Cris Abrego - Make It Reality: Create Your Opportunity, Own Your Success

by Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull)

D ale! If you know anything about me and my approach to dreams, goals, and success, you probably know thats the word I use to power up, to get you hyped to go for it, to do it, to live it, and to do it now! Theres no exact translation but I promise once youve read Make It Reality, thats what youll be ready to do.

It was late 2007 when I first met Cris Abregoone night in Miami after being introduced by a mutual friend. As Mr. 305 back in those days, I was learning a lot about making dreams happen. My career was definitely going places and Crisco-creator and executive producer of hit shows like Flavor of Lovewas fast becoming the name to know in television. He was somebody, I had heard, who was in the business of turning his own and other peoples dreams into reality. In fact, the friend who introduced us was Miamis own Josh Gallander/aka Whiteboywho had been a local pawnshop owner when Cris discovered him and made him a huge star on the hysterical reality series I Love New York.

So Whiteboy and Cris come walking into the club and head over to the corner of the barwhere Im sitting with some friends. Whiteboy says, You two should meet. His point was that Cris and I had both overcome obstacles and had found early success by turning the negative into positive.

From the moment Cris and I started to talk, we clicked. Not only did we have similar stories and come from similar backgroundsone of us Cuban-American from Miami and the other Mexican-American from Los Angelesbut also as two young, hungry guys, we were on a similar path working tirelessly to take our game to the next level.

Cris was so positive and supportive, telling me, Hey, man, good luck. Ill be watching. And I told him the same.

Even though our paths didnt cross again for almost seven years, I always remembered that conversation and how that night at the bar Cris Abrego predicted that I had a brand that could lead to global business successbeyond music. His belief in me and what was possible was that real, and I never forgot it.

And well, you know how it goestiming can be everything. By early 2014, when we did reconnect in the hopes of finding a way to work together on some projects, the timing was perfect. I was proudly representing my hometown of Miami as Mr. Worldwide and Cris, still that same down-to-earth guy from El Monte, was Mr. International himself as co-CEO of Endemol Shine North America, a division of the global TV giant.

We met for hours to kick around some ideas, and as the night got later and later, I decided to drive Cris to the airport for a five a.m. flight back to L.A. It must have been about three in the morning when I took him on a driving tour of Miamis Bayfront Parka favorite waterfront destination with shops and restaurants near American Airlines Stadium, where the Heat play. As we drove, I found myself telling Cris the story of how, as a kid, I used to come to Bayfront every New Years Eve to watch the fireworks and how I dreamed of one day hosting my own show on New Yearsin my hometown.

Thats where we left it. And true to form as an enterprising doer, Cris came back to me just weeks later and made it a reality. He sold the show to FOX, and that very next year we started airing Pitbulls New Years Revolution live from Bayfront Park. Its been everything I could have asked for and more.

Its also an amazing experience to watch Cris work. We speak the same language and heartily embrace the truth that sometimes we have to make something out of nothing. So there is never a limit on whats possible. There is never a no where there is intention, belief, and vision. His ability to inspire others is at a level Ive rarely seen in my life. He is a reminder to all that your past or your background doesnt have to hold you back from creating your reality. His philosophy echoes my ownthat as you look at the world, you can choose to believe that there is nothing you cant do, so go after your dream and truly own that success.

Dont just take it from me. Read this book to be inspired by Criss story of victory and hard-won success, and learn how to write your own. Make It Reality should be required reading for everyone who is preparing to go into unchartered waters in their careers and their lives, for everyone who wants to shake up the status quo or who wants to empower and lift up others.

So why dream when you can wake up and live it? Now go make it reality! Dale!