We recently connected with Andres Perez-Molina and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Andres thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

From Actor to Coach. My mission wasn’t originally my passion, but it is my calling. My story of a working actor in Los Angeles pursuing his dreams, working with my role models such as: Tom Brady, Jennifer Lopez, Christopher Nolan, Christian Bale, David Beckham, JJ Abrams and many more. It was surreal coming from Washington DC with no acting background, but with the strong belief “anything is possible” when you have the right mindset!

After 16 years of working with the union I decided to take a break and help my family back east. I promised my mom when she’s ready to retire I’ll be there to help that transition. She decided to want to live in Parkland, Florida near my sister and the grandkids. After everything was accomplished and settled in, the pandemic happened. It was a blessing to be with family through this tough time, little did I know it was about to get tougher and darker in my world. August 2020, I suffered what the doctors called a “freak accident,” a Cervical Spinal Cord Contusion on my C2, right under my skull. The same injury Christopher Reeves suffered, but his was a complete break. After a long bike ride in the summer, with emotional stress, new changes in my life plus dehydration, I fainted and hit my right temple on a flowerpot in my backyard.

I was supposedly out unconscious for a couple of minutes, but it felt like a lifetime. I was floating in peace, up and up towards a light. It seemed like an eternity, then I woke up. My brother panicked with his wife on the phone with 911, astonished how relaxed I looked. I had no idea what happened, then “hell” started. I couldn’t feel my legs, my waist, my chest, my arms.

My doctors said my accident was a freak of an accident with three possible outcomes: One, death because of how it shut down my central nervous system, blood pressure dropped and possible brain damage. Two, a permanent quadriplegic, Superman Christopher Reeves. Three, unknown. With a timeframe of possibly walking in 9-12 months, I immediately felt defeated, embarrassed, and lost. In an aggressive and delusional way, I would yell and tell everyone “I’m walking out here, watch me!” The psychologist advised me that healing anger is not the answer, you need to sacrifice and surrender more to fully accept your truth. Humility to the highest level. I first attempted the parallel bars 3 weeks in and I couldn’t even hold the bars or move one step. More and more anger till something clicked that day. I repeated what she said over and over till I was crying my eyes out in prayer to heal, manifesting, and visualizing my healing. The next day at the parallel bars and I walked 20 steps. The whole staff was astonished, the PT Director asked what my story was. She asked can we market your “miracle” of your injury and would you be interested in speaking to other patients and share your process. I was honored. They would wheel me in other patient rooms, and little did I know I was “coaching” them to never give up, anything is possible with the right mindset! Stay resilient!

It’s quite interesting how my mental approach to acting played a pivotal role in my recovery! After my discharge, a well-known successful Love Coach from France contacted me and recruited me for Coaching. With similar values and morals, I was humbled to accept the training. Self-development, self-love, and mental health are very important for a fulfilling life. That was the start of Coaching with Andres, a Certified Relationship Coach, and a Licensed Life Coach. It was my mission to make my mess…my message, turning any negative into a positive. “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem,” my father’s favorite quote!

Another surreal moment occurred 9 months after my injury, at a time where my doubts, frustrations, and pain were starting to overcome me. With endless rehab of physical and occupational therapy while coaching I was becoming drained. Questions about why? Why is everything in my life so hard? I felt strong enough physically to see if I could get back on set, but with a limited acting role. So, I contacted my Miami Agent and expressed my limitations but desire to act again. She booked me a role the following week, asking “can you do stand-in work? It’s a union job, standing in for someone with same frame, 6’2, 210.” YES, I replied, laughing how I’d be the most grateful stand-in learning how to stand up and walk has been a blessing. But for who? I showed up on set in Pembroke Pines waiting in anticipation of who, then just like a Hollywood story of my life, I see Superman. Henry Cavill, our current Superman walking towards me. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, battling Mr. Reeves’ injury to get here, crawling to heal and walk and now standing with today’s Superman. I shared my story with him, he cried which made me cry, and a bear hug I’ll never forget. Reassuring my calling, my purpose, my mission!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Andres Perez-Molina, born and raised in Washington DC, half Peruvian and half Bolivian. I was so grateful for such a strong family and an inspiring childhood, but it wasn’t till I lost my father to prostate cancer that made me try something extraordinary in my life. He was my best friend, my idol, having the same birthday July 11th gave us a special bond. He passed away right after my senior year of high school, a fork in the road moment in my life. He worked for the White House and the government, OPM, Office of Personnel Management for over 30 years. He co-created the HACU program (Hispanics Association of College and Universities). He took a lot of pride in helping people, specifically Hispanics, in getting an education and creating opportunities for yourself. An amazing mentor to the organization and our family!

