13 years later, the most frequent question I’ve been asked is, “How did you do it?” People are curious about what got me started and what keeps me going. Well, it’s simple: I wanted it bad enough. I still do. That is it. But this strong desire for change isn’t just a wish; it’s a complete overhaul of my life.  It is building discipline to get up at 4:30 in the morning. Wanting it badly means facing up to the choices that got me where I was at the time: being lazy, skipping exercise, eating poorly, drinking too much—the list goes on.  Wanting it bad enough means going to bed early, passing on happy hours, and watching people eat dessert in front of you. It’s not easy, and there are bumps in the road. I know much more than I did back then; it was a progression to get here. In the earlier days, there were periods when food and exercise went off the rails for days or weeks at a time. It was a process resulting in growth, but the process never stops.

Before this desire took hold of me, I was great at making excuses. I’d convince myself that I was just “a little overweight.” But wanting it badly meant being honest with myself—facing who I really was, not who I pretended to be.  I used to give up easily when things got tough. That’s why I changed my college major four times, why many of my projects fizzled out before they took off. It’s why my relationships suffered and I fell into bad habits. It’s why I walked away from my faith when life got hard. In my mid-30s, my health was in bad shape, and the blood panel tests proved it.

But wanting it badly meant saying no to mediocrity, refusing to settle for less. It meant letting the spark of change ignite every part of my life.  It motivated me to grow in other areas. It helped bring me back to God. I determined that my faith and trust in Him can give me direction better than any seminar I could attend. I began to see the Bible as superseding any self-help book. Since that time, I’ve had a stronger marriage, career growth, entrepreneurship, great relationships, better stewardship of finances, and the list goes on.

My journey toward wellness began 6 years before the car accident left me with spinal stenosis. When the drunk driver’s blow left me battered and broken, I shudder to think how differently the story might have unfolded had I not already laid the groundwork for resilience. The man on the left, shackled by excuses, would have succumbed to despair, resigning himself to a life of limitations. But the man on the right was fueled by unyielding determination and refused to take “no” for an answer.

Some people marvel at the feats of ultramarathoners, but I firmly believe that within each of us lies the potential for greatness. I embraced a journey of growth, setting goals, and continually pushing the boundaries of what I believed possible. Wanting it bad enough has built a growth mindset previously overlooked.

Yet amidst all these triumphs, the most profound transformation came in reconciling my relationship with Christ.  I couldn’t have fixed many of my issues on my own, including strengthening my marriage and overcoming alcohol addiction.

We celebrate Easter this weekend. My salvation came at a price. I don’t deserve my salvation, but He died on the cross for me. And for you. And for everyone who follows Him. Although I stepped away from God for a long time, He was always waiting for me.  In the big picture of life, nothing matters more than spiritual growth. It’s what guides me toward a brighter future, no matter what challenges come my way.  It’s more important than any running or business accomplishment.

””What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?“

Luke 15:4 ESV