The Hope Man.
It started as a nickname. A playful identity. Something friends called me because of my relentless optimism, even in dark times.
But over the years, it became something more. It became a mission. A purpose. A way of moving through the world.
The Origin
I've always been drawn to hope. Even when circumstances were difficult—and they often were—I found myself looking for the light. Not in a naive, ignore-the-problems way, but in a determined, there-must-be-a-way-through way.
After my accident, after the career disappointments, after the failures that could have broken me, hope was what remained. It was the thread I held onto when everything else was falling apart.
Friends noticed. They started calling me "The Hope Man" or "H0peman"—sometimes as a compliment, sometimes as gentle teasing. "There goes Kaid again, finding the silver lining."
The Transformation
At some point, I stopped seeing it as just a nickname and started seeing it as a calling.
What if bringing hope to others wasn't just a personality trait but a purpose? What if the optimism that had carried me through my own dark times could help others through theirs?
This realization led to everything that followed: HOPE.dev, the Hope to Light Foundation, the podcast, the content. All of it flows from this central mission.
What Hope Actually Means
Hope isn't blind optimism. It's not pretending everything is fine when it isn't. It's not toxic positivity that dismisses real pain.
Real hope is:
Honest: It acknowledges the difficulty of the situation while believing in the possibility of change.
Active: It's not passive waiting but active working toward a better future.
Contagious: When you carry hope, you can share it with others who have lost theirs.
Resilient: It persists even when evidence suggests giving up would be reasonable.
The Responsibility
Calling yourself "The Hope Man" comes with responsibility. People expect you to embody hope, even on days when you're struggling to find it yourself.
This has been one of the most challenging aspects of this identity. There are days when I don't feel hopeful. Days when the weight of challenges feels crushing. Days when I want to give up.
On those days, I've learned that hope isn't a feeling—it's a choice. I choose hope not because I feel it but because I know it's true. I've seen too many dark situations turn around to believe that hopelessness is ever the final answer.
The Mission
Today, "The Hope Man" isn't just a nickname—it's a mission statement.
Through HOPE.dev, I help creators and entrepreneurs find their path forward.
Through the Hope to Light Foundation, we bring literal and figurative light to those in darkness.
Through my content and speaking, I share the message that hope is always available, even when it's hard to see.
The Invitation
You don't need to call yourself "The Hope Man" (or Woman, or Person). But I believe we all have the capacity to be carriers of hope.
In a world that often feels dark, being someone who brings light is one of the most valuable things you can do.
What would it look like for you to be a source of hope in your corner of the world? In your family? Your workplace? Your community?
The world needs more hope. Maybe you're meant to help provide it.
