You Gotta Believe in Yourself is the memoir of Richie Weldon — a kid from the Woodside Projects in Queens who grew up tough, found his footing through service, and built a life defined by duty, resilience, and the belief that no one else gets to decide what you're worth. From running wild through the streets of 1960s New York to enlisting in the Navy, from becoming a fireman and father to rising to captain and standing in the shadow of the Twin Towers on September 11th, Richie's story spans eight decades and never loses its grit. It is a portrait of a generation that built their lives with their hands, passed something real on to their children, and kept going when the smoke cleared. A story about where you come from, what you choose to become, and why — no matter what anyone tells you — you gotta believe in yourself.