Tag Archives: Leadership

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!

Survive in the Jungle, Or Live in the Zoo

You’ve got two options men: survive in the jungle or live in the zoo.

One is raw, real, and forces growth. The other is soft, safe, and built to sedate.

In your 30s, 40s, and 50s, life doesn’t get easier. It gets louder. If you don’t wake up and lead, it will eat you alive—or worse, lull you into comfort, boredom and mediocrity. Here’s a blueprint I’m using to thrive as a Dad, Husband, and Brother-in-Arms to other men during these transformative years.



1. Control the Device, or Risk It Controlling You

You know what’s harder than a 5AM workout? Putting the damn phone down.

Tech is a tool. It’s not a pacifier, a babysitter, or your therapist. Doom scrolling doesn’t make you more informed—it makes you more numb. If you’re always checking out, you’re never checking in—with your kids, your wife, or yourself. I know guilty of it! So what can be done?

  • Schedule phone-free hours at home.
  • Delete apps you don’t use with purpose.
  • Lead by example. Your kids are watching. So is your wife.

You can’t fight for your tribe with your head in a screen.

2. Win the Mornings, Own the Day

Your family needs your energy. So what do you give it to first—your habits or your hangups? The jungle doesn’t care if you’re tired. You either hunt, or you go hungry.

  • Get up early.
  • Move your body.
  • Read something that sharpens your edge (I prefer one-page-a-day learning guides)
  • Pray, journal, think—whatever it is, go inward before you go outward.

You don’t rise to the occasion. You fall to your level of preparation. Morning is your weapon.


3. Date Your Wife, Not Just the Calendar

You didn’t marry her to raise kids and pay bills together.
You married her to chase, flirt, laugh, and build a life that feels like something worth living—not just surviving.

The zoo version of marriage is transactional. The jungle version is intentional and in pursuit.

  • Plan dates (real ones—not Costco and Target runs or kids sporting events)
  • Put effort into how you look, how you speak, how you pursue
  • Don’t wait for a “better season.” The season is now!!

If you’re not watering the relationship, you’re watching it dry up. I have work to do here, as it’s also listed on my [Monthly Scorecard] as “Date Nights”. The goal is only two per month, and all too often, I don’t check the box on one!

4. Your Kids Don’t Need a Coach—They Need a Dad

Youth sports. Schoolwork. Group chats. Travel teams. It’s easy to outsource presence for performance.

But children don’t need another critic on the sidelines. They need a safe harbor, a truth–teller, a steady rock showing up with consistency.

  • Let them fail. < – – – this is as hard to read as it is to say out loud.
  • Talk about real things vs. Outcomes (W/L) – effort, pain, growth, leadership and showing up in friendship
  • Teach them how to shake hands, hold eye contact, and speak clearly. In my observation, these skills are lost amongst our youth.

Being “busy” isn’t the badge. Being present is.


5. Build Brotherhood, or Die in Isolation

You weren’t made to do life alone. But too many men confuse independence with isolation.

The jungle isn’t just dangerous—it’s lonely if you go it solo. Lonely men can make bad (sometimes fatal) decisions. I’ve seen them and it pains me to even write this.

  • Find your crew. Not just drinking buddies—truth tellers.
  • Set the tone. Organize the breakfast. Start the group text. Lead a getaway. (Men, you all desperately need it)
  • Speak truth and expect it back. Support and build up your peers. They need you!

Iron sharpens iron. Comfort dulls the blade.


Final Thought


The jungle is hard, brutal, and relentless.

But it’s also where you grow teeth. Build muscle. Earn scars. Forge legacy.

The zoo? It’s easy. Safe. Predictable. But deep down, you know—you weren’t made for cages.

I’m here for you! Choose the jungle. Every damn day.

Life is About Understanding Incentives

Incentives are everywhere. They’re all around us. You’ll have a better chance at navigating life, if you can better understand the incentives in play and learn to play the game on your terms.

I hope to challenge your thinking here, open your aperture and see the world through a new lens.

Who Loves Taxes?

The Author and CPA Tom Wheelwright says, “the tax code is a list of incentives the government wants entrepreneurs and investors to use.” That was certainly an eye-opening way for me to look at taxes. Let’s go deeper.

We’ll never forget this 2016 Presidential Debate moment when Hilary Clinton thought she’d staple Donald Trump against the wall for stating, “He doesn’t pay taxes!” And what was Donald’s response? “Because I’m smart!”

