On Wednesday night, I learned that I successfully passed the CFP®️ exam. Since finding out, I’ve felt a combination of relief, joy, gratitude, excitement and pride. Essentially, I imagine I had the same feeling as Tiger when his final putt dropped.

Typically I would try to reflect on the year long process and the lessons that I learned from it. This time I’ve decided to keep the reflection short, so I can stay in the moment, enjoy the win, and celebrate with some of the people who helped me do it.

Cheers to you if you are celebrating a recent accomplishment in your life this weekend.

Congrats to all of the new CFP®️ professionals. Sit back, grab a cold one, and do the Tiger fist pump. We’ve earned it!

My work team recently started a new ritual to kick off and close out our weekly staff meetings. We begin each meeting with a rapid fire round table of “Shout outs,” and end the meeting with our “Wins of the Week.” The ritual is intended to foster an environment of gratitude, positivity, and pride. I know that it’s just another corny corporate concept, and it may be questionable whether professional adults should be doing a “summer camp” type of activity. But when your success and your client’s success depends on the people in your fox hole doing all of the extra little things to help the team, I’m willing to try whatever works. And it works.

“Shout outs” involve each member of the team recognizing one of their peers for great work that they noticed or support that they appreciated that particular week. “Wins of the week” involve each member’s proudest accomplishment that week. It serves as a reminder of what matters and why we do what we do. So far, even those that rolled their eyes and initially resisted the exercise, everyone left the meeting with an extra spring in their step. Through the activity, I also realized how much quality work was going on behind the scenes on a daily basis. Mission accomplished.

The exercise shouldn’t stop at the staff meeting. We all need a little more gratitude, pride, and positivity in our lives. It can only help our relationships, our teams, and our environments. So who will you shout out today? What’s your win of the week?

I’ll shout out my buddies, Johnny Walter and Jim Reid, for coming over today to build and replace the ladder to the dock on my pond. Yes, they did all the work while I handed them tools, beers, and hoagies. That’s what friends are for. Thanks boys! I couldn’t have done it without you.

My win of the week was seeing one of my advisors, Pat Kalish, get promoted to a leadership position. One of the best parts of leadership is developing other leaders, and Pat’s going to be fantastic. I’m proud of the work we’ve done together, and excited to see what he accomplishes from here.

Now it’s your turn. As you think about your “Shout outs” and “Wins of the week,” feel free to cringe at the exercise. I don’t mind if you roll your eyes at the guy reflecting during Final Four Weekend. But either way, I encourage you to give it a try, and let me know how it goes. You won’t regret it.

There’s a quote that sits on the window sill above our kitchen sink. It says, “Remember what and who matter most. Making a life is more important than making a living.” I always liked the reminder. Nowadays, I sometimes need the reminder.

Charlie started Daycare two weeks ago, and became sick within a few days. When Jordan and I received the call to “Please come pick up your kid,” we had our first tough Daycare decision to make. Yes, that inevitable conversation of who can drop what they’re doing to go get the child. That fun “whose meetings are more important this afternoon” debate. Unfortunately, these sicknesses don’t often go away overnight and we had to make the same decision over the next few days.

I understand all working parents go through this at varying degrees, but I’m now realizing that it’s not easy. I worried about my reliability. I felt guilty about letting people down. I wondered whether I was fulfilling my responsibilities. Jordan felt the same.

But then I was reminded.

Jordan and I were being reliable. We were fulfilling our most important duty. We were in fact prioritizing who and what matters most.

To be fair, I plan to be fully present at work when I have the opportunity, so I can be flexible when I need to be. I will try to manage my time strategically, so I can do more with less time. I will do whatever I can to make sure that the work gets done and the results don’t suffer.

But when that next sick day inevitably occurs, I now feel better about what I need to do. I know it will be time to drop what I’m doing and proudly be there for what matters most. It’ll take time to get used to, but I am constantly reminded that making a life is more important than making a living. I’m just glad that I have the flexibility to make that choice. I hope you will too.

There are a few things I need to survive. I need food, water, and shelter. I need a loving family. I need the occasional boys’ weekend.

There’s something special about a weekend in which ordinarily successful businessmen become the village idiots. There’s something refreshing when your most stressful decision is Kentucky vs. Wofford. There’s something classic about the old stories and jokes that never seem to get old.

I just got back from my buddy’s March Madness Bachelor Party in Atlantic City. It was another weekend full of the same debauchery, but brand new memories. They never disappoint.

I couldn’t do these weekends often, and I realize that as we get older and gain more responsibility, they will be fewer and farther between. Nevertheless, I do believe that the occasional weekend with your boys can make you a better family man, a more ambitious worker, and a happier person.

Cheers to all the guys that embrace these weekends and thank you to all the significant others that support them. I had a blast at this one, I look forward to the next one, and I’m glad to be home in the meantime.

“There will come a day when [her] memory brings a smile to your face before it brings a tear to your eye.” In the book, Promise Me, Dad, Joe Biden uses these words to describe the solace that we eventually find after suffering painful loss. 

