I still get excited before every keynote. Because in a few minutes, a room full of strangers will gather together carrying their own stories, challenges, hopes, fears, and dreams. And somehow, for a brief moment, we get to remember that we're not alone. That's what I've come to love most about this work. People often think speaking is about standing on a stage and delivering a message. But for me, it's about creating a shared human experience. It's about helping people see themselves, each other, and what's possible through a different lens. Stories have a way of doing that. A single story can soften a heart. Restore perspective. Spark courage. Open a door that someone thought was closed. And when that happens, lives don't just change in the ballroom. They change when people go home. So before every keynote, there is this quiet feeling of excitement and wonder: Who might discover something they needed today?

I’ve been thinking about what it actually means to feel “safe” together. It’s tempting to think safety means there isn’t much disagreement. I’m increasingly convinced it might mean almost the opposite. In a genuinely safe environment, I can tell you what I really think... even when you don’t agree. I can misunderstand something. Ask the wrong question. Suggest an idea that goes nowhere. Change my mind. And none of that puts my belonging at risk. That matters in our workplaces because creativity & innovation require it. But I suspect it matters just as much everywhere else human beings are trying to build something meaningful together. Maybe safety isn’t knowing we’ll agree. It’s knowing our relationship can hold the disagreement.

After a speech, I received this note: “At one point in your talk I thought to myself, he is talking about me & how I feel sometimes. It has given me an ‘aha!’ moment that I am not the only one with these feelings.” Dear friend, whatever you are struggling with today, you are not the only one with these feelings. You are never alone. And you are dearly loved.

I love these photos. The past 2 weeks have been filled with birthday celebrations with people I love. Thanks to everyone who’s helped make this moment special. I hold you in my heart with gratitude & affection. Let’s see what happens next!

Some of the best work I’ve ever done happened because I had a plan… and then I was willing to depart from it. Documentary filmmaking taught me this. There’s always structure behind the work. There is a process, preparation, an intention for where things might go. But then another human being enters the equation. And suddenly the ability to be present matters just as much as the plan. Listen. Notice. Respond. Follow something interesting when it appears. I’ve come to think of my work as a constant dance between structure and flow. And whether you’re telling stories, leading a team, serving a customer, or simply trying to connect with another person, I suspect a lot of great work happens somewhere in that dance.

Big news in my speaking world! 🎉 Excited to share that I've officially joined the exclusive speaker roster at @PremiereSpeaker! I recently spent time in Nashville visiting their offices and getting to know their team. What an inspiring group! I came away feeling so grateful for their warmth, enthusiasm, and shared excitement about the possibilities ahead. I'm especially thrilled to continue expanding the reach of Instant Storytelling, bringing the voices & stories of real people into the heart of live keynote experiences. Premiere will be my new home for speaking representation, and I am delighted that this partnership also allows me to continue collaborating with my friends at other speaker bureaus across the industry. Feeling incredibly grateful for this new chapter, the people I'll get to work alongside, and all the possibilities ahead. Here's to the stories we will tell together!

Today is my 50th Birthday! And maybe the greatest gift is realizing: Nothing is missing. There are still things I want to create. Adventures I want to have. New chapters I’m excited to explore. I just don’t need any of them to turn out a certain way for me to be OK. There’s something wonderfully freeing about wanting what’s next without needing what’s next. Thanks to everyone who has supported me along the way. I love you. Here’s to the journey ahead!

Real power isn’t about controlling outcomes. It’s about mastering how you respond to them.

On one of my flights, I sat next to George Costanza's parents. For 2 hours, I experienced a real-life episode of Seinfeld. They argued about: - which of them had more legroom & largest seat (he used his finger lengths to scientifically measure), - whether it was ethical to accept the free snacks, - the symptoms of altitude sickness (many people fake it), - the hypocrisy of Airplane Mode ("just turn your phone off!") - whether a small child running down the aisle would unbalance the plane & cause a crash, - whether the parents of this running child should be allowed to travel by air in a civilized society, - the low level of sleeping gas being pumped in the air system to lower costs on serving drinks, - the most comfortable socks for air travel, - whether it is ever appropriate to shout loudly on planes... and so much more. I wanted to hug them at the end of the flight, but decided it might be inappropriate. I love them both. Best flight ever! 😀

I hope you love your job as much as I love mine. When your work aligns with your heart, everything flows from joy!

Our son Logan passed the bar exam! And he’s now officially sworn in as an attorney in Florida. He’s already started his first job as a lawyer in Tampa. So proud. What an honor to walk through the journey with this kid!

After 250+ keynotes, my understanding of what I’m actually doing onstage has changed. Of course, the content matters. I want to offer ideas that challenge people, shift perspectives, and help them move forward differently. But I’ve come to believe there’s another part of the job that matters just as much: What am I bringing into the room? My posture. My facial expression. How I look at people. The spirit and tone with which I communicate. Before I ever walk onstage, I’m increasingly conscious not only of "what am I going to say?" I’m also asking: "What is my presence already saying?" I think that’s a useful leadership question far beyond the keynote stage.

Curiosity has become one of the ideas I return to again and again in my keynotes. Not simply as a way to learn something new, but as a way of seeing one another differently. A curious person doesn’t enter every conversation already knowing the answer. They leave a little room to be surprised. And sometimes that small opening is enough for a new story, a deeper connection, or an unexpected possibility to emerge. Maybe creating a brighter future begins with something surprisingly simple: being willing to ask a different question.

When you know what matters, you stop spinning and start moving forward.

I recently sat down at a Starbucks and suddenly felt like I’d traveled back in time. At the table beside me was a young man in his early 20's meeting with a family about filming their daughter’s wedding. That was me at 22. I remembered the awkward client meetings. Not knowing how to answer questions. Being told I was too young, too inexperienced, too expensive. Even hiding my hail-damaged car down the street because I was embarrassed for clients to see it. I also remembered how hard I could be on myself for not already being the person I was still in the process of becoming. All these years later, I realized something: I’m still becoming. Different circumstances. Different questions. Same unfinished human being. Today, you have permission to be gentle with the person you are becoming.

Our son Judah is now posting uplifting videos on Instagram. I’m a little biased, but you might love these videos as much as I do! 😁 You can follow him on Instagram @ praisebreakgotta

The best keynotes begin long before anyone walks onto the stage. Some of the most meaningful stories are already in the room, within the experiences, challenges, hopes, and perspectives of the people who gathered there. That’s why I love listening first. When the people in the audience become part of the story we’re telling together, a keynote can become more than a one-way presentation. It becomes a shared experience that could only have happened with this group, in this room, on this day.