Now regardless of how you feel about either of them, what people need to understand is Donald (love him or hate him) understands tax incentives. What do these incentives look like? The government rewards entrepreneurs or developers, for building housing, or creating jobs. It’s in the IRS tax code. Curious how this works?

Lets say you build a property for $10,000,000. Relatively a small number, but in doing so there is depreciation expense the owner of that property gets to write off for the next 27.5 years against the income. So if the owner depreciates the property $363,000 per year, any income they generate up to but not excluding $363,000 isn’t taxable. If you want to get mad, get mad at Congress. It’s the law and it’s legal. That’s why the wealthy love real estate. They can generate income, and not pay taxes. Legally.

Ask Robert Kiyosaki the author of the hit Rich Dad Poor Dad how he feels about taxes. He sees them as a game. What draws developers to “Opportunity Zones” in developing real estate? Tax incentives. Who better to understand this than those who write the code? The IRS! Incentives are everywhere.

Lets Look at Employment

There is a good chance if you have a job, your employment contract contains expectations for your role. Those expectations contain incentives. So what’s the incentive? A paycheck. And if you’re in sales or a revenue role, there very likely is a variable incentive or “commission” you can obtain. Why? The business will reward you for the behavior they’re looking for(higher top line revenues). If your compensation has recently been changed, it’s because the business is looking to change behavior and reward different outcomes. Pay close attention to these changes and take advantage.

I’m an avid listener of the FOUNDERS podcast (Learn from history’s greatest entrepreneurs. Every week the host reads a biography of an entrepreneur and find ideas you can use in your work). What’s one consistent theme of the greatest entrepreneurs across hundreds of episodes? They all have a knack or deeply understand the power of incentives to drive the behaviors needed in their business.

How about Healthcare?

I can’t even call it health care with a straight face. It’s SICK-Care, and it’s not well done. Why do we need to understand these incentives? Because in my opinion, the incentive isn’t for a doctor to make you well, or have a holistic view of your health. Their job is to write prescriptions and move you along. Why is it the average doctor visit is only minutes long? Because their incentive is to see MORE patients. Not cure you and all those waiting. Really think about this. It’s worse as you go down the specialty medicine path as they only focus on their trained discipline. Getting a new prescription? This happened to me a little over a year ago, and I asked my GI doctor outright, “are you incentivized to get me on this medication?” That got awkward. But the question remained, “is this about me, and my health…or your incentive?!?!”

Insurance Costs

Insurance companies are becoming more interested in the overall/general health of its customers. But they want to know the numbers. So much so, that if you submit annual blood work, and physical, they’ll reduce your annual rate by upwards of 30%! Seems to be a pretty solid incentive.

Why are they doing this? They’re dangling the incentive of cost savings to you, because it will likely drop their liability ten fold by having a better view of those they’re insuring. I’m fine with it either way, just understand the incentive.

Does the NBA Know Incentives?

They sure as hell do, and it just cost Luka Doncic $100,000,000 (yes, one hundred MILLION) by getting traded to the Los Angles Lakers!! Why? Because the NBA incentivizes players to stay in the city they were drafted in, by rewarding them with larger “Super Max” contracts. Otherwise, all the stars would end up in: LA, Boston, Miami, etc. and leave the small market: Oklahoma City, Milwaukee, Memphis, Sacramento, and so on. So instead of signing a 5-year, $350M contract this summer in Dallas where he was drafted, he’ll have to settle for a 5-year, $250M contract in LA. Not sure how he’ll afford the eggs…

Keep Your Eyes Open for Incentives

Everyone around you is trying to get something done. Don’t be naive. If you can look around the corner, you can better understand the behavior they’re looking for. The next step is choosing if, or how you’d like to participate.

The Story I Tell Myself Is…

Every day, I live out a story. All of us are. But what is important to understand is, how am I, or how are you, crafting the story? Because it has everything to do with how we see the world. Is life happening to me? Or is life happening FOR ME?!?

There is no better example of STORY, than one I read and repeat to others frequently. It’s from Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins. This book is easily one of my top 5 favorites and I re-read it frequently. The power of story is illustrated something like this.

An alcoholic father, abuser and career criminal, welcomed two wonderful boys into the world nearly 14 months apart. They’re almost twins. This is important because they experience the same tumultuous, brutal upbringing. Fast-forward 30 years, and the oldest has fallen into his father’s footsteps. He’s a criminal, he can’t keep a job, and his relationships are a mess. He lived a life of resentment and constant search for reconciliation. When asked how he got here, he responded with, “Look at my Dad. What did you think would happen?” How could he have possibly ended up any different?

