Doing Less, Living More: Why “Regulation” Might Be the Real Goal for 2026

I talk a lot about motivation, setting goals, mental fitness, and leadership. I’m the guy who runs ultramarathons for fun and gets excited about big visions, discipline, and pushing limits. But here’s the thing most people don’t realize:

Not everyone wants to move faster, chase lofty goals, or perform at a high level all the time.

And honestly?
I love that.

When someone tells me, “I’m happy for you, but my goal is regulation and doing less,” I actually get energized. When someone says, “I’m tired of the rat race. I want to do less,” my immediate response is, Yes. This is where the good work begins.

Because doing less—intentionally less—is a skill. And it’s one that most of us have forgotten how to practice.

The Truth Behind My “Busy” Life

From the outside, it looks like I’m burning the candle at both ends—running a clinic, working with clients, training for long races, staying active in my community, and spending time with the people I care about.

But here’s the honest truth:
I don’t feel busy. At all.

Why?
Because I only do three things—three things I love, three things that give back more energy than they take.

1. I work.

But I don’t “grind.”
I sit with clients, support my therapists, build a clinic I’m proud of, and—this still blows my mind—my Garmin literally congratulates me for staying relaxed during sessions. Almost every hour I get a notification:
“You were relaxed… Body Battery +12.”

Maybe that’s what people mean when they say, “Love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

2. I work out.

I’ve always been an athlete. I don’t know how to halfway do something I care about.
When I lifted weights, I became a bodybuilder.
Now that I’m running again, I run ultramarathons.

If I approached fitness like a hobby, I’d get bored and end up on the couch scrolling Netflix. Working diligently is how I stay engaged. That’s my wiring.

3. I spend time with family and friends.

Community is one of the pillars of my life.

My friends are the people I serve with, build businesses with, and grow alongside.

My wife knows—because I told her on our first date—that I’m predictable.

I live a simple life: work, workout, quality time. And it fills me up.

That’s it. That’s the whole formula.

The Hidden Problem Most of Us Don’t Notice

When clients come into my office and I ask what their schedule looks like, many of them list 20 different tasks, responsibilities, and obligations—each demanding attention.

When I ask, “Is this necessary?” the initial answer is always a quick “yes.”
But then they pause.
They think.
And suddenly half of the list disappears.

Most of us aren’t choosing our schedules—our schedules are choosing us.

We think we’re living our lives… but often, our lives are living us.

And it only changes when we stop and ask the simplest question:

Is this necessary?

As You Move Into 2026… Slow Down. Reflect. Choose.

This year, I invite you to ask yourself:

1. Is what I’m doing actually necessary?

Not did I commit to it,
Not will someone be disappointed,
but is this truly necessary for the life I want?

2. Is it really “less” that I’m after?

Or is it peace?
Regulation?
Margin?
Permission to breathe?

3. Do I know what my priorities are—and is my life aligned with them?

It’s astonishing how many of us have priorities that don’t match our calendars.

Sometimes “doing less” isn’t about scaling back.
Sometimes it means doing fewer things, but doing them deeply, intentionally, and with love.

That’s how I live.
Not fast.
Not frantically.
But fully.

A Final Thought

My life isn’t busy—it’s aligned.
It’s simple.
It’s fulfilling.

And your life can be the same, whether you’re chasing an ultramarathon, building a business, raising a family, healing, resting, or simply seeking peace.

2026 doesn’t need to be the year you do more.
It can be the year you finally do less—on purpose.

Opening Up: A Conversation That Matters

Every now and then, an opportunity comes along that invites you to pause, reflect, and share pieces of your story that rarely make it into everyday conversation. Recently, I had the privilege of sitting down with Chris Merna, founder of Rugged Gentleman, for a conversation that challenged me, encouraged me, and reminded me why I do the work I do.

Chris and I talked about growing up, leadership, entrepreneurship, pursuing growth as men, and the realities of being a therapist who also runs a business. What made this discussion meaningful was that it invited a level of vulnerability I don’t often share publicly—but felt right for this moment.

Why This Conversation Matters

I don’t often speak openly about my medical history, family background, or the deeper motivations that led me into therapy and personal development. In my day-to-day, my focus stays on serving others, not spotlighting myself.

But throughout this conversation, I sensed it was the right time to let people in a little more—not for attention, but because I believe that our stories have the power to connect us.

They help us feel less alone.
They remind us that struggle isn’t unique.
They show that growth is possible, even in the messiest seasons.

If sharing pieces of my own story helps someone else feel understood or encouraged, then offering that vulnerability becomes a way to serve.

Here is our conversation

What We Discussed

Our conversation covered themes that have shaped both my life and my work:

Growing Up & Identity

How childhood experiences—and the obstacles within them—formed my perspective and resilience.

Leadership & Responsibility

The importance of leading with humility, curiosity, and self-awareness.

Being an Entrepreneur and a Therapist

The tension and purpose that come from building something meaningful while supporting others through their deepest struggles.

Encouragement for Men

Why so many men silently carry pressure, fear, and expectations—and how they can begin to move forward with strength and clarity.

This wasn’t a rehearsed conversation or a scripted interview.
It was honest. It was human. And it reminded me that vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s an invitation for deeper connection.

Why I Chose to Share More of My Story

As leaders—whether in business, family, or community—we often feel the need to appear strong, steady, and put-together. But that image can sometimes hide the very experiences that forged our strength.

For years, I kept certain parts of my story private. Not out of shame, but out of focus: my work has always centered on others. Yet I also know that many people in my community are walking their own difficult paths.

If a small window into my experiences offers someone hope, perspective, or encouragement, then it’s worth sharing.

This conversation was a step toward revealing the “why” behind my work—
and the “who” behind the practice.

My Hope for This Episode

My hope is simple:
That this discussion adds value to your life.

If you’re a man striving to be better…
If you’re navigating hardships…
If you’re searching for clarity or direction…

…I hope you find something in this episode that reminds you that growth is still possible. That healing is possible. And that your story is still unfolding in meaningful ways.

Thank you for listening. And thank you for letting me share more of my journey with you.

Being Wrong Is a Leadership Superpower

Many leaders feel pressure to project certainty and confidence. But some of the most powerful leadership growth begins with a simple sentence:

“I was wrong.”

Andy Stanley captures this mindset beautifully:
“I love finding out I’m wrong, because then I know that I’m not wrong anymore.”

I often say something similar myself:
“I am the biggest barrier to my success. Finding out how I can be better is an opportunity to learn and make the changes I need to make.”

Being wrong isn’t weakness—it’s transformation.

Why Being Wrong Feels Hard

Being wrong triggers the brain’s threat-detection systems. Our identity feels at risk.

But great leadership isn’t about protecting ego.
It’s about growing beyond it.

Humility is not passive—it’s a strategic advantage.

Codie Sanchez: The Power of Contrarian Leadership

Codie Sanchez, known for her contrarian, question-everything approach, teaches a leadership principle that aligns deeply with intellectual humility:

• If everyone agrees, dig deeper.

