Episode XIV: Jumpman
Talk about a year filled with perspective. One year ago today, I decided to quit playing football and start my journey in the startup space. It was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve made, but the growth in such a short amount of time has been tremendous. Crazy that a birthday will bring that much perspective into the picture. However, these past two months have provided just as much perspective, and I’m now covering what your eyes haven’t seen because I haven’t shared it. Things aren’t always as smooth as they seem. I almost died, but still stand today. More below.
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November 21st - December 20th: Critical Condition
Yes, I was actually in critical condition. I haven’t publicly shared much information over the past two months because of how bad it got. It started the week before Thanksgiving, when I found out that my bottom left wisdom tooth was infected at the root (and no, it wasn’t a cavity). It made me sick for a week and a half, including through Thanksgiving. They recommended I got all four pulled, so I did and had lockjaw after the surgery. When my cheek swelled, I thought it was lockjaw, but that was not the case. I couldn’t eat, breathe, talk, or drink water out of my mouth shortly after the surgery.
Then, the worst part came. I couldn’t breathe at all out of my mouth. My neck and cheek were swollen like a baseball was stuck, so off to the ER I went. When there, they admitted me immediately despite 200 people waiting for entrance. Nurses hooked me up to IV’s as I waited for a CT scan, and when the scan happened, they sent me right to an ICU and told me that I needed emergency surgery. What is it though?
It was called a pharyngeal abscess. 9.5 inches of pus blocked my throat, which is why I couldn’t use my mouth. That baseball in my neck and cheek was all an infection that spread like wildfire. The worst part was: it was spreading towards my nose, blocking my ability to breathe altogether. Holy sh*t, I was in critical condition.
The first surgery was doctors poking holes in my mouth to drain the pus. Then, they said I needed a second surgery to prevent the pus in my neck from getting to my lungs. My friends visited me at the hospital, then that surgery came, went, and a drain was placed in my neck to prevent any pus from getting to my lungs. Being under anesthesia is brutal, especially when it’s your body’s third time doing so in three weeks.
My least favorite part of this process was how I looked. In that time, I lost 28 lbs, going from 234 lbs on a bulk and lifting really well to 206 lbs and losing all muscle mass. Also, when the drain was pulled before I headed home, my hair got stuck on the hole. That moment was when I determined that it was time to cut the hair.
When life almost gets stripped from you, but this time while remembering all of it, there are two places your mind will always run to: what it could’ve been and what life could be. Your mind, when stuck, will always escape to the present or future. I learned in the hospital that even if the present moment is brutal, being aware of how your present moment providing problems prepares you time to process perspective.
When I left the hospital, my mind raced towards how much there is to learn. So, the rest of the week, I spent time learning about AI/ML, algorithms, finance, and other random skills to become a great founder when that time comes. I am still studying the basics, but will get there in due time.
December 21st - Today: Stoicism
Since right before Christmas, I’ve mentally decided to take on the voices in my head and assert my will over them. In multiple facets of life, I felt undisciplined. In order to make change and pursue my life goal of helping as many people as possible, I needed to help myself first. So, I made it my personal mission.
Part of those voices told me how small I got. In early November during my first max day cycle, I squatted 475, benched 365, and deadlifted 525. After the health crisis, I lost at least 40% of my power in each lift and looked like a string bean. So, I hired a bodybuilding coach to help me put size back on and, to really demonstrate the mental evolution, I plan on competing in a bodybuilding show by the end of the year. It’d be just for fun, but also, one hell of a time. Another thing I’ve taken up consistently to improve is meditation. I’ve done it in spurts before, but in 2023, I haven’t missed a day. It’s so much easier to take on challenges, even within your mind, when spiritually protecting yourself and vetting out every possible option.
In terms of work, I’ve wanted to collaborate with others for a long while. At first, I thought becoming a YouTuber was the only thing to express creativity. That still will happen, but not yet. I started writing with six other investors and one other founder in a group called Noted, where we cover different angles of the startup ecosystem. With being at an accelerator, I see a significant amount of companies and bring a much different value add to the table. The unique angles of the early-stage ecosystem are covered by the group, and with so many diverse personalities, too!
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I’m in Texas today for my 23rd and was able to go to Vegas for the start of the new year. Man, I missed being on the road. On a side note, this is my third consecutive year being in a new city on my birthday and I hope to keep that trend going next year, too. I’m excited for the jumpman year; it’s about to be a great one!
