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Alex Sheen is the Founder and CEO of because I said I would. Inspired by the legacy of his father, Alex transformed a simple promise card into a global social movement that has distributed more than 15.5 million promise cards across 178 countries. Today, the nonprofit focuses on teaching resiliency skills and mental health habits through schools, prisons, workshops, and its 92-acre camp and retreat center in Ohio. In this interview, Alex talks about making promises, resiliency and mental health, and recognizing negative thinking.
Making promises
“I respect you too much to make a promise I can't keep.”
Alex explains that promises are more than commitments. They are reflections of personal integrity. What began as a tribute to his father's reputation for always following through has evolved into a philosophy centered on intentional accountability. He shares how the simple act of writing a promise on a card creates a level of seriousness that spoken words often lack.
He also discusses the importance of having the courage to say no when necessary. Rather than making commitments that are unlikely to happen, Alex encourages people to focus on completing the promises that truly matter. By establishing healthy boundaries and prioritizing meaningful commitments, individuals can avoid compounding disappointment while strengthening trust with others.
Resiliency and mental health
“It really is about the resiliency skills and mental health habits that we need to face the adversities of life.”
Alex describes how because I said I would has expanded beyond promise cards into an organization dedicated to helping people navigate life's challenges. Through workshops, educational programs, and its camp and retreat center, the nonprofit teaches practical skills such as stress management, accountability, self-control, and goal setting to students, families, organizations, and community groups.
He also reflects on the pandemic, when many of the organization's programs came to an abrupt halt. Rather than accepting defeat, the team shifted its mission by producing face masks for hospitals, supporting families affected by COVID-19, creating online resiliency courses, and ultimately investing in a permanent retreat center designed to sustain the organization's impact for generations.
Recognizing negative thinking
“You can have thoughts and not believe them.”
As a practical takeaway, Alex introduces four common negative thinking patterns: focusing on the negative, all-or-nothing thinking, catastrophizing, and negative self-labeling. While these thought patterns are natural, he explains that recognizing them is the first step toward preventing them from controlling our decisions and emotions.
Instead of reacting automatically, Alex encourages leaders and individuals alike to pause and identify which thinking pattern they may be experiencing. Simply acknowledging, "I'm catastrophizing," or "I'm focusing on the negative," creates space to respond more thoughtfully. This simple habit, which the organization teaches in schools, prisons, and retreats, helps build emotional resilience in both everyday life and leadership.
Alex can be reached on LinkedIn, and encourages listeners to visit becauseisaidiwould.org to learn more about the nonprofit and camp.becauseisaidiwould.org to learn more about its retreat center.
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