Hey y’all. So you may have noticed that today isn’t Sunday. But you know what it is?
My 34th birthday.
And what better way to celebrate than with the people who hang out with me on a weekly basis? The same ones who have chosen to buy stock in CE 2.0 INC. before it takes off and the secret gets out.
Alright, I’ve blown out the digital candles. Let’s get to the digital Cheesecake Factory Oreo Cheesecake.
The last 365 days have been a lot. And somehow, that is still an understatement. But, in all honesty, it’s been the most important year of my life. For as much as I’ve had to push my body to the physical limits, my mind has expanded beyond what I could previously comprehend.
The biggest win? I have more clarity on what’s truly important. In the thousands of conversations I’ve had with my friends, family, and medical team… I’ve come to realize how rare this is. Out of genuine curiosity, I often find myself asking people what motivates them or what their life looks like at “full speed.”
The amount of “I really don’t know” responses I’ve gotten was surprising. Disclaimer: this isn’t a bad thing, at all. Especially considering what usually happens next… introspective thought.
One of my favorite, dopamine-spiking moments has become the fraction of a second when I ask a deep question related to purpose and I see the person seemingly snap out of a trance. Autopilot disengaged. It gives me the
same feeling as knocking down a clutch bucket in the fourth quarter.
I think to myself, “Ah, there they are.” The eyes are now filled with intent. They aren’t glazed over, just letting life pass them like a bullet train through Shibuya. That millisecond moment is something I search for on a daily basis nowadays. It provides an indescribable sense of fulfillment.
Days or weeks later, I’ll get a more in-depth answer after they’ve had some time to think about it. Usually, it’s something profound that leaves me learning something new about them as a person. This small exercise has allowed me to deepen my relationships AND feed my curiosity for what makes people tick. Win-win.
The next 365 days are primed to be the wildest ride of my life. If this last year was charging the car, this next one will be hitting the road… literally. But most importantly, I’ve got the XXL and the right people in every seat. What’s a great road trip without great music and even better music? Boring.
So, this road I mentioned. It’s starting in NYC on 10/30. I’ll be co-hosting a networking mixer with two outstanding women. Both have undeniable resumes and even stronger voices. The goal? Put 40 of NYC’s highest-character, highest-potential people in one room, tell a couple stories, and let them do what they do… network, collaborate, grow together. Let me know if you’re interested or have friends in the city who’d want to attend.
The next stop? Getting back on the plane to LA and co-hosting two workshops with one of my favorite colleagues here on the west coast! While the first one is private, the second one is open to the public. We had A TON of fun designing this one and I’m certain those attending will not only have a great time, but also find it well worth the investment. Check it out here! (Friends with L&D budgets, this would be great for you)
The last stop of 2025? The operating room, followed by the medical “shelf.” A familiar face indeed. However, this time it’s technically optional. I’ll be getting my knee reconstructed. My long-awaited ACL, LCL, PCL, and hamstring surgery is going down in December. You know what that means? I’ll be the biggest elf on the damn shelve you’ve ever seen. Cosplay may or may not happen.
In 2026, life will be full of M O T I O N. The plan is to get back “across the water” and visit the places I’ve been bookmarking on Instagram for months. Asia, Europe, you name it. The world needs to hear this story and I’m going to travel to tell it.
As I’ve said before, I didn’t go through hell just because. I didn’t survive the emergency surgery just because. And I didn’t claw my way past medical expectation basecamp to the summit I’m on today just because.
I did it to blaze a trail forward for those who may need just a little help seeing the path ahead. It gets dark, but that same light in the distance that I once saw 12 months ago was a mirror this entire time. It showed me the way and then revealed that I was the one holding it the entire time.
It’s my responsibility to give back, inspire others through my workshops and programming, and enjoy what’s left of this journey. I used to worry about the “what if’s” or the medical probability of me surviving past a year. This type of fear was so limiting, so I had to fight like hell to defeat that final boss. And here we fucking stand… victorious.
As always, thanks for hanging out. This was a special birthday edition and I hope it made you want to run through a wall with me. You’ll still get the weekly Sunday one this week, too! There’s a creative fire that’s been lit and it’s not going out anytime soon.
With that being said, it’s time to paint a beautiful picture that evokes emotion, motivation, and confidence for your respective journey. As the great Bob Ross once said, “The secret to doing anything is believing you can do it.”
Have a great weekend and I’ll talk to you Sunday! 🏁