The beginning of my adventure was well-spent at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. It's a conference that I've attended the last four years consecutively. As many of you know, this year I was elected as the Alumni Executive Board Representative for Region 1. I've been involved in SkillsUSA since I was in high school in many facets - Chapter President, National Medalist, Professional Partner, Volunteer, and now this prestigious position overseeing the alumni involvement from Maryland to Maine.

This year, one of our speakers referenced a Muhammad Ali quote that I hold very dear to my heart. It nails how I feel about life, success, career and education.

“The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights. ”

— Muhammad Ali

It seems like we're becoming a less accountable society by the minute. We can slay, roast, grill and fry people on social media with no repercussion. We can swipe left and right on a dating app that guarantees a fast dinner with a side of hanky-panky. We can binge watch Netflix for six hours and go to work and brag about it. We can scarf down an entire pizza that we order on our phones and chase it down with too much wine. I personally lose sight of my personal success. I get distracted by things that are unrelated to my growth and create false constructs that I deserve my laziness. Sometimes we really do deserve (and need) some down time, but we have to constantly ask ourselves if we're under-utilizing our energy on a day to day basis to accomplish goals. How often our we questioning our personal balance between moments of sloth and gluttony with our moments of productivity?

Are we selling ourselves short by overindulging on relaxation? Is watching six hours of TV really relaxation? Could we live with greater ease if we held ourselves at a higher standard of accountability?

I could till this stuff over in my mind for years but it wouldn't change a thing from the past. When I fully process and accept the outcome, I can move on and grow as an individual.

Sometimes accountability is laughable, slightly dangerous and kind of fun to recount. Sometimes it's choosing to sleep in and drive across the Mojave Desert in the middle of the day. Do you know that the Mojave was exceptionally hot this summer? On this specific day, it was a scorching 116 degrees. You have air conditioning in your car and you can keep as cool as possible, but that heat will penetrate into the deepest coils of your brain and make you crazy. You're this tiny metal engine crossing a vast desert and the sun is simply beating onto the roof. I had been recording myself speaking about my adventure while I drove and I can say without a doubt: you can hear the insanity in my voice.

I spoke to my Dad a few days prior and he reminded me to wake up early and cross the desert. He emphasized that it would be hard on the car and hard on me if I was coasting across the fiery desert in the middle of the day. He warned against breaking down and inevitably being stranded on a two-way highway. I drove pretty late the day before and didn't realize how close I was to the barren land.

I had spent the afternoon enjoying Monterey Bay. I pulled into a Trader Joe's and stocked up on snacks before venturing out to Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row. The metallic carnival noises were accented by children laughing and seagulls trying to steal funnel cakes. I ended my stay with a stop into Nacho Business for the most epicurean nachos I've ever encountered. They were exactly what you wanted but everything was fresh, made from scratch and the crew was super friendly. I sat on a bench and crushed nachos while the day turned into evening. Eventually, I jumped back into my familiar car and kept heading south on the Pacific Coast Highway before turning east towards Bakersfield. Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore and I caved into my exhaustion. California, being the chill state it is, happens to be totally cool with people sleeping over at rest stops. I stopped on the Southbound side of 101 at Camp Roberts Rest Stop. There was a sign to beware of rattlesnakes and I obviously hurried on tiptoes into the bathroom with my head on a swivel. Yeah, yeah... I know... snakes don't really hang out at night. Don't judge me.

I settled into the backseat of my car in my sleeping bag and dozed off. I woke up early and again scurried into the snake pit rest area to get myself cleaned up. When I returned to my car I made the most idiotic decision without even looking at the map ahead, I went back to sleep. When I finally got up around 9 am, I started off east not knowing that by about noon, I would be driving straight through a damn desert. I had plenty of water in the car but one recording of me suggests I had become very concerned that the heat would make my tires explode. Again, laughable now... at the time, I was genuinely terrified and frustrated with my decisions.

Eventually I made it through and I started seeing signs for the Grand Canyon. I cut up Route 64 in Arizona and found camp about and hour from the south rim of the canyon. The next morning, I held myself accountable. I woke up around 4:00 am and drove the stretch to the Grand Canyon and made it a point to watch the sun rise over the orange and red rocks carved by the Colorado River. It was so satisfying. It was even more satisfying than sleeping in the back seat of my car for a few extra hours.

That day I pushed myself all the way from the Grand Canyon to Crested Butte, Colorado by way of the Million Dollar Highway. I felt motivated and inspired by the mountains. For many, Highway 550 is simply the most dangerous road in America. To me, it's one of the most memorable. I adore the drive from Durango through Silverton to Ouray and finally into Crested Butte. I love the hairpin turns, the gigantic mountains and the old mine shafts. I love the lack of cell service and the hundreds of feet between the edge of the road and the bottom of the gaping crevasses. Every moment of it was exhilarating and reminiscent of my time in Colorado. It was the first highway I ever experienced as a passenger in Colorado and it was a huge reason for wanting to get out west and live that life. If you're an accountable person that makes safe and conscious decisions, Million Dollar Highway should be pleasurable. If you're not sure of yourself as a driver, it can be the most devastatingly painful ride of your life.

Hairpin Turns

One after the other after the other with old miner's houses and shafts as scenery.

Silverton, CO

The weirdest little town I've ever loved.

Ouray, CO

Normal highway going over a normal waterfall down a normal hundreds of feet just before entering the hot spring town of Ouray.

Blue Mesa

The last big stretch just past Black Canyon. Technically Highway 50 past Montrose but it's included as my favorite drive of all time.

This concept stretches so far into our lives. It's a principle that can be translated into many different variations. It can dictate how we handle challenges at work. If I'm a confident chef that understands where I can be fallible, I can be stronger and more successful. I'm not going to go down in flames on a busy Saturday night because I considered this long before the ticket machine started spitting out orders. I made sure I had everything I needed and buckled down for a bumpy ride. Before I entered the ring, I practiced, studied, and readied myself. I prepared for the worst so that I could perform at my best. When I find weakness in myself, I address it, hone it and move forward. I don't stew on my inabilities; I turn them into my finest traits.

And sure enough, when I do fail (and I know that I will sometimes), I hold myself accountable. I ask myself where I could have made a different decision. I let myself feel ignorant and guilty. I relish the emotion. Then, as only the strong can do, I move on. I let go but I don't forget. I grow and improve and one day, I'll be the very best version of myself. You better bet your money that when I get under those lights, it'll be a KO.