Author Archives: Zac Keeney

Motivation is a Crutch for Undisciplined Men

Most men think their problem is motivation.

Why can’t I get motivated?

They’re waiting to feel ready.
Waiting to feel driven.
Waiting to feel like today is the day.

But the truth is simpler and harder to admit:

If your plan depends on motivation, it’s already unstable.

Motivation is a feeling.
Feelings change. Quickly!

And busy weeks don’t care what you feel like doing. Especially when you’re a father, husband, business operator/employee.

Why Motivation Fails Under Pressure

Motivation shows up when:

  • Life is calm
  • Sleep is good
  • Stress is low
  • The future feels exciting

But that’s not real life most of the time. At least it’s not for me.

Real life looks like:

  • Early mornings and late nights
  • Work that doesn’t slow down
  • Kids who need you when you’re tired
  • Unexpected problems that don’t wait for perfect timing

Motivation disappears under weight.
Structure doesn’t.

That’s why men who rely on motivation feel strong in January…
and lost or confused by March.

Discipline Isn’t Harsh — It’s Reliable

A lot of men secretly think discipline is punishment. I know I’ve felt this way. I used to workout

Discipline was something rigid.
Something joyless.
Something you “power through.” Cameron Hanes says, “nobody cares, work harder”

That belief guarantees burnout. At least for me.

Discipline isn’t punishment.
It’s what keeps you moving when life gets loud. Jocko Willink wrote about this in, “Discipline equals Freedom”

Not dramatic.
Not impressive.
Just steady. The more disciplined. The more space created freedom.

Discipline is how you keep promises to yourself when no one is watching. <—– oooohhh. I like that. Keep promises.

Micro Habits Beat Big Intentions

Here’s where most men go wrong.

They design habits for their best days.

Then life hands them average days.
Or hard ones.

And the whole system collapses.

Micro habits are built for reality.

They’re small enough to survive every day life:

  • Bad sleep
  • Heavy schedules
  • Stressful seasons
  • Low energy

They don’t aim to impress.
They aim to endure. They aim to sustain momentum.

The Top 5 Micro Habits That Survive Busy Weeks

These aren’t optimal.
They’re durable.

They’re built to work when life doesn’t cooperate.

1. Ten Minutes of Movement

Not a workout.
Just movement.

Walk. Stretch. Push-ups. Anything.

The goal isn’t fitness — it’s identity:
“I’m the kind of man who moves his body, even when I’m busy.”

2. One Glass of Water Before Anything Else

Before coffee.
Before your phone.
Before the day grabs you.

It’s not about hydration alone.
It’s about starting with a decision you control.

3. Five Quiet Minutes Before Noise

No phone.
No news.
No inbox.

Just stillness. Thought. Prayer. Breathing.

The last 40+ days, I’ve started my day with a Wim Hof style breathing. Three rounds. Non-negotiable.

It’s not spiritual heroics.
It’s mental alignment.

4. One Intentional Meal Choice

Not a perfect day of eating.
Just one good choice. For this I start my day with 30g of protein. Forms include: Overnight Oats (most frequent), a smoothie, or quick shake.

I make it the night before so I don’t have to think.

It reminds you that discipline isn’t all-or-nothing.
It’s one decision at a time. Every day.

5. Return Fast After You Slip

This might be the most important habit of all.

You will miss days.
You will fall off.
You will get inconsistent.

The habit isn’t perfection.
It’s speed of return. Again, momentum is easier harnesses than restarting.

“Never miss twice” matters more than never missing.

“I’m the type of man who <insert discipline>” no matter what

Why This Actually Works

Big goals collapse under pressure.
Micro habits adapt.

They don’t rely on:

  • Energy
  • Excitement
  • Perfect timing

They rely on:

  • Simplicity
  • Repetition
  • Identity [Promises Kept]

Every small habit is a vote for the man you’re becoming.

Not in speeches.
In actions.

A Quiet Reality Check

If your discipline only works when life is easy,
it isn’t discipline.

It’s convenience.

The test isn’t your best days.
It’s your busiest ones.

That’s where your real system shows up.

The Question That Matters

What’s the smallest habit you can keep
even when life is heavy
that proves you’re not quitting on yourself?

Start there.

Create momentum then stack another.

Not because it’s impressive.
But because it lasts.

Foundational Shifts: When Business Stops Being Linear

“Businessman pushing a boulder labeled ‘effort’ uphill while another stands on a lever facing a city skyline, symbolizing moving from hard work to leverage and systems.”

The last 60 days have stretched my thinking in ways I didn’t fully anticipate.

This week alone, I was on a call solutioning ideas with people in Colombia. I was resourcing scale options with someone in India. I was being trafficked—guided, supported, kept moving—by a virtual assistant in the Philippines. All of it happening while building out an e-commerce brand I can’t wait to share.

At first, it hit me as shocking.

Then I realized… it really shouldn’t be.

Years ago, Tim Ferriss talked about this in The 4-Hour Workweek—offshoring, leverage, designing life instead of reacting to it. Back then, it felt futuristic. Almost irresponsible.

Now? It’s normal. It’s table stakes.

The Epiphany: Linear Thinking Is the Ceiling

Friday morning I was speaking with an entrepreneur/founder who challenged me in a way I didn’t know I needed.

He wasn’t criticizing my work ethic.
He wasn’t questioning my ambition.

He was questioning my math.

Linear thinking had quietly become my limiter.

I was thinking:

  • More effort = more output
  • More hours = more progress
  • More control = more safety

But the world no longer rewards that model.

The shift is exponential:

  • Better systems beat harder work
  • Better leverage beats longer days
  • Better collaboration beats tighter grip

That conversation was an aha moment—almost an epiphany. The world didn’t slowly change. It fundamentally changed. And if we don’t see that, we’ll unknowingly fight yesterday’s battles with today’s tools.

Leaving a Chapter Isn’t Failure

I’m so genuinely grateful for the line of work I came from. It shaped me. It fed my family. It taught me discipline and opened my eyes to yet another door in the media ecosystem.

But I also felt… boxed in.

Not because it was wrong.
Not because anyone else was wrong.

I just felt held back and I couldn’t punch through without breaking myself.

Stepping into this new world feels different.

Limitless, honestly.

  • Production capabilities? Endless.
  • Creativity? Spiking.
  • Storytelling? Amplified.

And here’s the part that matters most to me: none of this requires abandoning who you are or what you believe.

In fact, the more scalable the world becomes, the more valuable a grounded narrative is. Your beliefs. Your faith. Your integrity. Your real story.

Bigger Thinking, Deeper Roots

As a creator, a builder, a husband, a father—I can’t afford to think linear anymore.

Not for ego.
Not for money alone.
But for impact.

The playing field is bigger now. The barriers are lower. The speed is faster. And the responsibility is heavier.

“Success leaves clues”, I repeat it often…and they are everywhere!!

We can provide more value to more people than ever before—but only if we let go of outdated frameworks that quietly keep us safe and small.

This is an exciting time.

A destabilizing time.
A stretching time.
A faith-testing time.

Hold on tight.

Not because it’s scary—but because if you’re paying attention, you’re about to see just how big the world really is.

The Most Dangerous Lie Christian Men Believe About Ambition

There have been many a season where I questioned my own ambition.

Not in a dramatic way. Quietly.
The kind of questioning that doesn’t show up in conversations, but lingers during long drives or late nights.

I was doing “the right things.”
Faith. Family. Work. Responsibility.

And yet, every time I felt the pull to grow, to build more, earn more, stretch further… there was a subtle tension underneath it all.

Is this godly… or selfish?
Am I trusting God… or chasing control?
At what point does ambition cross a line?

I’ve seen this tension play out in a lot of good men. Men who love their wives. Men who show up for their kids. Men who take their faith seriously.

And over time, I’ve realized there’s a lie sitting quietly at the center of it.

The Lie Sounds Like This

“If I truly trust God, I shouldn’t want more.”

It rarely shows up that cleanly.
It usually disguises itself as wisdom, humility, or contentment.

It sounds like:

  • “I’m just trying to be grateful for what I have.”
  • “I don’t want money to become an idol.” – been there!
  • “I don’t want ambition to pull me away from what matters.” – absolutely lived this!!

On the surface, that all sounds reasonable.

But watch what I experienced next.

Opportunities get delayed.
Growth gets postponed.
Potential gets parked in the name of being “faithful.”

Not because a man is lazy.
But because he’s afraid of wanting the wrong thing.

