Over the last few weeks, culminating in an event out of town last night, I have witnessed and been deeply touched by the thought of something bigger than myself being present in the world.

Through all the days, activities, tasks, people, phone calls, and situations that you deal with, sometimes you end each day just blown away by the sheer number of things you have to do physically and mentally. Every given day, it’s both surprising and shocking that the human mind can go through so many things at once while maintaining composure and staying focused on the next task.

However, last night ended a little differently. After a pretty busy week, I attended an event that promotes helping underprivileged children by providing them with a home, education, and a great environment. A friend of mine invited me to this event several years ago. Not knowing what to expect, I decided to attend with my wife, Amy, and we were really blown away. It’s become something we do almost annually.

It’s not easy to attend. It’s not easy to find people to take over your daily responsibilities, especially with four kids and all their activities—from baseball to dance to friends. But this event has touched us in a meaningful way, and it serves as a good reminder that there is something bigger than yourself. There is something bigger than your daily problems, worries, and situations that can get you so unraveled and focused only on yourself.

Something bigger than yourself can come in many forms. It can come from a higher power, from something that touches you and to which you devote time, energy, and resources, or simply from being reminded on a daily basis. There is something out there bigger than each of us.

As someone who always believes in the power of positive thinking, I truly think attitude is everything. Until the other day, I had never understood what the word “affirmation” meant. I’d heard it before, but I hadn’t really spent much time investigating its meaning.

But when someone asked, “What is one thing that could happen to prevent you from getting angry?” I responded, “If more people took the time to tell me that I did something good, or that they were impressed with how I handled something, it would probably make me more mild-mannered.”

This may seem odd, but I am someone who always believes in praising the work of others. This is partly because, early in my career, I learned that praising people makes it easier to be direct and firm with them when they mess something up. You always had to be overly positive when acknowledging work that was well done.

But I’ve now learned that positive affirmations go a long way. They influence how you think about things, your mental state, and how you view yourself and the work you’re doing. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t need anyone to tell me how great I am. I do a good enough job of that on a daily basis 😊. But what is really rewarding and encouraging is to hear positive affirmations that sometimes come unexpectedly.

It could be someone simply saying, “Hey, I like your shirt,” or “It looks like you’ve lost weight,” before they even start discussing work-related things. Or it might be, “Hey, that was a really good job,” “Congratulations on a job well done,” or “That was a really nice piece of creative you thought up.”

You can give positive affirmations in many ways, but the simple fact is, you just need to give them. People need to hear them, yourself included. And the more you give, the more likely you are to receive.

I was in a meeting earlier this week with a client who doubles as a car dealer and a preacher. I’ll let you pause right there. That, in itself, seems like the most outlandish dual set of roles one can possess. However, in talking with this individual, I realized they truly believe, as I do, that your attitude is everything. But this person delved a little deeper.

He believes that your attitude genuinely creates everything in your life: your good opportunities, your personal interactions, your day-to-day demeanor, and every opinion of every outcome you may encounter. Your attitude really creates everything in your life because how you start your day, how you interact with people, how you respond to those who cut you off in traffic, how you speak to the person at the drive-thru window at Starbucks in the morning, and how you greet the first person you see when you walk into your workplace truly sets the tone for how your day will unfold.

You’re going to experience good things every day, and you’re going to face challenges every day, but your attitude truly shapes your life. It’s a very simple concept and nothing earth-shattering. Yet, taking my mantra one step further – that attitude is everything – I now have a deeper understanding, thanks to this individual and their mentality, that your attitude indeed shapes your life.

You can lead a good life. You can have an average life, or you can have a difficult life. But all of this will be determined by your attitude. Attitude is the simplest thing you can control that determines your success’s outcome. People may get tired of hearing me always talk about attitude, but I firmly believe I would not be anywhere close to where I am now. I would not have accomplished half of what I have managed to do on will, knowledge, and reputation alone, without a significant emphasis on attitude.

Attitude truly does shape everything in your life.

I’ve chosen to live my life alcohol-free and in total sobriety. For many, this presents a stark contrast to my previous lifestyle. However, these past 90 days have been the best I can remember. My mind is clear. Burdens have been lifted from my shoulders, and I feel a renewed vigor for life that was absent before.

Yes, I still work as hard and run as fast – if not faster – than before, but now I’m clear-headed and consistently feel great, as opposed to always being tired. The decision to stop drinking stemmed from being sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. But I’m not an alien, even though some people treat me as such.

