Have you ever thought about creating your own path in life?
That’s exactly what led to the creation of Writing Your Own Story.
My journey began with a regular job in landscaping and a lot of questions about what else life could offer.
In 2019, I did something I’d never done before.
I decided to jump into e-commerce and start a business, which was an entirely new world for me.
This is about that journey.
It’s all about embracing change, pursuing learning, and creating something that encourages us all to reflect on our own life stories.
“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
— Charles Darwin
The Spark of Ambition
To be honest, I didn’t mind my job as a landscaping supervisor.
Yeah, it was hard work, but I was good at it and it took care of my family.
The problem was I was always worried about the future.
Questions like ‘What if I lose my job?’ or ‘What if a big bill comes out of nowhere?’ constantly kept me up at night.
I couldn’t continue like that and knew I needed to find something more stable.
So, in 2019, I decided to step into the world of e-commerce.
I didn’t know much at first, but I saw it as a chance to learn something new and maybe build a better future for my girls.
For me, this was never about becoming rich. I didn’t even see it being a long-term solution. All I was hoping for was some security and possibly for it to open the door to new opportunities.
But leaving what I knew behind was scary. I had to at least try, though — for my girls.
Facing Personal Challenges
I knew stepping into something new like e-commerce wasn’t going to be easy. But the reality was tougher than anything I could’ve ever imagined.
First, the pandemic hit and that was a major setback for everyone. Then, I was personally dealing with a difficult separation from my daughter’s mom. It was a pretty rough time, I’m not going to lie.
The separation hit me the hardest. My daughters were my motivation and the main reason I was doing all of this.
Before they were born, I had nothing going for me. They gave me a reason to be more than who I was and to create something of myself.
So, this business wasn’t just some business for me. It was my way of showing them the same strength and hope they’ve given me.
I won’t bullshit.
There were days when I wanted to quit so bad. But no matter how hard it got, I made sure I remembered they were the reason I started. That’s what kept me going on the toughest days.
And through all this, while I was struggling to keep my head above water, I started learning. Not just about business, but about life and resilience.
This was a turning point for me.
Learning as a Lifeline
The hardest part about the separation was waking up each day without seeing my daughters’ faces. It began to affect everything in my life.
Concentrating was tough, and getting work done felt almost impossible. I’ve never experienced anything like it before.
That’s when I knew something had to change.
With so much going on, learning became my escape. I looked for anything that would help me get through this.
The more I learned, the more I came across new ideas and ways of thinking I’d never even heard before. Surprisingly, it was this challenging time that led me onto a new, unexpected path.
Redefining Success
On this new path, I began to see things differently, especially about success.
I used to only notice how the gap between the working class and the wealthy seemed to grow each day. And I assumed it was because of their special talents, connections, or backgrounds.
But, that’s only true for a select few.
I’ve come to realize success is within reach for most of us if we truly believe and work towards it. This was a mindset shift I had to make.
Before that, success always felt so far away, like some impossible dream.
But over time, I found that success wasn’t just about getting to the top. It’s about the dedication you put in, the sacrifices you make, and the skills you learn.
Most of us don’t see that part which is why we always label people as ‘overnight successes.’ For some reason, we choose to ignore the journey it took to get there.
Breaking the Cycle
Growing up, the choices were clear:
- Go to college
- Join the Military
- Learn a trade
You work hard until you can’t, then retire. That’s the path laid out before us. Success was seen as landing a decent job after school, and not much more.
So, once people reached a certain point, they would settle and become content. They might try to get a new job that pays a little more or has better benefits but that’s about it.
Even if they were unhappy, they’d stay in their jobs, thinking that’s just how life is. It’s accepted and they begin to focus on other things. There’s not much talk about self-improvement or learning new skills.
But then again, can you blame them?
After a long day’s work and taking care of family, who has the energy to focus on learning and personal growth? I know I never did.
So, it becomes easy to fall into this cycle of just doing enough, but never really striving for more.
But the past few years have opened my eyes to something different.
There’s a wealth of knowledge out there that most of us have been missing. This is valuable information that can transform someone’s life. The issue is that it’s often overlooked or doesn’t reach the people who need it most.
And that’s a huge problem.
I learned that those who achieve success don’t normally follow the traditional paths. They’re always looking for new knowledge, skills, and ways to improve. They understand every day is an opportunity to learn and grow.
Starting my own business was a wake-up call. It helped me realize life shouldn’t be about following some predetermined path.
Life should be about learning, growth, and continuous improvement. It’s about getting a little better each day. And over time, these small improvements are what end up making the biggest difference.
“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.”
— Albert Einstein
Creating Writing Your Own Story
When I was working on the business and my personal life, there were a lot of days I wanted to give up. Things were tough, and at times I probably should have.
But I just couldn’t let it all go.
By then, I was learning so much. I couldn’t give it all up now. So instead, I focused on getting better at whatever I could.
That’s when I ran into a different challenge. Finding the insights and resources that provide value and don’t just repeat the same basic advice.
The internet is overflowing with information, but anything helpful seemed to be hard to find. I would spend hours looking for books, podcasts, and anything that could provide some type of value.
That’s when I realized that if I was struggling to find quality resources, then others had to be too.
This is what sparked the idea for Writing Your Own Story.
Closing the Gap
I noticed something while I was searching through all this.
The high achievers often have access to exclusive masterminds, networks, and resources. But I kept running into two major problems.
Either I was blocked by a paywall that was too expensive, or the information was buried under so much clutter that it took forever to find.
So, what about the rest of us who don’t have these opportunities?
Seeing firsthand how the right insights and resources can change a person’s life inspired me. It’s exactly why I created Writing Your Own Story.
My goal with WYOS is to cut through all the nonsense and bring this information to those who need it most.
Joining the Journey
Writing Your Own Story was born out of a personal need. I wanted to create a space that brings the top knowledge and resources together all in one place.
I wanted to build something truly helpful, not just another site focused on profits.
Starting WYOS was challenging, especially since I’ve never built a website before. But I kept trying, and now the first version is finally live.
Writing Your Own Story features two main sections: the Article Library and the Resource Library.
Here’s what you can find:
- Features insights and wisdom from some of the greatest minds throughout history.
- Includes sections on Personal Growth, Mindset, Productivity, and more.
- Recommends the best resources for your personal and professional life.
- Categories include Books, YouTube Channels, Software, Podcasts, and more, each with further subcategories.
- Discover the Best Books for Personal Growth, Top Software for Content Creation, Leading AI Writers, Motivational YouTube Channels, and much more.
Writing Your Own Story brings together all kinds of resources that can help you in every aspect of your personal and professional lives. But it’s more than just a collection of resources.
The vision is to grow it into a community where people can learn, share, and grow together.
Conclusion
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
— Nelson Mandela
The story of our lives is ours to write.
Every story has ups and downs, challenges, and moments of struggle. These are all parts of our journey. It’s during these tough times that show us who we really are.
You’re in charge of your story and you can start a new chapter anytime you want.
Remember, you’re not alone in this. I’m here, sharing my story, and Writing Your Own Story is here to help.
Right now, the website’s completely free while it evolves. I hope you’ll check it out and join me on this journey.
Let’s see what comes next.
What Are Your Thoughts?
If you’ve made it this far, thanks so much for reading. And, if you found value in this article, it would mean the world to me if you shared it with others!
What's your take and what do you think about this? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!