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In 2005, we moved to Spain.
In 2005, we moved to Spain. We left everything behind in the Netherlands – the social circles– the expectations– the unspoken rules about what a responsible life is supposed to look like. And when we got to Spain,we didn’t plug into that culture either. We didn’t adapt to Spanish customs or social norms. We just…
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My daughter Leyla went to a book publishing conference in London recently, on her own
My daughter Leyla went to a book publishing conference in London recently, on her own, no school credentials to speak of, because she never went to school. At some point in the conversations with American publishers, that came up.They asked if it was for religious reasons. In the US, homeschooling is common,and the most common…
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Special Forces conditioned me for one thing above everything else: Force.
Special Forces conditioned me for one thing above everything else: Force. Assess. Plan. Execute. Push until it’s done. It works in combat. Then I tried to build a life that way.A marriage. A business. A relationship with my daughter. The harder I pushed, the more resistance I created. Then I found the research of David…
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Most men would rather spend another year optimising their business than one honest afternoon looking at their life.
Most men would rather spend another year optimising their business than one honest afternoon looking at their life. And then wonder why the wins feel hollow. I did the same thing until 2009.Then my body forced the redesign. Here’s the 8-part blueprint I walk every coaching client through. It’s the same one that built mine.…
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“You did not come this far just to come this far”Love this phrase.
“You did not come this far just to come this far”Love this phrase.But it might be keeping you stuck. Because here’s the question nobody asks after they say it:Far toward what, exactly? Most people I know have come incredibly far. – further than their parents– further than anyone in their circle expected– further than they…
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We talk about priorities all the time.
We talk about priorities all the time. But the original word was singular. Priority. One thing.The thing that mattered most. Somewhere along the way we pluralised itand entrepreneurs have been paying for that mistake ever since. I see it in nearly every entrepreneur I coach. – Everything is important– Everything is urgent– Everything is a…
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A call with a friend I hadn’t spoken to in a long time.
A call with a friend I hadn’t spoken to in a long time. Doesn’t really matter. We were in the tomb together. That’s made for life. He tells me about the last two years.Stress. Physical ailments nobody can explain. Every test comes back clean,but his body is clearly yelling at him. He’s 43. Wife. Daughter.…
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Real wealth is embarrassingly simple.
Real wealth is embarrassingly simple. Most people complicate it. Strip everything back and you get three things. – A body that still works– People who actually know you– Time you control Money funds all three.It doesn’t replace any of them. Most people spend 30 years building the fourth thing. At the expense of the first…
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One military principle saved my marriage 100+ times.
One military principle saved my marriage 100+ times. But it also works wonders for business owners and other leaders: “Choose your battles.” In combat, it’s obvious: You don’t engage every enemy.You don’t chase every threat.You don’t fire at every target. Because resources run out:→ Energy→ Ammo→ Time And wasted resources get people killed. Marriage is…