First and foremost, let me say thank you for the support I’ve gotten in the last 24 hours. It’s so cool for a variety of reasons, some of which I’ll get into, so know that it is greatly appreciated.

When I got knocked out on live television last April, my life was changed forever. Thankfully, my health is in tact, but my life’s direction was set on a new path. I’ve ebbed and flowed, zigged and zagged for as long as I can remember, but I finally started to put it all down on paper, literally. Since that time, I’ve written my autobiography (Driven: My Unlikely Journey from Classroom to Cage), and I’ve also created a growth and development curriculum, Addicted to Excellence, that I use as a platform to influence and motivate young people. My speaking career is in motion.

The initial launch phase of my book has taught me a few key principles that I’d like to share:

  • Staying true to your core values really does matter – I’ve been through the gamut. At times I’ve been the windshield and at times I’ve been the bug. I’ve eaten dirt, crow, my own words and my own feet on more than one occasion. But at the end of the day, I’ve done my best to be a good person. And I’ve learned that being a good person truly does matter, especially when you need it most. The amount of interest and support shown from all of you has been so meaningful it’s hard to express. And 99.9% of it was from the goodness of your own hearts simply because you appreciate me and my journey (Mayyyyybe I called in a favor from 1 or 2 famous friends…hmm…not really now that I think of it), and the gratitude I feel for all of you is HUGE!
  • As I’ve said before, preparation is invaluable. I don’t even necessarily know what I am preparing for, but I am covering as many bases as I possibly can. I know my story and I’m comfortable talking about it in front of people. I am creating a marketing plan as I go; I’ve prepared by listening to people who’ve done what I’m trying to do (Lewis Howes, Tim Ferriss, Jim Harshaw, Gary Vaynerchuk). And I’m taking notes along the way so I can share with people like me when I’m a person like them (get it?).
  • Everything we do is mechanical. It can be learned. I was reading Lewis Howes’ new book, School of Greatness, and he likened a certain task to learning a new language. Bam! That’s it. It perfectly sums up my approach on everything I do. Learning Spanish was like learning a new language (duh!). Learning to fight was like learning a new language. Learning how to write a book was like learning a new language. And so on. Anything can be learned. You just have to put in the time.

I sincerely thank you all for your love and support. I’m always excited to see comments on my blog, so keep em coming! Just click on the link below.

Reviews on Amazon are also highly appreciated. It’ll help my book be seen by more and more people. I’ll be a “Spaniard’s Best Seller” in no time :)

Sincerely,

Spaniard