Dear A,

It was a busy week with a lot of commuting between Sarasota and Tampa.

Here's what I'm exploring this week...

AUDIO BOOK I'M LISTENING TO...

Failure is Not an Option by Gene Kranz. I own a hardcopy of this book. However, as I am delivering an emergency response course in a few weeks I thought I would revisit the book's powerful lessons while I drive. Kranz and his team at NASA are American heroes who define what it means to lead during uncertainty and take big risks. Landing a man on the moon truly remains as one of our greatest human achievements. Kranz pulls back the curtain on the type of leadership it took to endure all the challenges.

STUDY I'M EXCITED ABOUT...

The Mindset that Helps You Live to 85. A 30 year study of 71,000 adults found that people with the most optimistic outlook are up to 70% more likely to live to age 85 or beyond, regardless of their health habits. The effect held for both men and women and across different levels of health and ...

Dear A,

It was a busy week with a lot of commuting between Sarasota and Tampa.

Here's what I'm exploring this week...

AUDIO BOOK I'M LISTENING TO...

Failure is Not an Option by Gene Kranz. I own a hardcopy of this book. However, as I am delivering an emergency response course in a few weeks I thought I would revisit the book's powerful lessons while I drive. Kranz and his team at NASA are American heroes who define what it means to lead during uncertainty and take big risks. Landing a man on the moon truly remains as one of our greatest human achievements. Kranz pulls back the curtain on the type of leadership it took to endure all the challenges.

STUDY I'M EXCITED ABOUT...

The Mindset that Helps You Live to 85. A 30 year study of 71,000 adults found that people with the most optimistic outlook are up to 70% more likely to live to age 85 or beyond, regardless of their health habits. The effect held for both men and women and across different levels of health and ...

Dear A, 

I'm looking forward to spending time with family and friends this evening and taking my little guy tricker-treating (he's Spiderman).   

Here's what I'm exploring this week...  

BOOK I'M READING...

Taking Religion Seriously by Charles Murray. This is Murray’s autobiographical reflection on his decades-long journey toward understanding God in general and Christianity in particular. He contends that faith can — and should — be examined through rigorous intellectual inquiry. Along the way, he weaves together insights from cosmology and the improbable conditions of the Big Bang, the emerging science of consciousness, and perspectives from evolutionary psychology, all pointing to the possibility of a universal Moral Law. His examination of Christianity engages deeply with questions of Gospel authorship, the reliability of biblical texts, and the scholarly debates surrounding the resurrection. In short, not only can science not disprove the existence of God, but it ac...

Dear A, 

I spent the week catching up on a backlog of emails.  Somedays I feel like my job consists of sitting in front of a keyboard just responding to requests.  I don't mind it... but, I find that I can only do it every few days (otherwise, I wouldn't be able to do other things that need to get done). 

Here's what I'm exploring this week... 

TRIP I WANT TO TAKE...

The Orient Express. Ever since I read Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express as a kid, I have always wanted to spend a night on the classic luxury train. I found this video that has only peaked my desire even more. I can't wait to have an incredible dinner - in my tux - with my wife on this "must do" item from my bucket list.

RESTAURANT I'M TRYING...

Michael's on East. Today is my wife and I's anniversary. As such, I am taking her to our favorite local restaurant. Michael's has been under renovation for some time now, so we're anxious to see the new decor.

STUDY I'M CONSIDERING...

The Truth...

Dear A,

I've been in Washington DC all week conducting a CARVER course. It's been fun to reconnect with old friends in the city I lived in for 20 years.

BOOK I'M READING...

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown. Ever since I read The Da Vinci Code years ago, I’ve devoured every Dan Brown novel that’s followed. While the film adaptations have been largely underwhelming, I’ve always enjoyed the Robert Langdon storyline — the mix of history, art, and mystery is unmatched. I’m genuinely excited to dive into this new installment in the series.

RESTAURANT I'M TRYING...

801 Chophouse in Tysons Corner. I had an outstanding meal this week — the lamb chops — while catching up with one of my closest friends at this classic steakhouse. From the moment you walk in, 801 Chophouse envelops you in the feel of a timeless, upscale dining experience with a modern edge. The rich dark-wood finishes, brass accents, and warm lighting create an atmosphere that’s both elegant and inviting.

