A Life and a Living

Happy New (?) Year

Good day, digital crew! I know, the year is no longer new. We are, in fact, only partially through week 7 of January.

It feels like a year since we’ve been here (apologies to George Harrison for the poor paraphrase). But, truth be told, it has been a while since my last Prologue. I’m glad to be back.

I’ve been busy with planned and purposeful distractions: meetings, prospecting, biz dev, networking… all the focus-blurring and seemingly squishy necessities that come with entrepreneurship.

Starting Paceline Strategies has been a rollercoaster of a ride. This isn’t my first leadership gig—I’ve captained ships, righted courses, and transformed missions for years. But this? This is my first "me thing." No team, no back-pocket account, just me—and sometimes, it feels like only me.

Real Talk Alert:  It has not been a solo effort. 

My wife, Lisa, has filled my cup with confidence and support when I could only manage to poke holes in its reservoir.  

There have been too many supporters to list that have offered connections, advice, and council.

The organizations I have worked with thus far, the current members of the Paceline portfolio, and the partner organizations with which I am ideating potential collaborations have been more than substitute coworkers.  They have been true teammates. 

That’s kinda the ethos I’m going for - collaboration, trust, and shared momentum.

Starting something new, running a business, and leading an organization is hard and scary. But y’all, life itself is hard and scary. That’s where growth lives—in the overwhelming, evolving, imperfect struggle to juggle ambition, passion, and responsibility.

The calendar doesn’t wait for perfection. Whether you’re managing spreadsheets, organizing fundraisers, caring for a family member or simply doing your best to be present for the people you love; life keeps moving.

Perfection? It’s boring, timid, unexamined and stale.

Progress, and the pain of the process, is where the magic and the miracles happen.

Just Do It

Paralysis by analysis, procrastination masquerading as self-care, or waiting for the "perfect moment" … these have been my 2025 jams! But here’s the thing: perfect robs us of progress. For me, the hardest part is starting. Action—any action—is the antidote.

Start small. Commit to one thing that moves the needle. Send the email. Set up the meeting. Make the call. Progress breeds momentum, and momentum keeps you moving forward.

Fun and the This Ain’t Fun

Managing personal responsibilities with professional demands isn’t about achieving a mythical 50/50 split. It’s about aligning your priorities and being intentional with your time.

Set Boundaries
Define your work hours and protect your personal time. Dedicate a space for work and a space for relaxation near your work space. These areas are separate from your home (even if they are within it.)

Concern Yourself with Yourself
Real self-care isn’t procrastination—it’s maintenance at worst, preparation at best. Exercise, eat well, and take time for mindfulness practices that recharge you.

Practice Effective Time Management
Use tools to organize and track tasks. Prioritize what matters most and delegate what doesn’t.

Chat GPT just added features this week that can help here. I’m excited to play around with because, well, I stink at this.

Be Nimble
Life doesn’t always follow the plan. Be ready to adapt and integrate your personal and professional worlds when necessary. When I have to do this I make sure to tell my kids what I’m doing. “This is a work call. I need to review this email about XYZ.”

Seek and Accept Support
Share the load. Whether it’s hiring help at work or asking a friend to carpool, delegating frees you to focus on critical tasks. People want to show up for you. The best ones don’t want to ask, they want to be requested.

Reflect Regularly
Periodically assess your priorities. Are your actions aligning with your goals and values? If not, what needs tweaking?

Watch me Jumpstart

This new year is full of positive opportunities. I have been mired in inaction and indecision at times. When I don’t know where to start, I just start.

Simplify Goals
Focus on one area. Achieve a small win, recognize it,  build from there.

Start Messy
Don’t waste the good in search of the perfect. Send the email even if your wording isn’t flawless. Make the call even if you’re nervous.  Refine as you go.

Find Accountability
Share your goals with someone who will check in and cheer you on. I find myself sharing my “what I got done today” list with my family. Do they care? Probably not. But by saying it out loud I can measure the relative value of my actions.

Celebrate Progress
Acknowledge every step forward, no matter how small. Progress is progress.