If you want to push your boundaries and grow, you’re at the right place!
My passion and purpose is to relentlessly create, curate and share insights to help others achieve meaningful high performance. I do that through different types of content creation and through coaching and you’ll find more about each of those on this website.
I do this for you. I’m not in it for money. Much of the content I create is complimentary. Where there is a cost, such as with the books or coaching, all profits are directed to the enCharge Purpose in Action Scholarship that I created at the University of Wisconsin Law School. The scholarship is designed for individuals with a demonstrated track record of acting on their purpose, which purpose would be enhanced by a legal education. Put another way, I am passionate about supporting people who are focused on growth and who want to make a difference and I hope you are, too.
Here’s a quick overview of the content you’ll find on the site.
The books
enCharge: Transform Your Life From Within Through Your Life Success Factors is the foundation for seeking fulfillment. Energy takes the path of least resistance, so it must be channeled to make the most of it. Similarly, by identifying your life success factors, you can identify, seize and create opportunities that will lead to a more fulfilling life.
Awakening: Inspirations & Motivations in Living Color is the first volume of the posts that combine my photographs with thoughts to inspire and motivate you as you begin your day on two categories. The first, People, focuses on the relationships we have that are usually the why of our motivation to grow. The Purpose and Process category, on the other hand, channels reflection on what our purpose is and what goals and habits we may need to propel us in living in alignment with that purpose.
Daybreak: Seizing the Day is the companion volume to Awakening: Inspirations & Motivations in Living Color and expands into three additional topics.
Perseverance is a nudge to a long-term perspective when the going is tough in the near term
Position examines how to create the necessary attitude and growth mindset to advance
Perspective often involves taking a step back to look at your situation through a different lens.
SIP of the Day
Each SIP of the Day is less than a minute and designed to give you a tidbit to reflect on. They are deliberately not fancy or staged.
Little nuggets
Sometimes we need a quick breath to slow down and think. The Instagram feed below features my own photos with a brief thought (and sometimes quotes from others) along with some comments that might give you something to think about.
SIP of the Day #82. It`s been a while, but seeing the trees change colors reminded me that we can own our change rather than hiding our imperfection because it`s part of growth.
#growth #change #transition #seasons
Boris, the redbud tree outside my office, has lost his leaves. Well, almost. If you look closely, you can see one yellow leaf stubbornly clinging. The leaf is no longer green and it’s doubtful any useful photosynthesis is going on to produce energy. Trees release leaves because the energy required to carry them through the winter would cost more than they give back – energy that they need to store up to be ready for buds in the spring. Boris knows it’s about time to let go, just as he has with all the other leaves.
We often hold on to old versions of ourselves the same way, whether it is a role, a habit or a story about who we are. They served us well and got us to where we are, so it’s fine to be grateful for them. But if we grip them too tightly, we not only stay stuck where we are, but leave no room for what comes next. Perhaps becoming someone new starts with the quiet work of letting go, so we are ready when the next season arrives.
What is one thing you’re ready to thank and release this week? What might grow in the space it leaves?
#growth #change #letgo #nextseason
I discovered a patch of black raspberries nestled out of the way near the 8th tee box on the golf course this summer. Now I look forward to that moment every time I play—the juicy harvest and tiny dopamine hit that keeps me coming back (no matter how well I’m playing).
It reminded me of something important: Consistency isn’t built from willpower alone. It’s built from small joys that make the journey worth repeating.
In personal growth, discipline dries up when things get tough. Building “raspberries” into our routines—micro rewards that make showing up feel good – provides the boost to keep up our momentum.
The big goals become easier when the path toward them feels nourishing.
#motivation #consistency #momentum
I suspect I’m not alone in wishing there were more happy things to balance out the negativity that seems to surround us. Joy and humor show up more often when we decide to look for them. And the science is clear: humor is good for both our mental and physical health.
Our brains are on the lookout for whatever we say is important. Just as when we start thinking of a particular model of car and suddenly we see it everywhere, when we look for humor, it will suddenly surround us. This is a takeaway I had from Chris Duffy’s book, Humor Me. He recommends taking pictures or noting things that are humorous and even sharing them with others. Or, when it’s just silly, keeping them to yourself.
I tried it and found myself smirking and chuckling all the time. Such as when I saw this 501C house number on a recent walk in Chicago and immediately wanted to draw a 3 on it. (For my non-US friends, 501(c)(3) is the US tax code section that grants tax exempt status to certain charitable organizations, allowing donations from taxpayers to those organizations to be tax-deductible.) Very few people would find that at all amusing. Yet it still makes me smile when I see it on my phone’s camera roll.
