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There are three non-negotiables I’ve worked hard to defend - no matter how chaotic the quarter, how stacked the calendar, or how ambitious the goal.

They’re how I keep showing up at full capacity without letting the business take more than it gives back.​

1. Time with Family

Some of my best decisions have been made after daddy-daughter pancake breakfasts after hockey practice.

Some of my best feedback has come from my partner Em at the dinner table.

Investing in these moments are just that - an investment in my current self and my future self.

Time with family is not a reward I earn after burning myself out. It’s the foundation.

It’s where I reset.

Realign.

Remember what I’m building all this for.

I don’t always get it right. But when I drift from this, everything else loses sharpness.

Non-negotiable.

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2. Health and Movement

There was a time I believed I could outwork the fatigue.

Just push harder.

Sleep later.

Hustle through.

Now? That thinking is a liability.

If I’m not moving, I’m not leading.

Running clears my head faster than any whiteboard. It’s the 4-7 hours in my week when I am totally alone with my thoughts and my own rhythm.

Movement keeps my mind sharp, my stress in check, and my energy stable.

When I protect my health, I operate with clarity. When I don’t, I start making decisions from a place of reactivity instead of strategy.

Non-negotiable.

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3. Self-Improvement

This one is quiet. Sometimes invisible.

But the leaders I respect most? They’re learners. Not just readers.

They ask better questions every year.

They stretch, evolve, and stay curious - especially when they don’t have to.

I’ve made a habit of learning from those who are rigorous, generous, and deeply human in how they think.

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If you’re looking to grow, here are three people I keep returning to:

1. Shane Parrish – who filters noise like a pro and distills wisdom without ego. Check out his podcast here. It's about long-form thinking and mental models that sharpen your edge.

2. Ethan Mollick – who makes AI education both practical and provocative. Check out his podcast appearance here.​

3. James Clear – whose clarity on habits, discipline, and behavior is unmatched. Check out his unmissable newsletter here. ​

One quote of his has stayed with me:

“Be forgiving with your past self. What’s done is done. Take the lessons with you and release the guilt.

Be strict with your present self. Win the moment in front of you right now.

Be flexible with your future self. There are many paths to success. You don’t need life to be a certain way to live well.”

That framing is how I hold myself accountable—without self-punishment. And if you’re like me, your inputs shape your outlook.

So here is one more I have on repeat lately:

1. ​The AI Daily Brief: A filter for the chaos—focused on what matters for leaders, not hype cycles.

As we lean further and further into being an AI-first organization, I know I need to keep my edge sharp so I can continue to lead my team and our clients through rapid change.

No one builds anything sustainable on burnout, bravado, or borrowed ideas.

But when you protect your rhythm, choose your inputs wisely, and lead from alignment?

That’s where the good stuff lives.

Non-negotiable.

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Let me know if you want to swap recommendations. I’d love to hear what’s shaping your thinking these days.

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