Why This Lie Is So Comfortable

This lie offers protection.

If you keep your ambition small:

  • You don’t have to risk failing publicly.
  • You don’t have to manage increased responsibility.
  • You don’t have to confront the parts of your life that might not scale well.

It feels spiritually safe.

You can call it patience instead of fear.
You can call it trust instead of avoidance.
You can call it humility instead of hesitation.

But over time, something subtle happens.

Men don’t become more peaceful. They become restrained.
Not surrendered. Just smaller.

Ambition Isn’t the Problem

Here’s the reframe that changed things for me:

Ambition isn’t the enemy of faith.
Misalignment is.

Ambition is a force, like fire.
It can warm a home or burn it down.

The issue isn’t whether you have ambition.
It’s whether your ambition is ordered or avoided.

Faith doesn’t cancel desire.
It directs it.

When ambition runs without alignment, it destroys things. I know I’ve felt this.
When ambition is avoided altogether, it erodes things just as quietly. “without purpose the people perish”

Small Thinking Doesn’t Protect You

This was a hard one to accept.

Playing small doesn’t actually keep your soul safe.

It doesn’t strengthen your marriage.
It doesn’t make your kids more secure.
It doesn’t remove pressure — it redistributes it.

Often onto:

  • A spouse carrying more emotional load
  • A future version of you with fewer options
  • A family dependent on systems instead of leadership

Avoiding growth doesn’t remove responsibility.
It just delays the bill.

Growth Reveals What Needs Strengthening

Here’s something I’ve noticed consistently:

Growth doesn’t corrupt character.
It exposes formation gaps.

More responsibility doesn’t create misalignment — it reveals it.

  • If your body breaks down under pressure, that’s feedback.
  • If your marriage strains, that’s information.
  • If your faith feels thin, that’s an invitation — not a condemnation.

Pressure isn’t proof you’re doing something wrong.
It’s often proof you’re carrying something meaningful.

A Quiet Self-Audit

Here are few questions worth sitting with:

  • Where have I labeled fear as faith?
  • What opportunity am I postponing until I “feel clearer,” even though clarity usually comes after movement? (mood follows action)
  • If my ambition doubled tomorrow, what part of my life would break first?

Those answers matter more than any tactic.

A Different Way to Think About It

God doesn’t ask men to want less.

He asks them to want what lasts.

To carry responsibility without apology.
To pursue growth without losing alignment.
To lead without shrinking themselves in the process.

The question isn’t whether you’re ambitious.

It’s whether you’re willing to steward what you’ve already been given?

Why New Year’s Resolutions Rarely Survive January

January is full of good intentions.

Motivation is high.
Ambition feels clean.
The future looks wide open.

This is the season where people decide who they’re going to become.

And it’s also the season where most of those decisions quietly fall apart.

Not because people don’t want change badly enough.
But because they misunderstand what actually sustains it.

Mistake #1: Building a Resolution on Motivation

New Year’s resolutions assume something that won’t last:

That you’ll feel like this later.

You won’t.

Motivation is a temporary state. Andrew Huberman explains it biologically, dopamine spikes with novelty, then normalizes. James Clear says it more practically: motivation gets you started, but it won’t keep you going.

That’s why January feels powerful.
And March feels heavy.

If your plan depends on how you feel, it’s already fragile.

Micro habits solve this by removing emotion from the equation.
They’re small enough to execute even when motivation disappears.

Mistake #2: Aiming for Transformation Instead of Continuity

Most resolutions aim for dramatic change. I know…I’ve tried it.
WHO HASN’T??

New body.
New discipline.
New lifestyle.

But life doesn’t pause just because the calendar flips.

Stress shows up.
Sleep gets disrupted.
Kids get sick.
Work gets heavy.

And when the plan requires perfect conditions, it collapses. Momentum lost.

James Clear talks about habits needing to be “small enough to succeed on your worst days.” That idea matters more than most people realize. I like to think of it as a dimmer switch. Not fully [OFF], just dialed back

Because consistency isn’t built on great weeks.
It’s built on imperfect ones.

Micro habits keep you in motion, even when progress feels small.
They don’t demand intensity — they preserve continuity.

Mistake #3: Treating Falling Off Track as Failure

This might be the most damaging mistake of all.

