Every week, new opportunities come my way. Some are business-related, others personal, but all of them present themselves as unique opportunities. This week, a business opportunity that I had pursued several times before resurfaced. I believe this was the third or fourth attempt to secure this particular piece of business, and although it never previously worked out in my favor, it always left me eager to try again.

Well, finally, it happened. I reached the finish line. I crossed the goal. However you want to phrase it, the battle was won. I secured the piece of business, and it looks like it’s going to be a very large and successful venture for my company.

As I reflected on this success this afternoon, the phrase “try, try again” kept coming to mind. Many people might have given up or harbored a negative attitude toward an opportunity that took so long to materialize. But that’s something I just don’t understand. I’ve never been one to give up. I’ve always been willing to try as many times as necessary to succeed.

So, my thought for the week is: always keep trying. It’s more than a mantra – it’s a way of life, a mentality that I deeply cherish, even on the most frustrating days. It’s always rewarding to have the perseverance to keep going.

Now that I’ve got several months of total and complete clarity under my belt, I find that clearer thinking makes it easier to confront difficult situations directly. What I mean is, I used to tiptoe around tough situations, sometimes not speaking my mind – a concept that might be hard for some to imagine. I often handled things very delicately, aiming not to upset or offend anyone or anything. Now, after having time to think clearly and see things in a different light, I find myself wanting to tackle difficult situations head-on.

Mastering the art of addressing the elephant in the room, even in a room full of people, has become my newest and greatest talent. I’ve discovered that the more you confront issues directly and have straightforward conversations about topics no one wants to address, the clearer your thinking becomes. This clarity allows you to resolve any situation in minutes, a process that previously might have taken days. The more experiences of this nature I encounter, the more I realize how much time I wasted in the past by not confronting situations directly.

Yes, sometimes it’s better to let things play out. Sometimes, it’s better to give things space and time before having tough conversations. However, the more I observe and the clearer my vision becomes across all kinds of situations, the more I recognize the power of bringing things into the open and rationalizing the best outcomes or solutions. It’s not always easy or pleasant, but it sure takes a lot of wasted time out of the equation.

Address things head-on. You will relieve yourself from a lot of undue stress and wasted time.

I’m not sure that I’ve ever approached a Spring Break week, at least in the last four years, feeling as at ease as I do this year. Many times over these years, I’ve been so wound up about work/life – just about anything – that I’ve dived headfirst into Spring Break trips with my family, carrying a head full of steam and anger.

This year, however, is markedly different. Thanks to an early-year “reset” and quitting drinking alcohol of any kind, I’m entering this year’s break with a very easy feeling. Even with work stress peaking on the Friday before the break, I feel very calm. Learning to realize that there are many things simply out of my control, I am very much at peace with myself and the world around me. On top of the work stress of this past week, there was family stress, as Lilly Grace had tryouts for the middle school dance team. Through hard work and perseverance, she made the team, but it did not happen without adding a mountain of stress that eventually subsided. Again, this year, I find myself dealing with this stress very differently from years past.

It truly is amazing how at ease you can feel when you allow yourself time to clear your mind and unwind some of those thoughts that keep you so on edge all the time. Don’t get me wrong, I am still as driven to win and succeed as I have ever been, and actually, I feel that I am more inclined to see new angles to win than before, but it comes with a much greater feeling of ease.

All that said, I am flying across the ocean to go to a totally new place that I have never been before, and the feeling of ease is at an all-time high. There will be no palm trees, beaches, boats, or sandbars this Spring Break, but I get the feeling I will be much more relaxed even if I am right in the middle of one of the largest cities on the planet – simply because my mind is at ease.

While engaging in some self-reflection recently, I came across a passage from the 1970s in a book. It discussed which two days of the week were considered the least important. Some might assume it refers to the weekend. That would direct thoughts towards Saturday or Sunday, the days when work is typically paused. It’s easy to conclude that Monday, being the start of the workweek, couldn’t be the least important. After all, Monday marks the beginning of our efforts to achieve the week’s goals.

