“Do what matters 
most to you, and 
make a difference 
doing that.”
Germany Kent

When I was offered the opportunity to spend a year teaching in a high school in The Bahamas back in 1974, my father thought it would be a big mistake for me to accept the offer. I had completed only two years of college at the time. I think he feared that I might never go back to finish my undergraduate degree. For some reason, he kept his concern to himself. When I left San Francisco to fly to Nassau in late August of that year, I thought I was going with his full confidence and blessing. I appreciate that he didn’t share his reservations with me.

That one year teaching in The Bahamas was a life-changing experience for me. It set my life in a totally different direction, one which served me well for the next fifty years.

In March 2025, my youngest son, Brendan, made a bold, unexpected decision to resign from his job as a security guard and basketball coach at The Harker School in San José to pursue his dream of owning his own basketball training program. True Form Basketball, L.L.C. was born. I thought it was a poor decision, but I did my best to be supportive of Brendan in his new endeavor. Sadly, I think Brendan was well-aware that I wasn’t 100% in favor of his decision.

Despite two basketball-related injuries in 2025, requiring surgeries on both of his knees, Brendan persisted in pursuing his dream. His relentless commitment to rehabilitating both knees and his insatiable desire to learn how to build and promote his new business, has laid a solid foundation upon which to build his growing program.

While Brendan has tremendous respect for many of the great athletes to play the game of basketball through the years, he is most inspired by Kobe Bryant, remembered for his “Mamba Mentality” — an intense, relentless dedication to continuous improvement, resilience through adversity, and a fierce drive to maximize one’s potential. 

Brendan has had more than his fair share of obstacles since launching True Form Basketball. Despite these setbacks, he is inspired by Kobe’s words about overcoming obstacles: “Everything negative — pressure, challenges — is all an opportunity for me to rise.”

Leaving a job without the security of a regular paycheck, benefits, and a retirement account, might be an overwhelming source of fear for some. Brendan, however, embraced Kobe’s words: “If you’re afraid to fail, then you’re probably going to fail.” I now have no doubt that Brendan will succeed in his new endeavor. He has the right mindset.

The two surgeries were definitely a blow to Brendan’s plans, but Kobe had something to say about resilience, too. He said, “Life is too short to get bogged down and be discouraged. You have to keep moving. Put one foot in front of the other, smile, and keep moving.” Brendan’s go-to phrase is “Keep it one motion.”

Finally, there comes a point in life when we begin to consider the legacy we will leave. Kobe warned, “You are responsible for how people remember you — or don’t — so don’t take it lightly.” I don’t think Brendan is too concerned about his legacy. His primary concern is using his God-given talents to help others improve their basketball and overall life skills, and inspiring individuals to make a positive difference in the world through whatever they do. 

(You can check out True Form Basketball on Brendan’s Instagram page, too.)