Most resolutions don’t fail because people quit.
They fail because people miss a day — and then decide it’s over.

All-or-nothing thinking turns one disruption into abandonment.

But real life doesn’t reward perfection.
It rewards consistency.

A good system doesn’t shame you for falling off.
It makes it easy to start again.

Micro habits lower the barrier to re-entry.
They invite you back instead of punishing you for slipping.

Why Habits Decide the Year — Not Goals

By the first week of January, something important has already started happening.

Not visibly.
Not dramatically.

But quietly, your habits have begun shaping the year.

Not your resolutions.
Not your ambitions.
Your defaults.

What you do when things are busy.
What you return to when life knocks you sideways.
What you choose when no one is watching.

That’s where the year is actually decided.

Small Anchors Create Long-Term Change

Micro habits aren’t impressive.

They won’t make a highlight reel.
They won’t feel transformative in the moment.

But they do one essential thing: they keep you aligned.

Ten minutes of movement.
One glass of water before coffee.
Five minutes of quiet before checking your phone.
One intentional decision when stress hits.

These aren’t finish lines.
They’re anchors for consistent momentum.

This Is How the Year Is Won

Not in January enthusiasm.
Not in bold declarations.

But in March, when progress feels slow.
In July, when routines loosen.
In August, when discipline feels optional.

Big outcomes aren’t built on big resolutions.

They’re built on small habits you refuse to abandon.

So the better question this year isn’t:

What do I want to change?

It’s this:

What’s the smallest habit I can keep — even on my worst days — that keeps me aligned with the man I’m trying to become?

That answer will carry you a lot further than motivation ever will.
~Cheers to a new year!

The Most Important Question of Your Life

I came across this Mark Manson post from a link, shared by Tim Ferriss in his 2025 [Five-Bullet-Friday] recap. He stated he could read it once a week, every week, for the rest of his life and still find value every time.

That’s saying something.

Instead of waxing on and on about how I feel about it, I figured I’d just shared the wealth here.

https://markmanson.net/question – please read or listen 2x. It’s worth really absorbing the question asked.

PS – I really like the “Listen to this article” function and I’m considering building that in. I love the passive nature of learning while exercising, etc.

~Happy New Year to all my readers!

Simplicity is the Goal

Simple things, are beautiful things.

Think back to the early 2000’s design of the Blackberry or the previous “smartphone”…then look at the original iPhone design in 2007. When I first saw it, I thought, “Wow, what a beautiful and (simple) device”

I look at the design of Tesla Model S when it came to the marketplace. Even void of its rapid electric thrust and velocity differences vs. the competitive set, the design (inside and out) was simple, sleek, aggressive and beautiful.

I speak to my son all the time about the beauty of simplicity in sports. Show me an all-time great (golf swing, jump shot, throwing motion) that wasn’t refined down to the simplest and most fluid movements. No wasted energy. No wasted movement. Simple movements produce repeatable outcomes, effortless power, and poetry in motion. Viewers and onlookers will say a jump shot is fluid, or beautiful, or effortless. That’s simplicity at play. No waste.

Examples of Simplicity in Sports:

  • Golf Swing – Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Ernie Els (rhythm, on balance, effortless power)
  • Basketball Jumper – Ray Allen, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson (simple, no wasted movement, quick to load, deadly accurate)
  • NFL Passers – Dan Marino, Aaron Rodgers, Michael Vick (flick).
  • Baseball Swing – Barry bonds (steroids or not), Ken Griffey Jr., Billy Williams

How about simplicity in Life?

I think about simplicity in storytelling often in my career. Don’t tell me in 40 slides, what can be distilled down to ten. I had an old boss share the adage, “Be Brief. Be Brilliant. Be Gone” when talking about a pitch or proposal and I’ve never forgotten it (Thank you Bob Alexander). Attention is more fleeting now than ever, and a decisive point well-made, is more effective than a half hearted story delivered with immense dosage.

Think 80/20. Eighty percent of the output, comes from 20 percent of the input. Think about that in diet, in exercise, in the books you read, or as I recommend (re-read). A person doesn’t need a fancy gym membership to get in shape. A person can choose to: run, do push ups, pulls ups and bodyweight squats like a jailhouse prisoner and be in better shape than 99% of the population.

Concerned with a diet? Eat quality meat, vegetables, fruit and limit highly process foods, soda and alcohol. Simple.