It’s been 8 years since we lost Jordan’s mom.  Although time doesn’t fully heal the pain, I’ve seen more and more sad tears become big smiles over the years. In fact, as Jordan grows into the wife, mom, and woman that she’s become, Mrs. Bonder feels more present to me than ever.  

I’ve heard many stories about the host, friend, and mother that Mrs. Bonder was.  I’ve heard all about her love for classic movies and Broadway shows, and the times that their living room would become a stage for a mom and her two young girls. I’ve also heard about the warm and inviting environment that she always created in her home.  Unfortunately, the stories never fully do her justice.  I’ve been told that you have to see it to believe it.

Well, I’m seeing it right before my eyes.  I see it every time Jordan’s playing, giggling, and snuggling with Charlie.  I saw it on Christmas Day when we hosted the first Holiday in our new home. I hear it when Jordan’s dancing around the house singing show tunes as if the Tony Awards are happening in the kitchen.  

Jordan has picked up where her mom left off, creating the same environment and giving the same love that was created and given to her when she was growing up. Because of that, Mrs. Bonder’s presence brings a smile to Jordan’s face before her absence brings a tear to Jordan’s eyes.  Through this, we find solace.

Charlie may not have gotten the chance to meet her Grandmom in person, but I’m so glad that she gets to feel her and benefit from her every day through Jordan and the rest of the Bonder family. That right there brings a smile…ok and yeah, maybe a tear…to my face.  

Who is that person for you? Whomever it is, I hope thinking about them as you read this makes you smile, even if it makes you cry a little too.  In this moment, I hope you can find some solace.

Exactly 6 years ago, I was getting a calf massage on the floor of the Bryce Jordan Center after spending 39 hours on my feet.  With 7 hours of sleep deprivation and cramps left ahead of me, I needed to find some extra motivation to keep going.

It was THON weekend 2013, and Jordan and I had been selected to “dance” in Penn State’s annual fundraiser for pediatric cancer.  This honor meant we would spend the entire weekend standing “For the Kids.”

As my body fought every temptation to sit down, I remained motivated.  I was fueled by the honor to dance, the friends and family by my side, the energy in the arena, and our yearlong fundraising efforts.  I also found inspiration from those in my life who’ve been impacted by cancer, the THON kids, and the THON families going through these tragic circumstances.  All of these things kept me on my feet through those final challenging hours. 

However, what I didn’t know back when I was dancing was how it would feel one day to be a parent. As a student, I couldn’t yet fathom the intense combination of love and fear that would one day come along with being Charlie’s dad.  I had no way of comprehending the time and energy that parenting would require on even the smoothest days, let alone how the slightest deviation to the routine could throw off everything.  I didn’t yet appreciate the financial, career, and personal sacrifices that parents make under normal circumstances just to keep their children healthy and happy. 

Therefore, I couldn’t begin to imagine the degree in which a sick child would flip everything upside down. Seeing it from this new angle, I have an even greater admiration for the moms and dads who muster the courage to battle these challenging circumstances on a daily basis. They’ve got to be some of the strongest people in the world.

Now, as I look back and watch THON 6 years later, with a kid of my own, I get a different feeling.  I’m farther away from the event and the people participating in it, but what it represents hits closer to home than ever.  I’ve never been prouder to be part of the tradition. 

Cheers to all that danced (shout out to my boy, Jack Spinelli) and supported THON this year. We’ve raised another $10 Million, and continue to be part of something truly special.  Always remember, “One day we will dance in celebration, until then we will continue to dance for a cure.”

Jordan’s big return to work this week included a 3 day Sales Conference in Orlando, which left Charlotte under the supervision of an under qualified caretaker. Me.  

Although we traveled down to the resort together as a family, Jordan’s conference itinerary occupied her from early morning to late at night, which left me in charge of the parenting.  After spending the past 3 months with “Mom” Brady on maternity leave, our little Charlie Bear was all but destined for a step down in quality.

However, in my new role as Dad, I had no other choice but to take on the challenge. If my goal is to eventually make it to the “Family Man Hall of Fame,” my parental leave provided me the opportunity to start my conquest, whether I was ready or not.

While I approached the week with nervous anticipation,  I reminded myself of an important lesson: We’re rarely fully qualified to take on the important challenges that we face.  That can’t hold us back from diving in and giving our best effort.

As a matter of fact, it’s often been the moments spent outside of my comfort zone that have provided the most growth and advancement towards my personal goals and aspirations.  The only real way to be experienced is to get experience.  Spending the week with Charlie was quite an experience. 

So as I reflect on my performance this week:

Was I a masterful parent? Not even close. 

Did I make a lot of mistakes? Yes, but don’t tell Mom. 

Did Charlie survive and have lots of fun? She sure did.

Am I a much better Dad than I was last week? Absolutely. 

Now, I’ll turn the challenge back to you.  Ask yourself, What’s that next step that you want to take in your life or career that you’re not quite qualified for?  What’s holding you back from giving it a shot and stepping out of your comfort zone? 

I encourage you to take the leap, learn along the way, and see how much you grow.  You probably won’t regret it.  I know I don’t.