Don’t give up before the miracle happens – Fannie Flagg

Never, never, never, give up – Winston Churchill

2020 has punched us. We are feeling the side effects.

I have one question for you. Are you about to throw in the towel? Are you ready to quit? Are you ready to give up hope? You only see roadblocks, stopping you from achieving. You are out of breath and facing a concussion from the punch.

2020 has made us feel redundant. However, the challenges in our life exist to make us stronger. Not to become cynical and bitter. Never let circumstances limit your dream. You need to positive, robust, ready to take over the world.

Do not let 2020 and COVID make you negative. The negative tunes start playing in the head. The ambition, faith, and enthusiasm go down the drain. We start leading a mediocre life and forget about our dreams.

December is my favorite month. My birthday falls in the first week and then it is Christmas. December is also the month when I catch up with all my family and friends. As I email, text, phone, and message with friends on social media, I realize some common themes. Disappointment, anger, resentment, bitterness, lack of forgiveness, blaming, health issues, death, and many other issues take place in our lives.

A common theme among my cousins is ‘Jerry you have had it easy’.

I lived with my grandparents, aunts, and female cousins from the age of 1 to 12.5 years old. At the age of 2, I was dropped by mistake from the changing table. My lips were cut open, fingers slashed, the front head was gashed.

I became sick because of that and had to be fed through a hole in my armpit.

Tell that to my mother who had three miscarriages before and four after me.

At St. Andrews, as I spend three years there, I get a little sense of belonging. I was one of the few Catholic boys.

At BCS, there were many times, I questioned myself what I was doing in this venerable institution. Once again, I found myself to be one of the only Catholic boys among 300 students.

The three years at Les Roches were fascinating. However, you are in a new country, a new language, and every six months you are moving to different cities to complete your internship.

As I backpacked across Europe, I realize I am different in many ways. I am brown in a sea of white.

After graduation, as I hit the job market, I realize for the last couple of years, I have moved through three different countries, through 10 cities.

I applied for a management training position in a Middle East country. I am told clearly that I have to hold an EU or a local passport. I apply for a driver’s license and for Asians, the exam is in a standard car. Everyone else can do the exam in an automatic car.

I really look at my dad and ask him how can he put up living as a second-class citizen? No way am I going to be treated this way, just because of my skin color.

Canada welcomed me with open arms.

I moved to Toronto, not knowing anyone. I had to get a job, pay rent, and start living in a new city. It was the new normal for me.

The tech boom had started. No one had heard of Les Roches.

After a stint at a few hotels, I made the switch into banking. I went back to night school, got a degree.

After I came first in sales at Scotia and won a cruise, I decided to leave while I was at the top. I always wanted to be a trader and work in wealth management.

After doing a whole bunch of courses, I started working with a few advisors.

I learned a lot and it took me a while to get used to the Bay Street culture.

After working with an advisor for a long time and no chance of buying the book, I made the move to a US firm.

Did I mention that the advisor that I worked with for 16 years never bought me a meal, never said thank you, and never gave me a thank you card?

I just had to accept that is the Bay Street style of doing business. It was always just about business.

2016 not only turned out to be one of the best years in my life but the beginning of the worst 18 months of my life. I lost three very close friends during that period.

As I say goodbye to financial services and move on to the next stage of my life, there are always challenges, questions. Am I scared of risks? Am I scared of failure?

Am I discounting grief? By no means. Grief is a process. Sometimes a very long process. Emotional pain can be gut-wrenching.

As I start a blog and work my way focusing on my passion, there is a long, road ahead. I could fall on my face and be unemployed.

I refuse to give up. I refuse to quit. I want to be a game-changer. I want to make a difference in the lives of people. I want to share the stories of countless people. I want to tell stories. I want to connect with people.

I am who I am because of hurt, rejection, pain, suffering, and failure.

Here is my call to action for you. Be human. But do not quit. Your best years are ahead of you.

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