Built While Broken: The Origin Story of Discipline Over Motivation 24/7 – Part 1

The Beginning 

June 2023.

I was in the best place I had ever been—physically, mentally, financially, and spiritually. It was only the 7th of the month, and I had already closed over $25,000 in personal sales. The momentum was electric. I was dominating the 75 Hard program, in the best shape of my life, and moving with purpose.

Mornings were for lifting.

Midday runs kept my edge sharp.

Evenings ended in the boxing gym.

And for the first time in a long time—I was completely sober.

I had committed to going alcohol-free for the entire year. Looking back, I didn't realize just how much that substance had been silently killing my performance. With it gone, I tapped into a new level of discipline and clarity I didn’t even know existed.

But life has a funny way of testing you when you think you’re untouchable.

At the same time, I began to feel tension in the organization I worked for. I was supposed to be running my own business—at least, that’s how it was marketed. But in reality, I was pouring everything I had into a system that allowed entitled individuals to cherry-pick the best deals I had brought in.

It wasn’t freedom. It was a trap.

So I started exploring. I interviewed with other agencies, but quickly realized most of them were just carbon copies. Recruit-heavy. Focused on selling to family and friends. That wasn’t the legacy I wanted.

Frustrated and searching, I turned to YouTube.
Side hustle videos. Creators building brands. Digital products. Content. Merchandise.
I started binge-watching everything I could.

And then, during some downtime at an event, I opened Canva and created a logo.

It said Discipline Over Motivation.
Because that’s how people knew me.
I showed up and performed, regardless of how I felt. I never waited for motivation—I moved with discipline. It made sense. The logo had my birth year as the established date. That would eventually change, but in that moment, it felt right.

That was June 10, 2023. 

 

That’s when Discipline Over Motivation 24/7 was born.

Just four days later, on June 14th, everything shifted.

After a boxing session, we were messing around playing football. I tripped, separated my shoulder, and earned myself a level 1 AC sprain. And just like that, the physical habits I had come to rely on were stripped away.

It’s easy to stay disciplined when your routine is intact.
But when life takes those habits from you? That’s when your foundation is truly tested.

I was lying in a hospital bed on a morphine drip, trying to process what had just happened. I felt broken—not just physically, but mentally. All the momentum I had built felt like it was slipping away.

Then my wife looked at me dead in the eye and said,

“You are the most disciplined person I’ve ever met. There’s no way this is going to knock you off track.”

Check.

I picked up my phone and confirmed the sales appointments I had for the next morning.

There’s a story that will be told about you when you’re not around.

That story isn’t built in your highlight reel—it’s built in the quiet, low moments.
The moments where you have to decide whether to rise to the occasion or crumble under the weight.
You either get the hero’s story—or the pity story.

I chose the hero’s story.

I crushed that appointment the next morning.
And by the end of the month, I had over $55K in underwriting.

I was back in the gym the very next day—injury and all.
I had already started editing and uploading motivational videos. I was four videos deep on YouTube.
I committed to not missing one day of forward progress. Not one.

Grind mode was fully activated.

At 3:00 AM on June 25th, the first version of the merch store went live.
By June 28th, I was on a plane to Ohio to meet with a vendor who wanted me to push their products over my current provider. The grind didn't stop.

On that trip, I found myself at a fireside chat with some of the top salespeople in the organization. And in that moment, I was hit with a thought I know was placed in me by God,

“Adversity is God finding out if you’re truly serious about what you say you want.”

Anyone can make big goals when the path is smooth.
But when things get unbearable, that’s where the separation happens.
That’s where the weak fall off—and the real ones rise.

By July 1st, I had my first mug in hand with the brand on it.
A physical reminder of the commitment I made to myself.
It wasn’t perfect. It was early. But it was real.

That mug would go on to represent a season of my life defined by adversity, perseverance, and purpose.
The battles would continue—many of them far beyond what I expected—but I kept moving.
And I kept building.

To Be Continued…

This was just the beginning.
The fire that forged the brand.
The moment the idea became identity.

Part 2 of this story will be out next week.

 Discipline Over Motivation 24/7 was never about a product.

It was about a decision—

To move with discipline when motivation failed.

To choose the hero’s story over the excuse.

And to earn it. Every. Damn. Day.

 

The collage I created for this blog is proof—you can bounce back if you make the decision to do so.

The Origin Story: Part 1 podcast drops 8/8/2025.
You can find it on the Podcast tab in the menu, or listen on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

If you’re subscribed to the blog and email list, you already have early access to the limited-release Founder’s Edition T-shirt. Only 175 will ever be made—once they’re gone, they’re gone.

If you’re reading this and you’re not subscribed… chances are you missed it. Better luck next time.

Limited release. Grab yours before they disappear.