It’s one thing to work out when the weather’s got you down. We can brave the elements. Mother nature won’t beat us! We can bundle up or slather on sunblock. Drink more water and wear rain jackets. But what about when our own bodies turn against us?

As a parent, I’m used to espousing the value of boundaries. If you’ve ever explained to a child why they can’t play in the street, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Boundaries keep us safe. They draw that line in the sand between safe and unsafe, good and bad, and acceptable and unacceptable. While it may not be that black and white all the time, there is value to be found in our adult lives—especially our professional lives—in understanding the role of good boundaries.

There are a lot of people out there who believe that they’re stuck where they are. They’ve settled into their career and think it can’t change. Their life is what it is now and the chances that they didn’t take that maybe they should have, they didn’t, and it’s too late.

New year, new you. That’s what they say, right? New year’s resolutions can be great tools for reaching new, better versions of ourselves. They can help us accomplish our health and fitness goals, be better business people, better friends and employees, and just all-around better people. 

Negativity can take hold of any one of us if we let it. In leadership, there is a place for certain types of negativity. Negative feedback, for example, can be a necessary tool to help employees recognize their flaws and areas in which they need to grow. But for those of us in leadership, slipping into negative thinking or holding onto negative leadership traits can be detrimental to our role.

There’s something completely invigorating about running in the dead of winter. Cold weather makes you feel tingling and alive in ways that no other season can. Sure, it can get uncomfortable. But there something so briskly beautiful about the season, even when it is cold and gray. 

It should come to the surprise of no one that the top new year’s resolution for Americans, according to polls, tends to be some variation of “get fit,” “get healthy,” or “lose weight.”

With a new year here, it’s natural to start thinking about self-improvement, new goals, and resolutions. While most people will turn their minds to physical improvement (myself included), it’s also infinitely valuable to think about the ways in which we can improve ourselves mentally. Whether the goal of our self-improvement is to grow into better men for the sake of our careers, the people we love, or just for our own peace of mind, there are some traits that often go overlooked in the quest for improvement.

Those of you who are familiar with me know my background with Memphis Invest, a family-owned turnkey investment company out of Memphis, Tennessee. In fact, it’s my family! So it’s no surprise that I care a great deal about real estate and specifically, investing in real estate.

The holidays are in full swing! There’s something about this season that’s absolutely magical. No matter what’s going on in the world, good, bad, or ugly, we can all stop and appreciate the brightness and joy of the holidays. There’s something about the season that brings out the very best in people. We grow more generous, more patient, and more kind-hearted. There’s something in us that just can’t help but be the very best versions of ourselves.

As a runner, health and fitness are on my mind a lot. I’m often thinking about exercise, what I’m putting in my body, and not only my current physical fitness, but my long-term health. That said, I’m very aware of what happens around the holidays. There’s a cycle of “falling off the wagon,” with whatever exercise routines, diets, or good eating habits we may have had.

Money management is tough. It’s even tougher if you were never taught good money management habits when you were young! As children, teenagers, and even as young adults, learning how to handle money is crucial. Who do we look to to teach us how to handle our finances? Usually, it's our parents.