Ellen and I just got back from two weeks in Greece where we consumed our fair share of gyros, baklava and ouzo. I have to admit I thought I was going to Greece for the views… But I ended up getting a history lesson, a family reckoning, and a quiet reset all in one. What surprised me most? I forgot that everything in Greece was built to honor the gods in mythology. Everything from crumbled ruins to giant stone temples is dedicated to Zeus, Poseidon, Athena, Apollo… Not just monuments. These...
4 days ago • 1 min read
Tomorrow, I’m heading to Greece for two weeks. It’s a trip Ellen and I have been dreaming about. As Ellen says, “We’re in go-go mode for the next 5–10 years.” We’re still sharp, still curious, still able to hike the hills, explore ruins, and sip wine by the sea. This is the beauty of the business I’ve built: ✅ I stay engaged with work that matters ✅ I have the flexibility to travel when I want ✅ I don’t have to choose between contribution and freedom Eventually, we’ll shift into “go slow”...
26 days ago • 1 min read
As I wrap up Rich Schefren’s Zenith Mind OS course, I’ve been reflecting on one of the biggest shifts I’ve ever made, not just in my business, but in how I show up in life. For most of my career, I was operating from a hidden belief: “I’ll stay safe if I don’t take up too much space.” That belief shaped everything: - I over-prepared instead of taking action - I learned instead of led - I polished my message instead of speaking But something changed. Through the Zenith Mind OS process, I built...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
It turned out to be one of those events we will remember forever. Last month I was cleaning my office and picked up The Boron Letters book by Gary Halbert. This is a collection of letters Gary wrote to his son, Bond while he was in prison. I sent an email to Bond to see if he was interested in being our guest speaker. "Hell YES!" he replied. I knew John Carlton was very close to Gary so I asked him if he wanted to join us and share some Gary stories. "Hell YES!" he replied. I asked Brian...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
What happens when one of the greatest copywriters of all time goes to jail for 10 months? He writes letters. Not just any letters Legendary ones. This week in The Mastermind Book Club, we’re diving into The Boron Letters by Gary Halbert - a powerful mix of personal wisdom and timeless marketing principles written by a father to his son. And guess what? Bond Halbert, Gary’s son and the recipient of those famous letters will be joining us live. He’ll share: ✅ Personal stories from behind the...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
When your job ends, especially after 25 or 30 years, it’s not just the paycheck that disappears. It’s your title… your team… your routine… and the quiet confidence of being someone who knows what they’re doing. You went from “VP of Sales” or “Director of Operations” to… well, what now? Nobody prepares you for that moment. No one talks about the void that opens up when your identity is no longer printed on a business card. Here’s what I want you to know this morning: ✅ Your title was never...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
My business didn’t come from a big idea. It came from a quiet realization: I loved my job as an Online Marketing Manager but deep down I didn’t want to live on someone else’s schedule. My boss did me a favor and laid me off. At this stage of life, I didn’t want to chase clients. I definitely didn’t want to “retire” and lose the part of me that still had something to give. But I didn’t know what was next. I just knew this stage of my life was done. So I asked myself the same questions I shared...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Your “Why” is what turns freedom into fulfillment In my last email, someone asked:“Who’s going to pay the bills while I make this shift?” Today, I want to zoom out and answer a different question: What makes this shift sustainable? Here’s what I’ve learned: You can’t build a life of “want to” if you’re not clear on what truly matters. Freedom without purpose gets boring. Money without meaning gets empty. Time without a “why” just turns into a distraction. That’s why the first step in your...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
We spend most of our lives in “have to” mode. We have to earn a living. We have to show up, provide, and push through. We have to follow rules, meet expectations, and play roles. For decades, we did what we had to do. But now? Now it’s time to shift. 👉 From obligation to freedom. 👉 From survival to significance. 👉 From “have to”... to “want to.” I’m not talking about retirement — I’m talking about rewiring. My boss is gone. My kids are grown. I’m not chasing anymore. This is my Encore. I want...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
