Change. It’s one of life's few constants, arriving sometimes as a choice, sometimes as a force. It can be a path we consciously step onto, or a sudden storm that reroutes our entire journey.

I’ve known both sides intimately. The calculated decision to retire from pro basketball, on my terms. And the jarring impact of unexpected layoffs, forcing a rebuild from the ground up.

This week, we explore not just how to face change, but how to truly welcome it as a catalyst for growth.

A week after my last professional game in Kuala Lumpur, I faced a decision.

I could head to Australia to play in a summer league — maybe extend my career. Or, I could fly home to LA and officially retire at 28.

I chose to come home. To call it a hell of a career. But choosing to leave didn’t make it any easier.

This wasn’t just a job ending. It meant leaving behind my Malaysian community, the fans — the life I had built overseas for years — to step back into a “familiar” world I hadn’t really lived in for nearly five.

It was the definition of chosen change. And like every big transition, it came with that uneasy mix of excitement and loss.

In the years after retiring, life flipped the script more than once. After leaving basketball, I made my way into corporate life. Then came the layoffs — twice.

No one asks if you’re ready. No one hands you a playbook. For someone who had never been cut from a team, it hit hard. I couldn’t help but feel like a failure.

But here’s the thing: The world didn’t stop. Rent didn’t stop. I had to pivot, adapt, and build something no one else was going to build for me.

Whether that meant working in restaurants or selling tech to keep the lights on, I had to survive.

That forced change was painful. But it was also the catalyst. Those moments sparked Overtime Solutions. They led to The Eversley Edge.

Moral of the story : Some doors close so you finally build your own.

Socrates’ wisdom rings true, doesn't it? Focusing on "building the new" is key. But how do we shift that focus, especially when change feels disruptive or daunting?

Whether change is your choice or thrust upon you, welcoming it involves a similar mental playbook. Let's break down the Key 3 for transforming change into opportunity.

Key 1: Acknowledge & Accept the Shift

The first step is always the hardest: facing reality. Denial is a delay tactic; acceptance is an action. However, you have to give yourself space to feel both in the grieving process.

When I chose to retire from basketball, it wasn't just leaving a game; it was a shift in identity. Acknowledging that chapter was closing, truly accepting it, was crucial before I could fully embrace what was next.

Similarly, when layoffs hit – twice – the initial shocks were immense. Accepting "this is happening, the old path is gone" was vital. And it’s like any relationship, you can’t rush through a healing process.

It’s like an athlete accepting a tough loss or a season-ending injury. You have to process the reality before you can strategize recovery.

In your professional life, this means recognizing market shifts, or acknowledging when a project or role has fundamentally changed. In today’s world, these changes are exponentially happening due to evolving technology. Consequently, it’s important for me to let you know that you are enough and some doors close for a reason.

Actionable Tip: Conscious Acknowledgement : Give yourself space to process the change, chosen or not. It is a “death” that needs to be handled with care, so that you can be reborn into a strengthened version of yourself.

Write it down. Talk it out. Allow the emotions. Acceptance isn't weakness; it’s the starting line for your next move.

Key 2: Reframe & Find the Opportunity

Once you accept change, the next power move is reframing. How can this perceived setback or ending become a setup?

Retiring from basketball wasn’t just an end. It was an opportunity to pour my energy into new passions: tech, people operations, leadership development. It was a chance to redefine success on new terms.

The layoffs? Devastating at first. But they forced a deep reassessment. They became the unexpected catalyst for profound personal growth, new skills, and ultimately, building a path uniquely my own.

“What can I learn from this?” vs “Why is this happening to me?”

Athletes reframe injuries as time to study, mentor, or rest. A trade can be a chance for a bigger role on a new team. Professionally, a canceled project might free resources for a more innovative idea. A new manager brings new perspectives.

Actionable Tip: Ask "What Does This Make Possible?" : Instead of focusing only on what’s lost, ask that question. Brainstorm new doors this change might open. Look for the silver lining, the lesson, the unexpected advantage.

Every change, even a tough one, carries hidden opportunities. Your ability to walk through the door and find the next hill to climb is everything.

Key 3: Embrace Action into the New

Acceptance and reframing set the stage. But welcoming change ultimately requires action. Stepping into that unknown, even with small steps, builds momentum and creates the new reality.

After choosing retirement, I didn't just wait. I actively pursued new skills, networked, started building. I started working as a basketball trainer full-time in order to make connections that would lead to my first “big boy” job at a local non-profit.

Post-layoffs, the "grind" was about daily actions: Learning, applying, reaching out, creating, not staying passive. Especially in my part-time sales role in between full-time job, if you didn’t grind - you didn’t eat.

This is the athlete moving into a new training regimen, or practicing new plays with full commitment. It’s the professional taking that first step on a new project, learning that new software, making that outreach call.

Actionable Tip: Define Your First Three Steps : Don't get overwhelmed by the entire new path.What are the immediate first one, two, or three actions you can take? Focus on those. Small wins build confidence and momentum.

Personally, my dad and I always discuss the importance of short, mid, and long-term plans to guide your ship when the choppy waters act as uncertainty.

Action is the antidote to the paralysis that change can induce. It’s how you actively participate in shaping what’s next.

Post-Game Recap: Architecting Your Next Chapter

Life will always present changes, some we initiate, some we don't. The key is realizing that even in forced change, we retain agency over our response.

By choosing to Acknowledge what is, Reframe what could be, and Act towards it, we move from being shaped by change to actively shaping our next chapter. My own experiences, from choosing to end my basketball career to building anew after layoffs, prove this.

This proactive approach to welcoming change is where true development lies, and it's how you find the strength to build your own doors.

Hope these insights on welcoming change help you feel more equipped to architect your own next chapter, whatever twists and turns come your way.

If this resonated with you, the best 'assist' you can give is to share The Eversley Edge!

Forwarding this email or sharing the link below with a colleague, friend, or anyone navigating their own transitions helps our community grow and allows these messages to reach more people.

I'm really investing in hearing your perspective on change. Your feedback is invaluable, so please take a moment to tell me about doors you’ve had to build! If you don’t have the time, you can just answer the quick poll below: