Written By Daniel Weddle

I’ll be the first one to tell you that I didn't get where I am today because I had an easy path, or because I was the smartest guy in the room. I grew up in a broken home with an alcoholic father, and I had to learn how to survive by packing away my feelings and just outworking everybody around me.

Throughout my career—from working narcotics in law enforcement to eventually becoming the CEO of a $30 million IT company—I’ve learned that life is going to throw obstacles at you that you simply cannot control. The ultimate test came when my wife, Mikki, and I lost our 21-year-old son, Peyton, in a sudden car accident. It was a devastating gut punch that brought me to my knees and forced me to realize I couldn't carry the weight of the world by myself.

When you go through something that alters your reality so drastically, you realize you have two choices: You can let the obstacle derail your life entirely, or you can hike up your bootstraps, figure out how to navigate the dark, and keep moving forward.

That is exactly why I am so incredibly honored that ProTech Services Group, Inc. has partnered with cityCURRENT to bring Chad E. Foster to Memphis on Friday, April 24.

If you want to talk about someone who was dealt an unimaginable hand and chose to hike up his bootstraps and completely redefine what is possible, you need to hear Chad’s story.

Seeing Past the Impossible

Imagine being 21 years old. You are in the absolute prime of your life, stepping into adulthood, and ready to take on the world. Now imagine losing your eyesight entirely at that exact moment.

For the vast majority of people, that kind of loss would be the end of the road. It would be a permanent limitation—a completely valid excuse to step back, play it safe, and let the world pass you by.

Chad Foster didn't do that. Instead of letting his blindness define his limits, he used it as fuel. He went on to become a Harvard-educated executive and a ruthless innovator in the technology sector.

To give you an idea of his grit: Chad decided to build Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software specifically designed for the visually impaired. A tech giant like Oracle literally told him it was impossible. As someone who has spent decades in the IT and consulting space, I can tell you that when a massive company tells you the infrastructure can't be built, most developers pack it in. Chad built it anyway.

He didn't stop there. He developed business strategies that drove industry-leading growth and margins. He became a billion-dollar dealmaker. And outside the boardroom? He became a black diamond skier and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner.

My dad taught me early on that you can succeed simply by choosing to outwork everybody else. Chad Foster took that philosophy to a superhuman level. He proves that our limitations are often only as real as we allow them to be.

The "Blind Ambition" Framework™

I am a utilitarian guy; if something doesn't have a clear and immediate application, I usually ask, "Why do it?". That’s why I am so drawn to Chad’s approach to leadership. He doesn't just offer feel-good motivation—he offers a tactical, battle-tested system.

Today, Chad works with organizations across the globe, teaching his Blind Ambition Framework™. It is a masterclass in combining human performance principles with deep, structural accountability.

Here is why this framework is going to be so valuable for the business owners and leaders in our city:

1. Building Accountable Cultures In my own business, I firmly believe in putting my employees first. I view my relationship with my team like a banking relationship: I have to make consistent deposits into their well-being so that when we need a withdrawal—when we need them to go the extra mile for a client—they are ready. Chad’s framework operates on a similar wavelength. He teaches leaders how to strip away excuses and build cultures where people take extreme ownership of their outcomes. When you remove the option to blame outside circumstances, your team is forced to innovate.

2. High-Performing Sales Organizations Chad is a billion-dollar dealmaker. He understands the psychology of the sale better than almost anyone. When you lose your sight, you have to become a master at reading people through tone, cadence, and intention. I learned how to read people on the streets as a police officer; Chad learned it by navigating corporate America in the dark. He equips sales teams with the practical tools to understand their clients on a deeper level and win when it matters most.

3. Rethinking Limitations Every business has "impossible" hurdles. Maybe it’s a budget constraint, a supply chain breakdown, or a competitor with deeper pockets. Chad’s story forces you to look at your own company's excuses and realize how small they actually are. If a blind man can safely ski down a black diamond mountain, your team can figure out how to hit their Q3 revenue targets.

"You are not in control of the things that happen to you, but you are in control of how you respond to those things."

Adaptability in the AI Era

There is another layer to this that is incredibly relevant to where we are right now. In the tech industry, we see Artificial Intelligence coming at us like a locomotive. It is changing the way we process data, communicate, and secure our networks.

The speed of business is faster than it has ever been. The companies that survive the next decade won't necessarily be the ones with the most capital; they will be the ones with the highest rate of adaptability.

Chad’s life is the ultimate case study in rapid adaptation. When he lost his sight, his entire operating system had to change overnight. He had to learn how to process information differently, how to communicate differently, and how to execute his goals without the primary sense most of us rely on. His framework teaches teams how to build that same resilient, adaptable mindset so they can thrive during times of rapid, unpredictable change.

It’s Okay Not to Be Okay

Finally, I want to touch on the human element of this event.

For most of my life, I internalized everything. I thought being the man of my house and the leader of my company meant I had to suck it up, put a smile on, and deal with my stress alone. It wasn't until I was broken by my son's death that I realized asking for help isn't a weakness; it is a necessity.

I am a huge proponent of people seeking the help they need, and I frequently tell my team and my peers that it is okay not to be okay. To achieve what Chad Foster has achieved, you have to be incredibly vulnerable. You have to be willing to admit when you are struggling, and you have to be willing to ask your community for the tools you need to succeed.

By sharing his journey so openly, Chad invites all of us to drop our armor. He shows us that true strength comes from acknowledging our realities and having the humility to learn a new way forward.

Join Us in Memphis

Memphis is a city of grit and grind. We know how to roll up our sleeves and get the job done. But to truly elevate our businesses and our community, we need to constantly sharpen each other.

I want to personally invite every business owner, sales leader, and community advocate in the 901 to join us for this morning of strategy and inspiration.

Event Details:

• Event: Memphis Signature Speaker Series featuring Chad E. Foster

• Date: Friday, April 24

• Time: 7:30 am - 9:45 am

• Hosted By: ProTech Services Group, Inc. & cityCURRENT

• Cost: Free (Registration Required)

Thanks to the generosity of the cityCURRENT corporate partners, this event is completely free for individual attendees, but seating is limited. Come hear the man who turned an absolute tragedy into a billion-dollar blueprint for success. Let’s learn how to rethink our limitations and power the GOOD in our city.

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