"You are the coolest dad ever…" Those were the words of my son, wide-eyed and baffled as he watched me ollie his new skateboard. An ollie is a simple trick I used to do as a kid, stomping the tail of your board on the ground with one foot and popping it into the air [...]

One of the things I’ve found to be the most interesting as we’ve journeyed through COVID-19 is the separation that this pandemic has created. First, we judged people based on their decision to wear a mask, or not wear one. Then, we judged them based on their stance on social distancing. Now we’re making judgments [...]

“Where are all the staples? I just need one freakin’ staple. What good is a stapler with no staples?” This tirade raged in my head for about five minutes – about five minutes and one second too long. I’m in my home office, looking at the notes I just captured on a call, wanting to [...]

Waking up in the Twin Cities this morning, I'm left with a list of things I don't understand, many that I never will.  I'll never understand what it feels like to worry about your son when he leaves home because of the color of his skin. That's a reality that I'll never face, and yet [...]

I remember vividly the feeling I used to get as a kid every May. School was about to end and summer was on our doorstep. As the days got warmer and the evenings got longer, there was only one thing on my mind… summer soccer. I spent every night in my cleats and shinpads, in [...]

As far back as I can remember, I knew I was adopted. My parents told me at a young age that they picked me, and were so happy to give me a home. There was never that “Oh my gosh, what? I’m not your real child?” moment. I just always knew. My mom and dad [...]

I snapped at my kids and my wife the other day – a little out of character for me.  I didn’t lose it because I’m a bad dad or husband. I’m pretty solid in both arenas if I do say so myself. And, I didn’t snap because I have bad kids or a nagging spouse. [...]

Over the past few weeks, I've had conversations with a range of business owners and seen many more on the evening news. Some are facing the most significant challenges they've ever experienced in their businesses. A few are on the brink, wondering how their businesses and organizations are going to survive this pandemic. When you [...]

I'm sitting on my front porch writing this, with light rain falling outside. When my kids asked me why I was sitting outside writing in the rain, my answer was simple, "Because I can." As I said that, it hit me... for the last month, a lot of my focus has been on the things [...]

Today, we're facing a destructive hurricane named COVID-19. Together, we'll endure social distancing, the ever-present fear of contracting Coronavirus, and worrying about the people we love. Our businesses and jobs will be impacted, and our way of life will be transformed in so many ways. Things will never be the same... but together we'll get [...]