Having bounced around foster homes in his early years, a young Black boy finds a home with a white family who adopts him. He discovers his love for football and excels in the sport, eventually playing in college and getting a shot at his NFL dream.
Although his story resembles something out of Hollywood, Anthony Trucks’ journey diverges from the fairy tale ending of The Blind Side. Despite the challenges he faced growing up, the toughest time of his life came after he entered the professional football arena.
Now a motivational speaker, podcast host, author, and founder of Identity Shift coaching, Trucks entered foster care at just 3 years old. His adolescence was marked by being moved from one home to another in California’s Bay Area, leaving him adrift and feeling unworthy. Things took a turn for the better when he was adopted at 14 and discovered a passion for sports in high school.
Trucks faced unique challenges as the only Black member of an all-white family with no athletic background. Despite this, he was determined to play sports like his classmates and eventually found himself on the football field, albeit initially struggling with skills and knowledge of the game.
Despite his shortcomings, Trucks persisted and eventually caught up with his teammates, showcasing his inherent drive to succeed.
Chasing a Dream
Trucks admits to having a natural inclination towards competition and a desire to win. His athleticism, although unrefined, became apparent as he devoted himself to football, realizing it was the only sport where he truly excelled.
At 25, he earned a spot with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008, yet his NFL journey was short-lived due to a preseason shoulder injury. This setback plunged him into a period of deep introspection, grappling with the loss of his football career.
Determined to rebuild his life and support his family, Trucks utilized his background in athletics and kinesiology to establish a gym. His relentless work ethic consumed him, leading to strained relationships in his personal life.
Trucks found himself at a crossroads, grappling with the fallout from his failed marriage, neglect as a father, loss of physical fitness, and the demise of his football dreams. His despair nearly drove him to contemplate suicide.
Identity Shift
As he spiraled into darkness, a friend’s words sparked a transformation within Trucks, reminding him of his resilience and the respect he commanded from those around him. This revelation catalyzed a fundamental shift in his mindset, prompting him to embark on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth.
Realizing the untapped potential within himself, Trucks began the arduous process of rebuilding his life, drawing strength from his challenging past and harnessing it to transcend his setbacks. His transformative experience culminated in what he describes as an “identity shift,” a pivotal moment in his life that inspired him to share his insights in the book Identity Shift: Upgrade How You Operate to Elevate Your Life, released in August 2021.
Trucks attributes his ability to navigate adversity to the resilience he observed in his mother, who battled multiple sclerosis for 17 years. Her unwavering strength inspired him to honor her legacy by striving for personal growth and contributing positively to the world.
In moments of doubt, Trucks seeks motivation from others, recognizing the power of learning from those who offer perspectives different from his own to facilitate personal growth.
Borrowing Joy
By humbling himself and seeking feedback from trusted sources, Trucks acknowledges his capacity for growth and self-improvement, leveraging external insights to gain a clearer view of his actions and their impact on his life.
Trucks views the ego as a double-edged sword, capable of both protecting and inhibiting personal growth. He emphasizes the importance of confronting one’s ego to identify and address aspects of one’s identity that hinder progress.
Through adversity and self-reflection, Trucks recognized that his ego, while instrumental in overcoming challenges, also contributed to cyclical patterns of hardship. By embracing an “identity shift” and granting himself permission to evolve, Trucks has emerged stronger, happier, and more resilient than ever.
