All the small things

If you were sitting in an interview and the question came up, how have you changed and evolved over the past 5-7 years, how would you respond? Many of us would go right to the monumental changes we’ve encountered – maybe it was growing your family, losing a loved one, job promotion, joining a community…

The Anchoring Effect

Why is it when I go to the grocery store and see a sale price marked next to the original price I get so much more intrigued to buy the item than if the store just simply had the lower price marked? Or when I’m on Amazon shopping for something I’m brand agnostic on, the…

Patience & Time

“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” – Leo Tolstoy Picture yourself standing directly in front of a huge boulder with a football field worth of green grass ahead of you. As you grip your feet into the soft grass and extend your arms to the boulder, you then tense all muscles ready…

Welcoming Learning Moments

As the beautiful September weather in Iowa began, I along with a couple of buddies and our kids went to experience the outdoors for my kids’ first camping adventure. With the kids running around crazy enjoying the best of what nature had to experience, the parents noticed a bit of an argument start to brew…

Disruption is Coming

Can you smell the optimism in the air? Football season is upon us and for many, the year for dominance is here and now. The team is healthy. Key additions were made in the offseason. Preseason has shown nothing but growth from last season. Yet as we’ve seen time and time again, the reality of…

Our Unique Journal

A couple of weeks ago my family took a trip to New York City as our last getaway before school started. While visiting SoHo as a part of our NYC experience, my wife’s attention was caught by a unique street vendor selling journals. My daughter, the artistic one of the family, became infatuated with the…

Back to school – back to routine

I’m guilty – guilty of using too many cliches this past week. How has your summer been has often been followed with a “it’s gone way too fast” comment. When the question if I’m ready for kids to go back to school comes up, again, another cliché of “I’m ready for them to get back…

Don’t let empathy become a lost art

Recently my family was on a flight to New York City. A way for us to celebrate an end to a great summer with school soon on the horizon. As our early morning flight took off, a nearby baby was expressing their displeasure (aka nonstop screaming). In another seat close by there was another younger…

The Survivor Tree

About a decade ago my wife and I took our first trip to New York City together. One part of the trip that has always been memorable to me is the Survivor Tree at the 9/11 Memorial. If you’re not familiar with this tree, it was discovered in the mix of all the devastation of…

The Most Misunderstood Phrase

Why do I say I don’t have enough time to work on this project? Why do I say I don’t have enough time to get the house project done? Why do I say I don’t have enough time to work out? The phrase “I don’t have enough time” is engrained in our mind as a…