Think investing strategy. Warren Buffet recently challenged a hedge fund owner to beat the S&P average over a 10-year span. He put a $1,000,000 bet on it. It won’t happen. You can buy the S&P index on Vanguard (VFIAX) with a 0.04% expense ratio and outperform some guy sitting in his Westchester, NY mansion. VFIAX is up nearly 100% in 5 years. Simple. Immense wealth can be made owning only a few index funds. Want to get wealthy? Live on 50% of your income and invest the rest. Simple.

Design is a wonderful place to understand the beauty of simplicity. Think of the hustle and bustle of the busiest city in the world, New York City. All the grandeur, all the culinary delights, all the entertainment. In 1977, Milton Glaser encapsulated all of that with, “I ❤️ NY”. Simple.

If I ever find myself getting stressed out, or think there is too much chaos, I try to answer the question, “How can I simplify this?”

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Airman’s Odyssey

The Moment it Shifted

It was a dreary, rainy Thursday on October 16th. Just around lunch, I got the divine intervention to go for a run.

To be clear, I REALLY don’t like running…mostly because I get bored. But running and endurance is a standard for many fitness pursuits, and therefore it’s a challenge I feel the need to tackle again. I also wonder if I don’t hide in my boredom, from the need to just buckle in, and pass through the suffering miles can teach? Only one way to find out I guess…

I’d been out running a few times the last week or two putting in 3-5 miles a time. Nothing to write home about, but I was out there doing the work, in addition to doing other exercise at home and/or in the gym.

The road behind my house travels east and west along the golf course. It’s a county road setting the boundary for the city and golf course to the north, and the country and 100s of acres of farmland to the south. It’s easy to get out of the driveway, and complete a loop or two on the county road to log a few miles.

I was about 2.5 miles into this run and it was lightly raining. Not so much to be annoying, but just enough to keep a guy cool and refreshed with a kiss of moisture to a red face. I was at the top of a hill to the west of my house, headed east down a long and gradual decline into the countryside. It’s a nice place to reset the heart rate and stride. I heard a rumble and felt the exhaust of something very near me. A contractor’s truck loudly crept up alongside me. The window rolled down.

“You need a ride?” barked a large, gruff man out the window with a half-hearted smile

“Hell no!” I remarked.

Hell no? Where did that come from? (insert facepalm emoji)

“You know it’s raining right?” Said the driver.

“YUP!” I said with extreme pride.

This is the moment something changed!

I smiled, ear to ear, threw my fist into the air…and pointed East (not breaking stride). As to say, this is where I’m going and you better get your ass moving! The driver threw me a thumbs up, and rumbled off to the east. I wondered who put that guy there, in my life at that moment…knowing I needed a push?

A rush of energy and enthusiasm came over me. Was he kidding? Maybe. Was he really wondering why I was running in the rain? I kind of hoped so, because I knew he wouldn’t!!

I hadn’t felt totally myself in a month or so. September work travel to FL sent me home with what was likely a COVID diagnosis (although I never felt the need to test…why?). Another trip to Chicago a few weeks after and more interrupted sleep left my tank half full. I hadn’t gotten a great night of sleep in what felt like weeks since Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Even though my exercise routine continued on, I just hadn’t regained my stamina. It’s a flywheel and all gears need to find rhythm. Faith. Family. Fitness. Finances.

But doing the work, works.

Commitment works. I’d started mixing between running and indoor biking on my Peloton. In October I recommitted to my nightly stretching and meditation routine, in hopes of clearing my restless mind. I recommitted to my daily reading of a daily devotional and Stoic philosophy(one page a day, every day). It’s all additive. It creates, builds and sustains momentum.

I’m writing this on Sunday, Oct. 19th. Last night I had the first great night of sleep in 6+ weeks. This morning I listened to a sermon where the pastor challenged us to think about, How is God’s spirit operating in my life?” I truly felt like this was one of those moments. I felt like someone was saying, “I see you. I’m here. Here’s a little wind in your sails.” Keep Hammering! – Ok, that’s not God, that’s Cam Hanes…but I was listening to his audiobook ENDURE during this jog.

