How to give feedback that people actually hear
I once gave feedback so badly that three crew members put in for transfers. The fix: be specific, describe impact, say what you need, and then stop talking.
How I Balance Being an Executive, Advocate, and Father
Balance is a myth. Rhythm is real. How I manage being a Regional GM, gun violence prevention advocate, and father without choosing just one.
Grief does not follow a schedule and neither does healing
Grief doesn't follow stages. I lost my mother to suicide at 20 months old. Forty-eight years later, the grief still shows up unannounced. Here is what I have learned about carrying it.
What getting engaged at 48 taught me about patience and timing
I got engaged at 48 after a divorce and a career reset. The timing was not what I planned. It was better, because I finally knew who I was.
Survivor to Advocate: Turning Pain Into Purpose
How losing my mother to gun violence at age two led to a lifetime of advocacy. The journey from carrying pain silently to using it for purpose.
The first 90 days in a new leadership role: what actually matters
Most first 90 days advice assumes a functional organization. I inherited falsified records and mass turnover. Here is what I actually did versus what the playbooks say.
The lie we tell ourselves about being self made
Nobody is self-made. I built a $15 million company and called myself self-made for years until I started counting the people who made it possible.
The difference between managing and leading and why it matters
Most people who think they are leading are actually managing. The distinction shows up in retention and culture before it shows up in revenue.
Three things my mother never got to teach me
I lost my mother at 20 months old. I have spent decades thinking about the lessons she never got to teach me and learning them on my own.
How to write a speaker bio that actually gets you booked
Most speaker bios are too long and too vague. Event planners need to know what you talk about, proof audiences respond, and one human detail that makes you memorable.
How to evaluate a roofing company before you sign anything
I ran roofing companies for over a decade. Here is what homeowners should check before signing with any contractor, from someone who knows the inside of the business.
The meeting that should have been an email and what it reveals about your culture
Bad meetings aren't just annoying. They reveal unclear decision rights and a culture where people schedule meetings instead of making decisions.