We may have just witnessed one of the greatest victories in NFL history—the Washington Commanders beating the Detroit Lions, the #1 seeded team in the NFL, in the second round of the playoffs 45-31. I can’t help but reflect on how they accomplished it. From a team that managed only four wins last year to now being one win away from the Super Bowl—WOW! Their journey is nothing short of miraculous.

This is a team that defied the odds and silenced the critics.

Think about how they achieved this. It took what I call team strong leadership, which aligns with the ideas I share in my book Breaking Average. In one season, the entire culture of the team and the city has been reignited. This team is like a once-dormant volcano in the midst of erupting.

The Commanders’ season is a masterclass in the power of the VICTORY mindset for any organization. It takes seven critical factors: Vision, Insight, Collaboration, Trust, Ownership, Resilience, and what I call the Yes Factor. Let’s explore how e...

Has worry or doubt ever tried to stop you?

Recently, my family and I planned a big vacation to the island of Kauai—our first-ever trip to Hawaii. Six of us, scattered across North America (Virginia, Boston, and Canada), were eager to reunite and celebrate the New Year together. For my wife and me, it was even more special—our 35th wedding anniversary. This was a rare opportunity for our busy family to reconnect and create lasting memories. It was going to be magical.

But days before departure, things weren’t looking good. Several of us were recovering from colds, lingering coughs, and other ailments. I honestly wondered if the trip we had planned six months earlier needed to be postponed. Fear and doubt compounded, threatening to derail our best-laid plans. As our departure day approached, I grew increasingly nervous.

This was one of those moments when my imagination began to limit me. I pictured the week slipping away, each of us stuck at home instead of on the vacation we had envi...

Life comes at us fast. The challenges we face can trip up any one of us. I want to share a quick story and suggestion that I think can make all the difference.

Years ago, I was traveling with my wife when our rental car broke down on a snowy day. We called the rental agency, and they asked us to drive back to the airport to swap out the car. I had to laugh. "Sir, the car we’re driving is leaking gas and is undriveable. I don’t think we’ll make it back." So, they sent a flatbed truck carrying our next rental to where we were. They dropped off the new car and picked up the broken one.

We continued our trip, but soon discovered the steering was faulty, making it impossible to navigate the mountain turns. We carefully pointed the car back toward town and made it to the airport to get a third rental. The next day, the windshield on that car cracked after sitting in the sun. For whatever reason, though, we didn’t let it bother us. We laughed at every little mishap, rolled with the punches,...

"Take up the shield of faith, with which you can
extinguish all the flaming arrows...".
- The Apostle Paul

Life often throws flaming arrows our way—doubt, discouragement, fear, worry, criticism, failure, frustration, disappointment—the list goes on. These challenges can feel overwhelming, but we don't face them alone.

There's a powerful truth in the lyrics of a song that says:

"Where there is faith,
There is a voice calling, keep walking,
You're not alone in this world."

Faith is our shield against these arrows. As part of the Armor of God, the shield symbolizes the strength of faith to protect us. But this shield isn't just for defense; it calls us to action. When those arrows come your way, actively raise your shield. Stand firm on the promises and truths you hold dear, and let them guide you.

Couple your faith with grit. Grit is the resilience that keeps you moving forward even when the arrows keep coming. It empowers you to walk in faith, even when the path is tough.

So...

Happy Father's Day to all the amazing fathers who inspire and uplift us every day. A father is someone who tells us, "Yes, You Can!"

This Father's Day, I'm inspired by the incredible story of Dick and Rick Hoyt, a father-son duo who demonstrated the power of love and determination. When Rick was born with cerebral palsy, doctors advised Dick and Judy Hoyt to institutionalize him. Instead, they chose to raise him with love and support, treating him like any other child. Rick's passion for sports led them to compete in over 1,100 endurance events, showing the world that anything is possible.

Rick once said, "Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not handicapped." This statement reflects the profound impact of a father's love and courage. In an article titled "What My Father Means to Me," Rick shared a note to his dad: "I hope that everyone who hears our story knows that you taught me the key to my daily life is that I believe the phrase, Yes You Can!” Their journey teaches us that w...

If you can do one thing each day that will increase your joy, it is to be creative.