The younger brother, who experienced the EXACT same upbringing, found himself in a different place 30 years later. The regional manager of a national corporation, his life reflected stability. Happily married with kids, he was a good father and provider. His kids looked up to him and he lived a life of gratitude. When asked how he got here, the younger brother responded with, “Look at my Dad. What did you think would happen? I couldn’t possibly live the life we lived as kids!”

Same genetics. Same father. Two wildly different outcomes based on how they interpreted the story of their upbringing. STORY

I work at the AdTech company: Basis Technologies. One of the “benefits” we have at work is participating in groups sessions appropriately named “Conscious Leadership” founded in the principles of the book, The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership.

Fact vs. Story

You’re not here for a book report, so I’ll spare you. That said, an exercise we dive into frequently is the [Fact vs. Story] exercise. And I must admit, this exercise is really hard for me. I craft stories. I tell stories. I weave emotion into stories to emphasize the finer points. I’m more comfortable in story. When challenged with facts, I become Superman to Kryptonite.

Stoic Philosophy

A few years ago I picked up the book: The Daily Stoic. It’s a daily, one page read with 366 teachings (meditations) of stoic philosophy and it’s incredibly digestible. I’ve gifted it to many as I believe so deeply in the power of these teachings. I honestly believe it’s helped to rewire my mindset. Here is a quick YouTube video on how to apply Stoicism to daily life if you’re curious.

All of this thought on story, reminded me of this quote.

We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.

Read that quote again. Think about facts of your life and how your life shapes your belief. I’ll give you real life examples from my life. Every statement begins with fact, but what follows is story.

  • I grew up in small town in Iowa, therefore, I have less understanding of other nationalities, religions and their beliefs
  • I grew up an athlete – therefore, I’m wired and thrive in competitiveness. I know how to win better than others
  • My parents have a blue collar work ethic – therefore, I understand the value of hard work
  • At 27, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis – therefore, I’ll never be truly healthy and have no control over the disease
  • I live on a golf course – because of that, I must make a great income or inherited some money
  • I’ve always been skinny – therefore, it’s impossible to put on weight and build muscle
  • My Dad grew up poor – therefore, he has a scarcity mindset with money
  • I’ve had business wins – therefore, I have a unique perspective on what it takes to be successful and others should buy in.
  • I go to church – therefore, I study and understand the teachings in the Bible and I’m comfortable in prayer

Think about people around you and the life they’re living because of the story they’re committed to!

Fact. [pause] Story

Some people set a word for the year to help guide their intentions. I can’t say I’ve ever done it, or if I will do it now. But if I absolutely had to choose a word today, I think this year I’d choose PAUSE.

I’m wired for action and progress. I love it. It fuels me. But every sword has two sides. When I move too quickly, when I act too fast, I’m prone to mistakes, or misunderstanding. When I make a mistake, or hit a bad shot in golf, I’m quick to try and rectify. What’s proven to be more successful is pausing, reassess the situation and go from there. The past is gone. But it doesn’t mean I’ve got to screw up the future. [Pause].

Pause when I get triggered or receive push back. Pause try and understand where the other person is coming at the problem from…instead of committing to being RIGHT! They too have a unique perspective being brought to the table (and likely also stories).

I try not to give advice too often because I don’t know how anyone is arriving at this content. I can only tell you what’s worked, and not worked for me. Picking up The Daily Stoic, and reading one page a day, every day, has helped me.

Four Quotes I Live By

This post is short and simple. I’m sharing four of my favorite quotes. These quotes are written on the white board, opposite my desk in my office. I literally see them and think about them every single day.

Here they are:

  1. Be Active in Your Own Rescue
  2. Inside the Acorn, Lives the Oak
  3. Thoughts Become Things
  4. Want + Do = Have

Be Active in Your Own Rescue

I think about this quote both financially and physically. No one is coming to save me, and no one is coming to save you. It’s not that I don’t think people care about me, it’s that they’re dealing with their own shit. So am I. That said, I’ve got to take responsibility for my path today and into the future. I’ll also say the word “ACTIVE” stands out because it means action must be taken. No one is going to achieve my goals for me and I have the ability to “create my own luck”! No one else is going to usher me into early retirement and no one else is going to do the reps for me to have the health and body I desire. Am I taking responsibility and taking action?

Inside the Acorn, Lives the Oak

I can’t recall exactly where I read this or heard it, but I love it. An acorn sitting on a desk has epic potential to be a strong, sturdy, centennial oak. But the only way that potential is harnessed, is if the acorn is planted TODAY and watered consistently. If you missed planting today, the next day is the best day to start. I think acorns are all around us if we choose to see them. Something large, and strong and successful today, started small and insignificant. What needs starting today?