It feels odd at dinners when I order a mocktail or ask for a virgin drink or something non-alcoholic. It’s also odd meeting up with long-time friends, with whom I used to enjoy our common Friday afternoon beer, and watching them struggle to find the right words, suggesting maybe we should get coffee instead.

I’m not an alien. I can sit with you while you have a beer. I can maintain a good conversation over dinner, whether pre-game drinks and dinner wines are involved or not. I’m not an alien, even though some family members seem at a loss for words around me. They just sit there, looking at me, perhaps wondering what’s going on inside my head.

I’m still the same person, with the same thoughts and feelings, although my feelings are now much better than ever before. Sometimes, I just wish people would realize I’m the same person I’ve always been – only less intoxicated and much more caffeinated.

I’m not an alien, and I’m really enjoying this new venture and a new page in my life. I wish this didn’t seem like a plea for help, but I hope people would realize that individuals choose different paths in life and should be treated as they would like to be treated, not based on your perceptions, but on the genuine, heartfelt qualities of your friendship with them.

Every week, new opportunities come my way. Some are business-related, others personal, but all of them present themselves as unique opportunities. This week, a business opportunity that I had pursued several times before resurfaced. I believe this was the third or fourth attempt to secure this particular piece of business, and although it never previously worked out in my favor, it always left me eager to try again.

Well, finally, it happened. I reached the finish line. I crossed the goal. However you want to phrase it, the battle was won. I secured the piece of business, and it looks like it’s going to be a very large and successful venture for my company.

As I reflected on this success this afternoon, the phrase “try, try again” kept coming to mind. Many people might have given up or harbored a negative attitude toward an opportunity that took so long to materialize. But that’s something I just don’t understand. I’ve never been one to give up. I’ve always been willing to try as many times as necessary to succeed.

So, my thought for the week is: always keep trying. It’s more than a mantra – it’s a way of life, a mentality that I deeply cherish, even on the most frustrating days. It’s always rewarding to have the perseverance to keep going.

Now that I’ve got several months of total and complete clarity under my belt, I find that clearer thinking makes it easier to confront difficult situations directly. What I mean is, I used to tiptoe around tough situations, sometimes not speaking my mind – a concept that might be hard for some to imagine. I often handled things very delicately, aiming not to upset or offend anyone or anything. Now, after having time to think clearly and see things in a different light, I find myself wanting to tackle difficult situations head-on.

Mastering the art of addressing the elephant in the room, even in a room full of people, has become my newest and greatest talent. I’ve discovered that the more you confront issues directly and have straightforward conversations about topics no one wants to address, the clearer your thinking becomes. This clarity allows you to resolve any situation in minutes, a process that previously might have taken days. The more experiences of this nature I encounter, the more I realize how much time I wasted in the past by not confronting situations directly.

Yes, sometimes it’s better to let things play out. Sometimes, it’s better to give things space and time before having tough conversations. However, the more I observe and the clearer my vision becomes across all kinds of situations, the more I recognize the power of bringing things into the open and rationalizing the best outcomes or solutions. It’s not always easy or pleasant, but it sure takes a lot of wasted time out of the equation.

Address things head-on. You will relieve yourself from a lot of undue stress and wasted time.

I’m not sure that I’ve ever approached a Spring Break week, at least in the last four years, feeling as at ease as I do this year. Many times over these years, I’ve been so wound up about work/life – just about anything – that I’ve dived headfirst into Spring Break trips with my family, carrying a head full of steam and anger.

This year, however, is markedly different. Thanks to an early-year “reset” and quitting drinking alcohol of any kind, I’m entering this year’s break with a very easy feeling. Even with work stress peaking on the Friday before the break, I feel very calm. Learning to realize that there are many things simply out of my control, I am very much at peace with myself and the world around me. On top of the work stress of this past week, there was family stress, as Lilly Grace had tryouts for the middle school dance team. Through hard work and perseverance, she made the team, but it did not happen without adding a mountain of stress that eventually subsided. Again, this year, I find myself dealing with this stress very differently from years past.

It truly is amazing how at ease you can feel when you allow yourself time to clear your mind and unwind some of those thoughts that keep you so on edge all the time. Don’t get me wrong, I am still as driven to win and succeed as I have ever been, and actually, I feel that I am more inclined to see new angles to win than before, but it comes with a much greater feeling of ease.

