My reading from my grandfather’s funeral. — Roger was my grandfather. Grandpa. As I reflect on his life and its impact on me, one word comes to mind: conflicted. I have years of awesome memories of Grandpa. Memories of summers by their pool. Memories of endless projects and tinkering with him in the backyard. Memories of him…

How do you get more experience if no one will give you a chance? Pretend you need a pair of scissors. You search online for the sharpest pair you can find. You read dozens of reviews to find the best. Purchase complete! Days later, your package arrives. As you open…

Enjoy a few helpful life mantras that come up on a regular basis. — Always play like there is a prize. Own your own experience. Leadership is a mindset, not a title. What we value is what gets our time and attention. Consistency is a superpower. Take risks.

Unpacking the Steps Before Breaking Ground — After taking possession of a new piece of land, there are a number of steps before construction crews can roll in. Preconstruction involves many stakeholders working together to create a clear picture of the project, arrange permits, coordinate schedules, and lock-in resources. The work is spread across attorneys, architects, project…

The Three Ways I Interact with Founders and Entrepreneurs — I love business ideas. I love hearing about them, creating them, researching them, helping others refine them, and rolling up my sleeves to participate. Ideation is a strength. Ideation is also a threat to my focus and commitment. Miscommunication compounds the issue. I have created personal ground rules to keep…

Helping freelancers decide what type of business they’re trying to build. — Most businesses are started by “technicians”. A technician, in this context, refers to the person who builds products, delivers services, or makes the goods a customer purchases. Technicians do the work. The skills required to provide goods and services are different than the skills needed to build and grow a…

Publish 100 Posts: Monthly Progress Report (19/100) — Publishing 100 posts is a personal goal for the year. February’s themes include housing, homelessness, freelancing, and startups. I also tried a new approach to getting my ideas in writing. Housing & Homelessness As part of my work with New Story, I am building a real estate development company in Mexico. To assist…

Distinguishing between what people want and what they will actually use. — Making something people want is a great starting point. Making something people use is even better. People want to be fit, but most people aren’t fit. It’s not because there aren’t enough gyms. It’s not because there aren’t exercise programs. It’s not because exercise programs are too expensive. It’s not…

Understand the levels of nuance surrounding housing and homelessness. — The concept of homelessness is complicated and often misunderstood. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has criteria for defining homelessness. Their standards separate homelessness into four categories: Literally Homeless Imminent Risk of Homelessness Homeless under other Federal Statutes Fleeing or Attempting to Flee Domestic Violence