My Story
A Journey From Lost To Limitless
Meet Isaac Velez, a young entrepreneur deep in the world of personal development and life design. A podcaster, coach, speaker, and agent of change, Isaac’s journey is just beginning, but it goes back to a desire to be better.
Lost
Winter of 2020, I was lost, not taking my life seriously, and severely struggling to find meaning in purpose in my life. For the years leading up, I was always smart, and talented, but always doing the bare minimum. But on March 19, 2020, amid a global lockdown, everything changed that day.
Catalyst Moment
On that day I looked myself in the mirror and confronted what I saw. Someone half committed, always seeking pleasure over purpose, and wasted potential. I swore to myself that day, looking at what I saw in the mirror, that never again would I feel this way, never again would I sit by and waste my potential. That day I faced my mediocrity and knew that I would lead a life of legacy, impact, and change, and I knew it would be the hardest thing I had ever done. I asked myself what I could do if I chased a better version of myself. With a little help and lots of inspiration from Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins, in a few short months, I joined the 5 AM Club, lost 30 pounds, and got into the best shape of my life.
Discovering My 2.0 Self
Winter of 2021, one year later, I had lost over 90% of my friends and was inspired to start a podcast, that I called The Gentleman’s Atlas, so I could document my personal development journey amid isolation, and launch my own luxury sustainable clothing line. I recorded an episode every single Sunday, and as my life unfolded, so did my new business and my podcast. Navigating through relationships, I met and connected with amazing people who were an important part of my journey, but all just pages in a chapter of my life.
But I wasn’t who I once was, I had changed enormously, and finally, I felt that when I looked in the mirror, I kept the promise I had made to myself, that this was the beginning of my journey, and on the same day I ended a relationship, I had my first interview for the podcast, and I couldn’t be happier and more inspired for what the future held. After an incredible two years, In February 2023, after 152 episodes and 30K+ downloads, I decided to pivot to The Isaac Velez Show and go all in on personal development and business, shutting down the clothing business.
In March 2023, I decided to run the Tobacco Road Marathon, and after a few weeks of training, on March 19, 2023, I ran my first Marathon. What was, and still is the most painful experience of my life, and thanks to my lack of training, and overconfidence, I accomplished the full 26.2 miles.
Life Designer Lifestyle
I remember this single thought from the race, “How could I look at my future 6-year-old son/daughter in a difficult moment where they want to give up, that they should keep going?” Because if I give up now if I quit, I won’t be able to look them in the eye as a proud father, but as the one who gave up. That thought took me the last 16 miles, showing me more pieces of the puzzle, and with more responsibility now than ever, sitting on the board of a mastermind, growing the podcast into a platform where I help people design and lead their dream lives, and going through amazing relationships with great people, I am on a new path of growth, discovering more and more what I was called to do. From my clothing business to long-term relationships that turned out to be amazing chapters in my book of life, but not the whole story, I’m incredibly grateful to have experienced it all.
This marks the end of the beginning for me, and as the host of The Isaac Velez Show with 260+ episodes, 50+ guest speakers, and 110K+ downloads, and a life design coach helping young ambitious individuals design and lead their dream lives, I love what I have the privilege of doing, and have been able to travel and enjoy some incredible places across the globe. As you join this community, and as we continue to grow, the path forward is bright and beautiful, and we are a platform dedicated to real impact, through investing, innovating, and influencing, and now, every day is the same question, “How can I improve 1% today to lead my dream life?”