Apogee Strong

Personal growth and development are essential to success in all aspects of life. However, sometimes we may feel stuck, unsure of what steps to take to move forward, or overwhelmed by limiting beliefs that hold us back. We all have the potential to achieve greatness in our lives by believing in ourselves. The more you do something, the more you get invested in it at an identity level. What you create creates you. Anthony Trucks is a former NFL player turned identity shift coach who shares his life experiences, lessons, and advice with individuals. As a teenager, Anthony faced many challenges, including being placed in foster care and dealing with racial prejudice. After retiring from the NFL, Anthony realized that his true passion was helping others achieve their own goals and overcome their own obstacles. Tune in as young leaders ask questions about life, personal growth, and more! Quotes: “I didn’t have the ability to see other kids in their lifestyles on Instagram, or I could see a kid with his dad hanging out going out in the ocean. I couldn’t see things; it was just you in your confined space. And so, I say that to tell you that it felt normal.” – Anthony trucks “You don’t get to avoid hard; you get to choose your hard. You can choose hard right now, and it will be difficult. But you subject yourself to it with a community with a dad, or I give it the easy way; you don’t learn lessons and get the skill sets, and you step into life, and it’s harder and longer.” – Anthony Trucks “I had no belief in my ability to be great at the time, just to be transparently honest. But here’s what I did know; I knew that if I did nothing, I’d get more of the same. If I did nothing, I’d stay the same.” – Anthony trucks Takeaways: Our environment and the people around us heavily influence people’s perception of what is “normal.” It also shows how social media can shape our perceptions and create a sense of comparison, damaging our mental health. Life will always present challenges, and it’s up to us to choose how we face them. Seeking support from a community or mentor can help us navigate these challenges more effectively and build important skills for the future. Avoiding challenges may be easier in the short term, but it can lead to greater difficulties in the long run. Taking action, even when we don’t feel confident or capable and even if it’s imperfect, can lead to growth and positive change. Staying in our comfort zones and not taking risks can lead to stagnation and a lack of progress. Conclusion: Taking responsibility for our actions, reaching out for help, and challenging ourselves are all necessary steps toward development and fulfillment. Even though we can expect challenges throughout our lives, we can learn to deal with them constructively and with the help of others. What we consider “normal” is heavily influenced by our upbringing and the company we keep. However, we shouldn’t restrict our imaginations and make it harder to picture a better future by limiting our view of what’s possible.

In our life, people make countless mistakes that can bring them down. And it is easy for us to blame the world for all the unfairness we’ve experienced. But the truth is that the world doesn’t owe us anything. This is the reality; it hurts, but it is the truth. Continuing to delve into an improper understanding of reality will just hinder our journey to move forward. Nick Freitas shares his life experiences; how blessed he was to have loving parents even if they are divorced, his learnings from not being accepted in West Point, and the time when he go into the military. Tune in as young leaders ask questions about life, personal growth, entrepreneurship, and more! Quotes: “The world doesn't owe you anything. It sounds negative but it’s not. It's just a proper understanding of reality. And the more you try to accomplish things in this life with an improper understanding of reality, the more you are going to be banging your head against the wall wondering why stuff isn't working. ” – Nick Freitas “It's not just the training, because the training teaches you what to do, how to react to the situation, and the way you're supposed to react. It's also about having the moral conviction that it is your responsibility. And that's a choice.” – Nick Freitas “If you want to grow credits or strong in their faith and their belief system, and what they believe in and why they believe it, that really starts with how you project that to your kids. And so learning how to understand it and talk about it and have those discussions and to let them ask probing questions that might be uncomfortable for you at times. That's absolutely critical for that development.” – Nick Freitas Takeaways: Knowing the reality that the world doesn’t owe you anything will help you have the proper mindset to see things positively. Put in your best effort, learn from your mistakes, and try and try again until you succeed. Personal responsibility is something you will have both now and in the future, and it will become a habit. It is our choice how to act in a given situation. As a result, it is critical to train ourselves to react appropriately in these situations. To instill a strong faith and belief system in your children, teach them your values and demonstrate them not just in words, but also in action. Teach them how to think about your values as well as why they are important. Conclusion: Knowing the reality—the truth that the world doesn’t owe us anything will help us propel toward our goal, learn from mistakes, and let our maximum effort into accomplishing things. Furthermore, it is our personal responsibility to choose what actions we must take in a situation, train ourselves, and set it as a habit or foundation to react in those situations appropriately. Aside from that, being a parent comes with an obligation to teach kids values while explaining why it is essential and beneficial to them.

