Category: Beyond 1000 days
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The Foundation: Rebuilding with the Four Pillars

How do you build a life that lasts? After navigating the “hard years” of 2012 and 2020, I’ve defined four essential pillars—The 100% Policy, Option C, The Art of Moving Slowly, and The Audacity of Potential—that now guide every decision I make. This is the blueprint for rebuilding with intention.
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Episode 2 “Third Gear” is LIVE!

If you work in a boardroom or you dig ditches for a living, you’ve probably had a supervisor or a co-worker tell you to “work smarter, not harder.” But the people who say it rarely explain how. They give you the slogan, but they don’t give you the gearbox. If…
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Our Only Hope

My appreciation for Star Wars has shifted significantly over the years, moving from Luke Skywalker to the complex, tragic, and resilient Obi-Wan Kenobi. If the galaxy needed a new leader, would a “failed” Jedi be the right person for the job? I discuss why Obi-Wan’s humility and commitment to the…
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Waiting to Swim: Unlearning the Ghost Rules of My Childhood

We grow up accepting the “rules” handed down to us—like waiting an hour to swim after eating—without ever questioning their origin. But building an empire starts with auditing your own mind. In today’s post, I explore how I’ve moved past the irrational fears and “ghost rules” of my childhood to…
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“I Did It” — Finding Meaning in a Christmas Vacation Meme

Replying to the daily prompt about favorite memes, I share a custom creation from a holiday classic that takes on a much deeper meaning with age. This is a reflection on the silent burdens of manhood, the transitions of fatherhood, and finding the strength to cut away the dead weight…
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The boys are back in town

Summer vacation isn’t just about time off; it’s about the quiet transition of family dynamics. As I navigate this summer with both my sons home, I’m reflecting on the beauty of low-key traditions—like mini-golf and bowling—and the ‘inverse nest syndrome’ that comes with raising young adults.
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Rebuilding Rob: The Podcast Season 3 Premiere: The Cape is LIVE!

Season 3 of Rebuilding Rob is here. Join me for an origin story on leadership, the ‘100% Policy,’ and why I’m finally stepping into the mantle of administration.
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The Beacon in the Digital Dark: Why I Write to Breathe

Are subscriber lists still the ‘holy grail’ of blogging, or are they just a vanity metric in the age of smartphones? After 14 years of blogging, I’m breaking down the reality of building a loyal audience, why the ‘follow-for-follow’ game feels transactional, and why I’ve decided that writing to breathe…
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Between Pride Rock and the Plains

The 1,000-day journey is behind me, but the next chapter hasn’t begun yet. I’m currently navigating the “bridge era”—that raw, dusty space between who I was and who I’m becoming. From professional pivots to personal shifts, here is what it feels like to stand in the void and wait for…
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The Baggage We Choose: Finding Stability in a Packed-Up Life

Facing a repetitive WordPress daily prompt brings up an unexpected contradiction: craving life stability while refusing to be weighed down by material possessions. From the defensive “traveling light” nature of a changing teaching career to the cherished family memories anchored in a single Christmas tree, a reflection on why forced…