Category: Curiousity

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365 Coaching Tips: 349th, 350th & 351st

December 15th Coaching Tip: SWOT.

Over the last couple weeks, we asked our teammates on our medium sized team of 20 to provide input for a SWOT analysis. We were pleasantly surprised that we had 15 of the 20 who took the time to give us feedback on our team’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. As a coach, I really value this exercise because it’s simple (4 questions) but highly effective in share the good, the bad, the ugly, and the future…potentially, if the team takes it seriously.

As we debriefed with our team today, we were pleased to have a number of our teammates share more insights into their comments. Because of that, we were able to identify some common threads which will help us function more consistently and with clarity in 2026.

Note: the SWOT analysis can be utilized for nearly everything in your life. What’s going well with your relationships, and when needs improvement. What’s going poorly with your finances, and what threats does that pose. What’s stagnant with your health, nutrition or wellness journey. Leverage a SWOT to help you get off your butt and get to work.

December 16th Coaching Tip: Stop.

Stop to get a change that you need and also want. Yes, stop. In my coaching work today, I had a couple of my coaching clients who were “busy, exhausted, and unable to articulate their plan.” As we worked thru their current situations, they realized and came up with a plan to stop after the end of the year, inspect what they are doing, what they don’t want to be doing, and then make changes to get different results.

STOP when you are not getting the results you want. Stop, intentionally ask questions, look deep inside yourself, reflect on what is happening and also what’s not happening. Then, draft up what you do want to happen, commit to it, and go make it happen. But many times, we must STOP first.

December 17th Coaching Tip: Good Intent.

Christmas cards, stamps, address labels and lists of names are all set out on my dining room table. Although I haven’t gotten to getting them hand-written and mailed, my intent is good. I had numerous photos printed so that I can include them to further personalize my holiday greetings.

Hoping to get these done by yearend, but if not, early January will do. It’s the thought that counts, and the meaning that I put in to them makes me feeling good about spreading joy to my peeps. It’s all with good intent, even if a bit late.

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365 Coaching Tips: 346th, 347th & 348th

December 12th Coaching Tip: Getting an AI Certificate.

It’s one thing to say that you’re going to do something. It’s another thing to say that you are starting it and expect to be completed by a certain date. That’s me today: I’ve enrolled and now started my 8-module online course, learning about AI.

I’m embracing AI, because I believe it can help me perform and execute at work and in life at an even higher level. For example, I have a tool box at home. It contains a few but key tools that I utilize frequently: scissors, a claw hammer, Phillips and standard screwdrivers, a level, small nails, tape measure, etc. I don’t have just ONE tool; I embrace a number of tools to get projects done around the house efficiently. So why would I do anything except say yes to the AI tool? More to come on this certificate, but I’m happy that I’m taking the time and prioritizing this effort to be completed by yearend 2025.

December 13th Coaching Tip: He Is Mendoza.

Indiana University’s record setting quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, won the Heisman Trophy which is awarded annually to college football’s most outstanding player. He is that guy; he is Mendoza; he is a leader; he is coachable; he is bi-lingual; he is beloved by his teammates and family; he executed in the clutch all season long; he was well prepared to deliver his Heisman acceptance speech; he has already signed with Adidas; he is supporting MS, which has stricken his “mommy”; he is a game changer for IU; he has so many IU alumni around the globe thrilled for him, etc.

Belief in yourself and being resilient are crucial in life. Fernando bet on himself in high school, when he decided to transfer and go to another high school so that he could start on the high school football team. Although hardly recruited in high school, he was headed to YALE but switched to go play high level D1 college football at Cal-Berkley. And then for the 2025 season, he transferred again and landed in Bloomington, IN at IU with a coaching staff that helped develop him in to becoming a Big Ten Champ, the Heisman award winner, and the leader of the first ever undefeated IU football team. He is Mendoza!

December 14th Coaching Tip: Stop Hate.