All that said, I am flying across the ocean to go to a totally new place that I have never been before, and the feeling of ease is at an all-time high. There will be no palm trees, beaches, boats, or sandbars this Spring Break, but I get the feeling I will be much more relaxed even if I am right in the middle of one of the largest cities on the planet – simply because my mind is at ease.

While engaging in some self-reflection recently, I came across a passage from the 1970s in a book. It discussed which two days of the week were considered the least important. Some might assume it refers to the weekend. That would direct thoughts towards Saturday or Sunday, the days when work is typically paused. It’s easy to conclude that Monday, being the start of the workweek, couldn’t be the least important. After all, Monday marks the beginning of our efforts to achieve the week’s goals.

However, the passage revealed that the two least important days aren’t adjacent. They aren’t part of the weekend or nestled within the weekdays. Instead, they are yesterday and tomorrow. The rationale is straightforward: yesterday’s actions, being in the past, don’t influence today’s tasks. Similarly, tomorrow’s potential has no impact on how today concludes. The focus is on the irrelevance of yesterday and tomorrow. Whatever happened yesterday is behind us, and tomorrow’s occurrence is uncertain. Without the guarantee of a tomorrow, it’s considered one of the least important days.

This concept underscores the importance of living in the present. What matters is what you’re doing now, this very minute. It’s about being present for yourself and others. Initially, I assumed the weekends or even a Monday might be deemed least important. The idea that yesterday and tomorrow hold that title never crossed my mind. This insight has encouraged a deeper appreciation for the present moment.

As I travel across the country, meeting various people in various places, I hear story after story of how people have become successful. Many have worked tirelessly throughout their careers to build something remarkable, while others found success by simply being in the right place at the right time. Despite their different paths, a common thread among them is a positive mentality coupled with a strong work ethic.

During a recent lunch, a friend shared a valuable lesson from their father: when starting a new venture, you won’t know everything you need, but success requires two things. First, always show up on time, no matter what. In today’s world of flexible schedules and competing demands, the importance of punctuality has diminished for many. Yet, if someone is relying on you – be it a boss, colleague, or friend – you owe it to them to be where you’re supposed to be, when you’re supposed to be there. You’re never going to get where you want to go if you’re always making excuses. So, lesson number one in what it takes to be successful: always know that it’s up to you to show up on time.

The second key is to always be open to learning. Always be open to asking questions. I recently advised a young man about to embark on his career post-college. I told him flat out that he wouldn’t start off knowing everything about his chosen field. The marketing skills he seeks are not something you can get through college education, books, or instructors. However, they can be learned by acknowledging what you don’t know, showing up, and being willing to ask questions. The ‘no dumb question’ saying goes a long way and should become a mindset. There’s always more that you can learn. And by asking questions and knowing you’ve always got more to learn, it’s going to set you up for success.

While these insights might not be revolutionary, they underscore the practical steps that have proven effective for many. Remembering the discussion about the essentials for success during that recent lunch has been enlightening.

It’s always been a part of my character and lifestyle to have more going on than I can manage at any given time. I find it fun when things come at me fast, presenting new obstacles and challenges to tackle. Especially now, being in a new phase of life, it has been exhilarating to encounter so many opportunities, ensuring there’s never a dull moment or a chance for distraction.

But sometimes, it’s too much. There are moments when the multitude of tasks and directions make you feel as though you’re not doing anything well. Your time and responsibilities are divided among work, family, friends, causes, and activities outside my daily routine. It seems like you’re attempting to do so many things, yet accomplishing them so poorly, that in reality, you’re achieving nothing, despite believing the opposite.

It’s at times like these where I have to stop. That means to pause, breathe for a minute, and remind myself that not everything can happen at once, and sometimes, doing the best I can is all that’s possible. As someone who thrives on being busy, accepting this can feel like a failure or disappointment. Yet, by selecting which activities to pursue, I’m also choosing not to engage in others that may be less important or necessary.

Every now and then, it’s crucial to pause and consider the good things in life and the positive aspects. Taking a moment to reflect helps you to slow down and appreciate all that you’re accomplishing, all that you’re doing, and the phase of life you’re experiencing.

Another perspective was offered to me recently in the form of great advice: “Be where your feet are.” Don’t try to be in too many places, rooms, or situations. Simply be present where you are.