Dear A, 

We're in the fourth quarter of the year.  Let's get after it!    

Here's what I'm following this week...

ADVICE I'M FOLLOWING...

From Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, the intellectual Roman emperor wrote that in the morning he would often remind himself that "the people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly." When you prepare yourself for potential interactions with people who engage in ugly behavior, you build resistance, as well as ensure you don't fall into the trap of responding in kind with ugliness. Basically, heed the advice of Ron Burgundy, "Stay classy."

STUDY I'M READING...

The Curious Connection Between Purpose and Lifespan. According to Science Direct, researchers tracked more than 13,000 adults aged 50 and above for eight years. They found that only 15 percent of people with the highest sense of purpose died during the study period, compared to 36 percent of those with the lowest sense of purpose...

Dear A,

This month is almost over... the holidays will be here before you know it.

Here's what I'm following this week... 

AUDIOBOOK I'M LISTENING TO...

The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and Future of the West by Alexander Karp and Nicholas Zamiska. From the co-founder of Palantir - named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025 - and his deputy comes a critically acclaimed, sweeping indictment of the West’s culture of complacency. They argue that timid leadership, intellectual fragility, and Silicon Valley’s limited vision for technology’s potential have left the United States dangerously exposed in an era of escalating global threats. It's definitely more historical and academic than I would have guessed.

STUDY I'M READING...

How Writing Down Any Goals Helps You Achieve All Goals. Most people think goal-setting only matters if you’re writing about the exact thing you want to improve. But research shows it can boost every area of your life. I...

Dear A,

It's football season and my Tampa Bay Bucs are 2-0, while the Michigan State Spartans are 3-0. Needless to say, I'm in an upbeat mood.

Here's what I'm following this week...

AUDIOBOOK I'M LISTENING TO...

Stay Sane in an Insane World: How to Control the Controllables and Thrive by Greg Harden. I’m really enjoying this audiobook. Every morning, I put it on while I run and during my commute, and it’s quickly become a highlight of my day.

Greg Harden rose to fame as the athletic advisor at the University of Michigan — best known for convincing a frustrated, bench-warming quarterback named Tom Brady not to transfer to USC, instead instilling him with the confidence to eventually become the starter.

But this book goes far beyond that one famous case study. Harden shares incredible stories of countless athletes he’s helped over the years, many of which are even more inspiring. At its core, the book is about “controlling the controllables” — learning to tune out outsid...

Dear A, 

Now that summer is behind us, it's time to move into my favorite season (and I don't mean hurricane season). 

Here's what I'm following this week...

AUDIOBOOK I'M LISTENING TO...

Swagger: Super Bowls, Brass Balls, and Footballs by Jimmy Johnson. Before he became the popular NFL Fox Sunday commentator, Jimmy Johnson was one of the most successful - and controversial - coaches in both college and professional football. Listening to his latest book makes me realize that his coaching style was actually forty years ahead of its time. There's a reason why coaches from all sports, as well as top CEOs, flock to his home in the Florida Keys year round, just to gain insight into his mental philosophies on coaching and on life.

BOOK I'M READING...

Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy) by William H. McRaven, U.S. Navy (Retired). Once holding the title of "Bullfrog", which meant he was the longest serving Navy Seal on active duty, McRaven has ha...

Dear A,

It's been a whirlwind of a week... how is it already Friday? The funny thing about about entrepreneurship is that nobody every says, "T.G.I.F." when you own a business. It's just another day that ends in "y".

Here's what I'm following this week... 

AUDIOBOOK I'M LISTENING TO...

The Challenger Sale by Matthew Dixon and Brett Adamson. I have a simple philosophy when it comes to business: if you can't sell, you can't eat. I am always amazed at the number of people who claim they want to start a business, but absolutely hate the idea of selling their product, service, or, most importantly, themselves to a stranger. A "Challenger" sale essentially means challenging a prospective customer's idea of how something has been done before. It's about educating them, as well as offering them a new way of thinking about their problems.

BOOK I'M READING...

The Art of Thinking in Graphs by Delov Erez. I am a highly visual person. Therefore, I enjoy learning through charts and...