Two horrific situations this weekend took the lives of innocent people. Gun violence again struck down these poor souls. A mad man entered a Brown University study group and killed two (at least). He’s still on the run. And over 15 people were killed in Australia by two men (father and son) who must have been brewing of hate and completely radicalized, as they slaughtered people while they were simply enjoying time at Bondi Beach, celebrating the first day of Hanukkah. A hero tackled one of the gunmen, and the hero wrestled the gun away.

Please, if you have so much hate, please, get help. And put the gun down. Just put it down and stop all of this unnecessary hate. Everything about hate is unhealthy. Stop hate.

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365 Coaching Tips: 343rd, 344th & 345th

December 9th Coaching Tip: Talk It Out, Talk It Out.

As I was in my office today, someone knocked on my door and needed to “talk.” Thank goodness I had a free slot in my calendar for about 45 minutes. Talk she did, and talk, and talk. All I did was listen for the entire time, and then at the end, I asked her: what are your options. She believed that she had two options and then settled on one on the options. Sometimes, people just need someone to talk to; know when you need to just listen. Know when to not even ask questions. Know when not to provide advice. Just let them talk it out.

December 10th Coaching Tip: Don’t Blow It All.

For centuries, people have spent decades building their own personal brand, based upon the daily decisions that they make. It takes discipline to stay on the ‘straight and narrow’. It’s so easy to deviate and slip.

Today, a story was released in Michigan about the head football coach having an extra marital affair; both parties are at fault. Many know that. With the holidays approaching, I can’t imagine on this head coach’s wife and three kids feel about being betrayed.

This lack of discipline causes so much harm; those impacted are too many to mention. With your daily and weekly decisions, take 10-15 seconds and pause, think about your consequences, before you take a significant action. Don’t blow it all.

December 11th Coaching Tip: Empower Someone.

Earlier this week I was asked to travel from FL to TX for a couple days of meetings in mid-January. The leader really wanted me to be there, however I was hesitant to commit, since I’m already traveling in three of the four weeks in January. What do I do here?

I reached out to my colleague in TX, and asked him if he was going to already be in that area during mid-January. Good news, he was. Empowering him, I asked him if he would like to go to the team’s offsite (instead of me). He said yeah, for sure. Then he asked for time to get him up to speed on the work ahead. I will gladly help prep him, and he’ll deliver with excellence. Empower people!

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365 Coaching Tips: 340th, 341st & 342nd

December 6th Coaching Tip: Big Ten Champs; It’s Not A Dream.

Two years ago, the Indiana University football team had more losses in Div. 1 football than any other program. Kinda the worst, right? Fast forward two years later, and IU football is the top ranked team in the country, the 1-seed in the College Football Playoffs, the only undefeated team remaining in all of Div. 1 college football, and the Big Ten Champions,

IU upset the Ohio State Buckeyes, although both teams were undefeated and Ohio State was a 4.5 point favorite. IU’s team scored just enough points, 13, to beat OSU by 3, as they only scored 10 points. The defense on both sides was playing; both field goal kickers missed short kicks that they had hit all season; but the quarterback for IU was just simply better. He was able to march the offense down the field with pinpoint passes when necessary.

This new coach, Curt Cignetti, has instilled “unshakeable belief” with this team and his entire IU organization. The leadership at IU is supportive, too. Belief. Having belief can bring you Big Ten Championship feelings, and it’s not a dream. It really happend.

December 7th Coaching Tip: Tell The Truth.

Received a phone call today from a friend who wanted to share a difficult situation that he got himself into and was responsible for. To his credit, he reached out to me to let me know. I listened, asked a few questions, but mostly let him talk. At the end of the call, I thanked him for entrusting me and telling me what was going on. Then, I shared a story with him about some bad times that hit my grandfather when he was a young father and in his 30’s. Then I gave him one piece of advice: write a letter or go visit them face to face and tell the truth.

