Ending Soon! Save 33% on All Access

How This Entrepreneur Went From Confused College Drop-Out to World-Class Public Speaker In this video, public speaker Yahya Bakkar shares his struggles with identity.

By Gerard Adams

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

It's hard to figure out what you're supposed to do with you life and what your purpose is. And all too often, many of us find ourselves in identity crises, unsure of who we are and what we should be doing. The good news is -- you're not alone.

On this episode of Leaders Create Leaders, Entrepreneur Network partner Gerard Adams meets with world-class speaker Yahya Bakkar, who travels the world to share his own story and struggles with identity. Born in Saudi Arabia, Bakkar moved with his step-mother to New Jersey at age 5. Throughout his childhood, teens and early adulthood, Bakkar struggled to figure out who he was spiritually, socially and professionally. Always looking to be accepted by his father, he eventually went off to school to become a doctor as his father wished. However, during class one day in his early twenties, Bakkar realized he still didn't know who he was but he knew it wasn't a doctor.

Related: 1-on-1 With 'Boss Babe' Alex Wolf, One of the Most Creative People in Business

Dropping out with thousands of dollars of student debt, and as a result getting kicked out of his father's home, Bakkar moved forward and realized his purpose was to help others through leading, teaching and public speaking. Today, Bakkar has taken the stage over 500 times and is recognized by organizations like TEDx, Yale and Harvard. He's on a mission to help other young people understand and reach their full potential and become world-class speakers too.

To hear Bakkar's full story, click play.

See more episodes of Leaders Create Leaders Season 1 and 2 on Gerard Adam's YouTube channel.

Related: How This Inspiring Entrepreneur Built His Own Community

Entrepreneur Network is a premium video network providing entertainment, education and inspiration from successful entrepreneurs and thought leaders. We provide expertise and opportunities to accelerate brand growth and effectively monetize video and audio content distributed across all digital platforms for the business genre.

EN is partnered with hundreds of top YouTube channels in the business vertical. Watch video from our network partners on demand on Roku, Apple TV and the Entrepreneur App available on iOS and Android devices.

Click here to become a part of this growing video network.

Gerard Adams

Entrepreneur, angel investor, self-made millionaire at 24

Gerard Adams is The Millennial Mentor™, inspiring the generation to leverage their passions for success and create the lifestyle they dream of. A serial entrepreneur, angel investor, self-made millionaire by the age of 24 and millennial himself, he is most popularly known as the co-founder of Elite Daily. To date, he has built, backed or invested in nine businesses across multiple industries that have all delivered over seven-figure profits. Gerard has recently developed a video series, Leaders Create Leaders, to offer a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Learn more at GerardAdams.com

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

More from Leaders Create Leaders

How to Unlock the Full Power of Your Intuition

What Does It Take to Be a Real (and Successful) Travel Influencer?

How This Former Athlete Grew His Personal Project Into a Brand that Speaks to Millions

How This Young Entrepreneur Used His Military Experience to Build His Business

Science & Technology

3 Major Mistakes Companies Are Making With AI That Is Limiting Their ROI

With so many competing narratives around the future of AI, it's no wonder companies are misaligned on the best approach for integrating it into their organizations.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Leadership

How a $10,000 Investment in AI Transformed My Career and Business Strategy

A bold $10,000 investment in AI and machine learning education fundamentally transformed my career and business strategy. Here's how adaption in the ever-evolving realm of AI — with the right investment in education, personal growth and business innovation — can transform your business.

Side Hustle

These Brothers Had 'No Income' When They Started a 'Low-Risk, High-Reward' Side Hustle to Chase a Big Dream — Now They've Surpassed $50 Million in Revenue

Sam Lewkowict, co-founder and CEO of men's grooming brand Black Wolf Nation, knows what it takes to harness the power of side gig for success.

Business News

A University Awarded a Student $10,000 for His AI Tool — Then Suspended Him for Using It, According to a New Lawsuit

Emory University awarded the AI study aid the $10,000 grand prize in an entrepreneurial pitch competition last year.

Business News

He Picked Up a Lucky Penny In a Parking Lot. Moments Later, He Won $1 Million in the Lottery.

Tim Clougherty was in for a surprise when he scratched off his $10,000-a-month winning lottery ticket.