Believe In Yourself Enough To Try
We all know where we were the night the Knicks won the 2026 NBA championship.
While people, here in Toronto, filled bars or hosted watch parties in their living rooms, I needed to feel the New York energy up close. I’ve always felt a deep, indescribable love for New York City. I’ve experienced the highest of highs and even some lows there, and over the years it’s grown to become like a second home.
As New Yorkers lined the crowded streets to celebrate the city’s first championship win in 53 years, I was also standing amongst them making unforgettable memories of my own. But this time, I had a very special plus one with me.
A few months ago, my younger cousin graduated college in production and audio engineering, following in the footsteps of another older relative who has since gone on to achieve great success in the field. Like any new graduate, he reached out to our family member for some guidance, and maybe even an introduction or internship, but was met with an immediate “no.”
Rightfully saddened, I’d heard what had happened, and felt the defeat in his voice. The excitement he’d had just a few days ago was noticeably gone. After our talk, I decided to reach out to this elder to inquire about his hesitance to help out. What I heard left me speechless. “Nah, I’m not putting him on. He has to get it out the mud like I did.”
I’ll spare you the choice words I left him with. But the second I hung up, I called my little cousin back and told him, “Pack your bags. We’re going to New York!”
Something about what he’d been told triggered me deeply. In an instant, I’d been transported back to the early days of my writing career when I was met with more skepticism than support. On more than one occasion, I came way too close to believing the things I’d been told, and there was no way I was going to allow that kind of damage to be done to another person. Not on my watch.
But this wasn’t going to be a five star getaway to the city that never sleeps. Instead, I wanted this to be a crash course in all the skills I knew he’d one day need; the advice he was hoping to learn by shadowing someone who was supposed to have his back.
The second the flights and hotel reservations were booked, I dusted off my rolodex and got to work. I reached out to a few of my contacts in the music industry, and lined up some meetings for him. But, I didn’t stop there. Despite already securing the meetings, I showed him step by step how to send an introductory email, as well as a calendar invite ahead of our in-person meet-ups. We rehearsed his elevator pitch, drafted key questions to ask, and even worked on his body language to make sure he left a lasting impression.
By the time we landed, the city was engulfed in collective effervescence. Just as I’d imagined it, the energy was contagious, and I was so happy to be able to experience this with him. As we made our way around the busy Manhattan streets, I saw something begin to shift in the meek young man who’d boarded the flight with me just hours prior. I watched as his eyes widened, and his shoulders straightened more and more after every meeting. We met with execs at RCA, Audiomack, YouTube and a few others, and by the time we sat down that night for dinner, I was looking at a completely different person. Last on the agenda, but by far the most important, was a broadway show. I secured tickets for us to watch Aladdin. A first-time experience for him and definitely will not be the last. On our way back home, it was so incredible listening to him recount his favourite moments from the weekend, taking note of the confidence that had returned to his voice.
Sitting across from him, I was reminded of why I do the work I do. I remember how I felt the first time I was told, “You’ll never be a writer.” But I’ll never forget how it felt to watch their ceiling of doubt shatter the moment someone believed in my vision enough to give me a chance.
I wanted my little cousin to know, just as someone had done for me, that the world will always have naysayers or those who’ll try to gatekeep you from the rooms or opportunities you’re trying to reach for. But despite them, there will also be those who’ll utilize everything in their arsenal to help you break down any and every barrier that stands in your way.
As long as I can, I’m never going to watch someone have to “get it out the mud.” Ever.
Moments like this are why my content library and my Mentor Mondays posts exist, and why I always encourage you to do the same. Of course it doesn’t have to be an extravagant weekend in New York, but any little bit helps to show the generation coming up behind us that they don’t have to do it alone.
Remember who was there for you when all you needed was a hand to hold, and make sure, even within your busy schedule, you’re doing the same for someone else.
The future doesn’t happen without our collective support. We’re all in this together.