In this episode, I want to talk about something that has followed me in different forms throughout my life-bullying, criticism and the opinions of other people.
As a kid, I was small, ginger-haired and constantly the new boy at school. My mum had left my biological father because of his gambling, we moved around a lot, and for a period of time she was couch surfing while trying to create a better life for us. I was bullied, I struggled to fight back, and sometimes the only thing I could do was run — so I learned to run fast.
But I also learned how to survive. My mum taught me chess, and by 10 years old I became a school champion. Those early experiences started to teach me something I've carried with me ever since: you can't always control what happens to you, but you can decide what you do next.
Today, the playground looks different. I've dealt with keyboard warriors, online bullying, people trying to tear me down, being labelled controversial and even being blackmailed. And sometimes the people who try to hold you back aren't strangers — they can be the people closest to you.
But here's what I've learned: you cannot build your life around the opinions of other people.
If you have a dream, go after it. If you have something to say, say it. If you want to build something, build it. Be careful who you allow into your closest circle, because the people you spend your life around can have a huge influence on the person you become and the direction you take.
And when the criticism comes, don't automatically see it as a reason to stop. Sometimes it's a sign that you're being seen, that your message is travelling further and that you're inspiring people you may never even know about.
Life is too short to shrink yourself to make other people comfortable.
Be who you are. Go after what you want. Document your journey, protect yourself, stand by your truth — and whatever you do, don't let the bullies, the haters or the keyboard warriors stop you from living the life you know you're capable of.
You only get one. Don't waste it living for somebody else's approval!