Today’s tip is to write a letter to who you impacted negatively. Apologize and offer to repay the remorse; ask for forgiveness. If you can, talk to them face to face. Let them know you care, that you’re human, and you’re asking for forgiveness and empathy. Telling the truth goes a long way, in writing or face to face, or both. Tell the truth.

December 8th Coaching Tip: Rose Bowl Bound.

With the Indiana University football team winning the Big Ten Championship a couple evenings ago, we are now in full-planning mode to watch them as the #1 seed in the College Football Playoffs (CFP) play on New Year’s Day 2026.

Tickets to the game are driving up anxiety levels with some of my friends who are also going. Airlines are maximizing and charging hefty prices. Hotels are piling on, too. But, it will be worth it. For me and my friends, this is about goals, wellness, and being purposeful. It’s a bucket list kinda trip to see YOUR team play on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl game. I love roses, but I’m not going for the parade. I’m going to see IU win the Rose Bowl, so that we can then be Peach Bowl (Atlanta, GA) bound.

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365 Coaching Tips: 337th, 338th & 339th

December 3rd Coaching Tip: Salmon Go Upstream.

During one of my coaching sessions today, a team wanted to find capacity by reducing the amount of smaller clients. Why? The team was becoming bored and getting stuck in doing service, and yet the team wanted to grow and handle more complex clients who truly needed financial advice in helping solve their problems.

We took some time to go thru each and every client; the team color coded them green, yellow, red, or salmon. Green was for great client, complex, enjoyable. Yellow was a potential for someone else to care for that client. Red was a definite, better served by another team. Salmon, on the otherhand, was the color for clients who had more opportunity to be served more thoroughly by the team. For example, they had complexities in their business or financial life, they were about to sell their business and needed trusted advisors, they were setting up a family foundation, etc. The color of salmon was selected to reinforce to the team that the team should swim upstream with these clients; it’s hard work, but highly gratifying. We will check back in on their results in a few months. The goal is reduce their clients by 40%, so that they have more time to serve the complex needs of their preferred clients, those who are green and “salmon.” Be curious and have the courage to build the business that you want to run; be purposeful and resilient in saying yes…or no.

December 4th Coaching Tip: Quick Bursts Of Work.

We pulled into the garage this evening around 7pm after a full day of work, then dinner out before seeing my first NCAA volleyball match (IU beat Toledo). The super moon was providing some extra light that reflected off of the snow on the ground. Wanted to marvel at the moon for a bit. I choose NOT to go inside and sit down. Instead, I put on my boots and gloves, and walked the yard, picking up branches and sticks that had come down with some recent blustery winds. Then I removed the decorative pumpkins and also put the metal firepit inside the shed for the winter. Checked the location of my security camera to ensure it’s working and it was. Yes, it’s cold outside, but I was able to leverage the light of the incredible full moon and get in a quick burst of work that I knew could be done before relaxing the rest of the evening.

December 5th Coaching Tip: Embrace AI to Stay Relevant.

The opportunity arose today to work with three of my colleagues on how we all are utilizing AI and Copilot in our jobs. Over the past 2-3 weeks, I was able to collect multiple examples that were significant time savers, allowing the people/teams to be more efficient and more intellectual. One example was quite jaw dropping, i.e. heading to a huge meeting, the leader asked for one-page summaries on the 10 leaders/board of directors who would be sitting around the table. Copilot was prompted to give a one page summary for each of the 10 leaders, giving a multitude of info that was helpful in the wealth management space when a client is selling a business.

Since I was introduced to Copilot just over two months ago at work, my coaching work has been transformed. I’m able to quickly summarize my coaching notes, with more effective action plans. If I’m asked for advice or for some consulting, I ask Copilot for a response to help pull more intell to me. Bottom line: embrace AI to help you in life and your work life. If you don’t embrace it, you may become somewhat irrelevant. The skill in the future is to be able to master your own skills and strengths, while leveraging AI to be more efficient.