• Your biggest blind spots hide your biggest opportunities.

• Curiosity is more powerful than certainty.

• Being wrong moves you closer to what’s right.

For Sanchez, great leadership begins with a willingness to challenge your own thinking.

Being willing to be wrong isn’t weakness—it’s leverage.

Being Wrong Shortens the Distance to Success

Leaders who embrace being wrong:

1. Learn faster.

New information replaces outdated assumptions.

2. Adjust faster.

No pride to protect—only progress to pursue.

3. Build trust.

Teams follow leaders who model honesty.

4. Create psychological safety.

Innovation thrives where mistakes aren’t punished.

5. Stop bottlenecking their team.

Ego slows progress; humility accelerates it.

Why This Skill Matters More Today

Modern leadership demands adaptability, emotional intelligence, and flexibility. The world changes too fast for leaders who cling to certainty.

The leaders who thrive are those who:

• welcome feedback

• question assumptions

• stay curious

• evolve continually

Every time you discover you were wrong, you gain the clarity you need to move forward.

How to Become a Leader Who Welcomes Being Wrong

Ask: “What if the opposite is true?”

A simple question that disrupts bias.

Invite disagreement.

Surround yourself with people who challenge your thinking.

Separate your identity from your ideas.

Ideas can change—you can still be strong.

Celebrate course-correction.

Adjustment is evidence of growth.

Reframe mistakes in real time.

Try: “Good—now I have better information.”

The Leaders Who Grow Are the Leaders Who Win

Being wrong is not a liability.
Being unwilling to be wrong is.

Leadership is not about always being right—it’s about being committed to what is right.

Where might you be wrong—and how much could change if you weren’t afraid to find out?

Rethinking Goal Setting: Why Neuroscience May Be the Missing Ingredient

Most of us were taught to set goals using a familiar checklist: make them specific, write them down, visualize the outcome, stay motivated. And while these steps sound helpful, they rarely lead to lasting results. In fact, many people report feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or unsure how to move forward just weeks after setting their goals.

So what if the problem isn’t you—but the method?

Recent insights from neuroscience, popularized in part by people like Dr. Andrew Huberman, reveal something surprising:
Your brain is not wired to achieve goals the way we’ve traditionally been taught to set them.
When we ignore the brain’s natural motivational systems, we create friction, burnout, and disappointment. But when we harness those systems intentionally, goals start to feel more aligned, energizing, and possible.

The Hidden Engine Behind Goal Achievement

Inside the brain, there’s a powerful chemical messenger—dopamine—that influences motivation, focus, and forward movement. You’ve heard of it, but what most people don’t realize is this:

Dopamine isn’t just the “reward chemical.”
It’s the fuel that keeps you engaged in the pursuit.

Typical goal setting focuses nearly entirely on the end result—a moment far in the future. That means the brain often receives very little reinforcement during the actual process, which makes it harder to stay consistent, especially when goals are big or emotionally charged.

But neuroscience shows us that motivation isn’t created by the finish line.
It’s built by how the brain interprets progress, challenge, uncertainty, and meaning—day by day.

When you understand these systems, you can design goals in a way that works with your biology instead of against it.

Why Traditional Goal Setting Falls Short

Here’s what most people do:

• Choose a goal based on what they think they “should” want.

• Break it into steps that feel overwhelming or unrealistic.

• Hope that motivation will magically appear.

• Burn out when emotions, stress, or life disrupt the plan.

Neuroscience shows that this approach accidentally triggers the parts of the brain associated with threat, pressure, and avoidance. In other words, traditional goal setting can create a stress response, not a motivational one.

The result?
Goals start feeling heavier than life-giving.

A Different Way Forward—One Rooted in the Brain

There’s a growing body of research showing that when we align goal setting with how the nervous system actually operates, three things happen:

1. Motivation stops feeling like a limited resource.
   Instead, it becomes renewable and self-generated.

2. The path becomes clearer, because the brain has structure for tracking meaningful progress.

3. Resilience increases, allowing us to navigate setbacks without spiraling into self-criticism.

This isn’t about hype, discipline hacks, or willpower.
It’s about engaging the systems in the brain responsible for desire, momentum, adaptability, and long-term fulfillment.

And once people experience this shift, their entire relationship with goals—and with themselves—changes.

Why This Matters for Intensive Work

If you’re considering stepping into an intensive experience, the goal-setting process you bring into that space matters. You don’t need goals that merely sound good; you need goals that activate you—emotionally, mentally, and neurologically.

In our intensives, we use a neuroscience-supported approach to help you:

• Build goals that your brain wants to pursue

• Reduce the friction and self-sabotage that often appear

• Create a structure that reinforces progress

• Align your goals with your deeper internal drivers, not just external expectations

I won’t give away the full method here—it’s something best experienced in a guided process. But here’s what I can say:

When your goals are shaped through the lens of neuroscience, the change feels different.
It feels possible. It feels alive. It feels like momentum.

This isn’t about setting bigger goals.
It’s about setting better ones—goals that your brain naturally supports rather than resists.

If You’re Curious… You’re Already Moving

Curiosity is one of the most powerful motivational states the brain can generate.
It means something inside you is already leaning forward.

If you’re wondering what goal setting could feel like when it’s aligned with how your brain actually works, or you’re craving a different outcome than past attempts have given you, our goal-setting intensive may be the next right move.

You don’t have to overhaul your life to create meaningful change.
You just need to learn how to work with the system that runs everything—your nervous system.

How Changing Your Words Transforms Your Goal Setting

Words matter—especially in goal setting. The language you use shapes your mindset, your motivation, and your ability to follow through. Many people wonder how to set goals that actually lead to action. One of the simplest ways to create effective goal setting is to shift from “try” to “will.”

Compare the difference:

• “I will try to find 5 new clients.”

• “I will work diligently in networking and marketing in order to get 5 new clients.”

The second statement reflects intention setting, focus, and purpose—core ingredients for achieving goals.

Why Saying “Try” Makes Your Goals Optional

If you’ve ever created goals and said, “I’ll try to…” you’ve likely experienced the frustration of inconsistent follow-through. Words like try and can may seem harmless, but in the psychology of motivation and goals, they create an escape hatch.

Using “try” signals:

• The commitment is optional

• The action is negotiable

• The desired result is not required

In other words, when your goals start with try, your brain subconsciously believes the outcome is flexible, not essential.

For business goal setting, personal growth, fitness, or emotional wellness, optional language leads to optional outcomes.

Why “I Will” Creates Clarity and Commitment

When you shift your goal statements from “try” to “will,” your brain responds with greater focus and determination. “I will” creates action-based goals, which research consistently shows are far more successful than outcome-only goals.

Examples:

• “I will connect with 5 new people this week.”

• “I will ask people in my network to introduce me to others doing similar work.”

• “I will follow my marketing plan every week.”

• “I will run four days a week to build endurance.”

These statements reflect:

• Ownership

• Direction

• Intention

• Accountability

This is effective goal setting because it focuses on what you will do, not just what you hope happens.

