In this deeply personal conversation, Adel Sayegh joins Dwayne Kerrigan to share the story of losing everything — financially, professionally, and emotionally — and the lessons that followed.

Adel opens up about the moment when the life he had built suddenly collapsed. The house, the car, the career, and the identity that came with success were all gone. What followed was one of the most defining moments of his life: facing fear, uncertainty, and the realization that everything he once believed about stability and success could disappear overnight. But this story is not about loss — it’s about resilience.

Adel reflects on how faith, humility, and the support of his wife helped him rebuild from the ground up. He explains how identity often becomes tied to status and material success, and why losing those things forced him to rediscover who he really was.

This episode is a powerful reminder that adversity is not the end of the story. Often, it’s the beginning of the one that matters most.

Episode Time Stamps:
00:00 - Opening message on finding purpose and solving problems
01:25 - Introduction to Adel Sayegh's journey from poverty in Jordan to building a billion-dollar business
07:05 - Surviving the six-day war as a child in Jordan
09:46 - Immigrating to America and father's vision for education
12:40 - Childhood stories: working for watermelons and surviving in poverty
25:00 - Pushed into traffic at age five by Muslim friend, hit by car
27:28 - Experiencing discrimination and hatred after arriving in the US
30:40 - Joining the Marine Corps and finding brotherhood
39:04 - Becoming youngest manager at MetLife but feeling unfulfilled
1:03:07 - Vision for remote camera surveillance technology after bank robbery
1:06:30 - Difficult decision: making payroll versus mortgage payment
1:10:49 - Creating the world's smallest security tag after 100 engineers said impossible
1:13:30 - Wife's sacrifice offering to pawn jewelry to fund the business
1:17:00 - Building the company into a household name through innovation and patents

Key Takeaways:
● Success can become dangerously tied to identity and status
● Losing everything can reveal who you truly are
● Support from loved ones can anchor you during crisis
● Resilience is built through hardship, not comfort
● Faith and perspective can reshape how we view failure
● Starting over requires humility and courage
● True strength comes from facing adversity head-on

Quotes:
“I was vulnerable because for the first time in my life I just, I thought I had it all figured out and now I don’t.” - Adel Sayegh

“I just lost everything. I lost my house, I lost my job, I lost my car, I lost my identity.”
- Adel Sayegh

“Now fear said, what? What if this doesn’t work out? What if this isn’t going anywhere?”
- Adel Sayegh

“Businesses is a series of relationships and one of the biggest relationships that we have is with ourself.” - Dwayne Kerrigan

“Your story is unbelievable. It’s an unshakeable journey of overcoming obstacles.”
- Dwayne Kerrigan

Adel Sayegh’s story is one of grit, grace, and perseverance. From humble beginnings in his garage, he built a company that reached a $1 billion valuation. A Marine Corps veteran and pancreatic cancer survivor, Adel has overcome tremendous adversity, shaping his mission to use every challenge as a platform to serve others. His unwavering faith in God has been the cornerstone of his journey, grounding him through both triumphs and storms. Today, Adel speaks to entrepreneurs, leaders, and dreamers, challenging them to rise above adversity, pursue excellence, and live with purpose. His message of resilience, faith, and hope leaves a lasting imprint on audiences, calling them to embrace challenges as opportunities and build a legacy that outlives them

Connect with Adel Sayegh:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adel-sayegh-06109a9/

Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedwaynekerriganpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwaynekerriganpodcast/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwayne-kerrigan-998113281/
Website: http://www.dwaynekerrigan.com

Disclaimer The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.