Thoughts Become Things

Much love to Tony Robbins here. Thoughts absolutely become things. I’m incredibly mindful of what I think about, what I say, and what I put into my mind. What is thought about and ruminated on, becomes manifested in real life. Why does this happen? I have no idea, except to say this. If a person consistently talks about and seeks opportunity, they’ll always be on the lookout for it. Conversely, if a person is always, “down on their luck” and feel like the ball never bounces their way, an opportunity might walk right by and it’s missed because the person’s head is down complaining about how bad they have it. I know these people. You know these people. Former Navy Seal and ultra-distance competitor Chadd Wright calls his tongue and language he uses his “Rudder”. Chadd is ALWAYS mindful of his rudder!! Who knows more about this than a SEAL and Ultra athlete? Am I being intentional with my thoughts?

Want + Do = Have

A newer follow for me is Michael Chernow. Since listening to him on the Rich Roll podcast, I’ve really enjoyed Michael’s content and brand Kreatures of Habit and the KOH podcast. I even make a homemade version of his overnight oats and it’s delicious. He ends his podcast with the reminder, “Want + Do = HAVE” and it certainly stuck with me. It makes sense doesn’t it? Above I talk about being “active” in my own rescue. I also write about “Wants” and how, “thoughts become things.” The life I “HAVE” today is a direct reflection of what I’ve stated I wanted, and the actions taken (DO) to get it done. Having is a reflection of gratitude. Am I willing to do what it takes to live a big life and have the gratitude to know when to appreciate it?

These simple quotes guide my journey every day to being better with my: Faith, Family, Finances and Fitness (4 F’s).

~Much Love

The ONE QUESTION Driving Daily Action

I spend time every single Sunday with focused thought on on trying to answer one question.

Zac…What do you want?

For probably the last 15 years, or in the time since getting married I began being much more intentional about where life would take me. Actually, I take that back, as that speaks to having more control than likely exists. How about, I spent more time thinking about where I’d like to go and thinking it into existence.

  • What was important to me?
  • Where would I live?
  • Would I live extravagantly or frugally?
  • What did I want to do with my time?
  • Who were my close friends?
  • How did I want to feel? (This one is often overlooked)
  • Who were my teachers? Who would I learn from?
  • What would I look like? (Yes, I can be a vain person, but this is part of how I think about spending my time)

Today writing this post I’m 42 years old. Sometimes I can’t believe this, as it feels like yesterday I was 30, with no kids and a few dreams written down on one of my many notebooks. Back then, I wrote down many dream lines to pursue. I wanted to live on a golf course, own a business, sell a business (for profit), create a life of financial freedom, drive a Ferrari (why not right??), and the list goes on.

Having achieved a few of these dreams by 40, my focus shifts as I’ve moved into a new season of life. I find one word driving more of my thoughts and actions more than ever…

FREEDOM

This word plays itself out in a myriad of ways as I think about the 360 degree picture that is life. Below I’ll explain how I’m thinking about FREEDOM. It helps to mention a quote I’ve been loving from retired Navy Seal Jocko Willink. That quote is, “Discipline = Freedom”. The more discipline I can build into my life and follow with determination on the THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER. The more freedom I have in the rest of my life.

Financial Freedom

Financial Freedom: One could easily say I think about this too much, but it’s important to me and part of who I am. I want the ability to not worry about a “paycheck” from an employer. In order to do this, I started asking different questions in my early 30s.

Where would this additional income come from? What would I need to save to be set free? What would I need to own that paid me consistently? How “early” could I really retire? These questions led to study, planning and executing on a strategy to [exit the rat race] as Robert Kiyosaki describes it in Rich Dad Poor Dad. Around 2012 or so, I landed on an aggressive date of 2027. I call it my “Freedom Date”.

The disciplines at play here are relatively simple. Save a great deal more than our expenses (goal 2x or more). Therefore, every months’ income also buys a month of Freedom (or more). I Invest that capital into avenues that produce income or buy time backward from a retirement age of 60. If I’m going to ‘retire’ at 45 in 2027, I need to buy 15 years. To do so, I invest in real estate, have brokerage account with Vanguard, Life Insurance, Roth IRAs, IRA, 401k, high-yield savings account (oxymoron) and business ownership. Some provide monthly cash flow, others are true retirement vehicles.

