The Winning Mentality

I was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia. At twenty-three, I made the life-altering decision to move to the United States—with no English, no financial support, and just $1,000 in my pocket. I left behind my family, friends, and everything familiar to pursue a dream that, to many, seemed impossible. Most people thought I had lost my mind. Even my mother and grandmother begged me to stay, especially after the events of 9/11, which had occurred just one day before I visited the U.S. Embassy to apply for a visa. But I had already visualized my future—I saw myself leaving my country, landing in a new world, and building a life filled with opportunity. That dream became so vivid in my mind that I believed it with all my heart. I remember standing in front of the visa officer, who told me, “This is not a good time to go to the U.S.” I replied, “I don’t care!” I was determined. He asked how I planned to support myself, and I proudly told him about my $1,000—my small fortune at the time. He shook his head. He wasn’t convinced. Then he asked, “Will you be going on a student visa?” “Yes,” I replied. “I’m going to take my thousand dollars, go to America, and be a student.” He looked at me again, sighed, and then—against all odds—stamped my passport. “Welcome to the United States of America,” he said. That moment changed everything. Not because I had the money, the connections, or the resources—but because I had the desire. A dream so real I could see it, feel it, and live it before it had even begun. What I’ve learned is this: It doesn’t matter how much money you have. It doesn’t matter what your past looks like. What matters is that you want something so badly, you’ll do whatever it takes to achieve it. When your mind is focused, your heart is open, and your actions align with your dream, the universe will conspire to help you. This book is about that process. You’ll learn how to retrain your thinking, activate the power of imagination, and create a new reality. You’ll discover why most people don’t change—and how you can. You’ll meet people just like you who once felt stuck, lost, or afraid and who turned their lives around by changing how they think and what they believe. Your life can change the moment you decide it must. And it all begins with one question: What do you want—and are you ready to believe it's possible?