In Wisconsin you can buy a gun faster than a mental health diagnosis
Gun suicides account for more than half of all gun deaths in America. I have been waiting seven months for an ADHD diagnosis in Wisconsin. In that same state, you can buy a gun the same day. Something is backwards.
How to run a productive one on one meeting in 20 minutes
A productive one on one takes 20 minutes and a simple structure: employee update, blockers, your input, what's next. The employee talks more than you do.
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 I run teams, make decisions, and show up.
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 leadership problem. Here is what needs to change.
A father’s fight: Why I advocate for gun violence prevention
Khary Penebaker lost his mother Joyce to firearm suicide when he was 22 months old. That loss shaped everything. Now a father of three and Everytown fellow, he fights to keep other families from learning the same grief.
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 commercial rooftops, not in a boardroom.
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 advice.
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 affect them.
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 disposable culture.
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 presence is what matters.
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 in front of event planners.
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 ways I never expected.
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