Blog
Read Blog Posts by Category:
Passion: Articles that deal with the inner drive that we all need to want to MOVE from where we currently are to where we dream to be.
Preparation: These posts reference articles, books, documentaries, speakers, quotes, and other inspirational and formative ideas that I have found that helped me and the people around me.
Practice: Articles in this category have a heavy sports and performance training lean.
Performance: These articles focus on how you go about your work. From networking to communications to finding a better way to do what you do.
Perseverance: Articles in this category speak to the mechanics that we go through both mentally and physically to stay on track and not get STUCK.
From Sport to Business – Part IV: The Strategic Thinker
Sport is not only physical. At its highest levels, it is strategic. Adjustments determine outcomes. Adaptability separates contenders from champions. The athlete who thrives long term learns to Problem Solving techniques, to Think Creatively, Diversify Perspective, and make Decisive Choices Under Pressure. In business, those same capacities determine whether organizations evolve or fade. Talent competes. Strategy sustains.
From Sport to Business – Part III: The Team Dynamic
No one wins alone. That sentence sounds obvious until you watch organizations operate as if it is optional. Sport strips that illusion immediately. One missed rotation exposes five players. One selfish possession can change the rhythm of a game. One butthurt superstar shifts energy for the whole team.
The team dynamic is not sentimental. It is structural. A team-focused mindset either multiplies talent or divides it. Culture either handles the pressure or is overwhelmed by it. Shared belief either draws the team together in critical moments or the team element melts under strain.
How far a team can go is always determined by what the group is willing to accept, as they struggle for something larger.
From Sport to Business – Part II: The Competitive Mindset
In both sport and business, success is not sustained by mechanics alone. Mechanics get you into the arena. Mindset determines whether you remain competitive inside it.
Over time, elite competitors develop four internal anchors: a Success-Driven Mindset, Resilience, Perseverance, and the disciplined balance between Confidence and Humility. These are not motivational buzzwords. They determine how pressure is processed, how failure is framed, and how success is handled once it arrives.
Athletes encounter this reality daily. Injuries test their identity. Criticism tests their composure. Slumps test their confidence. Roster battles test their security. Each event forces a decision about interpretation. Is this proof that ‘I’m not good enough’? Or is this information help to understand where I am lacking and where I need to improve?
From Sport to Business Part I: The Standard of Excellence
Part I is the foundation of this four-part series. Before we talk about mindset, resilience, perseverance, or leadership under pressure, we have to build the base that makes all of those possible. Sport teaches this early: without a foundation, you do not rise. You wobble. You survive on bursts. You rely on emotion. And eventually, you get exposed.
The business world works the same way. The difference is timing. In sport, the scoreboard tells the truth immediately. In business, the truth can take months to arrive. Poor preparation can hide behind a strong team for a while. Weak execution can be masked by a hot market. A lack of discipline can be camouflaged by charisma, titles, or a good quarter.
But the bill always comes due.
This article is about the standard that prevents that bill from becoming a crisis. Work Ethic. Commitment. Preparation. Performance. These are not motivational ideas. They are the structural habits that determine whether success becomes durable or disappears the moment pressure increases.
It’s Not a Living. It’s a Lifestyle.
I heard a song the other day entitled “Stay Country or Die Tryin’” by Blake Shelton. Early in the song, a line caught me deeper than I expected, and it really made me think: “It’s a lifestyle, it ain’t a livin’.”
It wasn’t poetic. It wasn’t complicated. But it landed because it named something most people sense but never stop to examine. Two words we use interchangeably, LIVING and LIFESTYLE, that actually operate on completely different rules.
That line forced a deeper question. Not about music or country culture, but about work, leadership, and identity. About why so many capable people feel restless even when life looks stable. About why effort feels heavier for some than others, even when they’re doing similar work under similar conditions.
Those two words aren’t synonyms. They are opposites.
A living answers the question: How do I survive?
A lifestyle answers a much harder one: How do I survive without this?
Once you see that distinction clearly, you can’t unsee it. And once you understand it, you start to recognize how much quiet damage comes from confusing the two.
Living a “Get To” Mindset
Most people don’t start their day exhausted by the work ahead of them. They start the day worn down by the story they tell themselves before it ever begins. The language they use internally frames the entire experience long before a single responsibility is confronted. When the day is built on “I’ve got to,” everything that follows feels heavier than it needs to be.
That framing is subtle, but it is powerful. “Got to” language positions life as something happening to you rather than something you are actively participating in. It turns responsibility into burden and obligation into resistance. Over time, this mindset doesn’t just drain energy. It trains you to expect the day to be difficult before it ever has the chance to prove otherwise.
A “Get To” mindset is not about pretending life is easy. It is about recognizing that perspective determines weight. Two people can face the same schedule, the same demands, and the same pressures, yet experience completely different days based on how they frame what is in front of them. One carries everything as a burden. The other carries it as responsibility earned.
