THE CHASM

Certainty, Control, Identity, and the Long Road to Acceptance

Who are you when everything you've believed about yourself begins to fall apart?

For much of his life, Brad Hess knew who he was. His faith provided certainty, his accomplishments reinforced his identity, and his determination gave him the confidence that he could shape his own future.

But what happens when the foundations of that identity begin to collapse?

The Chasm is a deeply personal journey through two life-altering struggles: the loss of faith and the battle with addiction.

The first challenges everything Brad believed about the world, his purpose, and his place within it. Questioning long-held religious convictions means confronting uncomfortable truths and ultimately letting go of an identity that had defined him for much of his life.

The second challenges something even more personal: his belief in himself. As addiction takes hold, the determination, discipline, and sense of control that once defined him prove insufficient to protect him from his own destructive choices.

Though seemingly different, both experiences force him to confront the same fundamental questions: Who am I without the things that define me? How much of my life can I truly control? And how do I rebuild when I can no longer be the person I once believed myself to be?

The Chasm is not a story about finding religion or discovering a miraculous cure for addiction. It is a raw and honest exploration of identity, ego, loss, personal responsibility, and the difficult process of learning to live without certainty.

Above all, it is a story about rebuilding—not by reclaiming the person you once were, but by finding the courage to become someone new.

Because sometimes the hardest part of losing yourself isn't the fall. It's learning who you are when you begin to climb back out.

Shift Happens — Contributing Author | Published in 2009

Published in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, Shift Happens brought together entrepreneurs and business leaders to share their experiences navigating change, adversity, and opportunity. Brad Hess and Tyrell Gray contributed their perspective from years of building businesses and investing in real estate during one of the most challenging economic periods in recent history.

Out of Print...

Power Principles for Success — Contributing Author | Published in 2010

A collaborative personal-development and business book featuring entrepreneurs and business leaders sharing the principles that shaped their success. Brad Hess and Tyrell Gray contributed their perspective from years of entrepreneurship, business building, leadership, and real estate investing.

Out of Print...