Action Goals vs. Outcome Goals: Why the Difference Matters

Outcome goals often sound like:

• “I want to lose 20 pounds.”

• “I want 5 new clients.”

• “I want to run a marathon.”

But action-based goals sound like:

• “I will prepare healthy meals during the week.”

• “I will network consistently.”

• “I will follow my training plan.”

Action goals keep you grounded in behaviors you control. Outcome goals depend on variables outside your control.

Successful goal setting strategies focus on behaviors.

Ultramarathon Training: A Real Example of Action-Based Goals

This year, I ran over 1,000 miles preparing for a 35.5-mile ultramarathon. People often view the race itself as the achievement, but in ultramarathon training, the real achievement is everything that happens beforehand.

I always say:

“The race is the celebration of the work put in to prepare for the race.”

The real goal was:

• Getting up early

• Running 20+ miles on Saturday mornings

• Training consistently

• Showing up even when tired

If I had gotten sick, injured, or been unable to finish the race, my goal setting wouldn’t have failed—because my goal wasn’t:

• “I will run the race in 6 hours.”

It was:

• “I will train for this race.”

• “I will prepare myself to perform at my best.”

• “I will give 100% on race day.”

This is the essence of effective goal setting: the outcome is a reflection of the work, not the definition of success.

Rewriting Your Goals: From Try to Will

If you want to improve your motivation, follow-through, and results, start by rewriting your goals using “I will.”

Ineffective Goal Statements

“I’ll try to grow my business.”
“I can work out more.”
“I’ll try to be more intentional.”

Effective Goal Statements

“I will reach out to 5 new people each week.”
“I will exercise four days a week.”
“I will follow my morning routine daily.”
“I will schedule therapy twice a month.”

These are actionable goals, the kind that lead to lasting results.

Your Words Shape Your Results

If you want to achieve your goals, grow your business, or improve your life, the transformation starts with your language.

Trying is optional.
Willing is powerful.

So as you set goals for the year ahead, ask yourself:

Am I setting goals based on hope… or commitment?

Because the future you want begins with two simple, transformational words:

I will.

Don’t Be Your Own Dream Killer: End-of-Year Reflections

We have just two weeks left in 2025, and like many of you, I’m working diligently to close out the goals I set back in January—for The Pursuit Counseling, for my family, and for my ultramarathon training.

At the time of this writing, I have 64 miles left to reach my goal of 1,750 miles for the year. Every mile now feels intentional. Every run feels like a choice to finish what I started.

This same spirit is showing up in many of my sessions with clients. As they review their year—their progress, their setbacks, their wins, and their losses—one theme consistently emerges:

“I wish I would have tried…”

Not: “I tried and it didn’t work.”
Not: “I gave it everything I had.”

But rather:
“I didn’t try… and I regret it.”

The goals weren’t missed because they pushed hard and fell short. The goals were missed because they never gave themselves a real chance—because fear took the steering wheel.

The Fear That Keeps Us From Trying

In nearly every end-of-year review session where a client talked through their failures, the root issue wasn’t capability, skill, or time management. It was fear.

Fear of failure.
Fear of embarrassment.
Fear of not being good enough.
Fear of what others might think.

Stanford neuroscientist Andrew Huberman describes fear as a biological state—not a personal flaw. When we anticipate something challenging or uncertain, the brain’s threat circuitry (particularly the amygdala) activates, flooding the body with signals that tell us to avoid, retreat, or stay small.

But Huberman’s research also shows something incredibly hopeful:

Trying—even imperfectly—changes the fear response.

When we take small actions toward the thing we fear, the prefrontal cortex begins to dampen the brain’s alarm system. Over time, fear becomes information rather than a stop sign. Through action, the brain literally rewires itself to become more resilient, more confident, and more capable of risk-taking.

Trying is not just motivational advice.
Trying is neurological training.

Don’t Be Your Own Dream Killer

Fear will always be present, but it cannot be the author of your life.

The clients who struggled this year weren’t lacking in ability. They were held back by the internal belief that failing would be worse than never trying. Unfortunately, the opposite is true:

Not trying is the only guaranteed failure.

And yet, there’s another side to this story—a hopeful one.

What the Successful Clients All Had in Common

When we look closely at the clients who did reach their goals this year, their stories weren’t clean or easy. They faced challenges too—sometimes bigger ones than the clients who didn’t succeed.

But here’s the difference:

They acknowledged the obstacles.

They didn’t pretend things were easy. They named the barriers.

They confronted their fears rather than avoiding them.

Fear was part of the pursuit, not a disqualifier.

They were open—really open.

They talked honestly in therapy.
They communicated with business partners and family.
They asked for support instead of hiding their struggles.

They kept working, even when progress was slow.

They didn’t wait for motivation. They relied on commitment.

They stayed in the arena.

The successful clients weren’t fearless.
They were willing.

As You Look Toward 2026…

Let this year teach you something important:

Don’t be your own dream killer.
Don’t let fear tell you you’re not ready.
Don’t let the first obstacle convince you to quit.
Don’t let regret be the loudest voice in your year-end review.

You don’t need perfection.
You don’t need certainty.
You just need to try.

And if you take even one meaningful step toward your goals before the end of this year, your brain—and your life—will already be moving in a new direction.

Why Business Leaders Who Prioritize Mental Fitness Perform at Their Highest Level

A CEO once told me a story I never forgot.

His company had just lost a major contract. His board was calling emergency meetings. His team looked to him for calm direction. He walked into the conference room determined to lead with clarity and confidence… but instead, he froze.

His thoughts scattered.
His chest tightened.
His decision-making evaporated under the pressure.

Later, in a moment of honesty, he said:

“My body was fit. I was in the gym every morning. But my mind? My mind was completely out of shape.”

That moment changed everything for him. What he needed wasn’t another business book or productivity hack. He needed what elite athletes have always known:

Peak performance comes from training the mind just as intentionally as the body.

This truth applies to CEOs, founders, directors, and managers just as much as it applies to Olympians or world-class competitors.

Because leadership is performance and the workplace is an arena that demands mental strength, emotional stability, and resilience under pressure.

Mental Fitness: The Leadership Advantage No One Can Ignore

While the term “mental health” often focuses on reactive support — addressing stress, burnout, or crisis — mental fitness is proactive. It’s the intentional development of the psychological skills leaders need to perform at their best:

• Focus

• Emotional regulation

• Resilience

• Clear decision-making

• Adaptability

• Stress tolerance

• Healthy relational boundaries

When leaders take mental fitness seriously, something powerful happens:

1. Their decision-making becomes sharper.

Under stress, the brain shifts into threat mode. Mental fitness helps leaders stay grounded, maintain clarity, and avoid impulsive decision-making.

2. They model emotional intelligence.

Teams mirror their leader’s state. A mentally fit leader sets the emotional tone — calm, present, steady.

3. They recover from setbacks faster.

Instead of spiraling into overwhelm or shame, they bounce back with insight and adaptability.

4. They cultivate healthier team cultures.

When leaders practice mental fitness, it creates psychological safety — the foundation of trust, creativity, and engagement.

