In July 2013, I began my dream job. I became the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Editor-in-chief of a startup magazine. This meant I got to set the vision for each issue, write content I was passionate about, and lead the team. During my tenure, I was blessed with some amazing…
Category: Motivational
Why Don’t Kids Play in the Front Yard Anymore?
I once was Ken Griffey Jr. No, I don’t mean I got to meet him. And I don’t mean I was him in a video game. I mean, I was Ken Griffey Jr., along with a host of other baseball players: Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken Jr., Rickey Henderson…you name it…
For the Times When You Keep Failing
I’m not a patient person. Anyone who knows me can testify to that. And they’ll tell you that it’s the little things that get to me. When the big storms come, I can be as cool as a cucumber. But if I’m trying to jiggle a screw…
My Top 10 Non-Fiction Books That Everyone Should Read
I was never a big reader when I was in school. And I dreaded book reports (mostly because they usually involved some sort of diorama). But I trudged through my school years reading all the fiction books that my teachers assigned: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, Ramona the Pest, and…
One Question to Ask Yourself as We Begin the New Year
Every January, as the new year begins, I sit down to write out my goals. The process is pretty simple, and I tend to come up with my goals based on what I want to accomplish. Pretty straightforward, right? Nothing outside the normal approach most goal-setters take. But as 2017…
Why We Should Stop Taking ‘Normal’ for Granted
For over a year now, I’ve been writing for this blog regularly (two times per month), and I’ve had a pretty good system down. Every 2 weeks, I would: Step 1: Pick a day. Step 2: Wake up at 5 a.m. Step 3: Tip-toe down the stairs, so the kids…
Have You Ever Lost Confidence in Yourself?
When I started my dream job 4 years ago, I was brimming with confidence. As the Chief Operating Officer and Editor-in-chief of a startup men’s magazine, I knew it was going to be a lot of work. But I had hustled to get there. I was ready for the challenge…
8 Tips That Helped Me Lose 31 Pounds (And Keep Them Off)
Just over one year ago, I weighed 249 pounds. It was the most I’d ever weighed in my life. But in case the shame of the scale wasn’t enough, there was also plenty of evidence that it was time for a change: Chronic pain in my knees and back…
The Best Comparison I Ever Made
For years I carried a gym membership (until I realized I could workout for cheaper in my own home). And while it was nice having a seemingly unlimited supply of dumbbells and access to hundreds of machines, I always found myself feeling self-conscious during my workouts. Sometimes it was because…
Why It’s OK to Fail at Your Goals
Every January, for the past 5 years, I’ve set goals. Now, I’m not just talking about the generic ones I used to set: Get in shape. Read more books. Watch less TV. I’m talking about measurable goals, with a concrete deadline, that I evaluate regularly…