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365 Coaching Tips: 328th, 329th & 330th

November 24th Coaching Tip: Time With The Younger Generation.

These three posts will bounce and weave around each other. Ask yourself the questions: are you spending time with the younger generation(s)? Are you staying in-touch and relevant? Are you listening to their concerns, hopes, and dreams? Are you willing to assist them? Or, are you out of touch and complaining about them and their desires?

Today, my uncle and I spent the entire day together. We left my mother’s home, and decided to drive a couple hours to our newly remodeled home since he wanted to see it. By the way, he absolutely loved it. We ended up staying overnight there, after we drove around the campus at IU, and had some dinner and ice cream. He enjoyed spending time with me and seeing how I did the remodel. I enjoyed hearing more stories about his times at IU and what he’s working on currently.

November 25th Coaching Tip: Time With The Older Generation.

My uncle and I took it easy today, before we headed to the airport for his trip back to Colorado. We drank some coffee, talked, and then walked down to my basketball barn and got some shots up for about half an hour. As we were shooting, he reminded me to make sure that I’m out there shooting at 80+ years old…like he was doing today. It was a good reminder to me, from him, to keep going, keep moving, keep shooting baskets. I learn so much from hanging out with the older generation. Spend time with them.

November 26th Coaching Tip: Mentoring Goes Both Ways.

Kids can teach you alot, if you just ask them questions and remain curious. I got to talk to two of my great nieces and nephews over the weekend. I can tell that my great niece is a leader of others, and her style and way with communication helps her be effective. I can tell that my great nephew loves being competitive and around top talent in sports. He loves sports, his PE class, and his buddies.

Mentoring can and should go both ways; older generations have alot to learn from the younger generations (from technology to style to new trends) and the younger generations have alot of wisdom that they can gain from the older generations. Both generations have to be willing to care, listen, ask questions, and be grateful for the insights that are being shared. Mentoring should go both ways, not just one way, from older to younger.

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365 Coaching Tips: 325th, 326th & 327th

November 21st Coaching Tip: Baking Up Traditions.

For decades, I’ve been baking bread, pumpkin bread and pie for Thanksgiving. It’s just what I do. One of my nephews loves my pumpkin bread, so I double up the recipe to make him a couple extra loaves; I give a couple loaves to my mom (she adds her cheeseball on top of the pumpkin bread) and of course, I make me some extra muffins as well.

Our family over the last few years just isn’t eating as much as we have in the past, so I have had more leftovers of my baking goods than previous years. As we celebrate in the future, making a single batch will probably be just fine. But I don’t want to stop baking; I love baking at Thanksgiving. It’s a pleasure to make goodies for my people, deliver it, and share the yummy-ness. I love traditions and until I die, I’ll keep baking pumpkin bread.

November 22nd Coaching Tip: Don’t Miss Celebrations Of Life.

As mom and I are prepping for our early Thanksgiving dinner, I let her know that I would need to leave in the middle of the day to go attend a celebration of life for my friend of nearly 20 years, Mike. My mom and dad were great examples of showing up: they made the decision to attend funerals to share their respects, meet with the family, and share stories. Showing up is a challenge at times of grief; sometimes it is exhausting to make the effort to go share your respect. However, I choose to think of it this way: whatever I’m feeling about this loss, the family is most likely feeling it all at a much deeper level. So just go to funerals, or send that sympathy note/card, or make a contribution in their honor to a charity of their choice, or call them a few weeks after the funeral/celebration of life is done and gone. Bottom line, don’t miss them.

November 23rd Coaching Tip: Early Thanksgiving.