5. They avoid burnout and sustain long-term performance.

Leadership isn't a sprint. Mental fitness is how leaders stay effective for years, not just seasons.

Companies hire for intelligence and experience, but it’s mental fitness that determines whether leaders can consistently operate at their fullest potential.

What Athletes Can Teach Executives About Mental Fitness

Athletes learned long ago that talent alone doesn’t win championships. Their mental game often determines who performs under pressure and who collapses.

Consider some of the world’s top athletes:

Micha-el Phelps

He worked closely with sports psychologists to master visualization, anxiety management, and emotional regulation. His mental training was as consistent as his physical workouts.

Simone Biles

By choosing mental wellness over performance at the Olympics, she showed the world that strength includes self-awareness and self-protection — not just pushing through.

Kobe Bryant

He meditated daily and credited mindfulness with sharpening his focus, decision-making, and emotional control on and off the court.

Eliud Kipchoge

The marathon world-record holder speaks openly about mindset being the true engine behind his performance: “The mind is the strongest muscle.”

Athletes don’t leave their mental readiness to chance.
They train it.
They protect it.
They depend on it.

Business leaders should be doing the same.

Executives Who Train Their Minds Like Athletes Perform Differently

More and more leaders are adopting practices rooted in mental fitness — not because it’s trendy, but because it works.

You’ll find examples everywhere:

• CEOs who meditate before major decisions

• Founders who schedule recovery time with the same seriousness as meetings

• Executives who work with therapists, performance coaches, or mental fitness professionals

• Leadership teams who start meetings with grounding practices

• Leaders who use visualization to rehearse difficult conversations or high-stakes presentations

These are not “soft skills.”
These are performance tools grounded in neuroscience and human behavior.

The leaders who invest in mental fitness consistently show:

• Better collaboration

• Lower emotional reactivity

• More confident communication

• Stronger self-awareness

• Higher trust within their teams

• Greater creativity under pressure

These are the leaders people want to follow — not because they’re perfect, but because they’re present.

What Mental Fitness Looks Like in Everyday Leadership

You don’t have to be an Olympian or CEO to build mental fitness.
You just need consistency and intention.

Here are practical daily practices leaders can start with:

1. Morning Mental Warm-Ups

Before the first meeting, take 5–10 minutes to read, listen, breathe, or reflect.
Just like athletes stretch before training, leaders should prime their minds before performance.

2. Visualization and Mental Rehearsal

Imagine your ideal approach to a tough conversation or presentation.
Neuroscience shows the brain responds similarly to real and imagined practice.

3. Intentional Pauses During the Day

Short grounding exercises — 60 seconds of deep breathing, stepping outside, or resetting — can shift you out of reactive mode and back into clarity.

4. Boundaries and Recovery

Rest is not a luxury; it’s a strategic reboot for your brain.

5. Emotional Check-Ins

Ask yourself:
What am I feeling?
What do I need?
What is within my control?

Self-awareness is the cornerstone of strong leadership.

6. Professional Support

Therapy, coaching, consulting — these are tools, not weaknesses.
The strongest leaders have strong support systems.

The Legacy of a Mentally Fit Leader

Mentally fit leaders create ripple effects:

They create calmer rooms.
They reduce chaos instead of contributing to it.
They make decisions with clarity and courage.
They build teams who feel safe, valued, and motivated.
They influence organizations not through fear but through presence and purpose.

And perhaps most importantly…

They live lives that align with their values — not just their responsibilities.

Mental fitness isn’t optional for today’s leaders.
It’s not extra.
It’s not indulgent.
It’s not a bonus round of self-care.

It is foundational to sustainable leadership, healthy culture, productive teams, and personal fulfillment.

If athletes depend on their mental game to win…
If high performers depend on their mindset to thrive…
If leaders depend on clarity, resilience, and emotional stability every day…

Then the question becomes:

Why wouldn’t business leaders train their minds like the highest performers in the world?

When Was the Last Time You Were a Rookie?

Why Experts Need New Beginners’ Moments

As leaders, we often carry decades of experience, training, and mastery. We’ve learned our craft, built organizations, supervised teams, and gathered a depth of wisdom that allows us to lead effectively.

But here’s a question we don’t ask ourselves nearly enough:

When was the last time you were a rookie?

Not the expert.
Not the supervisor.
Not the one with answers.
But the beginner — stepping into something new, unfamiliar, and uncomfortable.

That experience matters far more than most people realize.

The Comfort of Expertise — And the Risk

When you’ve been in your field for years, confidence comes naturally. You’ve handled hard situations. You’ve earned trust. You know what works and what doesn’t.

But expertise also has a subtle downside:

It can insulate you from growth.

When we’re always operating from our strengths, we forget what it feels like to stretch. We forget what it means to struggle. We forget how vulnerable it feels to try something new.

And leaders who forget those feelings risk losing empathy for the people they’re responsible for guiding.

My Own Rookie Moment: Learning a New Clinical Theory

A few years ago, despite having years of success working in trauma — with adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, individuals battling addiction, veterans, and leaders navigating PTSD — I realized something:

I wanted a new challenge.

I had supervised EMDR therapists for years. I admired their work. I referred clients to them. I saw how transformational the modality could be.

But I hadn’t learned it.

So, I signed up for the training:
Six full days of instruction, plus hours upon hours of supervised clinical analysis, practice, and feedback.

And immediately, I felt it:

• nervousness

• self-doubt

• anxiety

• the fear of “doing it wrong”

• the awkwardness of trying something unfamiliar

It had been more than a decade since I’d felt that way in a clinical setting.

And you know what?

It was one of the best things I’ve done for my career in years.

What Being a Rookie Taught Me

Learning EMDR gave me more than a new tool in the therapy room.

It gave me back the perspective of the beginner.

I remembered what it felt like to:

• reach for skills I didn’t yet have

• sit in discomfort

• stretch my abilities

• learn with humility

• trust the process

• push past fear

• ask for help

• be corrected

• feel clumsy

• feel vulnerable

• feel human

And that’s when it clicked:

The clinicians I supervise feel this every single day.

New therapists show up in the therapy room with heart, training, and a desire to help — but they also carry anxiety, uncertainty, and the pressure to grow fast.

Being a rookie again helped me become a better supervisor, leader, and mentor.

It helped me empathize more deeply.
It reminded me how much courage it takes to grow.
It reconnected me to what it feels like to be new.

Why Leaders Should Seek Rookie Moments

If you want to grow as a leader, you cannot rely solely on your expertise.

You must intentionally place yourself in situations where you are:

• uncertain

• stretched

• teachable

• inexperienced

• challenged

• humbled

• learning something new

Because rookie moments do something that expertise can’t:

They expand you.
They sharpen you.
They reconnect you to the people you lead.
They remind you that you’re still becoming.

The best leaders don’t just master their craft — they stay curious, open, and willing to learn.

Your Challenge: Be a Rookie Again

Ask yourself honestly:

When was the last time you were new at something?

If you can’t remember, it’s time.

