Story & Lesson Highlights with Andy Kadima II of Seattle

Andy Kadima II shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Andy , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
People see the children’s books, the animations, the BYOD programs, the Towber app, the car-rental company I manage, the achievements…
But what they don’t see is the part I’ve been building in silence:
• the discipline to keep creating even when I’m tired,
• the resilience to get back up after setbacks,
• the courage to take risks most people would avoid,
• and the belief in myself that I had to rebuild from scratch.

They don’t see the nights I’m writing until 3 a.m., the rejections I turn into motivation, the sacrifices I make to build a better life for my children, or the private battles that shaped my strength.

What I’m most proud of is that inner work — the character, the patience, the growth, the faith — because that is what makes everything else possible.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Andy Kadima, and at my core, I’m a creator, a builder, and someone who believes deeply in turning challenges into purpose. Last year, I had the honor of being featured in Canvas Rebel to share the story behind my clothing brand, Top Modesty — a brand that remains very close to my heart. Top Modesty was my first real expression of creativity in business, and it taught me the importance of building something meaningful, one step at a time.

This year, my journey expanded in ways I never imagined. I took everything I’ve learned — the resilience, the risk-taking, the faith — and poured it into a growing ecosystem of projects that all share one mission: to inspire, empower, and uplift.

I founded BYOD (Build Your Own Dream), a community-focused initiative dedicated to helping youth and underserved individuals discover their gifts, develop new skills, and believe in themselves. Seeing young people light up when they realize they can build something great — that’s the heart of BYOD.

I also launched and wrote an entire children’s book series, Marto and the Magic Hammer, inspired by African culture, courage, and the power of doing good. What started as one story is now a multi-book universe, complete with illustrations, animations, educational pages, and even a full trailer. My goal is to give kids stories that feel magical, empowering, and culturally rich — stories that show every child their gift matters.

Beyond that, I’ve expanded into entrepreneurship with a growing car-rental company, and I continue developing Towber, my on-demand towing-service app designed to modernize an overlooked industry.

What makes my journey unique isn’t just the variety of businesses — it’s the foundation behind them. Every project I build is rooted in my personal story, my culture, and my desire to create opportunities for others. I’m passionate about uplifting communities, telling meaningful stories, and proving that no dream is too big when you believe in your purpose.

This season of my life is all about growth, impact, and using every talent God gave me — and I’m excited to share that story with Canvas Rebel readers.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that really shaped how I see the world wasn’t just a single event — it was the realization that I could build something of my own.

For a long time, I worked for other people. I worked in different sectors — private, public, government — and each environment taught me something valuable. But deep down, I always knew I wanted to be self-sufficient. I wanted to create, to build, to lead. I wanted to make a difference in a way that reflected my values and my vision.

Working for different companies opened my eyes. I saw what worked, what didn’t, and how people’s lives and futures were affected by leadership, systems, and decisions. I learned from my own mistakes, but also from the mistakes of others. And somewhere along that journey, I realized something important:

I can make a difference too — but I have to do it by focusing on what I love.

That realization completely shifted how I view the world.
It reminded me that passion matters. Creativity matters. Purpose matters.
It pushed me to stop waiting for someone else to give me permission and start building the things that were already inside me.

That’s when I embraced what I truly love: writing, creating, building, and helping others grow.
It’s also when I began to draw more deeply from the things that shape me the most — my children, my wife, my upbringing, and my community. Their stories, their strength, and their belief in me became fuel.

And because of that shift, I’m now able to write children’s books, build businesses, create programs through BYOD, and help others turn their setbacks into stepping stones. That moment — that awakening — taught me that the world is shaped by people who choose to create, not just observe.

And that’s the lens I carry with me today.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain the moment I understood why I was created — and Who created me.

For a long time, I used to wonder why certain challenges kept showing up in my life. But as I grew in faith and understanding, something shifted in me. I realized that I was put on this earth to create, just like my Creator. And with that realization came another truth:
pain isn’t meant to break me — it’s meant to build me.

Every hardship, every setback, every moment that felt heavy was actually preparing me, not punishing me. The more pressure I felt, the stronger my endurance became. Instead of asking “Why me?” I started asking, “What is this shaping me into?” And that’s when everything changed.

I also reached a point where I understood something deeper: this world is temporary. It’s a layover — not the final destination. When you’re in a layover, you don’t hold on to fear, you don’t cling to things, and you don’t worry about losing what you can’t take with you.
You focus on who you’re becoming and where you’re going.

Once that truth settled in my spirit, I stopped living scared.
I stopped playing small.
I stopped hiding my pain.

Because if none of this is permanent, then I have nothing to lose — and everything to build.

That’s when pain became power for me.
Not something to avoid, but something to use.
Not a weakness, but a tool.
A reminder that my final destination is greater than anything I face here.

So now, when I experience pain, I don’t run from it — I lean into the growth it brings.
I take risks. I build. I create. I write. I serve. I push.
Because I know every struggle is part of the plan to make me better, stronger, and closer to who God designed me to be.

That’s the moment everything changed —
when I stopped seeing pain as an enemy and started seeing it as preparation.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Is the public version of me the real me?
Yes — but it’s not the whole me.

What people see in public is genuinely who I am: my personality, my values, my work ethic, my love for creating, my passion for helping others, and my drive to build things that matter. I’m consistent in that sense — what you see is what you get.

But I also believe deeply in building in silence.
Not everything I do is meant for the spotlight. A lot of my biggest projects, ideas, and achievements happen quietly, behind the scenes. That’s not about hiding — it’s about protecting the process. I’ve learned that when you share your dreams too early, you often run into doubt, negativity, or pushback from people who don’t understand the vision yet.

So I create in private. I grow in private. I work in private.
And then, when it’s ready — I present it to the world.

That balance keeps me grounded and effective.
The public version of me is real. But the private version of me is focused, intentional, and committed to building without noise or distraction.

Both versions are me —
one inspires the world,
and the other makes the world I inspire possible.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone is simple:
that I used every gift God gave me to make a difference.

I want people to say that I didn’t just live for myself —
I lived to lift others.
I lived to inspire.
I lived to create.
I lived to serve.

I hope they say that I turned my pain into purpose, my challenges into fuel, and my setbacks into stepping stones — and that I encouraged others to do the same. I want people to remember that I came from humble beginnings, but I never let that limit how big I dreamed. Instead, I used it as motivation to build things that could outlive me.

I hope my children, my family, my community, and even people who never met me can say:
“He made us believe in ourselves.”
“He showed us what resilience looks like.”
“He created things that touched hearts and changed lives.”
“He lived with courage, faith, and intention.”

Whether it’s through my children’s books, BYOD, my businesses, or the example of how I lived my life, I want my legacy to be one of impact — not just success.

I hope people tell the story of a man who didn’t waste his gifts…
who took risks…
who kept going…
who built with love…
and who trusted God with his journey from beginning to end.

If that’s the story people tell about me, then my life will have been worth it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Build Your Own Dream (BYOD)