How a Personal Crisis Led to a Business No One Saw Coming

Sharay Hayes never planned on building a business around erectile dysfunction. Why would he? It’s not exactly the kind of topic people discuss openly, let alone turn into an entrepreneurial venture. Yet, life has a way of reshaping our paths when we least expect it.

At 51, Hayes found himself at a crossroads, grappling with a series of personal and financial struggles. The COVID-19 pandemic had upended his income, leaving him in a precarious financial state. Then came an emotionally devastating breakup—one marked by betrayal—that left him reeling. Just when he thought he had hit rock bottom, he received an erectile dysfunction (ED) diagnosis.

"Going through financial struggles is one thing," Hayes reflects. "But losing my sense of masculinity on top of that? That was too much to bear."

Most men in his position would have sought a quick fix—pop a pill, move on, and hope for the best. But Hayes wasn’t wired that way. His entrepreneurial mindset wouldn’t let him settle for surface-level solutions. Instead, he started questioning everything he had been told about ED.

Determined to understand his condition, he immersed himself in research. He pored over medical journals, consulted experts, and explored alternative treatments. What he uncovered challenged everything he thought he knew.

"The medical industry tells men that a pill or injection can solve everything," he says. "But that’s a lie. Many men with ED don’t have physical issues at all. Their condition stems from stress, anxiety, and life circumstances—not a medical defect."

This revelation sent Hayes on a journey of self-exploration. He started tracing his struggles back to their roots, uncovering the psychological and emotional factors that had likely contributed to his condition. He began questioning long-held beliefs about male sexuality—beliefs he had unknowingly internalized since his teenage years. The deeper he dug, the clearer it became: traditional medicine was overlooking a crucial part of the puzzle.

Despite ED affecting millions of men worldwide, conversations around it remained cloaked in shame and secrecy. Hayes saw a glaring gap in the market—doctors were quick to hand out prescriptions, but no one was addressing the mental and emotional impact of sexual health struggles.

That realization changed everything. Rather than seeing his ED diagnosis as a setback, he recognized it as an opportunity to shift the conversation. He wanted to provide men with the support they needed—without the stigma, shame, or over-reliance on medication.

So, he decided to share his story.

Hayes poured his experiences into a book, In Search of Freezer Meat. The title itself speaks to his approach—using humor to spark conversations about a topic most men avoid. The subtitle says it all: A Story of the Male Mental Health Crisis Caused by ED and the Only True Cure No One Is Talking About—A Penis Implant.

"The title is a play on words," he explains. "What’s harder than freezer meat? Nothing. And that’s exactly the point."

In In Search of Freezer Meat, Hayes candidly details his journey—how financial struggles and ED shattered his confidence, pushing him into depression. He recounts hitting rock bottom and the steps he took to rebuild his life—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.

But his story isn’t just about erectile dysfunction. It’s about resilience, self-discovery, and breaking free from societal expectations. It’s about men reclaiming their confidence, not through temporary fixes, but by addressing the root causes of their struggles.

Today, Hayes is on a mission to challenge outdated narratives around male sexuality and mental health. His work is already igniting conversations and helping men feel less alone in their experiences.

"In the end, it’s not really about ED," he says. "It’s about masculinity, self-worth, and what it truly means to be a man in today’s world."

By turning one of the most challenging periods of his life into an opportunity to help others, Hayes is proving that even in the darkest moments, there’s potential for transformation. Sometimes, the most unexpected struggles lead to the most powerful breakthroughs.