Big ideas rarely show up fully formed. Most of the time they start as a quiet nudge, a “what if,” or a small conversation that sticks with you long after it should’ve faded. That’s how this whole Sterling vision started for me. For those of you who don’t live in Sterling, over the last year, we’ve had a lot of momentum here: new families, expanding businesses (like   Jacam Catalyst ), and yes,   KMW, Ltd ’s major investment beginning to take shape. It’s exciting, but it also

This past weekend, Michelle and I took a quick trip for our date weekend. That meant time in airports, and lately, airports haven’t exactly been known for joy. The ongoing shutdown had things running short-staffed, and delays were almost a guarantee. As a wise friend of mine Jack Bray used to say,   “Let’s just be glad we don’t get all the government we pay for.”   But if I’m being honest, I think most people in that terminal would have settled for just a little more governme

This past Sunday, during his sermon at   CrossPoint Church (Kansas) , Pastor   Andy Addis   said something that’s been stuck in my mind all week. He was talking about how it’s getting colder outside and we’re entering that season where, if you leave a water bottle in your car overnight, it’ll be frozen solid by morning. He went on to say the part that I’ve been replaying repeatedly:   “If you leave something in an environment long enough, it will take the shape of that enviro

In a few weeks, Michelle and I are taking a long weekend to Asheville, North Carolina, to spend some time with just the two of us. We’re flying in Friday night and heading home Monday morning. The plan is simple: unplug, talk, and explore. We both love hiking and talking as friends and partners in the beauty of God’s creation, so that’s the centerpiece of the trip. Saturday we’ll hike 6.5 miles to Black Balsam Knob that’ll include rocky terrain and a 1,500 ft. elevation gain.

I chewed tobacco for nearly 16 years, but when Michelle and I got married, I promised that I would quit when we had kids. I tried and failed a few times in anticipation of Mikaela’s birth, but I finally achieved the goal in February of 2010, six months after she was born. Quitting was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and Michelle moved a step closer to sainthood for putting up with me. All of the withdrawal symptoms were in play for weeks, and to make matters worse,

Last week I was sitting in the stands watching high school volleyball. My daughter is on the JV squad, and it was their last matches of the season. Early in one of the games, a few balls didn’t bounce their way, and I watched as things started to snowball. The team suddenly forgot how to p ass, talk, or do any of the simple things that make up good volleyball. The coaches, who are both excellent, called a timeout when the score hit seven to one. It was the right move. That sh

Something I’ve repeated with my teams for a few years is something we call Book Club. We’ll pick a development book, read a chapter or two on our own during the week, and then rotate who leads the review and discussion during a virtual happy hour every month. I ask them to participate to continue growing together as a team and helping each person grow personally for whatever the future holds. Our most recent Book Club was on   The Go-Giver   by Bob Burg and John David Mann. I

Two of my favorite hobbies are fishing and golf. I was thinking about them this week, and I realized the most frequent thing they’ve taught me is how to fail… A LOT. When I fish, I cast far more times than I reel in a catch (that’s why they call it fishing and not catching). Most casts end with nothing. Some with a snag. But every now and then, one produces a fish worth talking about. Golf isn’t much different for me. I certainly hit enough balls each round to get “good value

Last night I had the opportunity to be one of a series of presenters at   CrossPoint Church (Kansas)   Sterling’s youth group. There were about 40–50 junior high through high school students, and the setup is simple: each speaker shares their background, something they’re currently working on to improve in their life, and their favorite Bible story, what it has taught them and how they use that lesson today. The talk is given twice, once for junior high and once again for hig