Are you a product of your environment? This is a question that always comes to mind. There is a saying that goes, You are the representation of your five closest friends. That’s a powerful statement. Sit still for a second and think about your closest relationships. Does that statement resonate with you?

Thinking of environment, I often think about the movie “A Bronx Tale.” The kid, Calogero or “C,” was impressed by how Sonny moved and handled himself on the block. C’s dad, Lorenzo, played by De Niro, was cautious and wanted his son to stay away from the gangsters.

One of Lorenzo’s most memorable lessons to C was, “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent.” Lorenzo sees talent as a precious gift, believing that how someone nurtures and develops that talent through decisions, hard work, and character ultimately determines their life’s path. His message underscores the importance of not squandering one’s abilities due to negative influences, laziness, or poor choices.

“C,” living between two worlds—the honest values taught by his father and the tempting but dangerous lifestyle offered by Sonny, the local mob boss—faces critical choices that could either nurture or waste his potential.

I think about stories like this when I reflect on my own life and upbringing. Growing up, we navigated through the projects in Queens, streets riddled with gangs, gun violence, and crack pipes in the parks. Or in the Bronx itself, where each corner offered life-altering influences that could move you toward a direction that dims your potential.

It wasn’t all bad, of course. There was great camaraderie with friends and the sports we played. Whether it was basketball on the blacktops, where the rims had either chain nets or none at all, or baseball at Pelham Park, we were competitive whether in rain or snow. What kept us out of danger was our faith. Being baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church was a big deal. That was the guiding light surrounding us. It kept us safe!

As a kid from the Bronx, you develop skills that suburban kids might never understand. You learn to read people quickly—a survival skill that later translates into business. You develop resilience that can’t be taught in a classroom. The constant exposure to both struggle and triumph gives you a perspective that shapes your worldview forever.

My mother, working that corporate job at Swiss Bank (now UBS), showed me what determination looked like. Seeing her dress professionally each morning, speaking proper English at work, then coming home and switching to Spanish, taught me about the dualities in life. She moved us from the Bronx to Connecticut, not just changing our ZIP code but expanding our possibilities.

But environment isn’t just about location. It’s about the voices you hear, the expectations placed on you, and the examples you witness daily. When I got to Connecticut, I had to find my tribe—people who understood both where I came from and where I wanted to go. That balance was crucial.

I often wonder: What if I’d grown up solely in suburban Connecticut? Would I have the same street smarts, the same hunger, the same appreciation for every opportunity? Or what if we’d never left the Bronx? Would I have followed another path entirely?

The truth is, we’re shaped by every environment we encounter, but we’re not bound by any of them. That’s where willpower comes in. Some of my friends from those same Bronx streets ended up in completely different places—some thrived, others struggled. Same environment, different outcomes.

What made the difference? Often, it was having just one person who believed in you, one influence that countered the negative pull, or one inner voice stronger than the voices around you.

So are you a product of your environment? Yes and no. Your environment gives you the raw materials, but you decide what to build with them. The projects in Queens and the streets of the Bronx gave me tools I use every day—resilience, awareness, and authenticity. But what I’ve built with those tools—that’s been my choice.

Look around at your current environment. What’s it building in you? And more importantly, what are you choosing to make with what you’ve been given? Because at the end of the day, your environment shapes you, but it doesn’t define you unless you let it.