As we grow up, we will come to the point where we think about who we are and what we want to do in life. But often, our path in life is already laid out by our parents or culture, binding us on what we want to do. Even though we want to choose the decisions that are true to ourselves, the fear of not pleasing our parents and hurting our loved ones makes it difficult. The battle within ourselves, whether to choose our path or the path that is laid out for us, will constantly be raging. That’s why we need to decide, grow up, stand firm, and choose to become the version of ourselves. Travis Chappell shares his life experiences, lessons, and advice with future leaders. The young generation will get to the point in their life where they will need to choose the path they want to take. But when the thing they want to do contradicts the path their parents had given, it becomes more difficult to determine. Do you want to be the version of yourself or walk the path of life with regrets? Tune in as young leaders ask questions about life, personal growth, entrepreneurship, and more! Quotes: “The accomplishment or success of this path is not success at all because it's not what I want, which was a big realization that success is something that every individual has to define for themselves. It's not culture, parents, books, loved ones, or whatever. It's not anybody else definition of success. You define success for yourself.” – Travis Chappell “Your life is a journey of trying to get to know who you are.” – Travis Chappell “As a parent, it's not my job to make carbon copies of myself. It's my job to create a human that can actively think and become a good version of themselves without cheating themselves and living a bad version of life.” – Travis Chappell Takeaways: Success cannot be defined by anyone. It is only you and you alone who can give the definition of success in your life. Knowing who you are is critical to find what you want to do in life. And the earlier you know it, the better. If you just worry about what your parents will think, you're going to waste a lot of time in your life. Even though it is difficult, you have to make decisions that are true for you. Your parents are knowledgeable about many things that are best for you. Additionally, they are much wiser than you are. But as a man, you eventually become your own version of yourself and have to be able to start taking charge of your own matters. Consult your parents for guidance or advice. But in the end, it's up to you to make a decision. And it is up to you to accept responsibility for who you will become. Conclusion: Youths must choose the path where they will see and define what success is for them. They need to grow up, make decisions, and be responsible. Know who they are, and find the things they want to do. It’s hard, and it hurts, but they have to make decisions that are true to themselves and live a life free of regrets.

The debate over what factors affect people's behavior and personality traits between nature and nurture is fierce. An individual's genetic makeup, which determines their personality and physical characteristics, is completely dependent on nature. Contrarily, nurture is influenced by the environmental elements to which a person is exposed, and which ultimately shape their personality. People are affected by both nature and nurture to some level since they are exposed to both in one way or another, which determines how they grow. Drew Weatherhead imparts his life's lessons, wisdom, and counsel to aspiring leaders. Life is a tapestry woven by the decisions we make. You must focus on making yourself better, not on thinking that you are better. Tune in as young leaders ask questions about life, personal growth, and more! Quotes: “Every single one of us has certain predispositions to our personality. It could be nature, or it could be nurture or even a blending of the two.” – Drew Weatherhead "I discovered that you have the ability to break yourself out of there. You have to take control of the reins of your own life.” – Drew Weatherhead “It's easier to say yes but the struggle won't be easier.” – Drew Weatherhead Takeaways: Because our experiences and environment shape how we perceive the world, we can alter how we see things by altering the experiences that make up our first impressions. You have an endless capacity to accomplish the impossible if you only strive, work hard, take charge of your future, stay loyal to yourself, and believe it is achievable. Never take the seemingly simple route out of a situation. After all, easy life is rarely meaningful, and meaningful life is rarely easy. Conclusion: Nobody in the world has the same personality as another. Even triplets or twins who are raised in the same environment have very diverse personalities. Also, a person's personality is a pattern of attributes along with the influence of the many people that became a part of your life no matter how small, rather than just a collection of their many traits. This personality characteristics aid in the prediction and justification of that person's actions. Despite these many influences, it is imperative that you have complete control over your own life. After all, we are completely responsible for everything that we do and will do.

