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Where are we going and how do we get there? These are the two questions we most often ask in life when we find ourselves struggling with our lot-in-life. Take a look at this perspective that creates freedom and joy in the journey, your life, that leads you to the future you’re creating. Take former heavyweight champion, Montell Julian Griffin for example, born in Chicago,a self made million by the age of 27. By age 22, Griffin was living in Midway City, California. In 1992 he beat John Ruiz to make the Olympic Trials and defeated future heavyweight contender Jeremy Williams at the Olympic Box-offs, in Worcester, Massachusetts, to make the Olympic team and earn an Olympic bid at light-heavyweight. He went on to defeat Frank Vassar of Spokane, Washington in the U.S. Amateur Boxing Championships. Griffin compiled an overall amateur record of 30-3.

Griffin nicknamed “Ice” began his pro career in 1993. He rose to prominence when he defeated James Toney twice by decision in 1995 and 1996. The second victory over Toney earned Griffin a lucrative bout against WBC champion Roy Jones, Jr. But like many, the questions of life may call to you. You may wonder about your purpose. You may feel out of place, disconnected, just a bit out of sync. You may want to find clarity; to find the stillness in your mind. That elusive quality where time loses all meaning. You may not even know what it is that you seek but you sit there in your skin and you know something is making you uncomfortable.

Griffin speaks on it all. Both inspirational, entertaining and funny, Griffin’s self-published tell-all book “THE ICE LIFE” speaks exactly to this and takes you on a journey filled with plot twists, wrong turns, and pivots as he vividly recounts his story of becoming an Olympian and World Champion. The Ice Life is a funny depiction of his journey. Hailing from the South Side of Chicago he traveled the world chasing his dreams. Montell shares with the reader how sheer determination and blessings led him to the biggest stages, how life knocked him down and how he bounced back. You will not believe the things that he has survived, the places he has been, and the countless people that he has met. This book will enlighten you on the inside world of boxing, encourage you, and surely you will be entertained.

We had an opportunity to sit down with Griffin to hear his thoughts on creating his future.

What are your thoughts on creating your future?

Well, I’m here to tell you that it’s okay. It’s not unusual or abnormal. The bigger questions of life and the role you want to play in that are great questions! Important questions! To not ask them and seek your own answers would resign you to an existence of numbness and one day, possibly regret. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It’s never too late and there is no deadline.

What are your thoughts on “The Journey”?

The journey itself can be a tremendous reward. And don’t be fooled! The pursuit of worthy goals and self-discovery is not easy. There will be plenty of tough times, inner soul searching, periods of enormous movement and change, periods of stagnation and possibly even despair. There will be times when you think you have found that groove you’ve always been looking for and then there will be times when you feel as though you haven’t a hope in the world of finding your place. This is normal” said the former champion.

In the book you speak on values, tell us more about that.

Everyone who experiences life will encounter variations of questions pertaining to their values that will challenge them at crossroads in life. Sometimes we heed these inner callings but often times, external forces to our sense of security in the world will push these inner callings deep into the mud. Instead we are fearful of change or to focused on the negatives or “what if” scenarios. So we play it safe and ignore our inner callings.

You spoke about rewards, and doing what you love, please tell us more.

We’re all looking for “that career” that will reward us in the way we need to be rewarded. For some it may be money. For others it may be prestige, recognition and yet someone else it is just the fact they get to “do what they love doing.” Everyone will have a unique journey to reach their discovery. The journey will be made intentionally or unintentionally. It will be confused and painful or it can be enlightened by your own self-awareness. Don’t get so focused on the goal that you don’t get the full experience of the journey. The journey is so critical.

How did you create your goals and stuck to them?

During the journey your experiences will offer you with so many valuable clues about yourself. Who you are. What makes you thrive. What puts you to sleep. The kind of people you like to work with. The environments you prefer. All of these experiences and many many more specific pieces relevant to you, your profession, passion, skills, and personality. All of them can be incorporated into your goal.

Without giving away the dialogue of your book, what message do you hope viewers take away after reading?

You, your life, your values, and beliefs, and many other things, will change. So keep dreaming, keep looking at the goal. But do so with the knowledge and understanding of your journey. Implement adjustments to your navigation system towards your goal if it changes. The experiences of your life and the decisions and their consequences will teach you so much. Allow yourself to take that journey, without knowing when it will end nor where it will take you. Get comfortable with not knowing. Keep seeking. Don’t be afraid to take that next step. This is the very thing I too have to challenge myself on every day.

Grab your copy of The Ice Life today!

 

 

 

Featured Image by High Society Management