I Did it MY WAY

The Cost of Being You

Being yourself might cost you in the short term. It’ll cost you quick money, some opportunities, and possible comfort—even relationships. But here’s the part most people don’t understand—those things aren’t right for you anyway. Saying yes to them is what actually costs you— it will cost you your peace, your self-respect, and eventually your soul. I’m not trading who I am for some quick money—because I trust that being fully me is exactly what will bring success, which to me is peace and aligned income. 

Life Lately

First—just some life updates.

It’s been a wild stretch. From an income perspective, this has been the best three-month run I’ve had since leaving Progressive three years ago. Which is crazy to even say out loud. Three years removed from walking away from an 11-year career. If I stayed, I’d be going into year 15 right now.

And I’d be in a very different spot.

I’d probably have over half a million in my 401k. I’d likely be pulling $50k+ bonus checks at the end of the year. There are days where I sit with that and think about what that version of life would look like—more stability, more predictability, probably already owning the kind of property I want.

And yeah… that part can weigh on me.

But at the same time—this has been pretty fucking awesome.

I’ve made a substantial amount of money so far this year. And at the same time, this month is going to be a down month. That’s the game when you generate your own income. The ebbs and flows are real. What’s interesting though is this “down month” would’ve been a solid month for me last year.

So I’m learning. Still. Three years in, I’m still learning how to deal with that.

I also just locked in my second brand deal—or should be finalizing it today—with a natural skincare company for men. Which is pretty damn cool. And I’m continuing to do more work with Live Bearded, which I genuinely stand behind. If you’ve been looking for good products, my affiliate links are in my bios on Facebook and Instagram, and the discount code is Coach Kyle.

And then there’s my son.

My little man is doing incredible. Growing every day, starting to coo, making all kinds of noises. One of the best parts of my day is just sitting there with him and taking it all in.

Something I’ve been working on is asking him what he did that made him proud that day—even though he can’t answer yet. And sharing the same with him. What I struggled with, what I’m proud of, how proud I am of him and his mom.

Watching Kallie be a mom… I say this every time I write, but I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. It’s unreal.

And it’s also been hard.

We’re both exhausted. There are days where I’m struggling to get out of bed, struggling to get through workouts, struggling to get everything done—and she’s doing the same. For almost 10 years, it was just us. Now there’s this little guy who needs everything we’ve got.

That changes things.

Less time and energy for each other. Some days we don’t have anything left in the tank.

But we’re intentional. We talk. We make the time when we can. And I know, because of the love in this family, that we’re going to be okay.

The Opportunity That Wasn’t

And all of that brings me to this.

There was an opportunity that came across my plate recently. A role that, on paper, made a lot of sense. Something I already know how to do. Something I’m good at. Part-time, solid base, additional commission—would’ve helped me hit my income goal this year.

Before I even applied, I had a feeling.

Not certainty—but an intuition. And honestly, part of me almost didn’t even want to apply because of it. But I needed to know. I needed to hear it.

And I did.

They looked at my social media and told me it didn’t align with their brand.

I’m just too unfiltered for them. Too abrasive. Too offensive.

And even though I felt it coming… it still stung.

“Fuck… they don’t like me.”

That was the first thought.

It hit my ego. It bothered me.

But then I realized something bigger.

I needed that no.

Because what it showed me is that, by embracing my authentic self, I didn’t just step away from corporate America—I burned that bridge to the ground. Not just the bridge. The boats. The life jackets. All of it.

It’s all sitting at the bottom of the ocean.

There is no going back.

That safety net? After three years of clinging to it, it’s finally fucking gone.

And yeah—that’s scary.

But it’s also freeing as hell.

Because now the only option is forward.

Sink or swim.

And as soon as I told my wife, she sent me a video of my son and a message telling me how proud she is of me and that everything is going to be okay.

That meant everything.

The Line I Won’t Cross

But then I had to sit with the real question:

Would I actually want that job if it meant I had to become someone else to keep it?

No.

Because let’s be honest—that’s what it would take.

It wouldn’t be a small adjustment. It wouldn’t be “tone it down a little.”

I’d have to dismantle what I’ve spent the last four years building.

Clean it up. Filter it. Watch what I say. Think twice before I speak. Start playing the game again.

And I’ve already lived that life.

For 11 years.

That version of me didn’t just suck—it was a version of me I couldn’t live with. It got to the point where I had two options:

Figure my shit out… or literally end my life.

That’s where I was at.

So would I trade everything I’ve built just to go back to being that guy?

No.

Not just no—fuck no.

Not even a little bit.

Why This Actually Matters

Because this—what I’ve built, what I’m doing, the way I get to show up—it’s not an accident.

And I’d be crazy to walk away from it now just for a little more stability in the short term.

Because that’s all it is—short term.

And then I think about my son.

My job isn’t to turn him into me. It’s to create the space for him to figure out who he is—and give him the confidence to actually be that person.

But I can’t teach that if I’m not living it.

And I damn sure can’t expect him to grow into a strong, grounded man if I’m out here shrinking myself for money.

Because if he grows up and becomes the version of me that was empty, numb, and just going through the motions…

That’s a failure on me.

And I’m not willing to risk that.

Final Thought

So yeah—being yourself comes with consequences, good and bad.

But I’m not losing opportunities—I’m destroying the wrong ones.

I’m taking a wrecking ball to anything that isn’t aligned.

Yeah, that might cost me in the short term. It might feel uncomfortable. It might kill the safety net.

But what it creates?

Peace. Alignment. Fulfillment. The life I actually want.

And I don’t know about you—but I’d rather take a wrecking ball to the wrong life than spend my time living one that was never mine to begin with.

As always, thanks for reading, 

Kyle

Song of the Week

I Did It My Way — Frank Sinatra

We sang this at my grandfather’s funeral.

I remember him singing it on his 80th birthday—karaoke, just owning it.

And that’s what life is about.

What the fuck is the point of getting to the end and realizing you did it somebody else’s way?

That’s not life.

I want to be able to look back and say that—without hesitation.

I did it my way.

And by doing that, I gave others the courage to do the same.