I returned home, after 5-6 miles and a full heart. I knew something had shifted in me on that quick, early afternoon effort. I knew there was more work to do, but that in doing that work, another breakthrough was certain. When will it come? Who will it come from? I do not know. But what’s the worst that can happen by staying committed to the work?

~Be out there! Good things will happen.

Have an amazing week!

Charlie Kirk A Week Later

I write this post with a heavy heart. I was in South Florida for a business trip when I learned of the news of Charlie’s assassination. It landed on my phone in a text thread from some buddies. “Whatever you do….don’t watch the Charlie Kirk Shooting” message.

Regrettably, I did watch it, and was sick to my stomach most of the rest of the night. I barely slept. I watched a man murdered. I watched a father and a husband take a bullet to the neck. I was angry, sad, disappointed, patriotic, resentful, and many more feels. How? Why? Did they have the shooter?

I tell my team often at work, “when emotion is high, intelligence is low.” So I wanted to sit with these feelings for a few days and let them separate from the peak feelings shortly thereafter the event. Flying home solo Friday and facing a few flight delays, I had plenty of time to sit by myself and think. Here is where I landed.

Let’s start with the shooter.

I think it’s easy to understand why so many felt anger and rage upon hearing the news of Charlie’s assassination. But that’s not the answer. It can’t be the answer. Going from 0 to 100, and only seeing retribution with eyes red with rage, can’t be the answer.

That’s the exact emotion which drove a troubled young man in his twenties to bring a rifle to a rally and end a father/husband’s life. I can be upset, but can I also engage curiosity? I’d like to better understand what caused this rage to develop in such a young man?

  • What does he believe in?
  • What is this young man so afraid of?
  • Why did he see Charlie or his discourse as such a threat to society?
  • How did he see this intolerable action, as the only answer?
  • What was he consuming/watching/viewing participating in to become so radical?

Conversely, with all this curiosity, I have complete conviction celebrating the murder is disgusting. It’s shameful and I pray this hate doesn’t amplify and spread.

Party Lines

“They” Killed Charlie. I read these words everywhere and I think it’s incredibly dangerous. A lone, mentally unwell, young man pulled the trigger and ended Charlie’s life with a singular bullet. Using the words “they killed Charlie”, got us to where we are…which is further and further apart. The political left, the left-of-center and every registered democrat didn’t kill Charlie. (I’ll receive plenty of pushback on those words). “They” killed Charlie. Nothing is more divisive than [Us vs. Them] and we must be careful. I personally know many who might disagree with Charlie’s views, but they’re not lining up to harm another human being.

I do hope the “Charlie Conservative Movement” continues to grow, but it hope the growth comes in the form of believing in something, vs. choosing to be against or hating the opposition. I hope others get curious about Christianity and understanding conservative values. Tell me what you’re for, and what you support. Don’t tell me we must rage war against the other side. Only more blood will be spilled and everyone knows this doesn’t pencil long term. Families can’t handle much more.

Standing with Courage

I deeply admire Charlie’s courage for continuing to show up and sharing his beliefs sooooo deeply. Sadly, this conviction would lead to him being a martyr. He received countless death threats. His family was receiving death threats. I can’t imagine the conviction to continue to press on and put yourself in harms way for the benefit of spreading the message and having tolerant conversations. I thought of the trials Jesus Christ (33), Martin Luther King (39), and John F. Kennedy (46) suffered. These thought leaders were struck down for their convictions, for being different, and for practicing patience and continued discourse. Each taken too young by evil walking among us.

Sept. 12th

I don’t remember much from Sept. 11 2001, other than exactly where I was when I heard the news of the day’s grave beginning. I was a Sophomore in my college dorm in a newly started fall semester. What I do vividly remember, was what happened immediately after the terrorist attack. People were immediately more kind to one another. Patriotism was at an all-time high. Americans put down our differences, locked arms and stood together against evil. Can that happen again?

Making an Argument

There is a scene I love in A Few Good Men where Tom Cruise’s character asks his legal partner Sam, “Is your father proud of you?” Cruise goes on to say, “I’ll bet he is. I’ll bet he bores the shit out of neighbors and relatives. Sam’s made law review. He’s got a big case he’s making. He’s arguing. He’s making an argument.“

The stoics and great philosophers made arguments. They battled with thought and words. Charlie loved debate and made many peaceful arguments.

So what does making an argument mean?

