I turned 40 today. That still feels strange to say. I always thought this milestone would bring a wave of anxiety, but honestly, it just feels like any other day. Mostly, I just feel grateful.
Where it started
My parents moved us from Jamaica to the U.S. when I was one. I don't remember it, but I've always known what it meant. They left everything behind to start over and build something better. That one decision opened every door I've walked through since. Every school, every job, every relationship traces back to two people who took a risk for their kid.
I didn't think much about it growing up. Now, with kids of my own, I see just how much that choice mattered.
The people who showed up
Turning 40 has me thinking less about what I've done and more about who's been there along the way. My wife, steady through every career change and late night. My kids, who keep me grounded and remind me what matters. My parents, who showed me what hard work and sacrifice look like. My family, who have been a constant source of support and encouragement through every chapter. And friends who show up, tell the truth, and stick around when it counts. Some of those friendships go back 35 years, and they've shaped me just as much as any career move or life decision.
No one does this alone. The people around you shape the life you build. I've been lucky to have great ones.
Forty years of forward motion
Looking back, I can't help but smile. I started a business right out of high school. Learned to code without formal training. Competed in the Junior Olympics, even though I was never the best athlete. Built a tech career with a marketing degree. None of it felt like a straight line. But now, I see the common thread: I kept moving forward, even when I didn't feel ready.
That approach has worked for me. It's what my parents did when they left Jamaica. You don't wait for perfect conditions. You move, adjust, and figure it out along the way.
Why I'm excited about what's ahead
I've spent the last few years working closely with AI, and what excites me most isn't the technology itself. It's what becomes possible when creative people have better tools. The gap between an idea and actually building it is shrinking fast. The barriers that used to require big teams, big budgets, and years of runway are fading. If you have a clear vision and you're willing to learn, you can build things today that weren't realistic five years ago.
The future of tech isn't about the tools. It's about the people who use them. The only real limit is creativity. Not credentials, not pedigree, not where you started. If you know what you want to build and you're willing to put in the work, the tools are there for you.
That's the world I want for my kids. A place where a kid from Jamaica who moved to the U.S. at one can look back at 40 and still believe the best is yet to come.
Grateful
I don't take any of this for granted. The career, the family, the health, the people - every part of it. I thank God for all of it. Forty doesn't feel like a finish line; it feels like a checkpoint. I'm more curious than ever, more focused on what matters, and more excited for what's next.
Here's to the next chapter.