Interning for them as a G2 Employee, I felt honored to have the opportunity professionally to continue his work. But after such a dramatic change at the age of 17, I wanted to pursue and explore something different. That’s when I strategically pursued acting with a goal-oriented mind, a strong work ethic, and a fearless mindset.

The acting chapter in Los Angeles was the time of my life, but it did miss a level of personal fulfillment. The distance away from my family for 16 years and the desire to do more with myself. Unfortunately, it took a paralyzation to welcome that opportunity as a Life and Relationship Coach. But, I’m not someone to ever give up, like one of my role models The Rock says: “You have three choices in life, Give up, Give in, or Give it your all.”

The true understanding to the quote is, “you must first give up and surrender, humble yourself. Then, secondly give in to the process. Finally, thirdly, give it your all!

After being recruited from Alex Cormont, “The French Relationship Expert” an international successful coach and motivational speaker, I now felt the full potential in myself. Sharing my story, my message in educating everyone and anyone that anything is possible, never give up! An education stemmed from my father’s work and belief, an education in life, an association for everyone!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Resilience is a skill, a muscle you build from commitment and discipline. Everyone has it in them, but it must be worked out! My resilience was awakened after my father’s passing, it was crafted through my pursuit of the arts in acting, and then it was challenged through my injury of being a temporary quadriplegic. Learning how to talk, eat, move, stand, walk, hold, dress, bathe, sit, all made me appreciate the small things in life. I was a 36-year-old man in a 6-month baby body.

A year into my recovery, I started to feel a painful pinch in my left hip. I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis, and I was bone to bone, no cartilage left. Cortisone wasn’t working, so surgery was inevitable. Feeling the darkness overcoming my thoughts, my energy of “really going back to the wheelchair and having to learn how to walk all over again?” That’s when you channel into your muscle memory of resilience! A muscle, a skill I’ve chosen and forced to develop. Bring it on doc, let’s replace this hip, and as you say just like in life “sometimes you have to take a couple steps back to move miles forward.”

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

There are a few lessons. One, always take care of your health even if you think you’re strong and in shape, hydration, nutrition, and most importantly mental health. Which leads to number two, don’t think asking for help is a sign of weakness. I always did and had to learn there’s nothing more empowering than asking for help. “If you want different results, it requires different actions,” and someone’s help or guidance can get you there! And thirdly, enjoy the small things in life, don’t take the everyday moments for granted. Cherish your health, love your family and friends, and share your wisdom with the world!

At a time where the world has been in tough times, relationships, starting with the one with yourself are the tools to overcome any and all obstacles life might throw at you. Everyone has a Superhero in them, get out of your own way and let’s see what you’re made of!

If you need any guidance in this, I’d be more than happy to help you! I help because I’ve been helped. I coach because it’s my mission. Contact me at CoachingwithAndres.com

Contact Info:

• Website: Coachingwithandres.com
• Instagram: CoachingwithAndres711
• Facebook: Andres Perez-Molina
• Linkedin: Andres Perez-Molina
• Youtube: Coaching with Andres
• TikTok:  @coach_andres This has my biggest following. 60k