From Denim to Destiny: How a Setback Sparked My Mission

My first adult job came not from a dream fulfilled, but from a dream deferred.

After asking to be released from the Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League due to a preexisting injury, I found myself stepping into a very different arena—retail. I became a manager at a fashion denim store. It wasn’t the gridiron, but it was a new kind of challenge. There, I learned the art of selling. But more importantly, I discovered the joy of connecting with people. Once I leaned into building relationships, the sales came naturally.

Still, something was missing.

I realized that my influence was limited to those seeking a new pair of jeans. While I was grateful for the opportunity, I knew I was meant to impact more than just wardrobes.

Eventually, I found myself back in a CFL training camp with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, chasing personal goals with renewed energy. But even then, something felt off. I was pursuing a dream that, in the end, only served me. When I was released before the regular season began, it felt like a setback—but in hindsight, it was a blessing. That moment forced me to pause, reflect, and ask a deeper question: What is my purpose?

Through meditation and prayer, I found my answer in the form of a personal mission statement:

“To make my world a better place by impacting, influencing, and inspiring positive changes.”

That mission became my compass.

I began by improving the world of me—my mindset, my habits, my values—so I could better serve the world of we. That “we” started with my family and soon expanded to my community when I accepted my first public administration role in my hometown.

From there, my world kept growing—from small departments to large agencies, from one state to another. But no matter how far my reach extended, my mission remained the same.

Along the way, I crafted a quote to keep me grounded and accountable:

“If I am not an example of greatness, let me inspire greatness. If I am unable to inspire greatness, let me influence greatness. If I cannot influence greatness, let me admire greatness. Let my admiration ignite greatness in me!”

Every step of my journey—from football fields to fitting rooms to city halls—has been guided by that mission. And I’m still walking it, one purposeful step at a time.

-Premier Rameir