However, the passage revealed that the two least important days aren’t adjacent. They aren’t part of the weekend or nestled within the weekdays. Instead, they are yesterday and tomorrow. The rationale is straightforward: yesterday’s actions, being in the past, don’t influence today’s tasks. Similarly, tomorrow’s potential has no impact on how today concludes. The focus is on the irrelevance of yesterday and tomorrow. Whatever happened yesterday is behind us, and tomorrow’s occurrence is uncertain. Without the guarantee of a tomorrow, it’s considered one of the least important days.

This concept underscores the importance of living in the present. What matters is what you’re doing now, this very minute. It’s about being present for yourself and others. Initially, I assumed the weekends or even a Monday might be deemed least important. The idea that yesterday and tomorrow hold that title never crossed my mind. This insight has encouraged a deeper appreciation for the present moment.

As I travel across the country, meeting various people in various places, I hear story after story of how people have become successful. Many have worked tirelessly throughout their careers to build something remarkable, while others found success by simply being in the right place at the right time. Despite their different paths, a common thread among them is a positive mentality coupled with a strong work ethic.

During a recent lunch, a friend shared a valuable lesson from their father: when starting a new venture, you won’t know everything you need, but success requires two things. First, always show up on time, no matter what. In today’s world of flexible schedules and competing demands, the importance of punctuality has diminished for many. Yet, if someone is relying on you – be it a boss, colleague, or friend – you owe it to them to be where you’re supposed to be, when you’re supposed to be there. You’re never going to get where you want to go if you’re always making excuses. So, lesson number one in what it takes to be successful: always know that it’s up to you to show up on time.

The second key is to always be open to learning. Always be open to asking questions. I recently advised a young man about to embark on his career post-college. I told him flat out that he wouldn’t start off knowing everything about his chosen field. The marketing skills he seeks are not something you can get through college education, books, or instructors. However, they can be learned by acknowledging what you don’t know, showing up, and being willing to ask questions. The ‘no dumb question’ saying goes a long way and should become a mindset. There’s always more that you can learn. And by asking questions and knowing you’ve always got more to learn, it’s going to set you up for success.

While these insights might not be revolutionary, they underscore the practical steps that have proven effective for many. Remembering the discussion about the essentials for success during that recent lunch has been enlightening.

It’s always been a part of my character and lifestyle to have more going on than I can manage at any given time. I find it fun when things come at me fast, presenting new obstacles and challenges to tackle. Especially now, being in a new phase of life, it has been exhilarating to encounter so many opportunities, ensuring there’s never a dull moment or a chance for distraction.

But sometimes, it’s too much. There are moments when the multitude of tasks and directions make you feel as though you’re not doing anything well. Your time and responsibilities are divided among work, family, friends, causes, and activities outside my daily routine. It seems like you’re attempting to do so many things, yet accomplishing them so poorly, that in reality, you’re achieving nothing, despite believing the opposite.

It’s at times like these where I have to stop. That means to pause, breathe for a minute, and remind myself that not everything can happen at once, and sometimes, doing the best I can is all that’s possible. As someone who thrives on being busy, accepting this can feel like a failure or disappointment. Yet, by selecting which activities to pursue, I’m also choosing not to engage in others that may be less important or necessary.

Every now and then, it’s crucial to pause and consider the good things in life and the positive aspects. Taking a moment to reflect helps you to slow down and appreciate all that you’re accomplishing, all that you’re doing, and the phase of life you’re experiencing.

Another perspective was offered to me recently in the form of great advice: “Be where your feet are.” Don’t try to be in too many places, rooms, or situations. Simply be present where you are.

Some of the people who read this blog may or may not know about my recent challenge/struggle to get sober.

While I wasn’t living under a bridge or holding a cardboard sign on a corner asking for money, I had developed a lifestyle that involved way too much alcohol. And while alcohol was something I had always enjoyed socially in my life, from the age of 16 until 43, I recently decided that there was no longer a place for alcohol in my life.

