At first glance, my life might seem like a success story. A former Navy officer. A Fortune 50 executive and multi-industry CEO. A podcast host connecting with millions around the globe. But beneath the surface, my journey was shaped by invisible wounds—traumatic brain injuries, combat, and an inner dialogue that told me I didn’t matter.

For years, I wore the mask of success while carrying the weight of self-doubt and disconnection. I pushed forward, chasing achievements, but no accomplishment could fill the void. I felt unseen, undervalued, and hollow—like a spectator in my own life. I was experiencing quiet desperation—the kind Henry David Thoreau so poignantly described as the condition of most lives. It was an inner struggle I couldn’t fully articulate, but it consumed me nonetheless.

Then, in November 2017, my life changed forever. I came home early from the gym to find myself face-to-face with an intruder—and staring down the barrel of a gun.

That single moment shattered my illusions of control and safety, exposing the years of emotional suppression I had buried deep within. To the outside world, I seemed successful, driven, and accomplished. But inside, I was numb, consumed by a narrative that I wasn’t enough and didn’t matter.

Turning Pain into Purpose

That event was my wake-up call. I realized that living a life where I felt invisible wasn’t living at all. I decided to reclaim my significance—to take back the parts of myself that had been buried under years of striving and self-blame.

What I found along the way wasn’t just healing but a purpose far greater than myself. I came to understand that my pain wasn’t an obstacle—it was a pathway. My experiences gave me the insight to see what so many others are struggling with: the silent epidemic of disconnection, invisibility, and insignificance that’s eroding the very fabric of our humanity.

That’s where my mission comes in:
To help 10 million people rediscover their worth and create lives filled with purpose, connection, and impact—because everyone deserves to feel seen, valued, and significant.

Leading the Mattering Revolution

I’ve witnessed this crisis of disconnection everywhere—in leaders who lose their passion, teams that fall apart, families that grow distant, and individuals who feel unseen in their own lives. And I knew I had to do something about it.

That’s why I created Passion Struck®, a platform and movement dedicated to helping individuals and organizations rediscover what it means to matter—to themselves, to others, and to the world.

Through my bestselling book, globally acclaimed podcast, and transformative keynotes, I teach a powerful framework for reclaiming purpose, rebuilding connections, and unlocking human potential.