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

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!

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.

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!

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!

Finding Rhythm Again: Back-to-School, Back-to-Habits

There’s something about Back to School season that feels like a reset button. The kids are back in classrooms, calendars are suddenly packed with sports and activities, and the pace of life changes overnight. For me, this season has always been an invitation to find rhythm again—to lean back into the power of daily habits.

Because here’s the truth: BIG things don’t just happen. They’re built. Quietly. Repeatedly. Daily.

Over time, these daily actions compound in ways we can’t always see in the moment. It’s the principle Jeff Olson called The Slight Edge: small choices, stacked on top of each other, lead to massive gains. But here’s the catch—those same choices are “easy to do” and just as easy NOT to do.

Skip one workout? No big deal. Eat fast food instead of a healthy meal? Happens all the time. Forget to read or stretch before bed? Who will notice?

The answer is simple: You will.

Because over weeks, months, and years, those little “easy NOT to dos” add up too—and usually not in the direction you want.

That’s why I rely on my Daily Non-Negotiables.
These aren’t goals. They’re not wish lists. They’re commitments—anchors that keep me grounded, productive, and pushing forward regardless of what the calendar throws at me. The outcome is stacking wins. Day after day.

Here’s my list:

• Sweat – Every single day, I move hard enough to sweat. A run, a lift, a Peloton ride, doesn’t matter. Motion creates energy. Some days I knock out two sessions.
• Hydrate – If I’m not putting clean fuel in, I can’t expect peak output.
• Bodyweight lifts – Push-ups, pull-ups, air squats. Simple. Accessible. Zero excuses.
• Eat mostly healthy meals – Food is fuel, and fuel dictates how I show up. Think 80/20…mostly good!
• Daily reading – I crave simplicity and books to build me: The Daily Mission by Tim Tebow and The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday. A mix of faith and philosophy keeps me balanced.
• Meditation & stretch for restful sleep – Recovery is the multiplier. Without rest, none of the other habits matter.

It’s not a sexy list. It’s not complicated. And that’s the point.

When the school year ramps up and life speeds forward, I don’t want to waste energy deciding how I’ll take care of myself. I already know. These habits don’t just protect my time and energy—they multiply them.

And if I keep stacking these wins, day after day? That’s when BIG things happen. Not because of one breakthrough moment, but because I built the momentum brick by brick.

Back to school isn’t just about the kids—it’s about us too. It’s a reminder that structure is powerful. Rhythm is powerful. Habits are powerful.

The question isn’t: Can you do it?
The question is: Will you?

Because it’s easy to do.
And it’s easy NOT to do.

Choose wisely.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit”

• It could be your job. It’s a grind.
• It could be your workout regimen. It’s a grind.
• Staying committed to eating well. It’s a grind, with temptation around every corner.
• It could be parenting. It’s definitely a grind.

This hit me while watching the Netflix series Full Swing. The show follows PGA Tour golfers through the highs and lows of professional life—tournaments, travel, family, and all the moments in between.

At some point, almost every guy has said, “Man, being a pro golfer would be amazing!”

Would it?

After watching the show, I kept coming back to this idea: their dream job might just be a relentless, unforgiving grind.

Think about it:

• Flying to 20+ cities a year for four-day tournaments.
• Leaving home on Tuesday, practice round Wednesday, then four straight days of competition.
• Living in hotels or rentals—not exactly a home base.
• You only get paid if you play well. No cut? No check.
• Golf isn’t just tee times. It’s hours of warm-ups, range work, putting drills, workouts, and recovery.
• Sign autographs. Fulfill media duties. Then repeat next week.

And maybe most importantly—it’s time away. Away from family. From routine. From normalcy.

The deeper I thought, the more obvious it became: the “dream job” is absolutely a grind. And for guys who’ve been doing it for a decade or more, I can only imagine how heavy that gets. But then I thought about a different kind of athlete. The ones who don’t see the grind. They just live in the process.

Tom Brady. Peyton Manning. Kobe Bryant.

Hours upon hours watching film—not because they had to, but because they wanted to. Because in that film, they found opportunity. In the reps, they found rhythm. In the details, they found peace.

They didn’t resent the grind. They respected it.

So here’s the point. The grind doesn’t go away—no matter your role, title, or sport. But when you find appreciation in it, something changes. The work becomes a teacher. The process becomes the point. And the results? They show up. Not overnight. But over time.

Keep grinding. But more importantly—keep loving the reason you grind.

In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to get swept along without pausing to reflect. Yet, the questions we ask ourselves can profoundly shape our experiences and outcomes. As Tony Robbins aptly notes in Awaken the Giant Within, “Remember, your brain, like the genie, will give you whatever you ask of it. So be careful what you ask for; whatever you look for…you will find.”

Consider integrating these three pivotal questions into your daily routine:

How is this serving me?

This question encourages introspection about the activities and habits that fill my day. Are they aligned with my well-being and aspirations? By evaluating the true impact of my choices, I can identify and eliminate behaviors that hinder progress. I catch myself asking this when I mindlessly pickup my phone and look for…what?!?! Am I looking to be distracted? From what? I’m not perfect and still do it dozens of times throughout the day. But I am trying to be more mindful of why it is stealing my attention.

What can I do about it?

Life presents challenges, but dwelling on problems without seeking solutions leads to stagnation. By asking this question, you shift from a passive to an active mindset, focusing on actionable steps to overcome obstacles. This empowers you to take control and fosters resilience. Control the controllable. Not what happens, but what you do about what happens.

Do my actions support my goals?

I’m on a daily mission to be: healthy, wealthy and strong. Consistency between daily actions and long-term objectives is crucial for success. Regularly assessing this alignment ensures that I’m not inadvertently sabotaging my ambitions. It promotes intentional living, where each step I take brings me closer to my desired destination. Progress > Perfection!

Questions Hold the Power

The questions we pose to ourselves act as guiding lights, illuminating the path to personal growth and fulfillment. By thoughtfully selecting and reflecting on these questions, we harness the power to shape our reality and steer our lives toward our true goals.

Embrace the practice of mindful questioning, and watch as it transforms your perspective and propels you toward a more intentional and rewarding life.