Reporter’s Note: An American social writer, Eric Hoffer, once said, “When we are in competition with ourselves, and match our todays against our yesterdays, we derive encouragement from past misfortunes and blemishes. Moreover, the competition with ourselves leaves unimpaired our benevolence toward our fellow men.”

Hoffer, who was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1983 by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, often struggled with adversity during his early years. However, he was inspired to achieve through the power he gained from life experiences and education. As a result the author progressed to be a dynamic writer on self-esteem.

After my first conversation with 33-year-old Ali Vialdores, Hoffer’s strong quote came to mind. Vialdores, a quite competitive man, used his love for competition to conquer internal doubts and fears of failure, which has made him the sales and marketing powerhouse he is now.

Today, meet Ali Vialdores, a family-oriented man who has prospered from recognizing the power of knowledge and experience.

VALDOSTA — Ali Vialdores was a military kid who moved often; however, most of his childhood was spent in Orlando, Fla., with his father, Lincoln Albert Vialdores.

“I was raised by my father, who was in the army,” Vialdores said. “We were always very close ... he was my best friend.”

Vialdores played football throughout high school and graduated from Lake Howell High School in Winter Park, Fla., in 1992. He later enrolled in college at the University of Central Florida, and college football brought him to Valdosta State University in 1999.

Vialdores graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Mass Media in 2002, and two years later, he received his masters in Public Administration.

“I went in to mass media because I always wanted to be a news anchor,” Vialdores said. “But I guess sometimes you find other talents along the way.”

After receiving his bachelor’s degree, Vialdores began his career as a sales manager with a radio group.

“Although sales was not the direction I expected to take, I found it to be very rewarding. In sales, there are so many let-downs and so much adversity to overcome; so you’re always a different person at the end of the tunnel. When you find out what you’re capable of, you can successfully manage others.”

Vialdores feels that his experience in sales prepared him for several leadership roles in life.

“When I realized that the only thing standing in the way of what I wanted to do was me, I overcame my fear of failure, as well as my fear of achievement,” Vialdores said. “There was a time when I thought, ‘If I accomplish this, then what next?’ When I got past my fear of failing, I began to ask myself, ‘If I do achieve, how do I stay at the top?’ Then I realized that the difference between achieving and not achieving lies in the six inches between your ears. At that point, I made a vow to never leave anything unfinished.”