I know what everyone thinks about me: honest, intelligent, a good person, and a man without fear. I may be a successful businessman who has earned a reputation for being a good guy, but let me tell you, appearances can be deceiving. My childhood was not an easy one, and my father was a major influence on the person I am today.

My father was a man of principles, living his life by a strict moral code. He believed that being honest and kind was the only way to live. However, those very principles led to his downfall. He was nice to everyone, and they took advantage of him. By the time I was seven, he was broke. My mother left him, and he led a pitiful life, burdened with guilt for not providing me with the things a parent should.

When I was nine, my father died. On his deathbed, he told me, "Son, everyone's afraid of something. But never let them see your fears. I don't want you to be a good person; you have to learn how to...