When we were kids, all we could think about was getting older and doing "grown-up" things. We spent our entire childhood imagining what we would do when we finally "grew up," and now that we are almost fully grown, we still aren't sure what it is we want to accomplish. When the time comes for the picture to be removed from the wall and put into action, it's not nearly as much fun as painting the picture in our heads of what it will be like when we ultimately do grow up. Curt Storring imparts his life's lessons, wisdom, and counsel to everyone listening today. Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional. After all, maturity is a high price to pay for growing up. Tune in as he is asked questions about life, personal growth, and more! Quotes: “With our emotions, we need to know how to be with our children and see, appreciate, and affirm them.” – Curt Storring “Anytime you are struggling, give thanks because you're being forged. You're being forged into an absolute savage because you can handle it.” – Curt Storring “Act your age, not your shoe size.” – Curt Storring Takeaways: Parents have the biggest influence on how their children will grow up so be sure to give them the support they need, After all, children don’t need the perfect parent, they just need you. There is scarcely any passion without struggle. You need to spend time crawling alone through shadows to truly appreciate what it is to stand in the sun. A lot of people seem to grow old but never actually grow up. Stop acting immaturely and become the calm, bright, and mature person you were always meant to be. Conclusion: Growing up isn't about doing what's right or wrong; rather, it's about accepting responsibility for your actions, managing the fallout, and pursuing your goals. It has to do with how you handle situations in a responsible manner. Only through life experience and learning from mistakes will one be able to achieve them. Even as adults, we continue to learn and encounter things that make us smarter, therefore the process of growing up may never be completely accomplished.

In a world where problems are abundant, feeling powerless and overwhelmed is easy. However, some refuse to let these problems defeat them and instead find innovative ways to make a difference. These individuals view the world's challenges as opportunities for growth and change. They understand that it's never too early to make a difference and today's youth can play a crucial role in shaping a better future. Whether you're a young person looking for ways to make a difference or someone who wants to contribute to a better world, you have the power of innovation and the impact that it can have on our communities and the world at large. Benjamin Wong shares his life experiences, lessons, and advice with future entrepreneurs. Age has nothing to do with what you can contribute to society. Tune in as young leaders ask questions about life, personal growth, entrepreneurship, and more! Quotes: "I'm all about getting more kids involved with entrepreneurship and exposed to entrepreneurship, you know, as a way to close the opportunity gap and provide enormous opportunities to kids all across the world, quite literally."– Benjamin Wong "So there's been times where I was sad, I'm going to college. But interestingly enough, whenever I was so focused on getting the right grades, or the right, extracurriculars, I ended up not being as productive as when I didn't care and was doing things for fun."– Benjamin Wong "And just like that, that ethos of just providing a ton of value to people in combination with having a podcast where all these people weren't organically coming on. Just look at this roster of connections that are very valuable to me today."– Benjamin Wong Takeaways: While traditional education can provide a strong foundation of knowledge and skills, it doesn't always prepare us for the challenges and complexities of real life. We need to recognize that there are limitations to what school can teach us and seek out opportunities to learn from other sources. Schools need to incorporate practical life skills such as financial literacy, communication, and critical thinking into the curriculum. These skills are essential for success in the real world and can help bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application. One of the greatest benefits of podcasts is connecting with a diverse range of people and learning from their experiences. We can find communities of like-minded individuals through podcasts and expand our perspectives beyond our immediate surroundings. Podcasts offer a wealth of information and insights on a variety of topics. They can be a powerful tool for lifelong learning, providing access to expert knowledge and thought-provoking discussions. With the right approach, podcasts can help us deepen our understanding of the world around us and broaden our horizons. Conclusion: Entrepreneurship and social impact are two powerful ways to make a difference. Regardless of age, anyone can become an entrepreneur with the help of consistency and perseverance. Turning an idea into a successful business venture takes time, dedication, and hard work. With persistence, entrepreneurs can overcome obstacles, learn from failures, and ultimately achieve success. Consistency and perseverance are vital qualities that can help anyone become a successful entrepreneur, while young people have the potential to create a significant social impact. By combining these two forces, we can inspire change, create value, and build a better future for ourselves and future generations.

