Honey Grove HS Football/Basketball/Track Assistant Coach

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"Showing Up Ain't Enough" Growing up, I was fortunate to experience a lot of successes. Whether athletics or academics - things came fairly easy for me. It was natural. I'm very thankful for that. As I got older, life punched me in the face!! And through those obstacles, I am blessed to have learned some very valuable lessons. I'm much more thankful for that! The harsh reality of life is quite simple

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"Showing Up Ain't Enough" Sure, getting up and getting there is half the battle, but the job's not done until it's won!! - Ain't For Rookies is a testament to those who believe in the hustle and respect the grind!! We come from the era of EARNED NOT GIVEN. No participation trophies. No gimmes. No gimmicks. No handouts. No silver spoons. To be the best, you've gotta beat the best! That's who we are. That's who we've been. All it takes is all you've got!! But, that's not for everybody! ... and it Ain't For Rookies!!

Director of Sales and Operations, Toyota Commercial Finance

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At some point in life, you will be challenged.  For some, those challenges come sooner, rather than later.  The message of "Effort is Everything," has become a touchstone for our son.  His baseball career started at a young age and quickly exposed him to a competitive atmosphere.  He was challenged with heartbreak and needed a strong set of tools in order to move forward.  We impressed upon him, with hard work, the results will come.

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He had control over his own actions, to be the hardest worker in the room.  In time, he found noticeable success and excelled as a player and a leader.  Effort is Everything!  As he grew up, taking advanced academic classes and striving for acceptance to his top university of choice, he implemented this simple yet profound phrase.  Effort is Everything!  Work with intention, pave your own path forward and make a memorable impact. At 20 years old, this remains a foundational tool as he experiences challenges and successes.

Founder

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Life is what you make it, they say. Powerful statement, but shallow. 

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As a kid, we are taught “hard work” and “sacrifices” will lead to happiness and success… right? Those two variables are part of the formula to reach the pinnacle in whatever dreams or goals are set forth, but add the unlimited and inevitable variables that are also experienced along the journey, that is the wild ride we like to refer as, LIFE. 

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We all experience it. All of us. 

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From being a care free kid to an adult smashing goals and chasing success, the ride we call life is “what you make it”. Hard fact to swallow, but at the end of the day, it’s the truth. 

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As I continue to observe on this “ride” of mine, the many obstacles, challenges, and failures that have been experienced over my 36 years, I learn to appreciate each chapter as they were. 

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At one point on my ride, no pun intended, I was experiencing a peak at the age of 14 and racing across the nation for Kawasaki “Team Green”, as a support rider in the world of amateur motocross. As you learn, that world is a gnarly sport in itself, then you throw in highly talented and competitive youth, you get some wild events thrown at you in early stages of life. Competition level and personal experiences. 

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From being close to a childhood dream and riding pro motocross, to waking up in a hospital bed with a left broken femur and a right shattered foot, life quickly teaches you anything can happen in the blink of an eye. Self inflicted or not, life happens. 

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Add to the equation above, I was fortunate to have parents who sacrificed EVERYTHING for their kids. This doesn’t mean they were rich. They were focused and had dreams set forth, they taught their kids to not be entitled and to have a level of GRIT in this dog-eat-dog world we live in. A parenting style my wife and I now instill in our children.

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To now reflect back on all the memories we have from their sacrifices… AMEN. My goal is to continue this mindset and approach to life on to my kids, as well. To wake up each day, good or bad, and inspire each other to continually grow and have self autonomy. Failures are the richest forms of education.

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If you say “must be nice” or “they’re just lucky”, Ain’t For Rookies is exactly the brand for you all. Nothing is handed to anyone in life. This brand is more than just a lifestyle apparel brand. It’s a community. 

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I hope to see it grow over the years to come. Filled with people of all over the world, all ages, professional backgrounds, and personal stories. 

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Because we all know, this wild ride we call “life” - “Ain’t For Rookies.”