Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Foster.
Eric, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Everything just happened in God’s perfect timing. Life was starting to come together and my story started becoming my testimony. Get After It Now became a platform that represented more than me. People used to tell me I should write a book about my life, but I’ve never been into myself enough to think anyone else would care about my life. When the philosophy for Get After It Now was created I felt that I had created something for others to tune into and change their life. I can give my testimony from this platform without making it about me but making it about self-improvement, dedication, and executing your goals. I love that. I was also able to incorporate philanthropy into my cause as giving back is something else that I love to do. Now as our following grows we look to reach out to work with other organizations and impact more and more people and communities from motivational speaking to different philanthropies.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It’s never been smooth but it’s always been ordained. Everything I’ve been through made me the individual I am today. As I said on my twitter “had you not seen the valleys you wouldn’t appreciate the peaks”. Every situation I’ve been through cut me deep, but when you un-Earth a diamond it has to be cut before it really gets it’s worth. The reality is that the road is always going to bumpy to some extent. Some people’s bumps may be more or less severe than others. In my story I’ve battled homelessness, I’ve seen hunger, I watched as some of my friends growing up either lost their lives to the penitentiary, drug abuse, or even to the streets. I even found myself on the opposite end of a gun but I feel like all of these obstacles really just put me in a position to speak from experience. I went on an interview for a job one day and a man asked me if I was nervous. I told him no, but in my head, I felt disrespected. I felt some type of way because this was just a job interview I wanted to say if you saw what I saw or lived my life you may not even be in my position right now. I went from a high-risk high school drop out to a master’s degree and I want to continue to a doctoral degree. I feel like God put me in a position to be flawless, he knew if he was going to make me a diamond he needed me to make me a precious one. One that shined so bright others would stand in awe and want one. Thus me being blessed with the opportunity to encourage with my words and business. I still look forward ti the bumps in the road. I know their only God’s way of polishing me for the individual that I am to be and if they are apart of God’s plan for me I’ll never face them alone.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Get After It Now Inc. – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
At Get After it Now we’re a Christian based organization and we focus on growth. It is literally a growth mindset acronym. We set out to influence people to be the best version of them that they can become. I like to say we work mostly with Middle School to High School aged students as far as philanthropy. However, that is only one side of the organization. Our philosophy is based on the three words FORTITUDE, DILIGENCE, and OBEDIENCE.
Fortitude, chosen first because it means “courage in pain or adversity.” This is the first step to becoming a better version of yourself. You must display the courage to decide you want change.
Diligence, chosen second for two reasons. In Proverbs 10:4 it reads “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich”, rich being used as a measure of success, not currency accumulation. The definition of Diligence is “care and persistent work.” When we decide we want change being persistent is what causes that separation from who you were and who you are going to be.
Obedience is the last, it serves as a base for our philosophy. Being last it supports the other two principles. Once you’ve made your decision that you want change and become persistent you then have to finish the job. This is where obedience comes in. This progressive order works both ways, top to bottom and bottom to top. Each principle is vital to the next when on your journey to better for yourself.
We also give out a scholarship for $1000 to a worthy senior annually. What sets us apart is our authenticity. You have a lot of nonprofit organizations that help people. Our organization helps from experience. A lot of the stuff we do comes from being in the same shoes as the people we help. Meaning we’ve been there before, we may have needed what we equipped someone else with before and that makes me twice as happy to be able to do.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
We have future plans to become more impactful in Florida in general, and even across state lines. A lot of what I just wish to not disclose but I would like to thank my amazing executive board members, Glenda Brown, Shawn and Garcian Buckle, in helping expand the scope of the organization.
Pricing:
- T-Shirts, $20-$30
- Hoodies and Sweaters, $25 – $35
- Wristbands, $2
Contact Info:
- Website: WWW.GETAFTERITNOW.ORG
- Email: PRESIDENT@GETAFTERITNOW.ORG
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getafteritnowculture/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getafteritnowculture/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/_getafteritnow?lang=en
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbwJrgZzWbKuUFZ19jZHXfw?view_as=subscriber
Image Credit:
BCreativeGPX
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