Learning responsibility early
I was raised in Conyers, Georgia. At seventeen and eighteen, I was trying to navigate a life that had changed abruptly after we were removed from our home through DFCS. I was also trying to care for my younger sister and brother. It was a struggle to be a brother while feeling I had to take on a father-like role, too.
My path took me through group homes and foster homes. We lived in Ms. Brown’s foster home for about six months. While I was there, I spent time sharpening my editing skills to pass the time. Even then, I felt there was more ahead of me.
I remember recording sessions with my friend Jaten Dimsdale, known today as Teddy Swims, as he explored his sound. Experiences like those strengthened my confidence in recognizing talent and seeing potential in people.
People who helped me grow
My grandmother, Donnal Gail Martin, has been instrumental in my growth and in shaping the person I’m becoming.
Later in life, DFCS worker Cynthia Shackleford also played an important role in my growth. I was very upset with her at the time, but I recognize her impact today.
Starting over
Relatives took my brother and me in, but the arrangement eventually broke down. I felt rejected, and my brother and I were separated. I headed to Destin, Florida, for beach-service work while I figured out my next move. It was my first taste of coastal life, and I knew I wanted to find my way back to the beach someday.
After high school, I also waited tables. Moving to Chattanooga, Tennessee, gave me a chance to reinvent myself and discover a role in insurance.
Finding a calling
Insurance found me. Sales found me. It became the vehicle that fueled every part of my life, giving me back time, energy, and a sense of myself. It gave me a taste of true financial freedom and room to pursue the things that matter to me.
I had to step into the role of a professional while I was still learning to believe in my abilities. Through that journey, I came to understand what I felt God was calling me to do: serve others.
Seven years into insurance, I’m still learning. Asking better questions. Helping people understand their choices. Giving myself grace to grow while learning to show up for someone else.
To the people who helped lay my foundation
Doug Dale, Brad Case, and Chad Patton helped shape early concepts and strategies that I still use today. I’m grateful for the ways each of them challenged me and helped me grow.
Doug saw potential in me that I didn’t yet see in myself. I remember how surprised he was by how quickly I passed my licensing tests. He introduced me to Brad, who became a voice of reason early in my career.
A dinner with Chad, a friend and former colleague from Louisiana, challenged me to think beyond my own production. I had been working harder, and he pushed me to think about working smarter and helping others grow. That conversation sparked a shift toward building a team and helping my younger brother build a new career in insurance.
These relationships are part of the foundation behind Clarity Closes. For the guy or gal who isn’t confident in their abilities yet: give yourself grace to grow into the role.
I hope Clarity Closes becomes a stepping stone in your foundation, too.