When I first picked up Ripping Off the Mask, I didn’t know I was about to walk into someone’s raw truth. Not just a story, but a life laid bare. Joseph Lee doesn’t hold back—and I respect that. This book isn’t written from a place of polish or pretense. It’s a memoir that drips with real pain, grit, hustle, and ultimately, hope.

A Journey From the Desire Projects to the Boardroom

Joseph Lee grew up in the Desire Housing Projects of New Orleans—a place where danger and despair were part of daily life. It wasn’t just about surviving poverty; it was about surviving a system stacked against you. As a child, he lived with the constant weight of responsibility, stepping into the role of provider long before he should have had to.

His story takes you through his early life in the streets, run-ins with crime, and the reality of being a young Black boy trying to stay afloat. But what makes this memoir unforgettable is the way Joseph transforms his struggle into strength.

Hustle, Heart, and a Relentless Drive to Rise

From being a high school football star to a street hustler, from college dropout to exotic entertainer, and finally from corporate underdog to founder of a successful government contracting company—Joseph Lee’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary.

He doesn’t shy away from the less glamorous parts of his life. Instead, he lays them all out: the nights he danced to pay bills, the jobs he juggled to stay in school, the countless rejections he faced in corporate America. And yet, through it all, he kept moving forward.

A Story That Will Speak to Your Soul

If you’ve ever struggled with your past or wondered if reinvention is truly possible, this book is for you. Joseph’s journey shows that transformation isn’t linear—and it doesn’t have to be perfect. There are setbacks, detours, and unexpected chapters. But there’s also growth, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, and healing.

One thing that really stood out to me was Joseph’s dedication—not just to success, but to showing up as a present father. He’s not just building a business; he’s building a life around his daughter. “I’m not absentee,” he says. “I manage two calendars—mine and hers—and I build my schedule around her.” That level of business resilience through fatherhood hit me hard. His story reminds us that we’re not bound by where we come from. As Joseph puts it, he’s not a product of his past environment—he’s proof that we can live beyond environments, beyond limits. His tagline says it best: Dedicated to Succeed Against Odds.

My Takeaway

Reading Ripping Off the Mask reminded me that our stories—no matter how broken or messy—can become powerful messages. Joseph Lee proves that you don’t need to come from privilege to make it. You just need vision, determination, and the courage to face your truth.

This book isn’t just motivational—it’s personal. It invites you to reflect, to heal, and to believe that you can create a future that looks nothing like your past.

This outstanding and inspiring book is currently available available on Amazon.com, Amazon.in and Amazon.co.uk,

About the Author

Joseph Lee is the founder and CEO of JLGOV, a technology-forward government contracting firm. But long before that, he was a young boy fighting to escape the shadows of New Orleans’ Desire Projects. His journey—from street hustler to male entertainer to college graduate and entrepreneur—is a powerful reminder that we are not defined by where we start.

Today, Joseph is a proud single father, mentor, and advocate for resilience, transformation, and building generational wealth. Through his memoir Ripping Off the Mask, he hopes to inspire others to embrace their past and rewrite their future.

Looking for some more inspiring reads? Head towards the Book Recommendations section.