Life doesn’t always go according to plan.

Sometimes the battle isn’t just in the mind—it’s in the moment. The curveball you didn’t see coming. The setback you didn’t ask for. The mountain you didn’t sign up to climb. Sometimes, it’s even a new opportunity that scares you.

I know what that feels like.

There have been seasons where I found myself at the base of a mountain I didn’t choose. A personal storm. A scary opportunity. A team struggle. Moments that tested more than my thinking—they tested my heart, my grit, and my faith.

Those seasons rewired how I see adversity, purpose, and what it means to lead when life goes sideways.

That’s why I wrote Face the Mountain—to capture the full face of resilience, and how we’re built to endure.

This book isn’t theory. It’s not fluff. It’s real stories, real struggles, and a real framework for walking through hard things with resilience and hope.

It’s for anyone who’s ever asked:

• Why this?

• Why now?

• How do I move forward when ...

Guys—this is a bestseller for a reason. It’s different. Unique. Game-changing.

Derek Coburn’s Let’s Retire Retirement isn’t just another retirement book—it’s a bold redefinition of what it means to live a fulfilling life at any age.

With wit, wisdom, and compelling storytelling, Coburn challenges the outdated idea of retirement as a finish line. Instead, he champions a life of purpose, meaningful work, and relationships that grow with you.

Through surprising historical insights, practical strategies, and raw honesty, he shows how to design a future where work becomes a source of joy and impact—not something to escape. His take on financial independence is refreshingly human—centered on freedom to pursue what matters, not just hitting a number.

Coburn also elevates the role of relationships—not just for networking, but for building a life of connection, collaboration, and meaning.

If I were to title this book, I might call it Smart Retirement—but Let’s Retire Retirement says it bes...

It’s here. Face the Mountain is now available.

This book has been years in the making—built on lessons of grit, faith, and the power of resilience. It’s not just a story; it’s a call to rise. Whether you’re climbing the mountain of self-doubt, hardship, or uncertainty, this book will remind you: the climb is worth it.

I wrote this for leaders, for believers, for those stuck in the valley. You’ll find stories, insights, and a framework rooted in the Three C’s of Resilience: Competence, Courage, and Compassion. You’ll meet people who faced storms and still stood tall. And you’ll get practical tools for your own journey.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Nelson Mandela: "It always seems impossible until it’s done." That captures the spirit of this book. Mountains aren’t meant to intimidate—they’re meant to shape us.

Call to Action:

Pick up your copy of Face the Mountain. Start your climb. And if it speaks to you, pass it on to someone else facing a mountain of their own.

My audio for IMAGINE finally hit the streets. I can't wait for you to listen to it.  (Here's the link: https://adbl.co/3Q0kZmW)

Recently my friend Roger on LinkedIn asked me if I had gone to a recording studio to get it done, and inquired about the steps in how I brought it to life. Here's what I shared back, but also with the inclusion of the SECRET NOTES, which just wouldn't fit in the LinkedIn response.

-- 
Roger. I have a home studio for podcasting, that I can use for vocal recording. It's something I enjoy doing when I have the downtime. 

Here are My 12 Steps for making an Audiobook:

1. Get the right gear - see my secret notes below.
2. Read your book from MS Word.
3. Start at the beginning of the book
4. Don't worry about messing up. If you do, just repeat the phrase. You can fix it in the edits.
5. Save each chapter individually (and often) as a project in Audacity.
6. Go back to the audio project and edit out the lines you may have repeated.
7. Add a stereo track to make it stereo (to su
...

This is funny.  I asked Chat-GPT for a review of my book "IMAGINE".  Here's what she said. :-).  

--

I want to share why I wrote the book IMAGINE -- why the message is important to me.

In my early days as a child I struggled with what others thought of me -- what I thought of me. You see, when I was younger, I was the kid with the buck teeth. The blond headed toehead, who may have smiled on the outside, but -- can I be honest? I wasn't smiling about myself on the inside. I struggled.

The reality is that there are people all around us who are struggling too. They silently struggle with thoughts about themselves, about what they are perceiving from others, and that just isn't healthy thinking.

People are hurting. Maybe lonely. They might even be questioning their worth, and the value they bring to the table.

Their imagination might be taking them to some pretty dark places. They need hope. A light. A path.

That's the message of the book. You see, when I was 13 something finally shifted for me. It's when I first realized the value of imagination.

Imagination can be a friend or a fo...

Barry Smith and I had a chance to sit down with best-selling author Jason Turbow recently for the Breaking Average Podcast. We talked about baseball and what it was like to help Kenny Loggins share his incredible story in the recently published book, Still Alright.

Check out the podcast on your favorite podcast platform of choice, or watch the two part interview on our YouTube channel below. 

Part 1

Part 2

Twitter Follows:

• Jason Turbow = @JasonTurbow
• Kenny Loggins = @KennyLogins
• Barry Smith =  @BLDWhatMatters 
• Paul Gustavson =  @PaulGustavson 

Also be sure to buy Kenny Loggins book on Amazon or wherever fine books are sold.  (You'll love this book!)

Paul and Rick crack open the top books on leadership and life. For this week's episode, we uncap the psychology of PERSUASION as we explore Robert Cialdini's breakthrough book "Influence."

Paul and Rick crack open the top books on leadership and life. For this week's episode, we unpack the landmark book from best-selling author Daniel Pink - To Sell is Human. Learn the new ABCs of sales and marketing. And discover the power of MOVING people.

On the Breaking Average Podcast, we unpack a revolutionary book that has more impact now, then when it was first written.  It's Simon Sinek's book Leaders Eat Last. 

Join Paul and Rick as they share great insights from this book.  Also included below are some helpful resources to further unpack the book and podcast.   

We encourage to check out all the resources and online classes that Simon and his team offer by visiting their web site at SimonSinek.com.

We have a few resources inspired from the book that are highlighted below to help you unpack this even further.

This first view  reflects the goals of a good leader.   The desire is to create a circle a circle of safety with those in our care.  This is important component to breaking averaging.

This next view gives you a glimpse of the power of our neurotransmitters in creating this "circle of safety."   What we need to watch for our is the Cortisol, and over stimulation from Dopamine.  But keep in mind the healthy transmitters ...