Again this year, we as a family had to be flexible and make a Thanksgiving dinner work for nearly all of the family members to attend at my mom’s home in NW Indiana. We landed on the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving this year; last year it was the Sunday after Thanksgiving. My mother loves Thanksgiving and decorated her home so beautifully. She has a tradition of many of us sitting at her long, Amish-made cherry wood table, saying the Lord’s prayer together as we hold hands, and then topping it off by each of us sharing our thankfulness. It brings us to tears. This year, mom reminded everyone of how her grandmother (Kate) came here from Lithuania, from Antwerp to Ellis Island, after her boyfriend (William) had come three years earlier, worked, saved enough money to get her on her voyage to the USA. This message by my mom was so thoughtful, especially during these times of immigration crisis’s all over the world due to instability in the daily lives of many. Our early Thanksgiving was a beautiful gathering of our family and homemade food. We make it work, even though not everyone was able to attend.

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365 Coaching Tips: 322nd, 323rd and 324th

November 18th Coaching Tip: Ask For A Favor.

Today and tomorrow are filled with important back-to-back meetings for me. I needed a slight adjustment in a meeting tomorrow morning at 9am that impacted four different people; I really needed to move it forward to today at 430pm. How do you ask for a last-minute favor, when it is uncomfortable to ask across four different parties? Tell the truth and ask the favor, as most of us are forgiving especially if you’ve been and are authentic. Once I explained that I couldn’t make it tomorrow morning (for a couple reasons) and asked to do it at the end of the business day today, we all realized quickly that it was about the same “business” time. The end of one business day is just one hour different that doing it first thing the next morning. It worked; I asked for the favor and we all adjusted. Favors are granted more freely when you’re kind, you’ve developed a relationship and give people a bit of a heads up. No one like surprises, but if you need a favor, be wise and truthful.

November 19th Coaching Tip: Dig Thru Those 50% OFF Clearance Boxes.

After work today, I decided to take a few minutes and go shopping at a few stores that carry some pretty cool Indiana University gear. The first couple stores had great gear, but the prices seemed a bit high, i.e. a hoodie with the IU Bison on it was $78-$90. I’m a HUGE Indiana fan, but that was out of reach for me.

As I walked down the street, I looked across the street and saw another smaller store with IU gear. As I neared my car, I stepped in to that small store (the 4th of four stores) with little to no nope. And boom, as I walked in, I saw boxes on the floor with 50% off marked on them. I quickly started going thru one of the boxes and found a $15 soft and thick “Indiana Football” black sweatshirt. Perfect, just perfect. The price was very friendly and the fit and feel were yummy. Dig in those clearance boxes, you’ll be surprised at what you find.

November 20th Coaching Tip: Ask For Help.

For some reason, my identify needed to be verified at work. I had been trying to “confirm” my digital and personal identify since late September, with zero success. As the clock wound down this week before my access was going to be eliminated, I went over to the local leaders in the office and told them my problem. At first they didn’t really understand; then after I kept trying on my own, I went back to them. And sure enough, one of them was experiencing the same “error” that I was receiving on my work laptop. Once I found the right person who had experienced the same painful process that I was going thru, she gave me not one but two names to help me. It worked! I was granted access immediately and was easily able to verify that I was a real person and working in a real Merrill office. Yes, AI is here to stay, however know when to leverage your connections and the power of a caring human. Ask for help, and be resilient, until you find the right person who can help. This was something that AI nor a robot could resolve 🙂

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365 Coaching Tips: 319th, 320th & 321st

November 15th Coaching Tip: Witness History.

When you think history making moments are going to happen, plan to go. It might be a once in a lifetime moment. That indeed was the situation today, as our Indiana University Hoosier football team played their last home game of the season, only to set three records: IU now has the longest home game winning streak (15 games), the quarterback (Fernando Mendoza) threw his 30th touchdown pass, and IU is 11-0 (first time ever in program history).

A couple weeks ago, I could see this potentially happening, so I grabbed 16 tickets, and reached out to the fun friends in my life who would be up for seeing history be made. In no time, I had 16 friends agree to go to the game. We had a blast, laughing, eating, cheering, and celebrating our Hoosiers. Make those memories; plan and think ahead and involved those that you love and know how to have fun. Witness history together.

