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Blog

Thoughts on leadership, advocacy, and business.

Lessons from building companies, running for office, and showing up for the work that matters. No corporate jargon. Just what I've learned.

The 5 leadership lessons from running for Congress that no one talks about
Gun Violence Prevention & Advocacy

The 5 leadership lessons from running for Congress that no one talks about

I ran for Congress in Wisconsin in 2016 against a 38-year incumbent. I lost. But the campaign taught me five leadership lessons that changed how…

March 2026
What the home improvement industry gets wrong about leadership
Building High-Performing Teams

What the home improvement industry gets wrong about leadership

After 20 years building teams in construction and home improvement, I can tell you the industry does not have a hiring problem. It has a…

March 2026
A father’s fight: Why I advocate for gun violence prevention
Gun Violence Prevention & Advocacy

A father’s fight: Why I advocate for gun violence prevention

Khary Penebaker lost his mother Joyce to firearm suicide when he was 20 months old. That loss shaped everything. Now a father of three and…

March 2026
Why I resigned from a $35M company I helped build
Resilience and Adversity

Why I resigned from a $35M company I helped build

I helped grow a roofing company to $35M in revenue with 180 employees, then resigned due to a breakdown in the partnership. Here is what…

March 2026
What scaling a $15M construction company taught me about leadership
Building High-Performing Teams

What scaling a $15M construction company taught me about leadership

I grew Penebaker Enterprises from $1.5M to $15M in nine years with 50 employees. These are the leadership lessons I learned the hard way on…

March 2026
How I stopped letting imposter syndrome run my career
Resilience and Adversity

How I stopped letting imposter syndrome run my career

Imposter syndrome ran my decisions for years, from boardrooms to political campaigns. The shift came when I stopped managing the fear and started ignoring its…

March 2026
What I tell people who say gun violence is not their problem
Gun Violence Prevention & Advocacy

What I tell people who say gun violence is not their problem

Gun violence isn't someone else's problem. My mother died by gun suicide in a suburb. Here is what I tell people who think it doesn't…

March 2026
Why the skilled trades shortage is a leadership problem, not a labor problem
Leadership Under Pressure

Why the skilled trades shortage is a leadership problem, not a labor problem

The skilled trades shortage isn't a labor problem. It's a leadership problem. The construction industry loses workers because of poor management, no career paths, and…

March 2026
The phone call that changed how I think about fatherhood
Resilience and Adversity

The phone call that changed how I think about fatherhood

A phone call from my daughter changed how I show up as a father. Co-parenting three kids taught me that balance is a myth. Honest…

March 2026
How to get booked as a keynote speaker when nobody knows your name
Personal Brand & Career

How to get booked as a keynote speaker when nobody knows your name

You don't need fame to get booked as a keynote speaker. You need a clear topic, proof you can deliver, and a system for getting…

March 2026
What happened when I stopped pretending to have it all figured out
Gun Violence Prevention & Advocacy

What happened when I stopped pretending to have it all figured out

I spent years performing confidence instead of practicing honesty. When I finally admitted I did not have all the answers, my team stepped up in…

March 2026
Why the Trades Are the Best Career Path Nobody Talks About
Leadership Under Pressure

Why the Trades Are the Best Career Path Nobody Talks About

I have watched people spend four years and six figures on a degree they never use while electricians and plumbers half their age were buying…

March 2026
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Publishing Schedule

New content every day

Fresh posts drop daily at 8 AM CT. Each day has a dedicated theme so you always know what's coming.

Monday
Leadership Under Pressure
Tuesday
Resilience and Adversity
Wednesday
Home Improvement Industry
Thursday
Building High-Performing Teams
Friday
Gun Violence Prevention & Advocacy
Saturday
Personal Brand & Career
Sunday
Personal Reflection
DateTitleCategoryType
Feb 27Why Culture Fails When Leaders Avoid Hard ConversationsTeamsDeep dive
Feb 28What I learned from getting rejected by 200 event plannersCareerQuick take
Mar 1The hidden cost of cutting corners on a construction projectLeadershipQuick take
Mar 2What remote work got wrong about team connectionTeamsQuick take
Mar 3How gun violence prevention became the center of my careerAdvocacyQuick take
Mar 4LinkedIn for speakers: what actually works in 2026CareerQuick take
Mar 5Why I talk about my mother death on stage in front of strangersResilienceQuick take
Mar 6Lessons From Turning Around Broken TeamsTeamsDeep dive
Mar 7I wrote this when I walked away. Five years later, it saved my life.LeadershipDeep dive
Mar 8How One Person Can Change Policy: A Practical GuideAdvocacyStory
Mar 9Building Your Personal Brand While Working Full-TimeCareerDeep dive
Mar 10What Homeowners Should Know Before Starting a Major RenovationOtherDeep dive
Mar 11Metal Roofing vs. Asphalt Shingles: Which Is Right for Your Home?OtherDeep dive
Mar 12The Intersection of Business Leadership and Community AdvocacyAdvocacyDeep dive
Mar 13The Career Pivot Nobody Talks About: Lessons from 20+ YearsCareerDeep dive
Mar 14Inside the Home Improvement Industry: What Most People Don’t SeeOtherDeep dive
Mar 15Inside the Wisconsin Fake Electors Lawsuit: Why I Became the Lead PlaintiffAdvocacyDeep dive
Mar 16Why the Trades Are the Best Career Path Nobody Talks AboutLeadershipDeep dive
Mar 17What happened when I stopped pretending to have it all figured outAdvocacyQuick take
Mar 18How to get booked as a keynote speaker when nobody knows your nameCareerStory
Mar 19The phone call that changed how I think about fatherhoodResilienceQuick take
Mar 20Why the skilled trades shortage is a leadership problem, not a labor problemLeadershipStory
Mar 21What I tell people who say gun violence is not their problemAdvocacyQuick take
Mar 22How I stopped letting imposter syndrome run my careerResilienceQuick take
Mar 23What scaling a $15M construction company taught me about leadershipTeamsDeep dive
Mar 24Why I resigned from a $35M company I helped buildResilienceDeep dive
Mar 25A father's fight: Why I advocate for gun violence preventionAdvocacyStory
Mar 25What the home improvement industry gets wrong about leadershipTeamsDeep dive
Mar 25The 5 leadership lessons from running for Congress that no one talks aboutAdvocacyDeep dive
Mar 25Why I left a $35M company I helped build (and what I learned)CareerDeep dive

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