Sign up for a training.
Take a course outside your comfort zone.
Pick up a new clinical modality.
Learn a skill that scares you a little.
Put yourself in a position where you’re not the expert.

Because every time you choose to be a rookie, you strengthen:

• your empathy

• your leadership

• your humility

• your courage

• your adaptability

• your mental fitness

• your ability to guide others

Great leaders don’t stop learning.
Great clinicians don’t stop growing.
And great humans don’t stop stretching.

The Rookie in You Keeps the Leader in You Alive

The world doesn’t need leaders who cling tightly to their expertise.
It needs leaders who are willing to reenter the arena — vulnerable, curious, teachable, and hungry to grow.

Becoming a rookie again wasn’t just a training decision.
It was a leadership decision.

And I’ve never regretted it for a moment.

Why I’ve Invested Over $100,000 Into Becoming a Better Leader — And Why It Matters for Your Clinic

If you want to be excellent, you have to invest in yourself.

That has been one of the greatest lessons of my career, and it’s one I continue to live by. Over the last decade, I’ve invested well over $100,000 into becoming a better leader — not because it was easy, convenient, or comfortable, but because people deserve the best version of me.

Therapists deserve strong leadership.
Clients deserve well-run clinics.
Teams deserve direction, systems, and stability.
And I deserve to grow into the leader I was created to be.

My journey hasn’t been quick or cheap. But it has been transformative.

What I Invested In (and Why It Made Me Better)

To build a successful, ethical, client-centered mental health clinic, you can’t rely on guesswork. You can’t rely on instinct alone. You can’t lead from a place of insecurity or overwhelm.

So I invested in myself relentlessly through:

• Personal Therapy

Leadership requires self-awareness.
Therapy taught me humility, emotional regulation, clarity, and resilience. I processed trauma, personal challenges, and blind spots — so I could lead without projecting them onto my team or my clients. The best therapists get their own therapy and I wouldn't hire a therapist who was not interntional about getting their own support.

• Business Coaching

Running a mental health clinic is not the same as running a traditional business. I hired coaches who challenged me to think strategically, financially, operationally, and with long-term vision.

• Supervision from Experts

I sought out people who were further ahead than me — professionals who had built clinics, built teams, and built lives I respected.

• Conferences, Trainings & Continuing Education

I didn't just check boxes for CEUs.
I went after training that sharpened my clinical instincts, expanded my operational knowledge, and elevated my ability to serve both clinicians and clients.

Has all of it been worth it?
Yes.
Has all of it been useful?
Not even close.

Some investments were hype.
Some were mediocre.
Some simply weren’t aligned with where I was going.

But here’s the truth I stand by:

The best in any industry learn from the best in the industry.

And that is exactly why I continue to invest in myself today.

Why I Support Other Clinic Owners: The Lessons We Learned the Hard Way

Before I launched The Pursuit Counseling, I helped build a multi-location mental health practice that eventually sold to a Venture Capital firm.

That exit didn’t happen overnight.
It took:

• over a decade

• countless mistakes

• hundreds of course corrections

• learning how to hire the right people (and the wrong ones)

• building systems from scratch

• navigating insurance headaches

• expanding locations

• improving culture

• and learning what scale actually requires

We didn’t get lucky.
We got better.

With every new location, we took what we learned and applied it to the next. We tightened systems. We improved leadership. We refined our onboarding. We optimized our client flow. We learned what worked and what didn’t.

Some lessons were expensive.
Some were painful.
But every lesson made us sharper.

That experience shaped me in profound ways — and I’ll always be grateful for it.

How I Built The Pursuit Counseling Differently

When I opened The Pursuit Counseling, I made a commitment:

This time, everything would be intentional and I would learn from the previous clinic’s successes and failures.

I took the decade of experience — the failures, the successes, the spreadsheets, the late-night decisions, the leadership missteps, the breakthroughs — and I built a clinic with:

• clean, efficient systems

• a streamlined onboarding process

• ethical, sustainable growth strategies

• strong therapist support

• a healthy culture

• operational structure that actually works

• a client experience that feels grounded and safe

The Pursuit Counseling wasn’t built on guesswork.
It was built on experience, mentorship, training, investment, and a commitment to excellence.

My goal is simple:

I want therapists, staff, and clients to benefit from everything I’ve learned — without the decade of trial and error.

Why Clinic Owners Want to Work With Me

I’m not a consultant who speaks in theory alone.
I’m not teaching from slides I bought online.
I’m not guessing from the outside.

I know this world because I live in it.

I’ve built clinics.
I’ve scaled clinics.
I’ve managed teams.
I’ve exited a clinic to venture capitalists.
And I’ve built a new clinic that runs strategically, cleanly, and with clarity.

When you work with me, you’re getting:

• real experience

• real systems

• real leadership development

• real operational strategy

• real clinical insight

• real support

• real results

I help you avoid the mistakes that cost us years.
I help you grow faster, more ethically, and more sustainably.
I help you build a clinic that serves you — not one that drains you.

And I help you make decisions with confidence, not confusion.

You Deserve a Consultant Who Has Done the Work

If you want to build a healthy, scalable, profitable, and ethically grounded private practice, you need guidance from someone who has:

• invested in themselves

• put in the reps

• lived the process

• built the systems

• managed the realities

• made the mistakes

• done the work

• and come out stronger

I’ve spent over $100,000 pursuing excellence so I could be the kind of leader, clinician, and consultant that mental health professionals deserve.

Let my investment benefit your growth.

If you’re ready to build a clinic with clarity, strength, and sustainability, I’d love to walk with you.

The best in the business learn from the best in the business.
Let’s start building your best.

Why Running Helps: A Lifelong Companion Through Every Season of Life

For as long as I can remember, running has been the one constant in my life. It has changed forms, changed purposes, and changed distance — but it has always been there. In every season, running has given me something I didn’t even know I needed: direction, perspective, clarity, confidence, community, and, above all, connection to who I want to become.

This is the story of how running has shaped every chapter of my life — from childhood frustrations to ultramarathons — and why I believe it remains one of the most powerful tools for mental fitness and personal transformation.

1. Running Helped Me Navigate Childhood Frustration

When I was a kid, emotions felt big, confusing, and heavy — especially frustration, confusion, and anger. Any time I felt frustrated with my brothers or overwhelmed by something I couldn’t control, I found myself doing the same thing:

I ran.

Two miles from our house was a community dock. When I was upset, I’d bolt out the door and run the two miles there, sit for a minute, breathe, and then run the two miles back.

Something happened on those four-mile loops.
Something alchemical.

My perspective shifted.
My emotions settled.
My mind cleared.

Back then, I didn’t understand mental fitness. I didn’t know anything about emotional regulation or coping skills. But I instinctively found my way into one of the healthiest practices I could have developed: moving my body to move my mind.

Running taught me how to process anger, not bury it.
It taught me how to calm my thoughts, not fight them.
It taught me how to return home different than I left.

2. Running Became the Foundation of My Athletic Life

All throughout my childhood and teenage years, I played football, basketball, and baseball at a high level. Looking back now, running was at the center of everything — the conditioning, the stamina, the discipline, the mental toughness.