So here’s your challenge: look for things that are funny to you (even if they may not be to others) and note them. See how much more you are smiling.
�#outlook #humor #smile
At the start of a new year, gym traffic spikes as people chase fresh goals. And while enthusiasm is great, building a new habit is real work. We crave quick results, but growth rarely comes with shortcuts. It requires starting small—something most of us resist because no one likes feeling like a beginner—and then repeating small steps consistently.
That’s why gyms have a whole rack of weights in different sizes. Each weight exists for a reason: different exercises, different levels of experience, different stages of strength. If we grab the heaviest weight too soon, we risk frustration when we can’t sustain the reps—and even injury that forces us to stop altogether.
The same is true for any new skill or goal. As beginners, we’re tempted to compare ourselves to people who’ve been lifting—literally or figuratively—for years. But progress comes from showing up, choosing the weight that matches where we are, and trusting that steady, repeated reps will get us where we want to go. Growth isn’t about how heavy we lift today—it’s about how consistently we build strength over time.
#repetition #consistency #startsmall
The mind is an amazing thing. It is constantly seeking to identify patterns and to help us achieve our goals. It is generally limited to what it/you have experienced in the past, BUT it also has the capacity to imagine what can be if you ask it to.
What we often do, though, is focus on what we do NOT want — for example, want to stop smoking or lose weight. When we do that, it’s equivalent to telling someone not to think about purple monkeys – because that’s exactly what they will then think about – smoking and weight.
If, instead, we ask our minds to focus on what we visualize on being (for example, breathing deeply, finishing a race, picking up children with ease), it will look for ways to make that happen instead of finding purple monkeys. Or, put another way, focus on being a butterfly rather than trying to figure out how to get out of the cocoon.
As we set out on this new year full of possibility, what do you want to DO or BE, versus what do you want to stop doing? It takes just a few minutes to visualize that the first time. Each subsequent recollection is easy.
Creating a reminder to visualize that again each day will remind your brain where you’re going and get it on board with making the connections you need.
#trainthemind #positive #startdoing #visualize
I looked out a window last week and saw the bicycle and tricycle abandoned on their sides. What in the world? Was there an accident? Were the kids okay?
Yes, they were fine. When I looked out another window, I could see that they were focusing on catching frogs and perhaps some grasshoppers.
If I had only looked out one window, I would have missed the bigger picture.
What excites you enough that you’re willing to lay down your bike, trike, or all those meetings and things on your calendar to pursue it? No, we’re not children, but when we think of what we want, can it be that simple? Not “What would I rather be doing?” but “What excites me enough to divert from my day-to-day program?” It doesn’t have to be something you do full time or for your career, but can be just something that energizes and engages you and perhaps brings a bit of joy to your day.
What’s that for you? If you never deviate from your plans for anything, why? Discipline is great, but could you be suppressing passions? Playing safe? Is today the day you can pursue what excites you?
#engagement #passion #play #deviate
I’m not a great swimmer, yet I was intrigued by kayaking. So years ago I signed up for a multi-day kayaking safety course. In northern Wisconsin. On Lake Superior, the deepest and coldest of the Great Lakes.
The first day was great. We learned how to situate ourselves in the kayaks (in neoprene suits), paddle, attach the spray skirt, deal with waves etc. I was a bit surprised and alarmed on day two when we were told, after a lecture on self-rescue, to, well, dump ourselves into that frigid water and rescue ourselves.
Wait, what? No, I’m here to stay IN the kayak. Safely.
The water was every bit as icy as I had imagined. And it took some tugging to get my spray skirt detached so I could pop up. Did I mention I’m not a great swimmer and the water is super cold in Lake Superior? When I surfaced, I was huffing and puffing and hyperventilating a bit from the stress and cold.
And that’s the point. What is the worst like? How do you adapt? Can you apply “book” learning to extricate yourself from the situation or do you have practical experience?
Turns out, I could rescue myself. It was not pretty or fun, but I was able to flip the kayak over, use the manual pump to get most of the water out, brace the kayak with my paddle, and clumsily climb back on board.
Safety comes from building confidence in your ability to deal with issues that arise, not from ensuring that no issues arise. We don’t always have to dunk ourselves in icy water to learn, but if we play too safely, we don’t have the opportunity to grow.
How can you overturn yourself this week? Are you playing life too safely? What can you gain from being a little bit out of control with some backup?
#rescue #confidence #conditions #difficulty
