Katie and I pushed the button on Amazon to send my new book to print. Countless hours, conversations, meetings, and amounts of effort have gone into this accomplishment. I never thought that I would write a book, but my hope is that our story and lessons learned from the last 15 years will serve as a source of encouragement for countless others.

Why write a book? A few weeks ago, my friend and author, Bob Goff, asked me why I had taken on this task. He immediately said, “You didn’t do it with the idea of getting rich. I know you better than that.” For me it was easy, it was the same conversation I had been having with God for the last two decades, “just put me in a place where my life can make the biggest difference.”

If you’ve ever lived with a serious physical struggle (cancer or a stroke) or even a significant life issue (loss of a job or divorce) then you know that in those moments the chaos is swirling. While the world seemed to stop when the word cancer was pronounced over my life, there was chaos with all sorts of questions, concerns, and anxieties that started to swirl in my mind.

While I didn’t realize it at the time my disciplines and habits did more to prepare me for my obstacles and challenges than anything I’d ever done. The consistency and effort gave me the strength to get back up each time I fell

It seems like God always uses the least likely of people and the most interesting moments in preparing the way for the season of hopeful anticipation. I’m confident that is still the case. God still speaks and proclaims in ways that we never dreamed.

I’m not sure I saw it this way at first, but I found that the obstacles I faced really opened the door for new opportunities and beginnings. In many ways, the changes associated with the challenges kept my life from returning to the same place it had been before. The challenges pushed me to think about life in different ways. Things could never quite go back to the same spot once I had faced the biggest physical, mental, career, and life hurdles.

These last few years have been filled with struggles, challenges, near-death experiences, and constant change. Yet, I can sit on this side of all of it and give thanks for all the places that God worked, intervened, and carried us.

The overly critical, mean, and demeaning church and or pastor is not the best place to be. There are good places and good people. Choose one that works best for you.

So how do you get people to care about the things you care about? That was the question posed to me several weeks ago.

Understanding your mission (purpose), vision (passion), and values allows you to turn your focus toward things that really matter to you and carry the impact you desire.

You remember the old statement, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” That still holds true today. Developing relationships is one of the most important things we do.

Let’s be clear, there were 1.9 million new cancer cases in 2022 alone. That doesn’t include spouses, kids, family, and friends who make the journey with those who fight the battle. We spent $208.9 billion on cancer in 2020 and that doesn’t even touch the impact emotionally, relationally, or spiritually. Everyone it seems is dealing with cancer at some level.

The best thing you can do is find the people who believe in you. The people who recognize your gifts and talents. Listen to the people pointing you towards something great. Those are the voices that matter.

The world tells us that leadership can’t be kind, gracious, compassionate, caring, and empathetic, but what if the world is wrong.

Most folks don’t make the needed or desired change because they lack the courage to change or are unwilling to take the risk. And you can be courageous in your change, but if your attitude stinks during it, the journey will be awful.

This past week I spent time talking with 7 different friends regarding professional transitions. I know there are those who find their career and/or calling and never change, but it seems most folks are looking for something new.

Don’t miss your chance to chase your dream and live the big adventure.

Leadership is taught (explicit). Very seldom is great leadership caught (implicit).

As some of you know, my father passed away very peacefully in hospice Thursday morning July 27th at 2:15am.

Lead with kindness, humility, and service, and you’ll lead well.