Coming Full Circle: A Journey of Faith, Vision, and Healing

My life has come full circle in ways I never imagined. Let me take you back to the beginning, to when I launched my first business as a sophomore in college. At that time, I looked up to people like Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Dorsey, and Steve Jobs. I noticed a shift in consumer behavior: people were moving away from hardware and focusing more on software—or as it was now called, “apps.”

Groupon was a rising star back then, but I noticed flaws in its execution. The deals felt like bait-and-switch tactics, often offered by unknown businesses, and many customers walked away feeling dissatisfied. Meanwhile, text messaging was at its peak, not only among my generation but also gaining popularity with older generations.

That’s when inspiration struck. I thought, What if businesses could create authentic relationships with their most loyal customers through text message marketing instead of spammy emails? At that time, no one was doing text message marketing. When I shared this idea with a prominent marketing professor at TCU, he dismissed it, telling me that texting was too personal and that customers would never accept it, no matter the bargain.

He was wrong, and I’m glad I didn’t listen—though his words did affect my confidence. Despite limited capital, I found a way to lease an SMS short code and launched BuzzWhere. The code was “99000,” and my first client was a mobile barber named “Hairs 2 U.” I remember earning my first dollar—an indescribable feeling.

Looking back, I realize that at 19, I had stumbled onto a multimillion-dollar business idea, but I didn’t fully grasp its potential. Instead of pursuing it, I caved to pressure from my parents to get a “real” job. I accepted an offer in investment banking, but that’s a story for another time (or you can read about it in my book, Resonate ).

Fast forward to 2018. My fiancée and I joined Camp Gladiator to get in shape for our wedding. One Saturday, I received a text from “BuzzWhere.” For a moment, I thought I was dreaming—or perhaps stuck in a twilight zone. It turned out that Camp Gladiator had recycled the same short code I once used. My creation had come full circle.

Of course, there was a sense of regret, but it also sparked motivation. If I had one successful idea before, I could certainly do it again. Years later, I founded Opilio and wrote my book, Resonate, envisioning two brands that would start separately but eventually converge. Resonate was to be a motivational writing, speaking, and coaching agency and Opilio was to focus on AI-driven healthcare analytics.?

I spent a lot of time creating diagrams to explain my vision, even including some here to help illustrate it. A few people were able to “kind of see it” with the help of the visuals, but most thought I was just crazy. And maybe I am—there’s a fine line between genius and madness, and I know I walk that line so often that even I get uncomfortable. But that’s exactly how God made me.

Adversity struck again, right in rhythm with the trampoline bounce of life (read my last post The Trampoline Bounce here ). I lost nearly every relationship, including family ties, and faced severe financial and marital struggles. I was close to losing everything as my parents and sister were not merely unsupportive, but were actively sabotaging my personal and professional life. But God, faithful as always, began to restore me. One key person He worked through was my counselor.

While my counselor didn’t necessarily teach me anything I had not heard of before, she helped me integrate mindfulness into my everyday routine and held me accountable. I had to commit to my practices—meditation, prayer, journaling, and more—every single day. My routine, now nearly three hours each morning, includes Dr. Leaf’s Neurocycle, prayer journaling, Bible devotionals, meditation, breathwork, vitamins, and exercise. It may seem extreme, but it’s become essential to my healing.

During one of our sessions, my counselor suggested I categorize my tasks: 1) Must do, 2) Can do, and 3) Nice to do. Being a perfectionist, I filled my “must do” list with client work and cut back on my inner work routine to focus on “real” work. But it backfired.

I was busier, but the results didn’t improve. That’s when it hit me—the true “must-dos” in my life aren’t client-related tasks, but the inner work. At the same time, God, through a dream, led me back to the root cause of my struggles, one that had evaded my conscious mind until then.

I dreamt of two pivotal conversations with my mom, both in the garage, where we had our “deep, important talks.” (I suspect it was because she needed a cigarette to focus on my needs instead of projecting her own.) In the first conversation, I told her I wanted to be a pastor. She immediately shut it down, saying it wouldn’t pay enough money and that I was “too smart for that.” She and my dad would only support me if I chose a “professional” career—doctor, lawyer, engineer (I was surprised that CPA even made the cut).

The second conversation was similar, but I was a little older this time. I expressed my desire to become a psychologist and counselor, explaining that many psychologists write books and help people—exactly what I wanted to do. Again, she dismissed it by telling me it would not pay enough and the career lacked job security. She did tell me I could potentially look into becoming a psychiatrist because they were “real” doctors and could prescribe medications. I asked her if med school, with cadaver labs, was necessary to become a psychiatrist, and she confirmed it was, so I ruled that path out immediately because I faint at the sight of blood.?

I’m sharing this with you because I realized that my distorted relationship with money was a symptom of a deeper root. I had been conditioned from a young age to believe that my worthiness as a person and my right to be seen, heard, and respected was tied to my ability to produce, achieve, and pursue a select list of careers that “promised” a certain level of income.?

Until adulthood, there was not one important decision I ever got to make based on my authentic desires and happiness. Every decision was through the lens of what would position me to make the most money…how sad.?

I know I’m not alone in this. Many of us carry this wound, abandoning our dreams in favor of “busy work” that merely pays the bills, often ignoring our true interests and identity.

Over the past year, I lost sight of my vision because things didn’t converge as I expected. I started to doubt whether I was meant to be an entrepreneur or leader. Deep down, I wanted to be a counselor, a pastor, and an author—a more Christian version of Tony Robbins. I wanted to help people reach their potential, not necessarily run a company.

Then it all became clear. None of this is accidental. God needed me to heal His people, but He first needed me to heal myself.

My role as a healthcare business leader and my willingness to challenge insurance companies on behalf of my clients stem from a deeper purpose. The medical community, while well-intentioned, often focuses on treating symptoms rather than addressing root causes. I’m not condemning every doctor, but our system needs a shift toward holistic healing.

My passion for mental health remains unwavering. While I didn’t become a counselor, God has still used my gifts in this field, as most of my clients work in mental health, and I serve on the Texas State LPC Board.?

I see now the two brands did converge. The convergence of Opilio and Resonate, however, wasn’t about business strategy—it was about healing. This newsletter represents the content that for the first time, I can confidently share across both brands without creating confusion.?

I am joyful to see more and more people awakening and beginning to realize that masking symptoms with pills isn’t true healing—there are deeper, more effective ways to heal. We are learning there are no pills, money, or surgery able to provide the deep soul healing we seek. True healing starts with spiritual and mental renewal, and it is only through the Spirit of God and your faith that you will experience complete freedom.

I can help you embark on that inward journey—to become who God truly designed you to be, free from the false conditioning that keeps you stuck. As Jesus said, healing comes through faith. I invite you to make the shift from “doing” to “becoming.” I invite you to stop striving and start being. I invite you to come full circle with me.?

Free Gift: Personal Healing Affirmations

As a free gift, I’d love to share my top ten personal healing affirmations that had the biggest impact during my recent wilderness journey. Just comment or email me “affirmations,” and I’ll send them to you via direct message!

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