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Together, we’ll dive deep and find the strength to never give up because Great Things Take Time.

You’re on the right path at the right time. Forget what everyone else says, your journey is meant to look like this.

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Here's what's in today's email

• Mirror Mirror

• Moments with Maurice

• What's Got Me Smilin'

Mirror Mirror

Tuesday night, I said yes to a book event with Tunde. It’s a school night, so you know the initial feeling was… “eh, but I have work in the morning… I’m tired… Feels overwhelming.”

But I said yes to a coworker and friend who always makes me laugh, and yes to getting out of the house more, and a 30-minute talk by Melinda Gates for her newest book launch ended up giving me more than I expected. 

There is a lot of what Melinda said that resonated with me and, to be completely honest, surprised me. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I had expectations and preconceived notions about what this event would look like. She is a billionaire after all.

Preconceived notions are a tricky thing to deal with, especially when they are self-proclaimed.

This is where that mirror picture comes into play. 

“The people we used to be were doing the best they could” was written on a mirror at the event. You could literally reflect on yourself with these words. It brought me back to a time and place where I was so harsh and critical of myself due to preconceived notions. 

I would beat myself down because I was so caught up in what I thought my life should be. I believed I needed to be at a certain place in my career by 25, own property by a certain age, and have a family by another date. Every year and every milestone were reminders of how “off” the path I was. Everything I achieved came with criticisms that I wasn’t hitting the mark I should have. It didn’t feel good. 

But no matter how I felt about my progress, I should have been able to see that I was trying my hardest. What I was giving at the moment was everything that I could. Sure, I felt like I could have given more, but in hindsight, most of us feel that way. 

Looking back at myself in the mirror on Tuesday was a man who had missed all of the stops he should have taken. The things he thought he had to do. He had missed out on countless opportunities that would have led to a better life… or so he thought. 

That same man was also someone who kept going, even if the pace was slow. It was the one who eventually owned that his decisions, while they might have felt wrong at the time, led him down his path. 

Had I listened to preconceived notions of where I should have been, I doubt I’d have found a fulfilling life. I got better at listening to what I wanted out of life and where I wanted to go, and eventually, the road I thought I was supposed to be on wasn’t even a thought that crossed my mind. 

Who I was was the exact right person I needed to be.

Melinda Gates embodied this for me. She’s a busy billionaire, but she's also a gentle Southern woman who makes time for the people she cares about. On Mondays, she and her friends go for walks to catch up. It’s not fancy or a spectacle like I would have expected, but it’s their time to connect.

Tuesday was a reminder to reflect on how far I’ve come, but also how important it is to go internally, cut out the noise, and pay attention to whether your milestones make sense for you. 

You’re on the right track, and your age has nothing to do with your journey.

Moments with Maurice

If you only pause to reflect on your life for one moment today, do it now.

Did your childhood self ever think you’d be here?

Cars have been in my life since I was a child, but I didn’t realize how much they meant to me until later on. If boy-Adrian could see what I drive now, he’d probably be in shock.

For me, cars are much more than a place to get from point A to point B, they are also a form of self-expression and a way to recharge. We all have our thing, and a lot of the time, it’s something we never thought was possible as a kid.

Because no matter what, there is always something to smile about.

Behind the Scenes

Recording the hit of the summer?

Damn, They Put Their Foot In This

Hungry Ghost in WV. Stumbled in to kill time but ended up staying for the vibes and the people watching. This is a great starting point to a West Side walk around the city.

Not My Cars, But I Can Still Drool Over Them

Below is not a wasp or other flying insect, it’s an SSC Tuatara… valued at around $1.6 million. While this was a pizza and cars event, this clearly was the Wagyu beef of cars.

More of my favorites from J and B Body Works car meet.

Remember:

-Adrian