"We will stand shoulder to shoulder, an unconquerable army. BELIEVE in what you can do, and it will happen." E.T.

I have spent countless hours debating what I will do after my career as a professional mixed martial artist is over.

And even though I genuinely believe that I have ability to become a world champion in this sport... I am also aware of the fact that my latest accomplishments in MMA may have been my last... that perhaps my career is over and I just haven't realized it yet.

I am incredibly stubborn.

Throughout my career I dreamed that my accomplishments in MMA would one day grant me the reputation needed to open a successful gym. The thought of being able to help motivate and push the great champions of tomorrow is extremely appealing. However, I doubt that this dream will be a very lucrative pursuit if my days of competition are already behind me.

I have also thought about putting a book together and traveling the world... there are many different things that I have contemplated doing in the very near and distant future.

However, there is something else that drives me... something that I have not been able to put into words. Something that I feel I was meant to do but never recognized it... for one reason or another I have never been equipped with the courage nor the ability to recognize it in the past.

I believe that some of the most valuable positions in the world have been completely overlooked or forgotten. By blinding ourselves with dreams of amassing great fortunes we have spawned an internal lack of personal responsibility and insight. Even worse yet... many of those who possess the unique ability to see these duties have outright ignored them.

I too am guilty of this offense.

Too many men in the past have neglected to embrace this power... the power that lies within every single one of us. The power to admit wrong-doing and accept responsibility, the power to make amends, the power to invoke change... the power to create a better world.

Too many men turned their heads, closed their eyes, and walked right past their responsibilities with aspirations of material gain. Each man selfishly assumed that someone else would accomplish his task and all would be forgotten. However, one man after another proceeded to pass his weight on to the next man and a never-ending cycle of neglect and avoidance was created. This cycle only added to the next mans responsibility, creating a weight that no man could possibly carry on his own... a weight I feel will one day come to rest on all of our shoulders.

Now I know that I lack the strength to resolve this issue on my own, but I no longer fear the criticism that awaits me, I no longer fear the criticism that awaits those who dream of change. I no longer fear being looked at as a mad-man, I no longer fear being looked at as a dreamer, a fool, or a lost cause. I no longer fear the contempt that is thrown at those who wish for a better tomorrow, I no longer fear the path that awaits me.

I no longer fear the power of one.

Only as one can we rebuild the decay that has been fostered within ourselves. Only as one can we cauterize the wounds that we have inflicted on ourselves. Only as one can we rid our hearts of the disease that we infected ourselves with so long ago.

Only then can we stand as the unshakeable, unconquerable army of ONE.