Made for More

There is a phrase I have carried with me for years: “If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.” After recently celebrating my 55th birthday, those words mean more to me than they ever have. There is a cultural assumption that as you get older, you should start slowing down. Take it easy. Settle in. Protect what you have. Stop pushing so hard. I understand the importance of rest. I believe in reflection. I have learned that every season does not require the same pace. But I will never...

There is an old saying: “Winners never quit, and quitters never win.” It sounds simple, maybe even cliché. But the older I get, the more I realize there is something deeper inside those words. Losers are everywhere. In fact, if we define losing the way I am about to define it, most people lose far more often than they realize. There are only a small number of people who consistently live like winners. To become one is to enter what I call rare air. But I am not talking about trophies,...

Few statements make me cringe more when I’m working with a struggling business or organization than this one: “This is how we’ve always done things.” Usually, it’s offered as an explanation. Sometimes it’s a defense. But far too often, it reveals something deeper: the organization has allowed familiarity to become more important than effectiveness. Tradition has its place. History matters. Organizations should understand where they came from, what shaped their culture, and which practices...

Sometimes the signs are impossible to miss. The same patterns keep repeating. The frustration grows stronger. The vision of something greater refuses to leave you alone. Conversations begin confirming what you have already been sensing. Opportunities appear in unexpected places, while the place you are currently standing becomes increasingly uncomfortable. The writing is on the wall. Yet many people continue to ignore it. We convince ourselves that we need one more sign, one more...

For as long as I can remember, I have been a promoter of people development in the workforce. I have always believed that one of the greatest responsibilities of leadership is preparing people not only to perform their current roles, but also to grow into the responsibilities the organization will need them to carry in the future. This is especially important for nonprofit organizations, where workforce development is essential but sadly remains one of the most overlooked aspects of...

Very early in my career, before I had clarity about my purpose, I went through what I now call a season of “dead space.” It was a time when I was working, but not growing. Earning, but not learning. Moving, but without direction. Many people know that season, but few talk about it. You show up every day, yet deep down you know you’re not where you’re supposed to be. During that time, I worked a series of jobs just to make ends meet. Pride was not an option. Responsibility was. Bills don’t...

Leadership has a way of introducing you to pressure you never asked for, problems you did not create, and obstacles that often feel impossible to overcome. Throughout my career, I have faced extreme leadership challenges—moments when the room was tense, the path forward was unclear, and the weight of responsibility felt heavier than what one person should have to carry. There were times when the issues in front of me looked insurmountable. There were moments when emotions were high, opinions...