Making an argument means presenting a claim (an assertion about what is true or should be done) supported by reasons and evidence to persuade an audience to accept your point of view. It’s a constructive process of reasoning and persuasion, distinct from a heated disagreement, where you build a case to make your position understandable and credible to others

No where above does it state, I disagree, and therefore…I hate you! Or because I have a differing view point I must turn up the volume and instead of engaging in civil debate, yelling and rage ensues. We must continue to make an argument. Make good arguments. If disagreement is where it all lands, understand we’re both still human beings.

Humanity and Community Over All.

We need help and the answer lies in the middle, in compassion, in community and understanding. Bill Clinton used the words “Triangulation/Centrism” as a third way to find progress.

In my adult life, I’ve seen the political left and right grow further apart. What used to be, “left of center” or “right of center” has been sensationalized into Right vs. Left. Republican or Democrat. Liberal vs. Conservative. More [Us vs. Them] because it drives social algorithms and TV ratings. The old newspaper adage, “If it bleeds it leads” determined front page news and captures our attention. Attention = ratings and ratings = money. But at what cost?

Consistently consuming in this type of media, over and over again with tremendous volume, in isolation is proven to be incredibly dangerous.

So what can we do? I won’t pretend to have all the answers. I can only tell you what I’m going to try and do.

  • Turn off the news…all of it. I can tell you I think it’s corrupted anyway, but you decide how you feel when you watch less of it. My argument is there is a good chance you’re less enraged, less anxious and more patient.
  • Engage in more community. For me that’s going to church. Participating in small groups and trying to bring others along with me. Having more conversations with human beings, face to face.
  • I’m going to really try and put the phone down more. The answers to the riddle society seeks don’t live in a profit driven echo chamber of seeing more of the same and inciting my blood to boil in disagreement.
  • I’m going to try and understand more about what we have in common vs. what must separate us. On my way home I listened to a multitude of what can best be described as LEFT & RIGHT podcasts. I listened to hear and digest and understand. I agreed with some. I disagreed with some. But I landed with more informed reason than I had a few days ago.

Getting Home

I got home just after midnight on Saturday morning Sept 13th. It was 12:10am when I entered my house, suitcase and backpack in hand. I was tired but oh so happy to be home. I instantly thought of Charlie. He’d never experience the relief of coming home after a long day of travel. I checked on my two kids, both sound asleep, dreaming in their beds. I Imagined them never seeing their Dad again, because I told them on FaceTime Friday night I’d be home after they were asleep and I’d see them in the morning. What if I never made it home because of my beliefs?

I sat in the living room in the dark, in silence. I was thinking:

  • It needs to be better. How can I make it better for my kids?
  • We need to be better.
  • What can I control?
  • I need to be better. Start with setting the example.
  • I prayed for Erika Kirk and their two young children. Make this make sense.

August 2025 Scorecard and Recap

August was a great month of reestablishing momentum in my life and getting back into rhythm. It was nice to get back to a little bit of normality and getting the kids back to school.

As stated in a previous post, the end of June and most of July felt chaotic and lacking rhythm. I attribute much of this to two key inefficiencies from that time.

  1. Poor sleep, likely the result of travel time changes and curve balls life threw at me
  2. Lack of consistent (daily) exercise

And that’s just the thing I’m learning. Everything begins with a foundational recovery method that has been around for millennia. This method sets the tone for all things to fully operate with excellence…S-L-E-E-P. SLEEP!

So what ingredients add to a prescriptive “good night” of sleep?

  • Exercise? If yes, and I sweat out nervous energy and I sleep well. Muscles are tired, but also prepared for rejuvenation.
  • Diet? If yes, I’ve eaten good calories, not too much sugar and not too much caffeine.
  • Alcohol? If yes, sleep turns to shit. Absolute shit. It’s also quite likely, I’ll wake up at 2-3am to pee. Alcohol is fun, but totally F’s with sleep.

Remember how you felt after that last great night of sleep? Vitality high. Energy high. Discipline and commitments to a better lifestyle come easier. Stack days and momentum builds. The flywheel gains speed. Chose the alternative, and willpower suffers. Poor diet choices come easier, leading to less energy and commitment to move your body. Sleeps suffers. Choose wisely my friends.

