Welcome to the Evolving Man Project’s ‘Evolved Man of the Week’ profile. Each week, we highlight an individual who embodies what it means to be an evolved man, famous and non-famous men alike. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to the author, motivational speaker, the ex-gang member, guru, personal freedom coach, and founder of the Love Mob, Preston Smiles.
Preston has carved out a unique path for himself and uses his infectious, joyous spirit to inspire countless others across the globe.
“No one is ready for a “thing” until they believe they can actually have it. Wishing won’t help if you don’t believe you deserve it. The universe is always responding to your inner most thoughts about yourself no matter what your mouth says. In other words, if your innermost thoughts are “I want to be happy and successful” then the universe is going to remove anything and everything that doesn’t align with “happy and successful”. And on the other end, if you’re constantly saying to yourself “I’m worthless, I’m a screw up”, then the universe is going to deliver you a corresponding experience.”
Mr. Smiles has a passion for helping others find their true calling and for making sure the power of love conquers all. He has developed his own organization, called the Love Mob, to inspire others and spread his message of positivity to all willing to hear it. Here, Preston discusses the importance of discipline, or what he calls blisscipline, to start positive changes in one’s self and the world.
“Place your hand over your heart right now… and just listen for a minute. That is the universe’s confirmation for you. That sound, that life force, is saying you are complete but you’re not finished. You are alive, therefore there is more work to be done. My mentor Michael Beckwith says, “the real meaning of discipline comes from being a disciple of something you love.” So once real commitment is cultivated, discipline becomes a blissipline.”
Preston Smiles was born and raised in Compton, Los Angeles, CA. As a youth, he was headed down a path taken by so many young men of color cities across America. A childhood spent committing petty crimes, Preston upgraded to gang life by the time he was a teenager. After experiencing the loss of his friends at the hands of a rival gang, Preston turned around his life and found a different calling. His change of heart has led him to become one of the most prominent motivational speakers of the day. He’s amassed a massive following on social media with thousands of followers on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. He was awarded the Millennial Mentor Award by Elixir Magazine. He has been featured in LA Weekly, Los Angeles Magazine, and Origins Magazine. He is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, The Daily Love, and Good Guy Swag. He is one of the youngest members of ATL (Association of Transformational Leaders), not to mention the author of two self-help books: Love Louder, and Now or Never with his wife, Alexi Panos.
“So if you’re tired of New Year’s resolutions that never get fulfilled or projects that never get completed, make the shift from discipline to BLISSIPLINE and change the game. Give yourself permission to not be perfect along the path, celebrate your wins along the way and keep your “WHY” front and center. Make this the year that you become your own hero, that you manifest all that you could possibly dream of, but remember… it starts with you.”
Preston Smiles has made quite an impact on the lives of countless people. I’m humbled to have met Preston during a chance encounter at café in Salt Lake City, Utah. Although he’ll still contend that the most beautiful women in the world come from LA, I challenged him to think bigger about that, though, because we all know it’s my hometown of Chicago with the most beautiful women.
Sincerely, we wish him continued success in the future. He is the exact definition of #BlackBoyJoy. Today, we honor Preston Smiles as this week’s Evolved Man of the Week.
Evolving Man Project 