So, I did the only thing I knew how to do, and that was to get help from the best source that I could find to rid myself of alcohol. As of today, I’m 37 days into a new chapter of life that is alcohol-free.

If some people reading this have their mouths’ on the ground, it’s okay. I’m still me. I’m still as tenacious, power-driven, and crazy as I’ve ever been. But now I simply get to do it without any substance occupying my life. And I’ve got to tell you, the start of this new chapter has been almost magical.

They talk in sobriety about a pink cloud. A pink cloud is the state of mind where you always feel good and you always feel free, and you always feel away from all of the bad feelings and things that occupied your mind. But now, as I continue day after day through this journey, I truly can tell you it is a magical state of being.

It’s magical to feel as good as I feel. It’s magical to not have stress upon stress piled up in my life. It’s magical to see things from a clearer, broader perspective. And that perspective for me is being rid of alcohol.

So, as I come to a close with this, my point is very simple. Do what a very wise person once told me, and that is, take the one thing in your life that is causing you to not be successful and get rid of it. Get rid of it, and get rid of it for good.

Maybe it’s because it’s the first of the year. Maybe it’s because it seems more busy than normal. But I found myself in a meeting today with a very old phrase that came back to me.
And that is: “The only thing constant is change.”

Change is everywhere you go. I’m watching my kids change right before my very eyes. My 11-year-old now wears makeup, talks about Taylor Swift, and spends hours a day with skincare products.

My nine-year-old, all she cares about is dancing (she also loves Taylor Swift). I think she likes boys or has a crush on boys and is growing up right before my very eyes.

My eight-year-old son is so ready to shoot a deer this year that he can’t even stand it. Watching him from a few years ago, when he barely even understood what going hunting was to where he has come now, it’s just been transformational.

And my five-year-old son now has a dirt bike. Even though it has training wheels, it is still a dirt bike, but he is learning to ride.

These are just some personal examples of change. But I see change everywhere in business. People who love you one minute might not love you the next. People who you’ve never met before put you on a pedestal and entrust you to take them forward.

It’s funny how things change in such a short amount of time. If change is the only constant, I wonder why so many people have such a hard time adapting to change. I guess it’s the luck of what I do and the ability I’ve had.

I’m used to change. I know stuff’s going to change every day. But with change comes responsibility. You have to be responsible, knowing that things are going to change and being responsible to change them quickly enough, but not just change things for the sake of change.

My advice to anybody as they go through the beginning part of the year and set their course on 2024 is this: Know that change is coming. Know that there’s going to be a lot of change. Know that things in your personal life, as well as your work life, are definitely going to change, and you will be ready for a great year.

Sometimes, you get so caught up trying to do things that you think you need to do and should do, and you’re wasting time because you’re not focused on doing things that you can do.

I had a recent example of this in my career, in my work life, where we were wasting a lot of time on some business that was big business, but we were going nowhere with it. It was taking us nowhere. It was problematic. It was just not fit for what we do and who we are. And I said goodbye to it today. Because I have so much new business and big opportunities on the horizon. Things I’ve never even dreamed or thought about in my career are now coming to the forefront as we speak.

So my point of this is: don’t waste time on smaller stuff than you’re capable of. Go after and set your sights on things that are so big, so opportunistic, so incredible, that you just never even know the opportunities that you’re missing because you’re wasting time on countless small, minute, problematic things. Don’t waste time in your work life and don’t waste time in your personal life. It’s a two-fold component. Don’t waste time on your phone when you’re sitting there with your kids. Don’t waste time watching sports with your friends, rather than having real, deep conversations about how life is going. Don’t waste time mindlessly doing tasks when you could be doing things that you really enjoy.

“Don’t waste time” is a really critical thing in how you live and how you work. And it dawned on me today that I had wasted some time, and I need to focus on things so far greater, so far bigger that it’s just amazing.