November 16th Coaching Tip: Big Week Ahead.

After a fun and record-breaking day yesterday, getting my rest was crucial for the big week ahead. Why such a big week? Lots of meetings this week and speaking nationally again. Prep for our early Thanksgiving dinner and my uncle is arriving and staying with us for four evenings. My partner and I went thru our calendars multiple times today and really discussed scenarios, when I would be where, what she needed to get done, and the what if’s. I’ve found that doing this on Sundays, while resting and refreshing, really keeps us on the same page. Talking it over with clarity, openness, and curiousity will help you all prep for the big weeks ahead.

November 17th Coaching Tip: Keep Reducing.

My word for the year was “Reduce.” Reduce the amount of food that I eat, reduce using plastics in my kitchen, reduce any work drama, reduce my weight. I did not really reduce my screen time (on my iPhone) and read more. However, starting December 1st, I’m going to drastically reduce my iPhone screen time on social media apps = Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok. Going to reduce intentionally for 31 days; I’m also going to recommit reducing the amount of food that I’m eating (I took a three-month break from September thru November) to reduce my weight by a few pounds before the new year begins.

I also reduced inside my homes; over the last couple of months, I opened cabinet and closet doors to make four decisions on organization: what needed to be donated, repurposed, thrown away, or utilized. For example, I had four small containers of mousse for my hair. Quickly I realized that two were not even working properly, so I threw them away; two more were useable and I have been using them. As we finished the remodeled home, I was able to repurpose items that were infrequently to now be purposefully utilized as key staples in that home. I’ve made multiple trips to Goodwill and have another big trip to do before yearend. Reduce has been a wonderful word for the year, and I’m doubling down on it in December.

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365 Coaching Tips: 313th, 314th & 315th

November 9th Coaching Tip: Brunching On Sundays.

It was time to get together again with some of our friends, so we quickly made plans to do brunch on Sunday around 11am. Biscuits and gravy, eggs, grilled cheese sandwich and soup, coffee, bloody Mary’s, etc. were devoured as we caught up, and then began to plan our next weekend together. In a matter of minutes, we went from sitting around on Sunday to instead having a prayer over our meal, visiting with friends, and planning our next adventure. Take time to do the brunch thing on Sundays. It’s good for our health to socially connect; great for our overall wellness.

November 10th Coaching Tip: Back At It.

Got back on the treadmill these last few days, as I’m noticing that my VO2 Max has lowered since it was at the level of 39 when I was in great shape prior to the Summer National Senior Games. I took a break in August-October, as my right hip was tender and so were my Achilles tendon in my left leg. I’ve gained a few pounds, been walking, lifting, and doing my key exercises regularly.

But today it was time: I decided to warm up walking 3 minutes, then alternated between walking and jogging 8-9 minute mile pace for 2 minutes. It felt great that I was able to do this. Made me smile to be back at it. As I head to Naples, FL soon for the winter season, I look forward to get back at it there and do it outside. I’m also going to weave in more rowing and swimming to give my hips and Achilles some relief. But, back at it!

November 11th Coaching Tip: Get It In Writing.

As we age, wisdom kicks in. For example, if you “loan” money to a friend or family, life teaches us to ask the question: is this a loan or truly a gift? A “loan” is expected to be paid back; a gift is a present, not to be returned.

I have loaned money to very few people; one is a non-family member, and he and I always get an agreement in writing. We discuss it, then discuss it again, clarify it in handwriting, I take a photo of our handwritten notes, and then I email it to him. There is no misunderstanding. We have discussed it and agreed to it in writing. And he honors his commitment. IF you don’t know what to do: ask yourself an intentional and purposeful question that will reduce stress, increase wellness for both parties, “Is this a loan or is this a gift?” If it is a loan, get it in writing.