CZ Lopez

My because is simply because we're temporary.

Our existence is numbered.

We don't know how long we have on this earth to make a difference.

So we have to make every second count.

You have to make every relationship, every interaction count to ensure that we set up the next generation for success.

That's always been my because and it keeps me driving forward, man.

I think it was a series of misfortunes that actually led to the path that we ended up taking.

And when I say we, I have to go ahead and give credit to Janet quite a bit on that.

But was going to college, going nowhere really fast, decided to enlist in the United States Air Force.

Started being stagnant by virtue of the job that I took at the time.

And I mentioned job, not duty, because I don't think I really aligned with my initial duty, which was transportation.

It wasn't really challenging me.

But it wasn't until I became a special operator, specifically an Air Force pararescue man, that I found my purpose in life.

From that moment on, every day, every day seemed like...

It was never work.

I was looking forward, regardless of whether the situation was going to be unpleasant or something meaningful.

It was the same drive and motivation to show up.

And that was because something needed to happen at the time.

So I ended up doing the special operations bid for about two decades.

And then I got another call to be a senior listed leader, meaning to step away from special operations and become a figurehead for larger organizations.