Marcus Whitley was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he and his family were living below the poverty line. Every day was a struggle. He knew he didn’t want to live that way forever, and the streets seemed like the only answer. Temptation also made it hard to resist. When he became of legal age, he began working as a dishwasher while still involved in the streets. The minimum wage might have been a steady paycheck, but it wasn’t enough to make him give up what the streets could offer. He became so lost in a lifestyle of money, guns, and drugs that it almost cost him his life.

As a consequence of his lifestyle, Marcus was sentenced to six years in prison. The years he spent there changed his life forever, both negatively and positively. He finished school and continued to further his education, but he was also traumatized and developed PTSD. Studying topics like business, life strategies, and the music industry while also consistently being in the gym kept him busy and out of trouble. By utilizing all of the resources and programs available to him, Marcus was able to plan for a better future upon release. Success wasn’t out of the picture and “no” wasn’t an answer he was willing to take. While he was incarcerated, he started his fitness career by training other inmates in the prison facilities.

Marcus currently works at a school for students with emotional behavioral disorders. His troubled past and challenging life experiences allow him to identify with struggling youth. He helps them understand that a few bad choices don’t make them a bad person. All it takes is one right choice to set them on a path that could change their lives forever. Marcus is devoted to being a youth advocate and mentor.

In addition to his work with youth, Marcus is a recording artist with a background in poetry, songwriting, and now a published author. Along with this book, he has two albums and several mixtapes being streamed and sold online. He is also a certified fitness trainer and has his own gym where he specializes in one-on-one and small group training. His fitness brand is called “Face Your FIT.” In and out of the gym, he strives to promote health and hard work while helping others achieve their goals.