Some victories don’t need spotlights when they’ve already made their mark in the heart.
My son earned his Master’s in Cybersecurity—an achievement forged through discipline, persistence, and his own quiet fire. While others chase trends, he’s built a foundation. And while I never asked him to follow in my footsteps, he chose to walk beside them in his own way.
This moment reminds me that legacy isn’t loud. It’s built in silence—line by line, late night by late night, passed through keyboards, keystrokes, and countless system logs. And while the world sees just a photo, I see a journey… a reflection of years of sacrifice, faith, and fierce intention.
Confidence is earned — often forged in quiet moments when no one’s watching. Often, it’s forged in quiet moments when no one’s watching. Whether I’m at a blank PowerShell console or gripping a loaded barbell, the principle is the same: discipline, consistency, no shortcuts.
I’ve Always Been an ABC Person
I’ve always lived by three words: Always Be Curious.
That curiosity pulled me into IT. I lacked credentials, but I had grit and a drive to learn. I’ve never believed in shortcuts — not in spiritual growth, troubleshooting IIS, or transforming your body. Temporary fixes cover symptoms — but they rarely solve the root cause.
You don’t fix problems with assumptions, Google, and a quick prayer. You fix them with logs, tools, and patience. That’s what I’ve learned — the hard way — through years of trial, error, and persistence.
Why I Don’t Believe in Band-Aid Fixes
Quick fixes fade fast. They treat symptoms, not root problems. Take IIS, for example — a broken SSL binding or 503 error might vanish temporarily, but it usually comes back with greater risk.
That’s why I value discipline over speed. Precision over panic.
It’s the same principle my son applies as he preps for his first fitness competition. He doesn’t rely on shortcuts or crash diets. And definitely no “quick fixes” to look lean. Just clean eating, consistent training, and unwavering focus — day in and day out.
Watching him chase excellence reminds me of my early days — hungry, overlooked, and determined to make noise through results, not volume.
I didn’t wait for permission—I made my own path. I spoke up when others stayed silent, dove into neglected technologies…, and taught myself to harden and scale IIS in real-world, high-pressure environments. I wasn’t the loudest voice in the room, but I became the go-to problem solver—delivering solutions that worked the first time.
Triple D: Discipline. Dedication. Determination.
Tonight’s fuel: Baked Atlantic salmon with lemon, garlic, and power greens — topped with walnuts and 42g of clean protein. Discipline doesn’t stop at the keyboard — it continues at the dinner table.
Confidence isn’t found. It’s forged — through repetition, patience, and precision. Knowledge doesn’t come overnight. Much like getting fit, it takes what I call the Triple D: Discipline. Dedication. Determination.
Tonight’s early dinner? Fresh Atlantic salmon baked with lemon, garlic, and a bed of power greens. To boost nutrients, I topped it with walnuts and washed it down with 42g of Fairlife protein. I eat twice a day — every bite calculated, nutrient-packed, and designed for peak performance..
As for training, I’m in the zone six days a week — no shortcuts. Mostly bodyweight: push-ups, sit-ups, glute bridges, crab walks, planks, and shadow boxing. I train with intensity — until the burn says I’m done..
That’s how I’ve kept my edge for decades — by showing up, sweating, and sticking to the plan.
You train your body the way you train your mind. Log files are your feedback loop. Errors are your instructors. Study. Adapt. Try again.
That mindset shapes how I approach IT and life.
Bruce Lee Said It Best
“If you always put limits on everything you do — physical or anything else — it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” — Bruce Lee
I carry that with me daily. In both IT and fitness, mastery is a moving target — the moment you think you’ve arrived, growth demands a new challenge.
My Son’s Grit, My Quiet Pride
24 days out from competition.
“Starvation is at its highest for me… it feels like I’m crawling my way to survive all day long. This is the toughest sport I’ve ever experienced.”
Those are the words my son texted me as he prepares for his upcoming debut at TheFitExpo in Anaheim on August 2, 2025.
His commitment to clean eating, intense workouts, and honest prep — no shortcuts — mirrors the way I built my IT career: with sweat equity.
He used to dominate dance stages as a four-time All-Male hip-hop champion with West Covina High School. After college, he became a CNA and now works as a gym personal trainer — turning his passion for fitness into purpose. He’s carrying the torch of discipline — and I couldn’t be prouder.
From IIS to Iron: A Shared DNA
Take IIS — often dismissed as legacy tech, yet it powers critical internal systems beneath the buzzwords. But the reality is, it still powers critical internal applications..
When it breaks — when HTTP 500 errors fill your logs — assumptions won’t fix it. First, trace the issue. Dig through the logs. Slow down. Understand the root cause — then take action.
That’s the same mental muscle my son flexes in the gym. He logs his intake. Monitors results. Makes adjustments.
We train differently — I with bodyweight and discipline, he with prep meals and physique goals. The goals differ — but the grit is the same.
Here’s a script I wrote to search the most recent IIS log file for errors — the same kind of tool I use to avoid assumptions and find the real issue:
🧰 PowerShell Script: Digging Through IIS Logs
# Find the latest IIS log and search for error codes
$LogPath = "C:\inetpub\logs\LogFiles\W3SVC1"
$LatestLog = Get-ChildItem -Path $LogPath -Filter *.log | Sort-Object LastWriteTime -Descending | Select-Object -First 1
Select-String -Path $LatestLog.FullName -Pattern " 500 " | Select-Object LineNumber, Line
If it’s worth fixing, it’s worth fixing the right way.
Conclusion: Carry On
This week’s Church hymn, “Carry On,” stirred something quiet in me — It reminded me that sometimes, the holiest thing we can do is simply hold our ground. It reminded me:
It reminded me:
“Firm as the mountains around us, Stalwart and brave we stand…”
We don’t walk this path alone. Others cleared the way — now it’s our turn to keep going.
This isn’t about spotlighting effort. It’s for the ones working in silence. In server rooms. In waiting rooms. In small spaces where no one claps.
The message doesn’t seek attention — it invites action: carry on.