That’s the thought that hit me as my son and I cleaned out my Mom’s apartment in Colorado after her recent move to South Carolina. What we found were over a dozen beautifully painted water color paintings that she had created over the last 10 years. I realized that my Mom, who is now 90, rediscovered the secret to a joyful life – it is to be creative. It’s one of the things that has kept her going!

Made to Create

Long ago God set the pattern. For six days straight He created. One of those creations was mankind. He made us in own image. We are to create too. Not just procreate – but make things – shape things –transform things – and bring things to life. Why? Because there’s joy in creation – and God wants us to have joy.

In world of latte sipping, Netflix bingeing, movie watching, food consuming, smartphone browsing, social media posting, couch sitting, and online shopping, what if we replaced just ...

Christmas is a big build up.  It starts Black Friday and then for four plus weeks it doesn't stop.  Holiday Music. Lights. Parties. Santa. Shopping. Sweets. Presents. Glitter Cards. Then we get to Christmas Eve and Christmas and it's Magic! But the day after Christmas, it suddenly stops. 

What happened to the magic?

On Facebook and Instagram.  We might see pics of what was. Smiles. Presents. Trees.  But the trees are coming down. The Party is over. Christmas is now in the rear view mirror. 

It's that lull between Christmas and the New Year -- that's a weird state.   Can we just fix that?

The question of the day is how do we recover?

I have some tips.  But be warned, these aren't tips that come easy.  I deal with the after math of the post Christmas blues myself every year.  It takes me a bit to remember how to recover.  Here are my tips.

Tip #1 - Rewind

I call this my "Go Back" Tip, and it's #1 for a reason.  It's easy -- and fun!

Grab your phone.  Peruse through the year of pi...

My Mom just turned 90 years young. Imagine reaching that milestone in your life.

For me, this means I am over 12,000 days shy of that mark. Presuming I have those number of days ahead (hopefully more), what am I going to do with the rest of those days?  Like my mom, I want to make those days count. 

I thought it would be fun to share a piece I wrote for my mom about how she has made her days count in the time I’ve known her. I hope you enjoy this. It’s meant to be lighthearted but also a reflection of a person who has made a difference in the life of others.

8 Days That Changed My Life

Happy Birthday Mom – I am so excited to celebrate your 90^th birthday.

I want you to know how much you have meant to me – and really all of us. The best way I can share your story is to recount some of the incredible moments you have made – at least from my perspective. Enjoy.

“Make everyday count” That’s a mantra that I think you have lived up to – at least for me.

1. The first day “for me” is easy
...

This past week Barry Smith and Paul Gustavson had a chance to talk about the importance of Boundaries for Leaders.  Let's face it, we get distracted.  In all the noise it can be hard to lead.  The noises come from external voices all around us, but also our own internal thoughts too.

Almost ten years ago, best-selling author and psychologist Dr. Henry Cloud wrote a revolutionary book that is still one of the top leadership reads.  He talked about the importance Attending to What Matters, Inhibiting what doesn't matter, and Maintaining Your Working Memory. 

Paul and Barry talk about some of these ideas on their recent podcast, which you can watch on YouTube or listen to wherever you go to find Top Podcasts.

Paul also shared from his new book a filter tool to help you manage the distractions.  Here's the graphic he described.

The video below reflects the discussion that Paul and Barry had on the show.  Enjoy! Let us know what you think by commenting below.

There is a great scene in the movie Remember the Titans where two teammates are in a huge disagreement. The Captain, Gary Bertier is arguing one point, and Julius Campbell counters with points of his own.  After hearing his argument, Bertier tells Julius, "that's the worst attitude I have ever heard.  Julius responds candidly.  "Attitude Reflects Leadership, Captain."  

It turns out to be a powerful pivot in the movie.  And from that conflict you begin to see an attitude shift in both these leaders that, in turn, changes the character for themselves and the whole team!

Attitude is without a doubt is a difference maker.  I truly believe it.  I could spin a whole blog to share my personal thoughts on it.  But today, I thought why not just share what I think are the 12 greatest attitude quotes of all time.   I hope these 12 quotes impact you as much as they have me.  Enjoy!

(1) "Our attitude toward life determines life’s attitude towards us." – John Mitchell

(2) "The only disability i...