Category Archives: The Weekly Reflection (2019)

“We’re not getting a cat.”  That’s what I insisted 4 years ago, and I had an easy case to make.  I was more of a dog guy.  I wasn’t keen on the idea of lint rolling every outfit before heading out the door to work.  I didn’t want our new furniture to become a scratchingContinue reading “33: I’m Kevin, and I’m a Cat Dad”

Rusty, The most important decision you’ll make in your life is who you marry. You made an excellent decision. So did Kelsi. The best person you can hope to be is the one that people always want to be around. Yesterday was living proof that you and Kelsi are those people. The top days ofContinue reading “32: A toast to the Rustads”

Prospecting is hard. Whether it takes place from the boardwalk in your teens, the bar in your twenties, or the desk in your career, the challenge and principles remain largely the same. We’ve all at some point had to summon the courage and unexpectedly initiate a connection when rejection had a higher probability than acceptance.Continue reading “31: Prospecting- Part 1”

It takes a village to raise a child. So when Jordan left for a bachelorette weekend in Avalon, I held the fort down in the best way I knew how. Outsource. Despite the B-team on duty, Charlotte got to live her best life for a few days with some of the best friends and familyContinue reading “30: It takes a village”

“Today’s a training day, Officer Hoyt. I’ll Show you around, give you a taste of the business… But I ain’t holding no hands, okay? I ain’t baby-sitting. You got today and today only to show me who and what you’re made of…You stick around with me, you’ll make it. Unlearn that [stuff] they teach youContinue reading “29: Training Day”

I don’t know if it was the spirit of 4th of July weekend, or all of the Bruce Springstein and Zac Brown music, or the consistent chorus of U-S-A chants, or Charlie’s first beach trip, or the Women’s World Cup Victory, but it felt like a great weekend to be an American. During the otherContinue reading “28: My “Chicken Fried””

A few weeks ago, I saw Stew Friedman speak for the second time. When I initially saw Friedman’s Work/Life Integration keynote at the 2017 Vanguard Leadership Symposium, I was a new leader, a new husband, and about to be a new homeowner. When I saw his keynote three weeks ago at the 2019 Vanguard NationalContinue reading “27: 4-way wins”

Historically, I haven’t been a great “new guy.” People that have gotten to know me would probably commend me for being eager, ambitious, and attracted to the spotlight. But as I’ve transitioned into new environments in the past, these same three qualities have often upset the apple cart. For example, entering middle school as aContinue reading “26: The New Guy”

I don’t know if my experience as a new leader shaped how I am as a dad, or if my experience as a new dad shaped how I am as a leader. Either way, the combination of navigating both at the same time brought more fulfillment and personal growth than anything I’ve ever experienced. FridayContinue reading “25: Leadership and fatherhood”

Dear Leila, For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be known as the “Godfather.” For years, “Godfather” meant being recognized for my social and recruiting efforts as a brother of Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) at Penn State. There was no greater honor than a freshman pledge asking, “Is Janiec the Godfather?” AfterContinue reading “24: The Godfather”