Those four-mile childhood loops became the earliest form of self-training.

Running made me:

• faster

• stronger

• more resilient

• more competitive

• more focused

It was the quiet engine underneath every sport I played.
Even then, running wasn’t just physical — it was shaping my mindset, my habits, and my identity.

3. Running Helped Me Make Sense of Life During My Divorce

My relationship with running deepened during one of the hardest seasons of my life: my divorce at age 25.

Pain has a way of overwhelming the mind.
Heartbreak blurs everything.

During that time, running became my safe place.

I’d go out on long runs — sometimes disappearing for hours — and it was on those roads and trails that I began to make sense of who I was, what I wanted, and how I would rebuild my life. Running didn’t fix everything, but it gave me:

• space to feel

• room to breathe

• clarity to think

• courage to heal

• strength to keep going

It gave me time with myself.
And when your world feels like it’s falling apart, that’s priceless.

4. Running Helped Shape My Counseling Career

In graduate school and early in my counseling career, running became something new again: a space for reflection.

Before speaking engagements, I’d go run.
Before writing a keynote, I’d go run.
Before big decisions, big ideas, or big conversations — I’d go run.

Running became the place where I organized my thoughts, processed my emotions, clarified my message, and prepared myself to serve others.

Some people rehearse in front of mirrors.
Some people pace.
I run.

Many of the concepts I teach today — about mindset, emotional endurance, mental fitness, purpose, and personal growth — were born on runs in Birmingham, Mountain Brook, Homewood, and the trails around Samford University.

Running strengthened my body, yes.
But more importantly, it strengthened my voice.

5. Running Helped Me Rediscover Myself After Burnout

In my 30s, something changed: I got burnt out.
Running felt tired. I felt tired.

So I pivoted into bodybuilding — a completely different world of discipline, intensity, and transformation. I added nearly 100 pounds of muscle, trained for hours in the gym, and discovered confidence I had never experienced before.

Bodybuilding taught me structure.
It taught me focus.
It taught me how to push through discomfort in a whole new way.

But eventually, I realized something: I missed the version of me that running brought out.

Around age 39, I watched several friends my age begin to struggle with their health — heart attacks, weight gain, exhaustion, emotional heaviness. I knew I needed to return to the one thing that had always brought me home to myself so I could prevent the same fate as my friends.

So I signed up for a half-marathon in Peachtree City, GA.
Three months later, I ran a 1:49 after more than a decade away from racing.

The moment I crossed that finish line, something clicked.
Running wasn’t just back in my life — it was alive again.

6. Running Turned Into Adventure Through Ultramarathons

After rediscovering running, I began following ultrarunners like Andy Glaze, Courtney DeWalter, Sally McRae, and Rachel Entriken. What drew me to them wasn’t their speed — it was their adventure.

They talked about running long distances through mountains as a way of learning who they were.
They talked about the mind more than the miles.
They talked about mental fitness more than medals.

That felt familiar.
That felt like home.

In 2025, I stepped into the world of ultramarathons.

• I ran the Yeti Snake Bite 8.8-hour race and finished 35 miles.

• I ran the Coldwater Trail 50K in 7:21.

• I ran the Mental Health 50K in 6:27, beating my 6:30 goal.

Three ultras.
Three terrains.
Fifteen weeks.
A life-changing chapter.

Ultras are not about speed.
They’re about endurance — mentally, physically, and emotionally.

They teach you what’s left when everything else is gone.
They teach you who you are when you’re tired, hungry, frustrated, and deep in your thoughts.
They teach you to break through self-imposed limits and discover the depth of your resilience.

Ultras taught me — again — that the mind will quit long before the body does if we let it.

7. Running Helps Me Help Others

My counseling company is called The Pursuit for a reason.

Running is a pursuit.
Healing is a pursuit.
Identity is a pursuit.
Leadership is a pursuit.
Your best self is a pursuit.

Running has given me the language, the metaphors, and the lived experience to help people overcome their own barriers:

• mental

• emotional

• relational

• professional

• physical

I love helping people get out of their own way.
I love helping them pursue the best version of themselves.
And running has been one of my greatest teachers in how to do that.

No Matter the Season, Running Has Been There

When I was frustrated and stuck, running helped me cope.
When I was an athlete, running helped me perform.
When my world fell apart, running helped me heal.
When I became a counselor, running helped me think.
When I entered a new decade, running helped me rediscover myself.
When I needed a new challenge, running helped me grow.

Running has been more than a habit — it’s been a companion.
A teacher.
A guide.
A mirror.
A ritual.
A reset.
A pursuit.

And now, as I continue exploring the world of ultramarathons, running continues to help me learn the most important truth:

No matter the season of life — running has always been there. And it always will be.

Goal Setting for Mental Fitness & Business Growth: How to Build Your Short, Medium, and Long-Term Vision

If you’ve worked with me, you know I believe one thing deeply:

Clarity is a form of mental fitness.

When your mind knows where it's going, your business follows.

Most business owners aren’t missing talent, effort, or passion—they’re missing a structured way to turn their ideas into momentum. That’s why I love the framework from Vivid Vision and how it helps leaders build a picture of their future that’s so clear it becomes almost inevitable.

But vision alone isn’t enough.
You need a strategy that connects right now to the future you’re building.

In mental fitness and business coaching, I teach a three-tier approach:

• Short-term (This Week): Action goals

• Medium-term (90 Days): Strategic goals

• Long-term (3 Years): Vision goals

This structure helps you stay grounded, focused, and emotionally regulated while also creating forward movement in your business.

Let’s break it down.

1. Short-Term Goals (This Week)

These goals strengthen mental fitness by creating momentum, confidence, and clarity.

Weekly goals keep you tethered to action. They protect you from overwhelm and help you measure progress in real time. From a mental fitness perspective, short-term goals are powerful because they reduce cognitive load—your brain doesn’t have to hold a thousand ideas at once.

Weekly goals should be:

• small

• specific

• tied to behavior, not outcomes

• achievable with the time you realistically have

• directly connected to your 90-day targets

Examples:

• “Reach out to three referral partners.”

• “Complete the new client intake workflow draft.”

• “Run 15 miles this week.”

• “Automate one admin task.”

• “Schedule a supervision meeting or team check-in.”

Weekly goals are about consistency, not heroics.
Consistency builds trust with yourself—and trust builds confidence.

2. Medium-Term Goals (90 Days)

This is the most powerful timeframe for business growth and mental resilience.

Ninety days is a long enough window to make meaningful progress, but short enough to keep urgency alive. It's also the perfect container for avoiding burnout: you can push hard for 90 days when you know recovery and recalibration are coming.

In my coaching, I teach 90-day goals as your “strategic anchors.”

They should:

• move a major needle in your business

• be measurable

• reflect your core priorities (not distractions)

• feel challenging but realistic

• align directly with your 3-year vision

Examples:

• “Hire 1–2 clinicians to expand the practice.”

• “Complete policy & procedure updates for all locations.”