Purpose Is Greater Than Need
When I was coaching at Trinity Valley, we had a player come through the program who reminded me that “Purpose is Greater Than Need” in a way I’ll never forget. He wasn’t the most talented player on the roster. He didn’t get any major offers out of high school. He wasn’t a heralded recruit. However, he brought something unique every day; he was the first one in the weight room and the last one off the field. He never missed a rep, a meeting, or an opportunity to ask a question. Not because he was trying to impress anyone, but because he had something driving him deeper than the rest.
One day, I asked him why he kept showing up the way he did.
He didn’t flinch. “Coach, I’m trying to change my family tree.”
You Don’t Need Balance. You Need Purpose.
The problem with balance is it only works when everything is calm, when life plays by the rules. When all the pieces fall into place perfectly. But life doesn’t work like that. It throws curveballs, shifts timelines, and breaks routines. And when your peace depends on keeping everything equal, even a single disruption can cause the entire system to collapse.
That’s why the people who last—the ones who rise to the top—aren’t the ones balancing plates. They’re the ones planted in purpose. Because purpose doesn’t panic when chaos knocks, it doesn’t rely on smooth waters or perfect schedules. It holds steady because it’s rooted in meaning, not maintenance.
Don’t Confuse a Whim as Passion
During our lifetime, we often find ourselves wearing multiple masks. Each mask represents a different role we play, each passion we claim to pursue. But what happens when the line between genuine passion and whimsical fancy becomes blurred? The allure of new interests can seduce us into believing they are our true calling. This mistake can lead to a chaotic turn of fleeting enthusiasm, leaving us exhausted and unfulfilled. I have witnessed this trend more and more, so I thought I would write about the struggle between passions and whims in the hope of highlighting the divide between the two and refocusing our attention on authentic pursuits.
Unwrapping Success: Powerful Messages Hidden in Christmas Shows
This article isn’t just about the shows or debating the messages that these shows are presenting. I want you to look deeper into the dialogue of these shows. Even though they were made for children, some very teachable moments are hidden within them. I probably could write several articles about these, but I will focus on three; you can do the rest for yourself! (HAHA)
Lead With Enthusiasm and Success Will Follow
In leadership, where vision and strategy often take center stage, one crucial element frequently goes unnoticed—the Gift of Enthusiasm. This powerful trait can transform not only the leader but also the entire team, igniting a fire that propels individuals toward shared goals.
Find Enthusiasm in Your Work
It's crucial to understand that the culture of any workspace is not a random occurrence, but a result of effective leadership. It's about creating an environment where shared passions flourish, and this is a responsibility that lies in the hands of every leader. Your role as a leader is pivotal in fostering this enthusiasm, empowering you to shape a workplace culture that inspires and motivates.
Find Your Niche
Finding your niche can be a never-ending adventure, but no matter what field you lean into, it is imperative to find your “sweet spot.” Whether you are a young entrepreneur, an artist, or someone looking to discover your place in the world, figuring out your niche is the key to leaving your mark.
Don’t Be Afraid to Compete
In a world that often preaches the importance of collaboration and teamwork, the idea of competition can sometimes be seen as divisive or even detrimental. However, I believe that competition is essential to personal growth and development.
Dualism: Compress and Expand
This concept, Compression and Expansion, when taken off the draftsman table and applied to life is what makes life exciting.
Set the Bar Higher
Did you hear that?
That collective sigh of relief.
That sound came from 99% of the population after hearing that “they only need to compete with themselves”. I can hear them, they’re saying, “Finally, I don’t have to try to be much better than I am right now.”
Chase The Match
Some people will find their motivational sparks from EXTERNAL sources. These might be found in videos on the internet, a motivational speaker, or a book that you just read. Watching and listening to speakers such as Eric Thomas or Les Brown always help to push me through some slow times.
You might find your spark from an INTERNAL source. It may be a person you work with who always gets excited about being better at what you are doing. These INTERNAL motivators can come from anyone. It also may be a negative comment that sparks us to say, “We’ll see about that.”
Whatever gives you your spark, continue to use it so you don’t get stuck along your journey.
It’s Been ANOTHER Year
Wow, that was fast!
365 days have spun by so fast! As I said in an earlier Thursday Thought, “It is true that time does fly. But when you spend time with those that you love, time becomes the memories that make life worth living.” This year has been full of memories that I will always cherish. New friends and old friends have made this year fly by. Laughs and stories have filled my life as one day turned to the next!
Be Unique
I thought about this revelation. Eventually it began to make sense. Being “unique” isn’t about genetics - or talent - or skill - or environment - or race - or religion - or gender … being unique is about US … getting the fuck out of our own way. Once we stop making excuses for our shortcomings, lack of effort or self-imposed limits we can ALL become unique.
Trust: The Essential Ingredient
I have been blessed with the opportunity to work with some of the greatest athletes that have been in their sport. I’m not afraid to say that I pushed them hard. And I am proud to say that they answered the call … again and again and again. Why?
Because they TRUSTED me!
TRUST is the key ingredient to any successful venture.
When you have trust there is nothing that cannot be achieved. When we don’t believe in each other hard times will follow.