In 1954, a struggling milkshake machine salesman, stopped at a small hamburger stand in San Bernardino, California. The owners of this hamburger stand had created something truly remarkable: a streamlined system for making and serving food quickly and consistently. Their "Speedee Service System" was like an assembly line, producing the same high-quality food every time, in record speed.The milkshake machine salesman saw the potential immediately. He wasn’t just impressed—he was inspired. Ray...
18 days ago • 1 min read
You probably noticed owning your own business is no picnic. You traded your boring job for the “freedom” of owning your own business. Nobody told you owning your own business meant long hours and hard work to get it off the ground. Working harder doesn’t mean more profit. Nobody told you about the financial risks and instability. Despite the drawbacks, I would never to back to the stress and instability of working for someone else. In the past, working a boring 9-5 job provided financial...
22 days ago • 1 min read
The other day Brian Kurtz sent an email outlining the distinction between "WHAT do you want to be when you grow up" and "WHO do you want to be when you grow up". On Sunday I shared my take on WHAT vs. WHO. I didn't realize it at the time, but knowing WHO I wanted to be made me a better leader, father and husband. From the WHAT perspective, I was a successful network manager working in a brand new industry. I couldn't wait to go to work every day. From the WHO perspective, I was a terrible...
24 days ago • 1 min read
You may have noticed I've been exploring a new path. After 25 years in marketing, writing four books, speaking at events around the world and helping thousands of people with their marketing and LinkedIn, I'm ready for "what's next." What's next for me? To be honest, the details are still evolving. I do know a lot of men in the later stages of their career who are also looking for "what's next." Chances are, if you are over 50, your career will not end on your terms. Layoffs, mergers,...
25 days ago • 1 min read
A common question we hear when we're growing up is "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I always wanted to be a football player. That dream ended when I stopped growing in 9th grade. Today, my friend and mentor Brian Kurtz shared a better version of this question. "WHO do you want to be when you grow up?" This question made me think back on my career. My favorite job was when I was network manager at Cellular One when there were only 40 employees. The cellular industry was brand new and...
26 days ago • 1 min read
Routine plays a big role in our daily lives. When I was laid off from my job, my routine was disrupted. Many men struggle when their routine is disrupted. My job defined me and created my daily routine. Meetings, emails, Zoom calls, client calls were gone. My purpose was gone. I had nothing but free time. My mind wandered. Self-doubt crept in. My confidence was gone because I couldn't find a job. I retreated into isolation. My skills began to diminish. This is happening to many of my friends....
28 days ago • 1 min read
I saw an interview with Oprah the other day. She said she has regrets. What? We all have regrets. Even Oprah. Oprah said her biggest regret was she didn't take a break after ending her show after 20 years. She changed her focus from her show to the Oprah Network and other projects. Looking back, she said she should have taken a year off before jumping into something new. She earned a well deserved break and didn't take it. Today, in the Mastermind Book Club we're discussing The Power of...
29 days ago • 1 min read
I admit it. I'm a homebody. My wife Ellen is the opposite. She retired three years ago and has a full schedule. Chorus practice, two soccer leagues, two pickleball groups, three hiking groups and of course shopping fills her days. I'm okay with puttering around the house and hanging out on our deck reading a book or napping. I enjoy working a few hours a day because I enjoy my clients. My problem is I need a good reason to leave the house. If I go to the store to buy a new shirt, I find a...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
I've been reminiscing a lot lately. Maybe its because summer is coming to an end. By the way, what happened to summer? Didn't we have our Memorial Day barbecue last weekend? Maybe it's because this chapter of my career is coming to an end. I'm moving from working 80% of the time and playing 20% to playing 80% and working 20%. My income will actually increase as I work less. Here's how... My friend and mentor Brian Kurtz told me his idea of "retirement" is saying "no" to everything he doesn't...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