• “Increase monthly recurring revenue by X%.”

• “Launch a new program, group, or offering.”

• “Build and document two core operational systems.”

• “Increase your weekly mileage to prepare for your next race.”

Ninety-day goals give your business structure and your mind stability. When you know where you’re going for the quarter, you make decisions faster and with more confidence.

3. Long-Term Goals (3-Year Vision)

This is where the philosophy of “Vivid Vision” comes alive.

The three-year vision is what I call your mental North Star.
It’s not a list of tasks—it’s a picture of your future reality.

From a mental fitness standpoint, long-term vision creates emotional alignment. It helps you avoid reactive decision-making and stay anchored when challenges pop up (and they always do).

Your three-year vision should be written as though it already exists:

• What does your business look like?

• How many locations?

• What systems are running?

• How does your team operate?

• What role do you play day-to-day?

• What does your life outside the business look like?

• What does your health, energy, and mental clarity feel like?

When I help business owners map this out, we build a vision that engages all senses—something you can see, feel, and step into mentally long before it becomes real.

This long-term clarity becomes the filter for every business decision you make.

How These Three Layers Work Together

Think of goal-setting like training for an ultramarathon (which I talk about often).

• This week’s miles keep you moving.

• This quarter’s training plan builds your capacity.

• The long-term race goal gives everything meaning.

In business:

• Your weekly goals keep your brain focused and disciplined.

• Your 90-day goals shape your strategy and structure.

• Your 3-year vision keeps your heart and motivation grounded.

Without short-term goals, you drift.
Without medium-term goals, you stall.
Without long-term vision, you burn out.

But when all three align?
Your growth becomes intentional, sustainable, and purpose-driven.

Your Vision Is Only as Strong as Your Mental Fitness

Goal-setting is not just a business exercise—it’s a mental fitness practice.

It trains your ability to:

• stay focused

• regulate your emotions

• organize your thinking

• stay resilient under pressure

• move with direction instead of fear

• build confidence through consistency

• make decisions from clarity, not chaos

This is why high performers in any field—athletes, leaders, founders—constantly revisit their goals. It’s not about perfection.
It’s about alignment.

Your Future Needs Structure, Not Stress

If you haven’t intentionally mapped your week, your quarter, and your three-year vision, you’re not operating with the clarity your brain—and your business—deserve.

Whether you’re:

• growing a practice

• building a team

• preparing for expansion

• or strengthening your leadership

the three-tier goal system will give you focus, momentum, and purpose.

And if you want help building that structure—and creating a mental fitness plan that aligns your mind, your business, and your future—I would love to guide you through the process.

Your vision matters.
Now let’s make it a Pursuit.

Why It’s Essential to Work With a Private Practice Consultant Who Actually Works in the Industry

Running a mental health clinic is not the same as running a barbershop.
It’s not the same as running a med-spa.
It’s definitely not the same as running a car dealership.

Mental health clinics operate in one of the most regulated, nuanced, emotionally demanding industries in the country. We are governed by HIPAA, state and federal regulations, licensing boards, insurance requirements, payer audits, documentation standards, and clinical ethical codes—many of which shift constantly.

This industry requires a completely different level of awareness, structure, and experience.
And that’s exactly why the right consultant matters.

Most Business Consultants Don’t Understand Our World

Many consultants are incredible at what they do—but if they’ve never built or operated a mental health clinic, they simply can’t prepare you for what actually happens inside one.

A typical business consultant won’t know:

• how to build compliant intake workflows

• how clinical documentation standards affect cashflow

• how licensing boards influence hiring practices

• why therapist retention looks nothing like corporate retention

• how insurance paneling delays impact growth

• how to structure supervision requirements

• how ethical boundaries shape marketing

• how trauma-informed operations change client flow

• how privacy laws shape your systems, team, and technology

In our industry, these aren’t “nice to know” details.
They’re the difference between a clinic that grows and a clinic that collapses under the weight of invisible risks.

Mental Health Clinics Have Unique Pressures and Responsibilities

When you run a private practice or group practice, you carry:

• legal responsibility

• ethical responsibility

• clinical responsibility

• operational responsibility

• financial responsibility

• emotional responsibility

That’s a lot for any owner—especially if you’re wearing every hat.

The systems you need aren’t generic business hacks.
They are clinical-adjacent, compliance-driven, and client-forward.
One wrong workflow doesn’t just cost you money—it can cost you your license.

This is why clinic owners need someone who understands the landscape from the inside—not from a business textbook.

Why Working With a Consultant Who Has Built (and Sold) Clinics Matters

I don’t teach theory.
I teach what I’ve lived.

I have:

• started multiple mental health clinics

• scaled them to multiple locations

• built out the systems, workflows, team structures, and processes

• prepared clinics to run sustainably without the owner

• successfully exited after the sale of a clinic I helped build from scratch

That matters because the advice I give isn’t abstract.
It’s field-tested.
It’s compliant.
It’s efficient.
And it actually works.

When you’re navigating credentialing, intakes, insurance audits, clinician onboarding, risk management, client flow, billing systems, and the pressure to keep a healthy culture—you want someone who has actually done the work, not someone guessing from the outside.

The Right Consultant Saves You Time, Money, and Mistakes

A consultant who understands the mental health world can help you:

• design compliant, smooth operational systems

• avoid costly regulatory mistakes

• shorten the learning curve by years

• increase profitability without sacrificing ethics or care

• streamline your billing and revenue cycle management

• hire and retain the right clinicians

• implement workflows that reduce burnout

• prepare your clinic for multi-location expansion

• build a practice that could actually be sold someday

Most importantly, the right consultant helps you build a clinic that doesn’t rely on you running at full speed every single day.

That’s the difference between owning a business and being owned by your business.

Why It’s Important to Work With Me

Here’s what sets my consulting apart:

1. I’ve done exactly what you're trying to do.

I’ve built clinics from scratch, expanded them, systemized them, and transitioned them to new owners. I know the pitfalls because I’ve lived them. I know the shortcuts because I earned them the hard way.

2. I understand clinical, ethical, regulatory, and business realities.

Your clinic isn’t just a business—it’s a clinical environment. Every decision has layers: ethical, legal, financial, and emotional. I help you navigate all of them with clarity.

3. I build systems that keep you profitable without burning you out.

Your clinic doesn’t need to be expensive to run. It needs to be efficient. I help you build the kind of operational backbone that keeps your overhead low and your outcomes high.

4. I combine mental health expertise with business strategy.

My work blends the relational, human side of mental health with the practical world of operations, finances, and growth. That balance is rare—and it’s crucial.

Your Clinic Deserves Guidance From Someone Who Has Walked the Path

If you’re building or scaling a private practice or group practice, you don’t have to do it alone—and you definitely don’t have to figure it out by trial and error.

You deserve support from someone who:

• understands the industry

• knows the regulations

• has built successful clinics

• has scaled them

• has sold them

• and can help you avoid the mistakes most clinic owners don’t even see coming

When your consultant has lived the same journey you’re on, the wisdom is deeper, the shortcuts are safer, and the growth is faster.

