In This Episode You’ll Learn:
- The importance of persistence
- Why you can’t let others’ judgments hold you back
- Why you should only focus on what you have control over
A Rough Start
Early in life Zach had no expectations of becoming the CEO he is today. Instead, he expected to go to prison.
Zach says growing up he idolized all the wrong people. By 17 he was into drugs and already had several criminal cases under his belt. He felt getting locked up was inevitable — and just two years later he found himself walking through the doors of the local prison on a three year sentence.
He attributes much of the change he’s undergone since to his time spent behind bars, but the game-changing factor didn’t happen until he found himself back in prison during the birth of his twin sons. He was going to do whatever it took to get home and be a happy, successful and responsible father.
Moving Forward
Zach explains that you don’t have to go to prison to have this kind of life changing moment:
“We all go through pain in life, that’s just part of living, the inevitable pain of humanity, the unavoidable suffering.”
After losing his sister to an overdose while he was in prison, on top of being away from his newborn children, he came to the realization that if he is still on earth, then there must be a greater purpose.
Zach says he asked himself, “What can I do to find happiness and peace?” That question brings into focus what you have power over and what you can do to be happy and peaceful.
“That pain that you go through is the source of the power.”
Darkness Before The Dawn
When he got out of prison after five years, no employer would take him seriously. Zach knew he had to take employment into his own hands, not accepting anything less than success.
The frustration of not being hired fueled his decision to launch his podcast. Zach says though it may seem impossible, if you want to succeed you have to fight against believing others’ snap-judgements. Do not let yourself be defined by past mistakes.
Zach truly believes that in order to become a successful entrepreneur, you have to have strong reasons behind your “why.” That’s what led him to launch the Underdog Empowerment podcast in 2018: to empowering other underdog entrepreneurs.
“Right before you make the giant break-through, that’s when you experience the most resistance.”
And resistance was no match for Zach. His story demonstrates that no matter what challenges arise in life, if you keep the end goal in mind and are able to transform other’s resistance into motivation, you can achieve unthinkable successes.
Learn More:
- Underdog Empowerment
- Zachary’s LinkedIn
- Zachary’s Website
- Zachary’s Instagram
- Zachary’s YouTube
- Zachary’s Facebook
Also Mentioned In This Episode:
- Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl
- Awaken The Giant Within by Tony Robbins
- Perfectly Yourself by Matthew Kelly
