Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with David Perez of Phoenix

We’re looking forward to introducing you to David Perez. Check out our conversation below.

David, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I’ve started writing what I believe will eventually become my first book.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I work in real estate, specializing in Industrial Services and Corporate Strategy. Outside of my professional life, I serve on the board of The Barbell Saves Project, a nonprofit based in Phoenix, Arizona, dedicated to helping individuals in substance use recovery through a community-centered program built around fitness, mindfulness, and peer support.

This organization holds deep personal meaning for me. For much of my life, I struggled with substance abuse, which eventually led to a severe fentanyl addiction. Recovery has been the most challenging and transformative journey I’ve ever taken.

I’ve learned to channel the same relentless and obsessive mindset that once drove my addiction, the same intensity that nearly destroyed my life into something far more meaningful. That energy now fuels my work, my purpose, and my commitment to helping others find a way through.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I’ve worn many masks throughout my life, each one feeling necessary at the time. One mask in particular was the need to constantly protect myself from the people and environment around me. It came with a hardened attitude and a constant sense of being on guard. It was my safety blanket.

But through years of personal work and growth, I’ve built a life that is stable, healthy, and safe for both me and my family. I’ve come to realize that I no longer need that mask. Its purpose has been served, and it’s time to let it go.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
I call it the rock bottom mentality. I’ve experienced deep suffering, pain so profound that words can’t fully capture it. In that suffering, I reached my rock bottom. There was nowhere lower to go, and in that realization, I saw that the only direction left was up.

Suffering taught me resilience in a way success never could. In every setback, in every moment of doubt, I remind myself of how far I’ve come. Compared to where I’ve been, the challenges I face now are temporary. That perspective grounds me. It keeps me moving forward, no matter what.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is real, but it’s just one part of who I am.

There’s the dad version of me, the son, the partner, the professional. Each version is authentic and shows up where it belongs. I wouldn’t take a business call while coloring with my daughter, and I wouldn’t show up to a public event in my pajamas with unbrushed hair.

I believe all these versions are necessary. Each has its time, its place, and its purpose. Together, they make up the full picture of who I am.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
This is a powerful and sometimes dangerous question that I wrestle with often.

The truth is, I don’t know exactly what I was born to do. But I’m constantly searching for it. My purpose may not reveal itself for another 10, 20, or even 50 years, and I’m okay with that.

What I do know is that I’m doing what I need to do today. I treat every opportunity as a stepping stone, trusting that each step is leading me closer to whatever that purpose may be.

Contact Info:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-perez-89307b21b/