If you want a proven guide to help you build the clinic you know is possible, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.

Mental Fitness: The Most Underrated Advantage for Business Owners

When most business owners think about performance, they focus on strategy, productivity, and execution. But the truth is this: your business will only grow to the level of your mental fitness.

I’ve seen this in my work as a therapist, coach, and ultramarathoner. Whether someone is building a company or running 8 hours or 35 through the mountains, the mind is either the greatest limiter—or the greatest lever.

And business owners, more than almost anyone else, live in a constant state of stretch. You’re responsible for decisions, people, outcomes, and the invisible emotional labor most others never see.
You’re in a marathon with no finish line.

Mental fitness isn’t just helpful. It’s essential for sustainability, clarity, and long-term performance.

Here’s what I’ve learned from thousands of hours coaching and counseling high-performing humans—and from pushing my own body and mind across ultramarathon courses filled with darkness, weather, and doubt.

Mental Fitness Starts Where Motivation Ends

Motivation is emotional.
Mental fitness is trained.

On mile 70 of a mountain ultramarathon, motivation is gone. What keeps you moving isn’t hype—it’s the mental muscles you’ve built: discipline, self-talk, emotional regulation, and the ability to make micro-moves when everything feels overwhelming.

Business owners hit their “mile 70” moments all the time:

• When revenue dips

• When tough conversations stack up

• When the next step feels foggy

• When the pressure feels heavy and quiet

• When the work becomes lonely

This is where mental fitness becomes your competitive advantage.

The business owners who thrive aren’t the ones who avoid hard moments—they’re the ones trained to move through them.

Stress Is Not the Enemy—Mismanaged Stress Is

In endurance racing, stress is data.
In business, too often, stress becomes identity.

Mental fitness teaches you to treat your stress like a dashboard. It helps you ask the right questions:

• What is this stress trying to tell me?

• Where is the bottleneck?

• What story am I telling myself?

• What’s in my control right now?

When you don’t have these internal tools, stress becomes a fog. Every task feels heavier. Every decision feels riskier. Every setback feels personal.

But when you train your mental fitness, stress becomes a signal—not a verdict.

The Most Dangerous Form of Burnout Is Silent Burnout

For business owners, burnout doesn’t show up as laziness.
It shows up as:

• numbness

• irritation

• lack of creativity

• overworking

• difficulty focusing

• feeling disconnected from your own goals

Silent burnout is common because business owners keep moving. They don’t stop until the tank is empty, because the world rewards output, not well-being.

Mental fitness restructures that entire pattern.
It helps you:

• recognize your limits before you crash

• set boundaries without guilt

• re-engage with your “why”

• recover without losing momentum

Burnout isn’t a character flaw. It’s a sign your systems need attention.

Emotional Endurance Is a Skill—Not a Personality Trait

Emotional endurance is the ability to:

• sit with discomfort

• tolerate uncertainty

• navigate conflict

• stay steady during storms

• separate identity from outcomes

If physical endurance is what keeps your legs moving on a trail, emotional endurance is what keeps your head and heart aligned when the pressure spikes.

It’s the kind of endurance I coach business owners through daily—and the same strength I’ve had to build in long races where doubt tries to convince you the finish isn’t worth it.

Business owners don’t need to be emotionally “tough.”
They need to be emotionally trained.

You Must Live the Same Way You Want to Lead

You cannot lead from depletion.
You cannot innovate from exhaustion.
You cannot mentor from emotional scarcity.

Your team, clients, and family don’t need a superhuman—they need a centered human.

Mental fitness builds that center.
It reconnects you with:

• clarity

• self-awareness

• resilience

• integrity

• purpose

And when you build those qualities internally, everything around you becomes more aligned.

The Pursuit Never Ends—and That’s the Point

My brand, The Pursuit, exists because all meaningful work shares one truth:

Growth is ongoing. Training is ongoing. The work is ongoing.

You never “arrive” at mental fitness.
You strengthen it the same way you strengthen your body: with consistency, intention, and real accountability.

For business owners, mental fitness isn’t another task on the list—it is the system that holds the list together.

When you build it strategically, you gain:

• clearer decision-making

• longer-term perspective

• healthier relationships

• stronger leadership

• higher resilience

• deeper satisfaction in the work

This isn’t about becoming perfect—it’s about becoming prepared.

The Strongest Version of You Builds the Strongest Version of Your Business

You can’t eliminate challenges—whether on the trail or in the boardroom.
But you can train the mind that meets them.

Mental fitness is the foundation.
Everything else grows from it.

If you’re ready to build that strength deliberately—rather than reactively—this is the exact kind of work I help leaders and business owners develop.

Just like training for an ultramarathon…
You don’t start by running 100 miles.
You start by taking one intentional step.

And I’d be honored to take that step with you.

Going the Distance: Why I Believe Excellence Is a Pursuit Worth Running

By Adam Glendye, LPC — Founder of The Pursuit Counseling

The Starting Line

If you’ve ever stood at the starting line of a race — whether it’s your first 5K or a hundred-mile ultramarathon — you know the mix of excitement and fear that comes with it. There’s a quiet question every runner asks themselves: Can I actually do this?

That same question shows up in life and business all the time. Can I lead this company well? Can I rebuild after burnout? Can I keep going when the path gets hard?

I’ve asked those questions myself — on the trail, in business, and in life. And what I’ve learned is this: excellence isn’t about perfection — it’s about endurance.

From Counseling Room to Boardroom

As a licensed professional counselor, I’ve spent years walking alongside people through seasons of change, stress, and growth. My clients range from professionals and business owners to parents and young adults navigating transition.

At the same time, I work as a business coach, helping leaders develop clarity, confidence, and culture. What I’ve seen over and over again is that professional success and personal wellbeing aren’t separate pursuits — they’re deeply connected.

A thriving life requires both focus and flexibility. It’s knowing when to push and when to rest. It’s leading yourself before you lead others.

Lessons From the Long Run

Running ultramarathons has taught me more about mental health and leadership than any textbook ever could.

In a 100-mile race, you don’t win by running fast — you “win” by not quitting. You learn to keep moving even when every muscle says stop. You learn to manage your mindset, break down big goals into small steps, and stay connected to your why when the finish line still feels miles away.

That’s what therapy and coaching are about too. It’s about building the endurance to keep showing up — for your work, your relationships, your purpose, and yourself.

Why I Started The Pursuit Counseling

I founded The Pursuit Counseling on one simple belief:

Growth doesn’t have to come from breaking down — it can come from leaning in.

At The Pursuit, we help people chase what matters most — whether that’s peace, purpose, or performance. My role is to help you clarify where you’re headed, remove the roadblocks, and rediscover the strength that’s already in you.

The Finish Line (That’s Never Really the Finish Line)

Every race ends with a finish line — but every finish line is also a new starting point. That’s how I see personal and professional growth.

I don’t just help people survive the race — I help them learn to love the pursuit.

If you’re ready to go the distance — in business, in life, or within yourself — I’d be honored to run alongside you.