I’ve learned that life doesn’t wait for perfect timing. It pushes us, tests us, and sometimes forces us to change direction long before we feel ready. My journey as an athlete and an entrepreneur has been shaped by moments when I had to face tough decisions in business and in life. Those moments didn’t come with clear instructions. They came with doubt, fear, and a quiet voice telling me to trust myself.
Listening to the Signs Before They Get Loud
Every pivot I’ve made started with a small feeling that something wasn’t working. When I trained for the Olympics, my body told me when I needed to adjust. In business, the signs were different but just as real. Sales slowed. A partnership felt forced. My purpose felt blurry. That’s usually when tough decisions in business begin to show up.
I don’t wait for things to fall apart. I pay attention to patterns. When the same problem keeps knocking, that’s a sign. I write everything down. I ask myself what feels true and what feels forced. I don’t rush, but I don’t ignore the discomfort either. A good pivot starts with honesty, even when that honesty hurts.
Weighing Risks Without Letting Fear Make the Call
Fear has tried to run my life more times than I can count. Fear of failure. Fear of disappointing people. Fear of starting over. But if fear becomes the loudest voice, you stay stuck where you are. When I faced tough decisions in business, I learned to separate facts from feelings. I looked at what I could control, what I needed to learn, and what the next step required from me.
Risk never disappears. It just becomes easier to understand. I ask myself one question every time I stand at a crossroads: Will staying the same cost me more than changing direction? Most of my big breakthroughs started with that question. It helped me get clear, even when the path felt uncertain.
Pivoting With Purpose, Not Panic
A pivot isn’t running away. It’s choosing a better path with intention. As an entrepreneur, I learned that pride can keep you tied to the wrong plan. Letting go is sometimes the smartest move you can make. When I pivot, I bring what I’ve learned with me. Nothing is wasted. Every setback becomes a tool I can use.
Every day, I work to help entrepreneurs build the same entrepreneurial mindset that has guided me through the biggest moments of my life, from being a skeleton athlete to making tough decisions in business that shaped my future.
I founded Hope Of A Billion to give kids from underserved communities the chance to discover their potential and grow into world leaders through our programs. I’m honored that our work has been featured on the Olympics’ official Instagram page alongside icons like Simone Biles and Billie Jean King.
If you believe in this mission and want to help us reach more young dreamers, please donate now.
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