Nine years ago tomorrow, I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. That date will always mean something to me. It’s impossible not to look at my life today and think about how different it could have been. I’m thankful for the doctors who fought for me. I’m thankful for the friends and family who stood beside me. I’m thankful for my kids, my wife, and every person who loved and supported me through chemo, radiation, surgery, and recovery. And I’m thankful for the lesson cancer taught me: Don’t quit. Don’t give up. Chase the big dreams. Take the chance. And understand that failing is a hell of a lot better than never trying. Three years after my diagnosis, I went in for my final scan. My doctor looked at me and said something I’ll never forget: “When you left my office that first time, I told my nurse that guy had about a 5% chance of living.” He never told me that when I was fighting. Maybe that was a good thing. Because all I needed was 5%. Nine years later, I’m still here. I get to watch my kids grow up. I get to share this life with my wife. I get to build something I believe in with 3 Beards Media, I get to work a dream job with some of my favorite people at ARTISAN Management Group and chase ideas that once might have seemed crazy. Most importantly, I get another day. So if there’s anything worth taking from my story, it’s this: Go after the big dream. Take the chance. Don’t lose sight of what you want your life to be. And when the odds are against you, keep fighting anyway. Sometimes, all you need is 5%. I’m incredibly thankful for the life God gave me — and I don’t intend to waste it.