Tony Gaskins

Tony Gaskins Jr., the son of a former pastor, was raised in a loving home along with a younger sister in a small central Florida town where most people believed that there were only a few avenues one could take in life. The common belief was that one could either end up overworked and underpaid, sell drugs, or become a professional athlete. Gaskins escaped the cycle that entrapped so many of his peers and was awarded a full collegiate football scholarship.

It was in college where Gaskins would run into trouble. All on his own for the first time and 1,000 miles from home, Gaskins found himself in a mess. Women became his biggest vice, closely followed by the lure of fast money. Gaskins began selling drugs from his dorm room and stealing on weekends while juggling women somewhere in between. After three years of barely staying afloat in his responsibilities as a student athlete, his coach decided to release him from the team. One might think that this circumstance would have been a clear wakeup call, but Gaskins was unreceptive. Instead, he moved back to Florida and continued to sell drugs and juggle women. He was living like the Prodigal Son, ignoring his natural gifts that were waiting to be unleashed.

It wasn't long after relocating to Tampa, Florida, that Gaskins would cross paths with a young lady who would influence positive change in his life. She later became his wife. Gaskins was trying to balance his lifestyle of selling drugs and living a lie while keeping his wife. That balancing act wouldn't sustain for too long. At 23 years old, Gaskins was married and had a newborn son who arrived 10 weeks early and weighed only two pounds at birth. Gaskins decided to give drug dealing one last shot after a long hiatus. He was desperate to find a way to provide for his new family. This time would be the last. No less than a few weeks in his risky lifestyle, Gaskins's wife decided she'd had enough and she left him. To add insult to injury, Gaskins was robbed two days later by a group of local enemies. Gaskins found himself grappling with $30,000 in debt, poor credit and nothing to call his own, a marriage that was hanging on by a thread and a son in the intensive care unit. It was at this point that Gaskins finally realized the error of his ways. He fell on his face and cried out to God. He rededicated his life to Christ and vowed to forever live a life of service from that day forward. Although there would be trying times and stumbling blocks in the road, Gaskins kept his word to God.

Today, Gaskins has traveled extensively as an international speaker, addressing audiences at numerous colleges and universities, major sports organizations, and churches. His impact reaches over 30 million people a week, and he has coached more than 300 high-profile individuals. Gaskins speaks on topics of love, business, success, and self-development. He is also a prolific author with several books to his credit including "Real Love" and "Single Is Not a Curse." Gaskins continues to expand his influence through various endeavors such as TV and film production, ghostwriting, and consulting for authors, businesses, and social media. His commitment to improving others' lives is also evident in his creation of online schools focusing on love and relationships, entrepreneurship, and life coaching, alongside organizing and hosting transformational retreats. Gaskins's story is a testament that it doesn't matter where you come from or what you've been through; if you want better for your life, then you can have it. The choice is yours!