The Playbook: Dominate Your 20's

I was in the 9th grade. I had just found out that I made the basketball team at my high school. This was my first time being a part of a sports team. I used to watch Allen Iverson youtube mixtapes all day long. I dreamed that in spite of my short height, I would make it to the league.  But there was one problem. I did not own any basketball shoes. Couldn't afford them. My mom was an immigrant and it was just me and her. My dad was not in the picture. Life was rough. But I begged my mom for some basketball shoes. Specifically DRose 1's from Adidas. My mom would give me the same response every time, "Isai, no tengo el dinero" meaning, I don't have the money. Game day arrived. I got dressed, listened to the Heart of a Champion on replay in the morning to get myself in game mode. My mom and I walked out of our second floor apartment in Tampa, FL, got in the car, and all of a sudden, she hands me an orange box, with a Nike swoosh sign on it. I opened it with bubbling excitement and there they were... all black nike basketball shoes. They weren't DRose 1's but I didn't care. My NBA dreams were finally becoming a reality.  As soon as school got out, I ditched my backpack, and made my way into the gym. Put up shots all afternoon until it was time to change into my jersey. When game time arrived, I imagined myself as Michael Jordan, lacing them up, ready to dominate the game. When we ran into the gym, I saw my mom in the stands, cheering us on. It was the first and last game she ever went to.  We won the game. I dropped 5 points but I felt like I was on top of the world. The car ride back home, I was telling my mom every little detail about the game and she smiled the entire time, but never said a word. We finally reached our 2 bedroom, 1 bath apartment, and as we approached the door, she handed me the keys to open the door. I turned both locks, opened the door, and to my surprise, my mom walked in and didn't attempt to turn on the house lights. Strange, I thought.  I walked in and turned the light switch on. Nothing. I tried again. Nothing. I tried again. Nothing. Then my mom spoke for the first time, "Get the candles and light them." Thats when it hit me. We didn't have electricity. But why? In that moment the light switch went off in my head. Basketball shoes. The money she would have used for the electricity she spent on basketball shoes. She gave me all she had so that I could enjoy and experience my highest and happiest potential.  That's why I created The Playbook. I want to give to you what my mom gave to me. The gift of experiencing and enjoying YOUR happiest and highest potential. I wasn't born with a silver spoon, with connections, or with much talent. I'm just a regular dude with average skill but phenomenal will. I have learned how to win and dominate in every area of my life as a man in his 20's and now, more than anything, I want you to have that too.