Today we’d like to introduce you to Samuel Washington.
Samuel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The power of choice can easily be removed from our lives so fast. As a child growing up in poverty-stricken environments, I never thought I had more choices than what I saw every day. Your surroundings are very influential in your everyday decisions and for me those decisions were not positive. That type of mindset followed me to my teens and early adulthood. People ask me, what’s the best recipe for change, and I answer with three simple elements, Mindset, opportunity, and failure. In every aspect in my life I had a choice, from what I wore, the sports I liked, the friends I had, etc. The issue for me was I didn’t understand that I could apply that same method in moving in a more positive direction. My life has been full of roads that could have led nowhere but the power of choice saved me.
Early 2014, to the world and my family I seemed like I had it all figured out, The U.S. Army soldier who did something different. I received so many praises for what I thought wasn’t deserved. My life wasn’t as glamorous as they thought, as a matter of fact I breaking down internally and it was beginning to show on the outside. The power of choice saved my life. I had already failed so many times in life and the military provided me with opportunity, so the only thing for me to see change was my mindset. People first laughed when I said, “It’s Your Choice”, but that’s where the new mindset started for me. I had to make a decision and continue to make that same decision. I now understood the recipe and started to feel and see change in my life.
If the power of choice saved me, would it do the same for somebody else? That’s the question I asked myself before I embarked on this journey to instill choices in anybody, I’m able to touch. Now it’s more than the power of choice, it’s also the understanding of ownership. The easy to remember phrase of, “It’s Your Choice” is simple but a very powerful one. This movement helps you take ownership of your Mindset, Happiness, and Success. Who better to control those things than yourself? The ability to not let your environment define to you, the understanding of letting your failures become life lessons, and the power of creating your own happiness. These things are available to each of us but it starts with the knowledge and understanding that, It’s Your Choice.
Has it been a smooth road?
This type of work comes with its set of challenges. The first and major challenge was to get the people who I grew up with and who knew me before I decided to take this journey to take me seriously. I was a class clown growing up but I always was a talker. I just decided to change the topic to something more important. The next challenge would be taking that full bet on myself. This meant me leaving my regular job and going full steam into entrepreneurship. That word has a lot of letters in it for a reason, it really requires a lot of you. There have been days where I wanted to give up and then there are days, I get confirmation that my purpose is being fulfilled. The challenges are to grab on to the good days when you’re having a bad one.
It’s Your Choice. LLC – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
It’s Your Choice, LLC is not just a company. It’s a brand, motto, mindset and a lifestyle. I’m an author of the book, The Seven Challenges: seven steps to a new mindset! I train individuals, groups, organizations, and companies on the power of resilience, leadership development, personal development and team building skills. Those three words sets me apart. Whenever I finish up or leave from around someone that may not remember the whole spill but really remember, it’s your choice but not only do they remember it. They start to implement it into their lives and that truly makes the company proud!
One of my proudest moments so far was producing my first book. It makes me proud on different levels. As a father of three, I want my children to know how powerful the mind is but how much more powerful words are and if they do it right, they can get their mind to follow their words. I put out three years ago in the air that I was going to write a book. Now, I’m here to tell you it didn’t go as plan and timeline was looking rough but I learned that it’s about the commitment not the timing. That commitment got me my first book this year and so proud that my words can carried on for generations to come.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I love the Houston area. I plan to make my mark here. I’m originally from Baton Rouge, LA and proud of it but you can’t help but to love H-Town. The diversity, the inclusion, the entrepreneurship spirit that you feel from the area. It’s truly a place of opportunity.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 225-284-7479
- Email: iycsam225@gmail.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/iycsam
- Facebook: Facebook.com/iycsam
- Other: The Seven Challenges: 7 steps to a new mindset https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088N3X9LK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_B.z8EbA3Z2V3W
Suggest a story: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
