Mindset Is the Master Key: Equipping Youth for the Future That Schools Don’t Prepare Them For

The room fell silent except for the faint hum of the therapy equipment. My right arm wouldn’t move. My mouth formed sounds that didn’t turn into words. Just a year earlier, I’d been in the Navy, serving my country. Now I was relearning how to walk, how to talk, how to feed myself – after a home invasion left me with a gunshot wound to the head.

People told me I was lucky to be alive, and I was. But survival alone wasn’t the finish line; it was just the starting point.

If you’ve ever faced a wall of impossibility, you know there are two ways to respond: accept the wall as your boundary, or find a way over, under, around – or straight through it.

I chose to go through.

That choice didn’t just change my life; it shaped the mission I’m on today – helping young people build the mindset and skills they need to create their future, no matter where they start. At Cobb Global Outreach Inc., we meet youth where they are, equip them with practical tools like financial literacy, and show them how to think differently about what’s possible.

Because when you change the way a young person sees their future, you change everything.

The First Wall

The Navy had been my plan. Service gave me structure, purpose, and pride. But a sudden injury during my time there set me on an unexpected path home. I didn’t know it then, but more complex challenges were on the horizon.

The home invasion was fast, violent, and final in its impact. One moment, I was standing in my own home, the next, I was waking up to find that half my body wouldn’t cooperate with me anymore. My speech – something most of us take for granted – was gone.

Recovery wasn’t glamorous. It was hours of physical therapy, speech drills, and occupational exercises. Some days it was pure frustration. But buried in all that effort was a quiet decision: I wasn’t going to let this define me.

“Your starting point doesn’t define your finish line.”

Building a New Future

Once I could walk and talk again, I went back to school. My associate’s degree from CVCC Junior College led to being named to the Dean’s List, a transfer to Columbus State, and eventually a master’s degree in Public Administration with a focus on General Government.

Education became my second service — first to myself, then to others. It proved to me that I could rebuild.

I started a nonprofit called Great Ones, where I speak to youth in churches about choices, responsibility, and possibility. It was meaningful work, but I hadn’t yet seen the bigger vision.

That moment changed everything one afternoon when I turned on CNBC.

The Spark

John Hope Bryant appeared on screen, discussing ways to reduce the wealth gap. His message was clear: it begins with youth, and it starts with changing your mindset.

Something clicked. Within two days, Cobb Global Outreach Inc. was established. This wasn’t just going to be a speaking engagement – it would be an organized, sustainable effort to prepare young people for adulthood with the tools that aren’t included in their standardized tests.

Why Mindset Comes First

When I talk to young people, I don’t aim to lecture them. I share what I’ve experienced. The truth is, we can teach financial terms and budgeting skills all day long, but if a young person doesn’t believe they can succeed, they won’t use those skills.

Mindset is the soil. Skills are the seeds. Without the right soil, the seeds don’t grow.

“Mindset is the soil. Skills are the seeds.”

That’s why, at CGO Inc., everything we teach begins with changing how young people see themselves. We help them shift from ‘I can’t’ to ‘I can.’ From viewing their limits as barriers to seeing them as launchpads.

From Talk to Action

In our Success Backpack campaign, we distributed over 600 backpacks filled with school supplies at Paul Duke. For some, it was just a backpack, but for others, it was the first time they felt someone believed in their success.

We collaborate with banks and financial experts to teach financial literacy in schools and community centers. We’re developing a curriculum so that those lessons aren’t just one-time events—they become part of a lasting framework.

These aren’t charity handouts. They’re investments in future leaders.

The Stakes Are High

If we don’t equip young people with both the mindset and skills to navigate life, we’re not just failing them – we’re weakening our communities. Without financial literacy, they become more vulnerable to debt, predatory lending, and unstable careers. Without a growth mindset, they’re less likely to try again after experiencing a setback.

I know this because I’ve experienced it firsthand. I’ve been in a place where moving forward feels impossible. I’ve seen how one decision – one shift in thinking – can change the entire trajectory.

What the Promised Land Looks Like

I envision communities where young adults graduate not only knowing how to solve for X but also understanding how to solve for life. They grasp credit scores, know how to save, and believe in their ability to contribute. They lead community projects, mentor younger kids, and set higher standards for themselves.

“We’re not just preparing kids for the next grade – we’re preparing them for the next decade.”

It’s not a utopia. It’s just what results when we make mindset and practical skills non-negotiable in youth education.

Lessons from My Journey

If you ask me what the biggest lesson from my life is, it’s this: your circumstances can either be the reason you give up or the reason you push yourself harder.

Recovery taught me patience. Education revealed possibilities. Leading a nonprofit showed me that change occurs one person at a time—and that’s enough to transform the world.

And every young person I meet teaches me something new about resilience.

The Bigger Picture

We live in an era when trust in institutions is at an all-time low. People no longer automatically trust companies, governments, or even nonprofits. Instead, they trust individuals – human beings who demonstrate honesty and consistency.

That’s why we prioritize relationships first. We don’t just step into a school for an hour and call it impact. We build presence. We return. We listen. We let the youth guide the conversation.

The goal isn’t to create followers. It’s to develop leaders.

A Challenge to Leaders and Businesses

If you’re reading this and lead a company, run a community program, or sit on a board, I have one question: how are you investing in the next generation’s mindset?

I’ve seen firsthand how business partnerships can multiply impact. A backpack campaign becomes a community rally. A financial literacy workshop turns into a mentorship pipeline. The right collaboration can transform a vision into a movement.

“A backpack campaign becomes a rally. A workshop becomes a movement.”

If we want stronger communities, this is where it starts.

I still reflect on those early therapy sessions—the frustration, the doubt, the small victories. I had no idea back then that I was preparing for more than just physical recovery. I was building the patience, grit, and faith necessary to be a leader.

Every young person deserves the same training before life tests them. Not everyone will face what I faced, but everyone will face something. The question is, will they be prepared?

If you believe in shaping futures through mindset and opportunity, I’d love to exchange ideas. Whether you’re an educator, business leader, or community member, let’s discover what we can create together.