“Hope is a start. But…hope needs action to win victories.”

                                                                  – David J. Schwartz

A new year has arrived, and with it, a fresh wave of possibilities. I don’t know about you, but I’m thrilled that 2025 is here!

Now, I’ll be honest: usually, I’m not one to get too caught up in the buzz of a new year. But this time feels different. After everything we’ve been through, there’s a special energy surrounding the start of this year. It’s like a breath of fresh air after a long storm.

2024 was a tough year for many of us—and I’m no exception. But with the arrival of 2025, I feel a renewed sense of hope for what’s ahead. And here’s what I know: hope is an incredibly powerful force. It’s the spark that gets us moving, that pushes us to break through barriers and overcome challenges. But hope alone isn’t enough.

Hope needs action. Hope needs a plan. Hope needs you to do something about it.

The Power of H.O.P.E. in Cre...

"Making a choice that is one percent better or one percent worse seems insignificant in the moment, but over the span of moments that make up a lifetime, these choices determine who you are and who you could be. Success is a product of daily habits—not once-in-a-lifetime transformations."

                                                                                                                                                                   – James Clear, Atomic Habits

The dawn of a new year is always a powerful moment. It’s a time when we reflect on the past and dream of what’s possible in the future. We often set lofty goals—whether it’s improving our health, advancing in our careers, strengthening relationships, or building financial stability.

But here’s the catch: while having a clear vision is crucial, it’s not enough to just know what we want. What truly makes the difference is the ability to show up every single day and take consistent action toward those dream...

“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”

                                                                                                                                                          – Joel A. Barker

We all have a vision. It’s not just a pipe dream or a fleeting thought—it’s a deep-seated knowing inside of us, one that’s been there since childhood.

Think back to when you were a kid. What did you imagine yourself becoming? An astronaut? A doctor? A superhero (I’m pretty sure I was Batman at the age of five)? The possibilities were endless, weren't they? The world was a canvas, and your imagination was the brush.

But as we grow older, those boundless visions often fade. Why? Because we start questioning whether they’re possible, practical, or worth pursuing. We allow fear, doubt, and the voice of "what if I fail?" to silence our dreams.

But I believe the visions inside of u...

"We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give."

                                                                                - Winston Churchill

The holidays are usually marked with hustle and bustle of year-end activities.  Our calendars fill up with events, parties and gift-giving functions, celebrating with family and friends. 

Some of us may struggle with how to get into the spirit of the holidays.  However, it is my experience that when we focus on the giving of "gifts" during this time of year, is where the magic happens.

With this in mind, here are five gifts we can give others and ourselves (that you can’t buy on Amazon or anywhere else) to make this unique holiday season joyous and one to remember.

1) Connect– Take this time to slow down and connect, first with yourself and then with others. Begin each day by allowing your mind to get quiet and connect to the that “still, small voice” within.  Then, from this place, focus on tru...

“The moment you take Responsibility for everything in your life, is the moment you can change Anything in your life.”

                                                                                                                                                         – Hal Elrod

As a speaker, I have the privilege of sharing my Mind of a Champion message with diverse audiences—ranging from elementary school students to corporate leaders.

Though each audience is unique, I’ve learned that the core of my message remains the same: There is a champion inside of you. And when you access that champion and take full accountability for your life, you can achieve anything you set your heart and mind to.

But what happens when things aren’t going according to plan? What happens when you’re facing challenges, setbacks, or even downright failure? How do you break through?

I’ve spoken to groups of young people who’ve made poor choices and now struggle to find their way back on trac...

“No one can do it for you, but you can’t do it alone.”

                                                       – People’s House, Denver, Colorado

This powerful mantra, originating from the world of drug and alcohol rehabilitation, holds deep resonance for me as an adult child of an alcoholic. But no matter what personal challenges you’ve faced in life, this statement carries a universal truth—one that’s not only important for overcoming addiction but also crucial for achieving success in every area of life.

We all encounter trials, don’t we? Moments when life seems to throw us curveballs we didn’t see coming. But as you take a step back, you’ll realize that many of these challenges are born from the choices we’ve made—our thoughts, actions, or beliefs.

While we may feel the urge to find someone to blame or wish for someone to come and rescue us, the reality is that we must take ownership of our journey if we want to move forward.

The Power of Ownership

When we take ful...

“It is solved by walking.”

                                                                            - St. Augustine

In May 2014, I undertook one of the most amazing experiences in my life as I walked the Camino de Santiago. 

The Camino or The Way as it is known, is a 500-mile pilgrimage across northern Spain.  My trek began in the town of St. Jean-Pied du Port in western France, ascended into the Pyrenees Mountains and then descended into Spain where I would spend the next month trekking 17-18 miles per day across the beautiful Spanish countryside to my ultimate destination, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Legend has it that the Camino began in the 9th Century as a way for early Christians to pay penance for their misdeeds by making the arduous pilgrimage to the city of St. James (Santiago), the apostle reputed to have brought Christianity to Europe. 

Today, the Camino serves as a means for thousands of pilgrims or peregrinos annually to take a respite from their everyd...

“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions.  The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.”

                                                                                           -  Zig Ziglar

Thanksgiving 2024 will soon be upon us. 

It is certainly an understatement to say that 2024 has been an unusual, and in many cases, a very challenging year.

Depite our many challenges, we still have much to be grateful for.  

However, what I realized today is, even though I consider myself to be someone who lives life with a high appreciation for what I have to be grateful for in my life, there are still things that I have grown to take for granted – one of those is spending holidays with family and friends.

Additionally, during the course of the recent pandemic, I have realized how much I have taken for granted some of my favorite activities that are were curtailed.  These include:

Going to...

“Be true to yourself. Make each day a masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day.”

                                                                               - John Wooden, coaching legend

Legendary basketball coach, John Wooden is famously quoted for saying – “Make each day your masterpiece.” 

Coach Wooden retired in 1975 as the winning-est coach in college basketball history, leading his UCLA Bruins clubs to an unprecedented ten NCAA college basketball national championships. 

Although his official title was “coach”, Wooden referred to himself as a “teacher”, not only of basketball, but of life. 

The incredible result of his coaching/teaching philosophy is not only seen in his win/loss record or his number of championships, but more importantly in the lives of those who played for him who regularly site him as being the most influential figure in their lives, leading them to experienc...

"Don't ever doubt that one small single event can trigger an unstoppable chain of events that gain momentum with increasing force, and nothing is ever the same."

                                                                                                 - [email protected]

One of the vivid memories I have of my Grandma Natzke, as I was growing up, was her joy of playing the game dominoes.  During the course of my childhood, she attempted to teach me several times how to play.  Although I never acquired her love of the game (nor do I think I remember how to play it), each time I see someone play or speak about dominoes, I get a warm memory of my grandmother.

Several years ago, I was introduced to a video on You Tube that continues to bring forth my warm thoughts about dominoes, albeit in a much different way.  In fact, I was so taken with it that I now include it as part of my keynote talk.  It is called Domino Chain Reaction

In it, a man who looks like...