If you want to know who I really am

Where I came from

If you grew up with me, you would know that I never really had big dreams or ambitions. I wasn't the best at anything, nor was I the worst. I did my part to simply not fall behind. Don't get me wrong, I still put in full effort at whatever I did, I just never had strong passions, dreams, or desires. The only real desire I had was for God, and I truly believe that's what's carried me all these years.

Without a plan, my only open door for college was UCR. I chose business because it felt open, it didn't lock me into one lane. Throughout my time in college, I invested my time into my education and my church. So what about my career? By the grace of God pulling the strings behind the scenes, I landed a student assistant role in payroll and personnel services, one I was definitely unqualified for, and it became my only real expertise once I graduated. Did I love it? Not really. But that's okay.

What changed

After college I had nothing lined up for me besides missions, still no career passions, no desires. Then I went to a worship night and had this thought: "You are an entrepreneur." It made no sense to me. I never saw myself as a risk taker, and I didn't have a sense of direction either. So what did I do with that? I desperately applied to get a traditional job. Whoops. I did end up landing one, in HR though. HR was the one thing I knew how to do, and it looked like the safe next step to not fall behind.

It took me sitting in that office day after day, knowing this was not where I was supposed to be, to finally face myself and take the risk of walking a different path than my peers. Once that HR role ended, I was back in the same spot, directionless, but this time with a real desire to obey what He was leading me toward.

One day I was scrolling social media and an opportunity came up for an AI course. I usually never felt peace about things like that, but this one felt different. I felt God's peace to go for it and invest in the course and in my own learning. Through that, I started learning real things about AI, and by His leading I got my first client, a content creator. Later, I was at a coffee shop and overheard someone in a meeting nearby. I felt the Holy Spirit tell me to talk to this man. After his meeting wrapped up, I struck up a conversation with no agenda, and somehow it turned into my next client. Won't He do it!

I realize more and more that God wants to be in all parts of my life. Not just church, not just when I need Him, but in my friendships, my career, my family, my wins and my losses. I've learned I truly can't do a thing without Him.

Through some of those clients, even more opportunities opened up. I somehow landed courses that normally cost thousands of dollars, paid for, and got mentored by the CEO of an AI company at the same time. God has equipped me to do things with AI that I couldn't have imagined on my own. I'm still learning and still growing, but I now carry a real desire to help other entrepreneurs grow their businesses and reach the dreams they never thought were even possible.

What I actually believe

I'm not the most qualified person to do this kind of work. I don't say that to be modest, that's just the truth. But I can say I'm under the One who is far above and exceedingly qualified. He's the best guide and teacher there is, and the foundation of everything that's built.

To me, AI will always only ever be a tool, one that relies entirely on the character of whoever's holding it. More on where I land on that on my AI ethics page, if you want the full version.

And in everything I do, I choose generosity, integrity, and joy. Generosity, because I've been given much. Integrity, because a house, or a business, only stands if it's built on solid rock. And joy, because it's genuinely fun to build out dreams and desires you never thought were even possible.

Jeremiah 29:11