Did you know that September 16 is recognized as National Tradesmen Day? It’s only fitting this day would coincide with an exciting day in my professional career, as I’ve always had a blue-collar, tradesman mindset. I grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin with Greek immigrant parents. They came to the United States in 1970 in theRead more
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The end of August is upon us, and that can only mean one thing – school is near, if not already underway. If you’re a parent, you understand how pivotal this month is in a kid’s life. The new school year brings new teachers, friendships and opportunities, but more consistently brings a whole lot ofRead more
Every year in late spring, Maria and I plant seeds in our garden with the hope of harvesting our first yield right around now. Over the years, I’ve found gardening to be such a rewarding experience, and interestingly enough, an experience that reminds me a lot of business. I know what you’re thinking – whatRead more
For the better part of my sports career, through playing and now coaching, the idea of having a short memory has been drilled into me. It seems counterintuitive, as memory, in particular having a good memory, is such a positive attribute, but hear me out. In sports, having a short memory really just means don’tRead more
Today really snuck up on me. Father’s Day is such a wonderful holiday and a day to honor and cherish all the father figures in our lives, but today is also the first day in 50 years that my dad isn’t here with me to celebrate. Since his passing, I’ve struggled to talk or writeRead more
I’ve grappled with the idea of this post for the last couple of weeks. Matter of fact, I think I’ve retyped this opening sentence at least thirty times. You see, grief is an emotion that knows no limits. I’ve often heard grief described as ocean waves; sometimes calm, almost serene. Other times, relentless and brutal.Read more
Every Christmas for the past 19 years or so, my family has participated in the Greek tradition of baking Kouloura; a sweet, ceremonial bread. My dad, having begun his career as a baker in 1944, has always been the one to both bake and cut the bread. Inside the Kouloura is a hidden coin, andRead more
For the better part, I’ve lived my life according to the 168 hours a week rule. If you’re unfamiliar, this rule implies that instead of seeking to strike a perfect work/life balance, you instead use the 168 hours in a week to divvy up time to the most important aspects of your life, however youRead more
If you know me, then you’ve heard me talk about Philotimo; a Greek word that at its core, means goodness, selflessness, and giving without wanting in return. This term, though hard to articulate in words, is what drives individuals to show compassion for the people and world around them. It’s no surprise that I bringRead more
There are three different types of people in this world; the optimist, the pessimist, and the realist. For the most part, I’d consider myself the optimist type. A real find-the-positive, see-the-opportunity, Tigger type of guy. That said, over the course of the last 19 months, it seems that negativity and pessimism are everywhere I turn,Read more