Growing up as a refugee from Vietnam, my family faced many challenges. My parents worked multiple jobs while putting themselves through college. My dad became an engineer, and my mom an accountant. Despite their careers, financial struggles were constant due to student loans, a mortgage, and eventually, loans for my siblings and me.

School was tough for me. It wasn’t until after college that I discovered I had Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D). I could read the same paragraph multiple times and not retain anything. Exams were improvised, and I barely made it through college. Still, I graduated, fulfilling my parents' dreams. However, I felt like a failure working in corporate for 19 years, living paycheck to paycheck, and unable to give back to my parents.

Before Yolanda and I got married, we had many discussions about our future and the kind of life we wanted. We realized that with our current budget, we couldn't afford the activities we wanted for our future kids. Living paycheck to paycheck was exhausting, and we needed a significant change.

With a plan in place, Yolanda trusted me to manage our finances. Our goal was clear: become debt-free. I tracked our spending closely, focusing on our credit card debt and student loans. Knowing that small payments wouldn't suffice, I earned a real estate license. I worked evenings and weekends, selling houses and using the commissions to pay off our debts.

For our wedding, we were determined to fund it ourselves. We set a budget of $15,000 and made it work. Yolanda used her creativity to make much of the decor herself, staying within our budget for a celebration with 120 guests. It turned out to be the best day of our lives.

My first son, Makai, was born two and a half years after we began our debt-free journey. By then, we were debt-free with $10,000 in the bank. This financial freedom allowed us to prepare for his arrival without stress and motivated me to start a few successful companies. While owning a supercar was never a priority, achieving my financial goals made it a symbol of success and a milestone in my journey.

Now that I've reached my personal and financial goals, my focus has shifted to giving back. I want to inspire others by sharing my story and the stories of other successful individuals. My mission is to motivate those who feel stuck, encouraging them to pursue their dreams. Let's put the pedal to the metal and go for it!