In February of 2024 I told my 18-person leadership team we were going to spend eight weeks figuring out who they actually were. The goal was to find out whether each person was in the right seat on the bus.

I learned that shame doesn't work from two people who wanted me to use it. That's why at ROOTS Academy, trust is the first thing we build, before technique, before talent, before any of it.

In 2012, I bought a performing arts school that was supposed to have 400 students. It had 165. Here's how we scaled to 1,769, and why I didn't take a full paycheck from ROOTS until 2022.

Three years ago, I was broke, discouraged and scared to death that I had made a mistake. In 2012 I bought a business that I thought was going to provide for not only my wife and children but, for my…

I actually love to write. However, I’m terrified of getting it wrong. As a 3 on the Enneagram, I tend to only do things where I know I can achieve, and by achieve, I mean win. The problem is, since I…

Struggling in your job, business or pursuit of “the dream,” is common. In fact, I would tell you, it’s necessary. Oftentimes, we view the struggle negatively, or as if it is a consequence for a…

My four-year-old son recently asked me: “Dad, why do we have rules?” It’s a good question and one that I have never formulated an answer to before. I thought about it and the best I came up with was…

Understanding your customer is critical to creating strategies that achieve the results you desire. Before you plan anything, you should have a clear and educated understanding of your primary and…

When building a strong marketing strategy, research plays a critical role in understanding who your customers are and how to compel them to buy your product or service. I get a lot of questions from…

She looked at me with tears streaming down her face; she couldn’t do it any longer. After just a few short years of marriage, she needed a change. Deep into a very heartfelt conversation, we began…

I love change. I always have. I’m one of those people who love looking at the way something is being done and question, “Should we change it?” The challenge of any writer is to write content that…

If you’ve been following this blog for the past week, you know that I’m at the beginning of a personal challenge to post every day for 31 days ( backstory is here ). Can I be honest? I’m regretting…

As a dad with type A tendencies, I tend to live a pretty planned life. Oftentimes my workload keeps me focused on work things when I should be focused on other, more important things. Tonight, a…

Establishing your business name is a big deal. Not only will it be the mark and identifier that you will promote for the rest of your business’ life, but it can also say a lot about who you are, what…

Writing a strong marketing proposal is key to winning new business. It is the point of reference that both you and your client will reference when there is a need to establish expectations,…

It was the best of times, and the worst of times. Cameron Strang pulled me into his office and said, “Why not? Let’s do this thing!” The launch date was set for March 2003. He had the idea. We had…

Stacked in my drawer are dozens, if not hundreds of business cards that I’ve collected over the years. Perhaps you have the same quandry as I do: what do I do with all of those cards? If you’re like…

Last week I had the privilege of sitting in four days worth of focus groups to have random people within a pre-defined set of variables, watch and dialogue about some of the Halogen content that…

In t-minus 53 hours and 22 minutes, my wife and I will load up the kids and start our drive to Destin, FL for a much-needed and anticipated family vacation. This year, my daughter will be almost two…

They say, that behind every good man, is an even better woman. For as much as I strive to be the best man I can be, the truth is, I wouldn’t be half of what I am today if I didn’t have Kristy. She is…