During the adolescent period, we will face various challenges that can alter our way of life. How we would deal with those challenges can dictate the life ahead of us. But oftentimes, the culture in our society affects its outcomes. If you are upset or disappointed by something, let those feelings out and show your emotions. It is not a weakness but bravery—a courageous step to take action and resolve what you feel inside. Jordan Rogers shares his life experiences, advice, and guidance with future leaders. Turning from a boy to a man is not a simple task. You’ll need to recognize your mistakes in life and slowly transition to be a better man. If you struggle, reconnect with yourself by unifying your mind, body, and spirit.  Tune in as young leaders ask questions about life, personal growth, business, and more! Quotes: “In order to heal it, you have to feel it.” – Jordan Rogers “We are physical beings—the mind, body, and spirit all work together. And so working those in unison helped me heal myself from addiction. That’s why I became passionate about helping others harness that power and heal.  – Jordan Rogers “If we focus on other people, we suddenly can’t be in our head all day long. So we can serve them and have an impact as well.” – Jordan Rogers Takeaways: It's okay to be disappointed or upset. Voicing what you feel will help you recognize your true emotions, learn from them, and heal. In our culture, people who take drugs will be branded as bad people and frequently cast away. This kind of thinking is wrong; as those people are not bad, they are hurt. As such, instead of seeing them as bad, we need to help them elevate their pain and get back to their enjoyable way of life. Rebrand yourself and reconnect with your body. Work your body, mind, and spirit, and harness that power to heal. Conclusion: As we take our steps toward adulthood, we will constantly stumble upon challenges that can bring us down. And with how society works, we might find it hard to climb up. With the pain the problems brought us, healing would be tough. But if we harness the power of unifying our mind, body, and spirit, we can recover from our addiction, slowly transitioning from a boy to a truly wise man.

We often hear the quote, “Education is Power”. This is true as education equips us with the weapon of knowledge to achieve our dreams and face any challenges in life. Sadly, people are willing to spend on education just to get small value. Students cannot see how critical it is to have education, the knowledge they can use to improve the world and their lives. The world is slowly becoming illiterate, as students don’t have the desire to read. And they use different methods to cheat, not knowing that they only fool themselves. Roger Parrot shares his life experiences, wisdom, and advice with future generations. Education is critical, but nowadays, people do not see how valuable it is. Students must understand how education can revolutionize their life to be prepared for the challenges in life, but they need to put in the effort to acquire it. Tune in as young leaders ask questions about life, personal growth, education, and more! Quotes: “College experience shouldn't be transformational. It should show that revolutionize your life to prepare you for great things. However, you've got to invest, ” – Roger Parrot “The downside of this generation is they don't read. And we are becoming an illiterate world, not just a country. People do not want to read. And when you don't read the words, you don't get the enrichment and insights, all the things that you could get out of it.” – Roger Parrot “I'm challenging my campus to ask students who you're cheating. If you use Chat GPT and use it for paper, you didn't cheat us, and we'll give you the grade. It didn't change anything. It didn't hurt us. All you're doing is cheating yourself.” – Roger Parrot Takeaways: Education is the only product that people purchase and are content to receive a low value for. On the other hand, if students demanded value for their education, the nature of higher education would change. This generation of students knows the importance of working as a team and helping each other out. The downside is that students now do not want to read, and the world is becoming illiterate. Students should love reading and realize the value of it to get pieces of knowledge that can help them in life. Students must understand that when they cheat, they only cheat themselves. As such, students need to take their studies seriously because, in the end, their lack of knowledge from cheating will have a huge impact on their life. Conclusion: A person's most powerful weapon should be education. It equips us with the knowledge we need to navigate this complex world. It prepares us for life's challenges. And it will be one of the means by which our dreams will be realized. Education is essential; everyone should have it and must enjoy it in order to get the most out of it.