Physical Freedom

Physical Freedom: This is about vitality and freedom of movement. In Norman Vincent Peale’s book, “The Power of Positive Thinking” the author frequently refers to the power of prayer and its impact on vitality. After all, what good is an early retirement or complete flexibility if it can’t be enjoyed fully? A few years ago I got much more serious about my fitness. During COVID we had a new baby, I was stressed from work, by body was inflamed and I was mentally zapped. I was anxious and my body shuddered at the stress. I needed a physical reset to get back on the path to physical freedom I’d fallen off. Again, “Discipline = Freedom” and my plan was to transform myself via sweat. In late 2021 I invested in a Peloton and boy am I happy we did. But it didn’t start out all roses. The first day I climbed on the bike with ambitions high, my heart rate skyrocketed and a moment of panic hit. I felt weak and ashamed. Was this really my reality? I’ve always been an athlete for God’s sake. But I kept riding and stacking wins. In the three years since I’ve completed nearly 1,000 rides and poured gallons of sweat onto my basement floor (sorry Beth). In the same time, I used this momentum to complete thousands of pull-ups….probably 30,000 in the past 3+ years. I sleep better, my joints feel better, and the outcome is a better looking body. My kids are now 5 & 10, and I need the energy to keep up with them and their endeavors.

Emotional Freedom

Emotional Freedom – In my 30’s I began reading a book titled, “The Daily Stoic” by Ryan Holiday. I like it so much, I’ve gifted it to many friends. The book is composed in a way that each day, the reader digests one page of stoic philosophy from thousands of years ago. One page a day, every day. Not zero. Not two, or twenty. One Page (discipline). The accumulation of pages helped rewire my thinking and I’ll still turn the pages of this classic 10 years later.

Nothing is promised. Nothing is permanent. All we have is the present. When I was younger, I thought a stoic was one who showed no emotion. Ever. Stone faced and emotionless. Reading the stoics, I realized that’s not the case at all. The greatest of the stoics felt ALL THE FEELS. They experienced all the human experience has to offer, but being a stoic meant they had an ability to separate themselves from the emotion and didn’t allow the emotion to overrun their operating system. A stoic can see the situation for exactly what it is, and nothing more.

People will lie or deceive you. You’ll be cheated. Something will be stolen. Hearts will be broken. Sickness will hit. Life presents numerous challenges. The pragmatic approach is, to see it for what it is…nothing more, nothing less. This study helped me mentally in a big way. I’m a world-class grudge holder and can easily get lost in the “story” I tell myself. I’m guilty of holding on too tight and letting that stress live with me too long. The path to emotional Freedom won’t end on a date. It’s a journey that will last a lifetime.

Conclusion

I’ll conclude to say, the items and goals listed above are mine. They are NOT yours nor should they be. Every person must go on the journey of finding out what they want on their own. My only advice is to be sincere in your approach and don’t fake it. You want what you want, and it’s not for someone else. But changing your mind is ok too. It’s quite likely your goals and thinking will evolve over time. They should, we shouldn’t remain static as people as we age and gain knowledge and experiences.

Where Focus Goes, Energy Flows

Tony Robbins

What does Ikigai Mean, and Why You Should Care??

I spent 45-60 mins listening to recent Tim Ferriss podcast with guest: Martha Beck. The resounding point I took away from my listen en route to a soccer game in frigid temps was this. Find Joy!

Pay close attention to the things, people, surroundings, events, activities that bring JOY! Follow them like the path of a wilderness tracker (which lead me to read the book: The Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life)

JOY in life is the goal. It’s not numerical. It’s not objective. Yet, we all have the skills to say, this “feels” right…or it doesn’t. Use these “feels” as a compass to draw you near, or steer you away from the path you find yourself on if it doesn’t bring JOY.

As luck would have it, I also stumbled across the Japanese word: Ikigai (from a LinkedIn Post). Shoutout to Matt Gray for this share, because I don’t know if I could’ve outlined my thoughts much better. And if “start a business” makes you feel uncomfortable, insert [find the career for you] in 2024! The same holds true.

Also on the Tim Ferriss show, the famous author Jim Collins, famously starting keeping track of his days in an incredibly simple scoring format of [-2, -1, 0, +1, or +2] days. Each day was catalogued with a simple note detailing what he was up to. What was he looking for? Where did it take him?

He was seeking JOY!: Jim knew he MUST spend 1,000 “creative hours” a year to find joy…to be happy.

We’re all on a path, but it doesn’t mean we need to stay there. Pay attention to the feels, and follow them wherever they may lead!!!