you to realize that it's not about having everything figured out, it's about striving to be the best version of yourself everyday and embracing your lifestyle of growth through the journey.
Welcome back to The Allmighty Podcast Series and thank you for being here! This conversation is with Enzo Belforte and Leo Illing, current university students. This episode highlights a genuine conversation sharing personal anecdotes and giving our opinions on a variety of topics. We converse about our experiences with social media, academic pursuits, future interests, mindfulness and learning to find balance through it all. You can find the rest of the topics we cover in the timestamps below.
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
3:31 Enzo’s introduction & experience sticking to a vegan diet
6:21 Leo’s introduction
8:11 Learning to think differently as a skillset
9:35 Enzo’s interest in personal finance & real estate
12:28 Leo’s interest in physics
14:35 Reflection on Don’t Look Up
17:48 Reflection on Social Media
20:08 The Social Dilemma & our social media use
25:30 The effect of new technology on our life
29:11 Reflection on targeted ads & data privacy
33:54 Deleting TikTok & Enzo’s all or nothing approach to social media
43:33 Social media & drugs
46:18 Finding your path
47:40 Finding balance in your life
48:54 The Allmighty Question
51:25 Mindfulness
46:42 Outro
Resources Shared
One Sec - Break Free from Social Media Distractions
If you enjoyed this conversation, have any feedback, or simply just want to chat, you can reach me via Twitter or connect with me on LinkedIn.
This podcast is fueled by coffee. If you enjoyed the conversation and want to support the show, consider fueling the next conversation by buying me a coffee!
In this show, Alex has conversations with ambitious individuals about their continual journey toward personal success. These conversations hope to inspire you to realize that it's not about having everything figured out, it's about striving to be the best version of yourself everyday and embracing your lifestyle of growth through the journey.
Trigger Warning
This conversation focuses on stories about eating disorders, body dysmorphia & body image. If you are not comfortable hearing about these topics, I would suggest stopping this podcast and exploring another one of my conversations.
This conversation is with Lizzy Martin. I talk with Lizzy about her journey with ARFID which stands for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder. Throughout the conversation we talk about current life post graduation, Lizzy’s relationship with food and learning about ARFID, therapy and the stigma about it in our society, body image awareness, past trauma and learning to grow from it, and keeping those around who care and support you during your journey. You can find all the timestamps for this conversation below.
Timestamps
0:00 Trigger Warning
0:16 Intro
4:10 Life in Seattle
12:35 College experience through the pandemic
16:15 Post-graduation anxiety
22:40 Introduction to ARFID
25:39 Lizzy’s journey with ARFID
30:09 First learning she has ARFID
33:28 Stigma with therapy
37:30 Lizzy’s mental health with ARFID
39:46 ARFID & Anorexia
43:06 Treating ARFID
45:07 Symptoms of ARFID
46:57 Trauma around body image
49:21 Fear neutralization
52:46 The impact of social media
53:50 Associating yourself with the right people
56:36 Lizzy’s current mental health
59:04 The Allmighty Question
1:01:07 End notes
Resourceful links on ARFID
https://www.arfidawarenessuk.org/
https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/article?contentid=275&language=english
If you are interested in connecting with Lizzy, you can reach her via Instagram or TikTok.
If you enjoyed this conversation, have any feedback, or simply just want to chat, you can reach me via Twitter or connect with me on LinkedIn
This podcast is fueled by coffee. If you enjoyed the conversation and want to support the show, consider fueling the next conversation by buying me a coffee!
In this show, Alex has conversations with ambitious individuals about their continual journey toward personal success. These conversations hope to inspire you to realize that it's not about having everything figured out, it's about striving to be the best version of yourself everyday and embracing your lifestyle of growth through the journey.
Hello and welcome back to The Allmighty Podcast Series with Alexander Lewis.
This conversation is with Mandeep Singh. A Santa Clara native, fellow Santa Clara alumnus, and at the time of this conversation a training officer a part of the ROTC program at Santa Clara University. As part of his active service he is now headed to his current placement a part of the cybersecurity branch in Fort Gordon, Georgia. In addition to this, he is also the founder of Puritas Health. A startup building telehealth solutions for the future of connected digital healthcare where they most recently raised a seed round and was involved in the Bronco Venture Accelerator program at Santa Clara University.
Some of the main talking points we converse on are his decision to join the ROTC program in college, life skills he has learned through his experience, his startup journey, his struggle with imposter syndrome, the valuable impact of mentorship in his life, and next steps on his way towards personal success. You can find all of the timestamps of the various topics we touch on below.
