Walking The Walk

Rebuilding the Foundation: How I Found Myself by Living the Code

Reaching Rock Bottom

By the time I reached my mid-30s, I had quietly given up on myself. Somewhere along the way, I decided my best days were behind me. For 15 years, I threw everything I had into building a career in storytelling. I was relentless, chasing deadlines and pouring myself into my work, but in the process, I neglected the basic fundamentals of being a functional adult.

Even when I worked from home making comic books, I could meet 12-hour deadlines, organize teams, and solve complex creative problems. But I couldn’t manage my own life. My bed went unmade. My apartment stayed a mess. Cooking? Forget it—processed food and takeout were my staples. I told myself these sacrifices were necessary for success. In reality, I was slowly unraveling.

Years of poor choices stacked up. By the time I noticed the damage, I was 270 pounds, in constant pain, with high blood pressure and shortness of breath just tying my shoes. I knew I was in trouble, but I didn’t know how to pull myself out.

The Failed Fixes

I tried to patch the problem with half-hearted fixes. A few trips to the gym here and there. A grocery run filled with foods I thought were “healthy.” But none of it stuck. Deadlines got in the way of workouts, and the food rotted in the fridge.

Looking back, I can see the problem clearly: I was trying to add good habits to a broken framework. My daily life—the foundation everything else was built on—was flawed. Trying to stack new habits on top of that was like trying to build a house on sand.

It wasn’t until I left Black Rifle Coffee in March 2023 that I realized how deeply things needed to change. At that point, I was also trying to grow Code of The West, but I wasn’t living the principles I claimed to stand for. If I was going to be the kind of person capable of shepherding this mission, I had to start with myself.

Starting Over from Scratch

The first step was admitting how little I knew. After decades of ignoring basic life skills, I had to humble myself and ask for help. I reached out to friends for advice on building a sustainable workout plan. I called family members to teach me the basics of cooking.

And I started making my bed every morning.

That may sound small, even trivial, but it was transformative. Making the bed became a daily reminder that I was in control of my life. It was a first, tiny win—a deliberate act of agency. From there, I began building a routine.

Discovering the Power of Routine

I’d spent most of my life resisting structure. I thought routine was boring, something that would stifle creativity. But when I finally gave it a shot, I discovered my brain loved it. Routine didn’t stifle me—it gave me freedom.

I became more focused, more disciplined, and more productive. My living space became a place of order and peace. I was shocked at how much better I felt, mentally and physically, just by keeping things clean and organized. Slowly, I began to see the weight come off. My anxiety dropped. And the guilt and shame I’d been carrying for years started to lift.

I was becoming someone I barely recognized—and that was a good thing.

Living the Code

Through it all, I kept coming back to the core principles of The Code of The West: Live with courage. Keep your word. Those words became my anchor. They reminded me that every small action mattered, and that real change started with integrity—doing what I said I would, even when no one was watching.

I realized something profound: you can’t change your life by simply layering on good habits. You have to rebuild the foundation. You have to become a better version of yourself, and then let your habits flow naturally from that new framework.

A Blueprint for Change

This transformation didn’t happen overnight. It was slow, deliberate, and often frustrating. But step by step, I took ownership of my life. And now, I want to help you do the same.

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure where to begin, start small. Make your bed. Take one intentional action each day that moves you toward the person you want to become. From there, build a routine that works for you—not one based on someone else’s expectations, but one rooted in your values.

If you’re ready to dig deeper, I’ve put together a guide to help you build your own code. Alongside the Code of The West Manual, this guide offers practical steps to help you rebuild your foundation and create a life aligned with your purpose.

Change is possible. It starts with courage.