About Me
Hey friends – I’m Dean Thoms. It’s great to meet you, and I’m truly glad you’re here.
I started Life of Challenge in pursuit of a better, more fulfilled life. Simple to say. Hard to do. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to chase down some pretty ambitious goals:
- Earned a black belt
- Became a licensed pilot
- Completed an Ironman triathlon
- Ran ultramarathons
- Lived as a digital nomad across the U.S.
- Traveled widely and studied hard
I hold a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, a certificate in Data Science, and an MBA.
But here’s the truth: none of those milestones brought the satisfaction I expected.
What did fulfill me was the process of getting there. The grind. The fear. The breakthroughs. The slow, painful growth that happened in the trenches.
That’s the real reward. That’s why Life of Challenge exists.
This Blog is My Challenge
I created Life of Challenge to hold myself accountable to the relentless pursuit of discomfort and growth. Even this blog is part of the challenge. I’m an introvert. Putting myself out there? That’s me practicing courage in real time.
Each 21-Day Challenge is my way of creating structure around that pursuit: testing habits, pushing edges, and sharing the lessons that emerge.
But this isn’t just about me.
Let’s Do This Together
My hope is that by sharing my challenges, you’ll be inspired to take on your own.
Not because it’s easy. But because it’s worth it.
So welcome to Life of Challenge. If you’re ready to get started, check out the Start Here page. Then pick your first challenge. I’ll see you on the other side.