Every time I hear “I'm self-made” - I shake my head.

There aren’t enough characters in a post to list only the initials of the people that helped me in my journey from sales representative to CEO...

Family
Friends
Mentors
Coaches
Advisors
Peers
Teammates
Incredible bosses
Even incredibly shitty bosses

And more... all contributed in one way or another.

Early in my career, a boss promoted me into a management role that required a degree before I had one, then she paid for me to go get my degree while I did the job.

My wife coordinated a big move to a new home, while converting the prior home into a rental, while pregnant, with an infant at home, because I was in business school and working full-time.

My two closest mentors have given me advice for years that people pay them insane amounts of money for, without ever charging me a dime.

I've had incredibly talented friends take big chances on me by leaving their established roles to join my team in risky, unproven ones.

I have hundreds of these stories.

Most of us do.

And I still rely on help from other people every day.

Most of us do.

And I'm grateful for all of it.

When I hear "self made," I think, probably not self aware.