Timestamps
0:00 Intro
1:20 ROTC Training Drills
7:00 Mandeep’s Decision to join ROTC
13:37 Experience being raised in and going to school at SCU
16:00 ROTC Placement
22:48 Life Skills from ROTC
25:49 Mandeep’s Day in the Life
28:49 Fighting with Personal Doubts
33:13 Decision on Reserves vs Active Duty
36:10 Intro to Puritas Health
45:03 Fighting with Imposter Syndrome
47:40 A Message from Alex
48:54 Mandeep’s Self-Development through ROTC & Puritas Health
57:20 Setting Discipline
1:06:19 Mandeep’s Role Models
1:09:14 Next Chapter at Georgia
1:10:42 Defining Personal Success
1:12:06 Venture Capital Talk
1:16:17 Santa Clara University’s Bronco Venture Accelerator
1:21:33 The Allmighty Question
1:29:53 Outro
If you are interested in connecting with Mandeep, you can reach him on LinkedIn
If you enjoyed this conversation, have any feedback, or simply just want to chat, you can reach out to me on Twitter or connect with me on LinkedIn
This podcast is fueled by coffee. If you enjoyed the conversation and want to support the show, consider fueling the next conversation by buying me a coffee!
In this show, Alex has conversations with ambitious individuals about their continual journey toward personal success. These conversations hope to inspire you to realize that it's not about having everything figured out, it's about striving to be the best version of yourself everyday and embracing your lifestyle of growth through the journey.
Welcome back to The Allmighty Podcast Series with Alexander Lewis. Today's conversation is with entrepreneur and shoe-reseller, Zach Yoon. Zach is an undergraduate student at Santa Clara University born and raised in Seattle, WA and in his free time he runs his sneaker re-selling business, Zach’s Market. In this conversation, we talk about his life being born and raised in Seattle, some of his favorite spots there, the journey of Zach’s Market and the shoe reselling culture, along with some life lessons learned along the way.
Zach's Market - Instagram
Connect with me via Twitter!
Today’s conversation is with August Rosedale. He is an inventor and entrepreneur from San Francisco, CA and after various business endeavors throughout his life, he has found his passion and success with his recent venture Mirage Gallery. Mirage Gallery is a gallery of digitally generated A.I. art that August founded at the end of 2020. This includes art from A.I. generated artists, evolving art via NFTs and the blockchain, and other projects where the incredible technology and innovation of A.I. generated art is showcased. And if you have no idea what any of this means, I have a feeling your questions will be answered in this conversation. We talk about how August built the foundation for Mirage Gallery, the 27 hour roadblock along the way, his life as an entrepreneur growing up in San Francisco, luck vs skill, taxes in crypto and much more.
Mirage Gallery - Website | OpenSea | Twitter
Connect with me via Twitter!
This conversation is with JD Worcester. JD is a recent graduate from Santa Clara University currently pursuing his various passions of Web3, A.I., and Impact and Social Investing. We converse about his transition from baseball to entrepreneurship, web3 and we speculate its benefits for the future, two staples of JD’s daily routine he can’t live without, and the importance of finding like-minded individuals on your journey toward personal success.
You can connect with JD via: Instagram | Website
JD's go-to resources:
And if you enjoyed this episode, have any feedback, or just want to reach out, you can reach me via my Twitter.
In this episode, I had a conversation with Arjun Chimni, founder of KozyDAO and the KozyKoalasNFT project. We talk about Arjun’s web3 journey, his transition to working in web3 full time being a consultant and with his projects, fighting off imposter syndrome, and taking risks while young. — If you are interested in learning more about KozyKoalasNFT and KozyDAO, you can check out their website https://www.kozykoalas.art/ and Twitter @KozyKoalasNFT — If you enjoyed this episode or just want to connect, shoot me a DM on Instagram @allexanderlewis I would love to hear from you!
For this episode of The Allmighty Podcast Series, I had the pleasure of talking with Patrick Hamilton. He is a recent high school graduate currently in the armed forces and pursuing his MMA career with his mind set on becoming a UFC champion. In this conversation we talk about his life’s path in joining the marine corps, training in MMA, and mastering his own destiny with his mindset. ─ You can follow Patrick's MMA career on his Instagram @dequaevis ─ You can also check out his MMA debut on YouTube titled "WCE 5 Patrick Hamilton vs Dexter Rivera" from this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi0E-tZaWcQ ─ Spoiler alert, he's 1-0. If you enjoyed the podcast I would love to hear what you thought. Feel free to follow me on Instagram @allexanderlewis and on Twitter @allexandrlewis and shoot me a DM!
In this conversation, I had the opportunity to chat with a long time, great friend, Rohit. We talk about getting into the world of entrepreneurship, handling self-imposed expectations, and go over the learning experiences from his two projects, HoopDynasty and Throne.
If you enjoyed the podcast or just want to chat, you can find me on Instagram @allexanderlewis and on Twitter at @allexandrlewis. I would love to hear from you!
In this conversation, I talk to Ben and Charlie about their sports management business, GroundZero Sports Group. A business they started this year right after NIL rules went into effect where college athletes are now able to monetize off of their name, image, and likeness. We talk about their motivations for starting GroundZero, keeping something going, long-term visions, and taking a leap of faith.
In this conversation, I talk to Brian about his fitness journey and all the highs and lows that occurred as he lost 100 pounds in the span of two years. He reflects on the learning moments through this journey, finding his balance, focusing on what's important in his life, and learning how to love himself.