Jack’s Hero Experience: Finding His Next Challenge

For a while, I felt like I was living the same day over and over again. I had a good career, a good life, and plenty to be thankful for, but I had gotten into a routine that wasn't doing much for me. I went to work, came home, and did it all again the next day. Nothing was necessarily wrong, but I wasn't really challenging myself either.

That's about where I was when Bryan, the founder of The Reboot Project, reached out and encouraged me to apply.

Having served in the Marine Corps, I was used to having a mission, working toward goals, and being surrounded by people who pushed each other to improve. Those things don't necessarily disappear when you leave the military, but they aren't always as easy to find. Over time, I realized I had gotten pretty comfortable with where I was.

When I joined The Reboot Project, I was paired with Derrek, one of the program's Motivators. We started by putting together a realistic fitness and nutrition plan. Derrek helped me figure out what I needed to do, but more importantly, he made sure I was actually doing it. Having someone check in, challenge me, and hold me accountable made a big difference.

Over the course of the program, I lost more than 30 pounds, got stronger, and made significant improvements in my cardiovascular fitness. By the time we were preparing for our climb in Colorado, I was probably in the best overall shape I'd been in since leaving the Marine Corps.

But I got more out of the program than just losing weight and getting back into shape.

Derrek also challenged me to think about what I wanted out of the next several years of my life. We talked about personal and professional goals, things I wanted to accomplish, and what I was actually doing to make those things happen. Some of those conversations made me realize I'd spent more time talking about certain goals than working toward them.

We started putting together a plan to change that.

Last weekend, our group traveled to Colorado to climb Grays Peak, a mountain that stands more than 14,000 feet above sea level. It was something we'd been preparing for throughout the program, and finally getting the opportunity to take it on was pretty exciting.

The climb wasn't easy. The altitude definitely makes you work, and there were stretches where all I could really focus on was continuing to put one foot in front of the other. But that's also what made reaching the summit so rewarding.

Standing at the top, I felt a sense of accomplishment that I hadn't experienced in quite some time. It reminded me of my days in the Marine Corps, when you trained for something difficult, put in the work, and eventually accomplished what you set out to do.

Looking back, I think that's what I had been missing. Not necessarily the military itself, but having something meaningful to work toward and people around me who expected me to follow through.

That's what The Reboot Project helped me find again.

I'm grateful Bryan reached out and encouraged me to get involved. I'm equally grateful to Derrek for the time he invested in me, the accountability he provided, and the conversations we had throughout the year. I also appreciate everyone involved in making this program possible.

I started this experience wanting to get back into shape and break out of the routine I'd fallen into. I ended up accomplishing a lot more than that.

Climbing Grays Peak was a great way to finish the program, but I don't see it as the finish line. I've got other things I want to accomplish, and I'm already thinking about what challenge I want to take on next.

That's a pretty good feeling to have again.