Failure has many valuable lessons to teach us, one of which is that anyone can experience it. It is difficult to accept the fact that no one is immune to it. The fact that it teaches us to never take anything for granted and to always put in the effort makes it a very essential lesson as well. Everyone is fallible, and mistakes are common. But the ability to learn from these errors and turn them into stepping stones for achievement is what sets the successful apart from the unsuccessful. Giancarlo Bodoni imparts his life's lessons, wisdom, and counsel to aspiring leaders. Failure is a part of life, and it makes us more resilient. If we give up every time we run into a roadblock, we'll never succeed. We must develop the ability to accept our mistakes and grow from them. Tune in as young leaders ask questions about life, personal growth, entrepreneurship, and more! Quotes: “I struggled a lot with self-doubt and confidence in general. But I didn't want anybody to think that I had tried something and failed. I refused to fail.” – Giancarlo Bodoni “I want to be able to do something that I haven't done before. There's no reason why I shouldn't be able to do it, as long as I set my mind to it.” – Giancarlo Bodoni “Don't try to change people and try to make them more like you. Instead, have everybody be on the same page and have them identify each of their strengths and weaknesses.” – Giancarlo Bodoni Takeaways: The idea is to never give up despite the difficulties and disappointments that come with life. We must never give up; we must constantly get back up and keep going. Making seemingly impossible undertakings possible requires a strong will. The motto of outstanding people is "Nothing is Impossible," as any task can be completed with tenacity and diligence. Having a solid group of people around you not only keeps you grounded but also allows you to think creatively, push the envelope with new ideas, and most importantly, it gives you a strong support system. It is crucial for a team to function cohesively, to have a common objective, and to support one another in achieving that objective. Conclusion: Although difficult, failure is a valuable experience. We may apply the lessons it teaches us to better our lives. It demonstrates to us that we are fallible and that difficulties abound in life. It also teaches us the value of perseverance, humility, and learning from our mistakes. The youth need to learn these lessons as they set out on their path to becoming successful adults.

Raising your standards means setting a higher bar for yourself and refusing to settle for anything less. It involves pushing yourself to grow and develop, learn new skills, and take on new challenges. It's about striving for excellence in everything you do, from your relationships to your career. John Richards is a highly accomplished individual with a rich military service and leadership background. He served as a US Navy SEAL for over two decades, completing numerous deployments to various parts of the world. During his time in the military, John demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and was recognized for his contributions to the success of his teams. Tune in as young leaders ask questions about life, personal growth, entrepreneurship, and more! Quotes: "It always ends up being a small world. You find that when you have people moving forward intentionally, paths inevitably cross with people with those lower standards. And so people want to raise the standards."– John Richards "I wanted to be something far bigger than myself. I wanted to have a purpose I wanted to try. And that's I think that's something we missed today with technology, is people are not just removed, but severed from an actual tribe."– John Richards "If you truly want to do something, you don't care how inconvenient it is, you'll go make it happen, and you're going to get far more creative than you ever thought you could be. Because you're obsessed with getting the answer you're looking for."– John Richards "Because the way you do things is the way you do everything. So, make you better so that you can go do whatever." – John Richards Takeaways: Raising your standards means setting a higher bar for yourself and refusing to settle for mediocrity. By setting high standards, you push yourself to grow and develop, learn new skills, and take on new challenges. Having a sense of purpose that is bigger than yourself can help you stay motivated and focused. It gives you a reason to push through difficult times and work towards something meaningful. Whether it's your personal relationships or your professional endeavors, strive to do your best in everything you do. This means putting in the effort and taking the time to do things right, even when it's difficult or challenging. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks and keep moving forward. Cultivate resilience by developing a growth mindset, staying positive, and focusing on solutions rather than problems. Conclusion: In conclusion, raising standards, having a sense of purpose, and doing your best in all aspects of life are crucial elements for achieving success and fulfillment. These principles are particularly important for young men who are still figuring out their place in the world. Having a sense of purpose at an early age can provide young men with a guiding compass that can help them navigate through the challenges and obstacles they will undoubtedly face in life. It gives them something to work towards and a reason to push through the tough times. It can also help them develop a strong sense of self, cultivate resilience, and foster a growth mindset.