Happy Healthy Leadership

A few weeks ago I signed up for an UnConference through EO not knowing a single person going. Honestly I wasn't even sure what an unconference was.

No agenda. No speakers. A room full of strangers in the middle of nature an hour south of Atlanta. No reception. Barely any wifi.

Within the first hour I was outside walking through trees and crossing a creek. The smell stopped me. Fresh air, earth, no city anywhere in it. I didn't realize how starved I was for that until I was standing right in the middle of it.

But the people and the unstructured time is what really made it special.
Nobody was performing or positioning. It didn't matter what your company did or how big it was. People just talked about what's hard, what's working, where they feel stuck, what they're proud of. Real stuff.

And what I didn't expect was how much I needed to give, not just receive. People shared their struggles and something I said landed for them. I could see it. That reminded me I was there for a reason. That what I carry actually matters to someone else.
That feels like connection.

I flew home to Minnesota feeling more like myself than I had in a while. Refreshed. Clearer. Less alone.

When was the last time you were somewhere you felt free to just be you?
Not your title. Not your revenue. Just you.

I think a lot of us are more hungry for that than we even realize.

Wishing you and your family a happy holiday season!

I’m feeling blessed to have another Christmas with my dad. He is feeling good and seems to be getting better. He is feeling better and hopeful for a few more months of fun with family and friends.

Last Sunday, I got a call saying my dad had a serious infection and might not make it through the night.
Earlier this year, he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. It is the fifth type of cancer he has faced since 2000, but this one is different. It will not go into remission. The last six months have taken a toll on his body, and last Sunday I had to prepare myself to say goodbye.
I have always been close with my dad. Our relationship was built through years of laughter, fun, and hard, honest conversations. He is the person I call when I am struggling. He tells me what he thinks, even when it is different from what I want to hear, and then trusts me to make my own choices. When I needed help around the house, he never just did it for me. He worked alongside me, teaching me how to tile a floor or fix something that was broken.
Doctors told us he had days to weeks to live. And then something shifted. As he started feeling better, he decided to fight again and live his life fully. We are making memories once more. Golfing with his grandkids. Playing cribbage. Dancing in the kitchen. Going out for live music. I have had the gift of helping him around the house and simply being present with him.
This experience has reminded me how much life is built around connection. It is easy to get caught up in responsibilities, productivity, and doing what we think we should do, especially in business and leadership. But when life slows you down, it becomes clear that connection is not extra. It is everything.
Connection is not separate from success. It is the foundation of it.
Weeks like this remind me that tomorrow is not guaranteed. My dad is doing well right now, and I am soaking up every extra moment and memory I can.
I want to gently encourage you to think about the people in your life, personally and professionally. Who matters to you? And how can you reach out today to let them know they truly matter?

🎉 WE DID IT! 🎉

Voices of Impact: Stories from Social Impact Heroes just became an Amazon Bestseller. 🏆

I’m feeling so grateful today. Thank you to my community, friends, and family for your support, encouragement, and belief in the power of sharing our stories.

This book holds so much heart. Every chapter is a reminder that when we speak up and share our truth, we help others do the same. That’s how change starts—one honest story at a time. 💙

If you’ve had a chance to read my chapter (or any part of the book), I’d love for you to leave a quick review on Amazon. Your words help these stories reach the people who need them most.

➡️ You can leave a review through the link in my bio

Thank you for helping make our voices louder. Together, we’re changing the world one story at a time. 🌍

Tomorrow’s the big day!
Voices of Impact: Stories from Social Impact Heroes launches on Tuesday—and I couldn’t be more grateful to be part of it.
My chapter shares how managing stress and leading from emotional awareness changed my approach to life and leadership. I’m joined by 16 other inspiring contributors who share their own powerful stories of growth and resilience.
You can still grab your copy for $2.99 before launch day: [https://a.co/d/9Ze8Bkd]
Thank you for your support and encouragement—it means the world to me. 💙

You’re invited! 💙

This Tuesday, October 28, I’ll be joining an incredible group of changemakers for the Voices of Impact book launch event.
You’ll meet several of the contributing authors and hear short, powerful stories of courage and transformation. It’s going to be an uplifting hour of connection and inspiration.
I’d love for you to celebrate with us!
Register here: [https://www.isparkchange.com/events-1/voices-of-impact-book-launch]

I’m honored to share that I’m a contributing author in the new book Voices of Impact: Stories from Social Impact Heroes.
In my chapter, I share part of my personal journey and the lessons that shaped how I help leaders manage stress and lead with heart.
This book brings together powerful voices from around the world—stories of resilience, courage, and hope. It’s not just about inspiration. It’s about real people using challenge as fuel for change.
If you’d like to support this project, you can pre-order the Kindle version for $2.99 until October 28. (Link in bio through my Linktr.ee)

Thank you for being part of my community and helping these stories reach the people who need them most. 💙

I doubted I could do it.

At the start of this year, I had never run more than seven miles. I had never biked more than 40. And I had definitely never done them back to back.

Training meant sacrifices. Early mornings. Long workouts. Days when I didn’t want to move but got up anyway. I had to act even when I did not feel like it.

This past Saturday, I crossed the finish line of my first Half Ironman in Madison. A 1.2-mile swim. A 56-mile bike. A 13.1-mile run.

I did it.

Sometimes the hardest part is not the race. It is showing up for yourself until you prove that you can!

This weekend, I rode 100 miles on my bike, but almost backed out

To be honest, I didn’t know if I could do it.

A few times in the weeks leading up, I was tempted to switch to the “easier” race. The one I knew I could finish. The safer choice.

But deep down, I knew this wasn’t really about the miles. It was about proving to myself that I can do hard things—even when it feels uncomfortable, even when it’s tempting to back down.

During the ride, I hit that moment. The wall. My body was tired, my mind wanted to quit, and I had to make a decision: Will I give in to the discomfort? Or will I fuel up, take a breath, and keep moving?

I chose to keep moving.

Crossing that finish line wasn’t just a win for the day. It’s a deposit into my confidence for the next challenge—my Half Ironman in just one month.

As a leader, we face these moments too. The tough conversations, the risky decisions, the projects that stretch us past what feels “comfortable.” It’s tempting to play it safe. But growth happens when we push through the resistance.

So here’s my question to you:
Where in your life or leadership are you tempted to back down—but know you’re capable of more?

Drop a comment. I’d love to hear where you’re pushing your own limits.

Happy Father's Day my favorite dance partner and to the best father I could have ever had.

He is someone that has told me not just how to work hard but how to kick my heals up and have fun and to be comfortable just being me.

🏆