The August Stats

Exercising nearly 30x in August meant I was moving my body and sweating nearly every day. For those interested, this consisted of: Peloton rides, walks with 20 lb. weight vest, body weight workouts (Push ups & Pull ups) + body weight squats.

Meditating 20X in August also meant I was preparing to get a restful night of sleep. It’s crazy, but the nights I meditate and stretch prior to bed, produce the most vivid and crazy dreams. I think it goes to show what the mind is capable of when it’s pushed into true REST MODE. I think there’s a lot of stuff in our heads and much of it is trying to get out, or find a place of peace.

Content Consumption: The Comfort Crisis. This is a wonderful book and a second or third listen for me. I highly recommend it because it’s a WAKE UP CALL. I’m 100% guilty of letting a comfortable life dull my senses and what I’m able of overcoming. I mentioned to a friend last week about a couple recent events in my life and said, “am I a pussy or what?!?!? I need to be able to work past or push through these things” It’s likely the #1 reason I started getting so serious about my fitness the last few years. I was becoming a prisoner of my own creation. Life is good…but almost too good.

The Comfort Crisis

In addition to what I was listening to, I really dove back into my daily reading with two powerful books. One is a Daily Devotional that was purchased for my son, the other is a daily read on stoic philosophy. Each book sets a wonderful tone for the day and grounds me in focus, simplicity and a bigger purpose for the day’s challenges. If I could make a recommendation, I’d set aside time to read in the morning!

As I recap every month I’m reminded of this simple statement.

Doing the work, works!

~Now off to doing it all again in September!

Burnout Doesn’t Look Like You Think: How to Spot It Before It Wrecks You

Let’s start with the facts. I’ve been burned out a couple times in the last handful of years. Once during COVID. Secondly, and more recently, I felt it after a work trip overseas to France. I came home feeling exhausted (plenty of jet lag) and in need of some R&R. Instead I had both kids visit the Emergency Room in a couple week span and my wits felt entirely frayed.

My Goal With This Post: Help men recognize the early warning signs of burnout before they actually crash out—across work, home, relationships, and personal health.

I’m Fine. The Most Dangerous Lie We Tell Ourselves.

Burnout isn’t a “big bang” like development. It’s a slow leak of energy. The direct result of high-achieving dads juggling multiple roles they don’t discuss or seek praise for. These roles include achieving career success, coaching your kids, and being a “good” Dad. They also involve showing up as a husband, helping keep up at home, and playing an active role at church. And this is just the beginning, the list goes on. Burnout eventually feels like hitting a wall, but instead of a strong impact, it’s more of a THUD and the tank is empty.

What Does Burnout Actually Look Like? (It’s NOT just exhaustion)

  • Work: disengaged, mentally checked out, cynical about everything
  • Marriage: short temper, low patience, little desire for connection
  • Fatherhood: present but not there—resentful of the demands kids place on you
  • Personal Health: sleep suffers, workouts stop, diet crashes, the spiral begins.
  • Home Duties: avoidance, procrastination, or doing everything with bitterness

I write these things to share that I’ve 100% been there. I’m not above it, or you. I’ve been IN IT! I’ve felt each of these feels in their entirety!

In order to diagnose where I am, here are five self-audit questions to ask:

  1. Am I showing up how I want to at home and at work?
  2. What’s something I used to enjoy that now feels like a burden?
  3. When’s the last time I felt truly rested?
  4. Am I numbing out or zoning out more than usual?
  5. Would the people closest to me say I seem off?
  6. **A bonus – what am I avoiding that I usually wouldn’t?

In the next post, Burnout Recovery for Dads: How to Reclaim Your Energy Without Quitting Everything, I’ll provide practical and doable strategies I’ve used to reset. These strategies will help dads regain their energy, clarity, and focus. They can achieve this without quitting their jobs or abandoning their responsibilities.

PS – I must share an experience I had dining out with my family a couple weeks back. When I asked for the check, the waiter said, “not to worry sir, this one’s on the owner. He came out, pointed to your table and said, see that guy (pointing at my table)…his meal is on me tonight!” My wife and kids were shocked at a stranger (to them) and his generosity. When I got home, I sent him a text of gratitude to thank him for the meal. Here’s what he said back.

Appreciate it and appreciate your Keen Mind 😉 there is a depression rate in men that is way too high. I love your message.

Your kind words keep me going Blake!