In the small town of McAllen, Texas, a young boy named Israel Hernandez spent the years of his childhood working tirelessly in the migrant fields. Although Hernandez didn’t have the “ideal childhood”, he credits those early years plowing in the fields to teaching him responsibility, problem-solving skills, and for developing within him an amazing work ethic that reigns prominent in his life today.

Hernandez did not have the easiest life. He dropped out of high school, got his GED, and found himself lost, confused, and alone. Longing for the connectivity and love that he lacked as a child, he soon found himself involved in a gang, accompanied by a serious drug addiction that lasted for 25 years.

Eventually, he had enough. He was done playing the victim. He was done limiting his own potential. He knew he was powerful, and it became his destiny to prove it-not just for himself, but for the world. It became his mission to share with the world that each of us is undeniably powerful and capable of anything we put our minds to.

In 2004, just as life was getting worse in McAllen, Hernandez packed up his belongings and moved to San Antonio, Texas to pursue a new life. He began working hard, long days and invested his money into himself: buying books, finding mentors, and eventually publishing a book of his own that documents his amazing transformation and inspires others to learn from his journey, called Keep Moving Forward: The 7 Keys to Transforming Your Life. He is also a co-writer of the International best-selling book Speak Your Way to Success.

Today, Hernandez is a published author, professional speaker, and founder of Transcendence Exceeding Expectations: building a better you and a better company by taking you and your team to the next level. He speaks to people around the world about self-growth; as he says “those who improve their growth improve their power”. Hernandez has spoken on the same stage as Les Brown, Bill Walsh, Daniel Gomez, Toney Whatley, and Michael Butler, and has made an appearance at the Empowerment Conference, Homeland Security, San Antonio Leaders of Tomorrow, Sticker Shock Academy, and Toastmasters Conferences. On a further note, Hernandez worked diligently to achieve his DTM, the highest-ranking Toastmasters award in which only 2% of Toastmasters in 2020 earned.

Hernandez latest venture is a podcast called You are Powerful, where he inspires his listeners weekly to take charge of their life, educate themselves, and above all, to keep moving forward.