I was in a Granddaddy mood and had my 7-year-old grandson in the toy aisle. “Darren, you can have whatever you want. You just tell Granddaddy and I’ll get it for you.” Darren’s skepticism kicked in. It wasn’t Christmas, and it wasn’t his birthday. He looked up at me a bit confused. “I can have whatever I want?” He was eyeing a rather expensive Lego castle. “Can I get two smaller toys instead of this big one?” He was negotiating in his little head. Granddaddy mig

Can you be kind and direct in your communication? How might it be unkind to be indirect? Is it always unkind to create discomfort in a conversation? When might true kindness create discomfort? How might good open-ended questions and listening be useful? How can you “earn the right” to be direct in your communication with someone? Who do you know that converses with you in a kind and direct manner? Who do you know that converses with you and leaves you guessin

PERSONALITY: the qualities that shape a person’s character. HABIT: a regular practice, especially one hard to break. IDENTITY: who or what a person is. Here are statements I’ve heard in 22 years of coaching: · I’m too shy to speak to a group. · I’m outgoing and talk too much · I avoid conflict and hard conversations. · I’m detail-oriented and stressed by disorder · I’m not a people person and prefer working alone · I lac

The word “priority” comes from the Latin prioritas, meaning first in importance, and from prior, meaning former, previous, ahead, or in front. In its original sense, a priority is not simply one item on a long list. It is the one thing that stands before the rest, the matter that deserves our first attention, our best energy, and our clearest commitment. The word “important” also gives us insight. It comes from the Latin importare, meaning to bring in, convey, or carry into.

People often seek coaching because they want better results. At the heart of better results is performance improvement, and performance improvement always requires change. That is where the challenge begins: many people want improvement, but not everyone is ready to change. Do you want to improve? Are you ready to change? For coaching to be useful, the answer to both questions must be a clear and committed yes. First, Identify What Must Change Once you are ready to change, a

Are you making a difference? How could you contribute your effort, gifts, and energy today to make a difference? People become despondent and hopeless when they no longer see themselves as making a difference. Those who carry a sense of purpose, and usefulness, are happier and more satisfied. We are designed to be givers and are most alive when contributing. So, if you are feeling a little down, my encouragement for you is to look up and then around, and see where you can m

The first moments of the day are the most important. In those early minutes, you set the tone, pace, and focus for the gift of the day that follows. Ask yourself: Is your morning proactive or reactive? If your mornings feel rushed or chaotic, consider going to bed a little earlier so you can rise a little earlier. A hurried start creates a hurried spirit. A calm start creates a calm presence. A steward is someone entrusted with something valuable. Every morning, God entr

Coaching is centered on feedback for the purpose of growth. I offer feedback to my clients so they can achieve better results by becoming better versions of themselves. Here’s the challenge: taking an honest look at yourself isn’t always pleasant or comfortable. It’s like looking in the mirror—you don’t always like what you see. Personal change begins with an honest assessment of where you are right now. Every one of us has strengths as well as weaknesses. In this s

How would you describe your current quality of life? What is it that produces your quality of life? I would imagine that you would consider your health, your relationships, your vocation, your service, your contentment, your financials, your spirituality, and your overall enjoyment of day-to-day living. What habits are you practicing that produce your quality of life? This question can be uncomfortable, but it may clarify some steps to improving your quality of life. You ca

Trauma, tragedy, devastation, loss, burnout, panic, and fear— these are words of negative drama. Many people utter them daily, and countless individuals think and respond to life in a context of negativity. This can change for you. Please don’t take offense at my challenge. I care deeply for people. My intent is not to condemn, but to help you. So, how do you help yourself and others who describe their circumstances as fearful, devastating, dysfunctional, exhausting,

“Dave, if they would just listen and follow the system, everything would run smoothly. I don’t understand why they won’t listen to me. Their behavior makes no sense!” I asked a few questions and let Joe talk. As he shared more, I acknowledged his frustration and began to see the situation through his eyes. Then he said, “Dave, if my people would listen to me the way you listen, that would be amazing. Can you get them to do that?” I replied, “Joe, are you listening to m

Webster defines candor as being outspoken, frank, and candid. For me, candor means communicating with transparency and authenticity. But an important question remains: can we practice full candor and be kind? There are certainly moments when it’s wise to limit what you share. Timing and appropriateness matter, especially with sensitive information. Yet trust can only grow when we tell the truth. Partial truths mislead. Even technically accurate statements can create fa

What do most people want from life? Happiness. And for many, happiness is defined as comfort—avoiding pain, stress, and discomfort. But let me ask you a deeper question: Where would you be today if comfort had never been your goal? What dream would you still be chasing? What challenge would you have conquered? Whose life would you have impacted? What difference would you be making? This isn’t about guilt—it’s about clarity. What do you truly want from life? And is

Small, consistent changes create lasting transformation. One simple habit, practiced daily, can steer your life in a better direction. Replacing old habits with positive ones is a powerful way to overcome resistance and embrace growth. Start small: Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning. Pause for gratitude and reflection before bed. Turn off devices and trade screen time for reading. Smile intentionally and show kindness to those you meet. Think of someone w

What is one simple positive habit that you could practice every day? It might relate to your health, to your relationships, to your business, to your finance, to your learning, to your worship. One small habit practiced daily could create significant outcomes. How significant? The only guarantee is that no positive change creates nothing good. Here’s the question again. What is one simple positive habit that you could practice every day? And here is one l

When was the last time you had a conversation, and the person you were with was fully engaged and present? Who do you know that gives you their full, undivided attention, and truly listens and understands you? In your most recent conversations, when was the last time you gave the person you were with your full attention, curiosity, and presence? I think most would agree that in this fast paced, shallow, virtual communication world, true communication is rare. Thoug

What prevents many business owners from breaking through the ceiling and achieving growth? Often, it’s the difficulty of letting go of the current way of doing things to reach the next level. As the owner and leader, you can become the limiting factor to your company’s success. Now that you have the system and tools, the challenge is clear: you must release what you have so you can create something better. The path forward requires mastering five disciplines: si

In this seventh installment of our Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) overview, we focus on the “Issues” component—how to identify, discuss, and solve problems effectively. To gain traction, organizations must develop the discipline to confront and resolve issues as they arise. This begins with capturing every issue and consistently applying the IDS process: Identify, Discuss, Solve. Establishing this discipline helps teams stop procrastinating and avoiding prob

In this sixth part of our Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) overview, we turn to what Gino Wickman calls Traction —the discipline that transforms intention into execution. As a business coach, this component energizes me. It introduces accountability and consistent follow-through, which many organizations struggle to maintain. Teams often talk about getting focused, organized, and proactive—but those efforts rarely stick. Traction addresses this common breakdown by

In Part 5 of our overview of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), we focus on process. This component is essential for gaining traction in your business. It involves clearly documenting all routine activities and ensuring that everyone follows them consistently. When done well, it allows your business to operate smoothly without the owner’s daily involvement—and even be replicated across multiple locations. Michael Gerber, in The E-Myth Revisited, emphasizes the i