Hustle Everyday - By Daniel

A wise man once said “He who says he can’t and he who says he can, are both usually right.” Through the journey of my life and the challenges along the way, I have come to realize that my attitude is everything. How I choose to occupy my thoughts will eventually represent who I am and contribute to my ambitions or lack of. This mind set has driven me to be the young man I am today and I can only hope that one day I can inspire others to be their best self.

I was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. I was blessed to be brought up by two wonderful parents and to be accompanied by six brothers and sisters. My mother was a CPA and very disciplined when it came to raising my siblings and I. At a young age she taught us how to be smart with our money – to invest, make it last, and make money work for you. She used to say, “making a ton of money makes you rich, making your money work for you makes you wealthy.” My mother was the strict parent, always pushing us to do better in school, grind on our off days, and to never be comfortable with a simple life. My father was the opposite – relaxed, easy going, extraordinarily personable, and unable to judge others. I always thought my father’s mind to be something of a beauty; the epitome of a child living in an adult’s body. My dad taught me to question everything, be curious, work together, and to leave the world a better place then when I found it. I would like to say that I took the best traits of both my parents and sought the world out on my own.

I grew up a curious child, having to look around every corner and leaving no stone unturned. Anything I did, I had to be number one. This mindset translated into becoming a state champion in multiple sports, holding leadership positions throughout high school, and starting a full-time job by the young age of 16. I have always saw the world as my oyster, and anything I want to achieve – I simply have to get off my ass and do it. I graduated high school with high honors and got accepted to the top three universities I applied to. At the end of the day, I decided to continue my education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas which is home to the top hospitality school in the country! Once I started school, I become a part of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. A decision that changed my life.

The beginning of my college experience definitely woke me up. Rushing a fraternity, going to school full time, and working full time taught me a lot about life. Coming to college, I was used to being the smartest one in the room, not having to try very hard, and going through the motions. As soon as I dived head first into school life hit me like a wall. I realized quick that if I wanted to be successful I was going to have to work harder then ever before. I felt like the scum of the swamp, like nothing I was doing was good enough. I would go to work lazy and lethargic from the day before and go to class exhausted from all my other responsibilities. I was in a bad state of mind and stuck in a rut. Then, one day, things changed. I started studying the habits of successful people and how to change the bad habits that consumed my life into the fuel I needed to be successful.

These books allowed me to realize my true potential and maximize my gifts to produce real results. I began to realize that whether I wanted to sit back and do nothing, or I desired to be the CEO of my own company, it was my decisions and actions that would produce results. Life can seem overwhelming at times, difficult at others, and downright unbearable at some points. The important thing is keeping your head up, fighting through the storm in front of you, and to never accept mediocrity. Life can be shit sometimes, but it’s the people you spend it with, what you choose to do with your time, and the memories at the end of the day that make it all worth it.

I am no where near perfect and I am for sure no where near the end of the road. Though I can say for certain that I am far from the young boy I once was and getting closer every day to the man I wish to be. I am currently the President of my Fraternity. I have brought my grades back from almost getting kicked out of school to a 3.2 G.P.A, and I have found a rewarding job that compliments me and my spending habits. I feel that I have so many things left to learn, but I believe that is what makes life so exciting. I desire to leave a real impact on the world around me and I can say at 20 years old, I am on the right path. I choose to do whatever it takes, outworking my peers, asking questions, and always seeking answers. Eventually, I want to open an attraction on the Las Vegas strip, own a bar, be an accredited professor, have my own app, and most of all have a wonderful family. But for now, it’s nose to the brimstone. Just know there is beauty in the grind, wisdom in the journey, and a light at the end of the tunnel. It is because, I choose to grind in the times of trouble, fight like hell against anyone and anything that stands in my way, and appreciate the hustle. That I will succeed.

“Stay Hungry, Stay Humble" - Bill McDermott

I grew up a curious child, having to look around every corner and leaving no stone unturned. Anything I did, I had to be number one. This mindset translated into becoming a state champion in multiple sports, holding leadership positions throughout high school, and starting a full-time job by the young age of 16. I have always saw the world as my oyster, and anything I want to achieve – I simply have to get off my ass and do it. I graduated high school with high honors and got accepted to the top three universities I applied to. At the end of the day, I decided to continue my education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas which is home to the top hospitality school in the country! Once I started school, I become a part of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. A decision that changed my life.

The beginning of my college experience definitely woke me up. Rushing a fraternity, going to school full time, and working full time taught me a lot about life. Coming to college, I was used to being the smartest one in the room, not having to try very hard, and going through the motions. As soon as I dived head first into school life hit me like a wall. I realized quick that if I wanted to be successful I was going to have to work harder then ever before. I felt like the scum of the swamp, like nothing I was doing was good enough. I would go to work lazy and lethargic from the day before and go to class exhausted from all my other responsibilities. I was in a bad state of mind and stuck in a rut. Then, one day, things changed. I started studying the habits of successful people and how to change the bad habits that consumed my life into the fuel I needed to be successful.

"There is nothing noble in being superior to some other man. The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self." - Ernest Heming Way

These books allowed me to realize my true potential and maximize my gifts to produce real results. I began to realize that whether I wanted to sit back and do nothing, or I desired to be the CEO of my own company, it was my decisions and actions that would produce results. Life can seem overwhelming at times, difficult at others, and downright unbearable at some points. The important thing is keeping your head up, fighting through the storm in front of you, and to never accept mediocrity. Life can be shit sometimes, but it’s the people you spend it with, what you choose to do with your time, and the memories at the end of the day that make it all worth it.

I am no where near perfect and I am for sure no where near the end of the road. Though I can say for certain that I am far from the young boy I once was and getting closer every day to the man I wish to be. I am currently the President of my Fraternity. I have brought my grades back from almost getting kicked out of school to a 3.2 G.P.A, and I have found a rewarding job that compliments me and my spending habits. I feel that I have so many things left to learn, but I believe that is what makes life so exciting. I desire to leave a real impact on the world around me and I can say at 20 years old, I am on the right path. I choose to do whatever it takes, outworking my peers, asking questions, and always seeking answers. Eventually, I want to open an attraction on the Las Vegas strip, own a bar, be an accredited professor, have my own app, and most of all have a wonderful family. But for now, it’s nose to the brimstone. Just know there is beauty in the grind, wisdom in the journey, and a light at the end of the tunnel. It is because, I choose to grind in the times of trouble, fight like hell against anyone and anything that stands in my way, and appreciate the hustle. That I will succeed.

Sincerely,

D.B.

Ps: I will succeed.