For many entrepreneurs and business leaders, the idea of taking an actual vacation feels impossible. Your business is your baby, and stepping away can trigger anxiety about lost revenue, missed opportunities, or things simply going off the rails. It’s no wonder we come back feeling like we need a vacation from the vacation!

But here’s the truth: taking time off isn’t a luxury. It’s a leadership skill. When done right, it can boost your creativity, recharge your energy, and improve long-term decision-making. Trust me, it’s a lesson I had to learn, too. There have been times in my life when I neglected vacation—neglected real rest—and paid the price.

In today’s busy world, processed foods are everywhere. They’re quick to grab, easy to heat, and often addictively delicious. Some studies estimate that approximately 70% of the U.S. food supply consists of ultraprocessed foods. And I get it—these are quick, cheap foods that we don’t have to think about. But behind the flashy packaging and bold flavors, these foods wreak havoc on our health in ways we don’t immediately see. So, what happens to your body when you eat processed food, and why does it spell bad news for our health?

At this point, AI seems to be an inevitable integration in the workplace. It’s astonishing (and honestly, a little scary) how much AI has dramatically improved in just a few years. There appear to be two camps: tech bros eager to embrace all that AI has to offer with abandon, and those who insist that we reject modernity and embrace tradition. 

I’m not so sure it’s that simple, though. There are complex and nuanced considerations regarding the ethics of AI, from potential plagiarism to environmental concerns. 

But if you’re not utilizing AI somehow, you might feel left out. And make no mistake, AI has been around for longer than you think. Artificial intelligence encompasses far more than ChatGPT and image generation.

Who doesn’t love summer? Sunshine, longer days, beach trips, barbeques…

But with all that summer fun comes rising temperatures. And when Mother Nature brings the heat, we must be cautious to avoid dehydration. If you're an active professional juggling work, workouts, and family life, proper hydration isn't just about drinking more water; it's about staying sharp, safe, and energized for you and your loved ones. 

Here’s why hydration is crucial in extreme heat, and how your whole family can stay healthy all summer long.

Being in charge comes with challenges that the average employee doesn’t face. When you own your own business or have a leadership role, criticism from clients and customers can feel especially personal. You might be tempted to get defensive because your feelings are hurt. I know I’ve been there!

Critique can be painful. It’s especially excruciating when you’re trying your best and when your business is your “baby.”

Sometimes, we’re too busy and burned out to think about dinner. Maybe we eat a lot of business lunches. Regardless of the reason for eating out (or ordering in), it can’t derail your diet and nutrition goals. 

At the same time, making wise nutritional choices while eating out or ordering in can be a challenge. Just about everywhere you look, you’ll find jumbo portions and menus packed with high-calorie temptations. But with a few intentional habits and strategies, you can enjoy your meal without sabotaging your health goals.

Mindfulness practices have been around for a long time, primarily in Eastern cultures, where religious beliefs often integrate meditation—a formal version of mindfulness. However, mindfulness doesn’t have to resemble meditation.

Making business decisions is difficult enough. It’s easy to become overwhelmed when there are numerous choices, potential paths, and outcomes. That alone would give any leader a headache but throw in an ethical dilemma, and it all becomes that much more complex.

I’m not going to sit here and say that I’ve always made the right decisions. Any professional—any person—worth their salt is open and honest about their mistakes. I strive to be the kind of guy myself.

I live in Tennessee. According to the statistics, the year-round humidity level in Memphis is 67%. To put that in perspective, anything above 55% is considered high humidity. A humidity level of 70% is regarded as extreme. So, really, what I’m saying is it’s wet out here! 

Combine that with Southern temperatures, and things get steamy.

Picture this:

Your work week starts normally—everything seems to be business as usual. But slowly, you notice something amiss. One of your employees seems to be distracted. Forgetful. Scatter-brained. They’re dropping the ball, which isn’t normal for them. They’re usually focused and diligent.

You feel like you can let one “off” day slide. However, it continues to happen throughout the week. You know you need to address it—your team’s performance depends on it.

I’ve found myself in a similar situation before. And listen, I’m not a perfect leader. I don’t always handle things as I should, especially in hindsight. (That’s partly why I’m writing this—so you can learn from my mistakes!) 

And I admittedly came at the situation with more annoyance than I should have in this case. But it quickly became clear that something much bigger than me—bigger than any job—was going on when this person looked at me with tears welling up in their eyes.

“My mom has cancer.”

Eating well takes effort. At one point in my life, maybe nutrition was an afterthought. I was too busy to think about how I was fueling my body. I just went for whatever was quick and convenient. (Which, unfortunately, is not often nutritious!)

I know how hard it can be when your mind is in a million different places. But believe me, nutrition is worth the space in your brain. It’s worth making a priority.

Starting your own business is hard. Entrepreneurs have their work cut out for themselves, though—because the hard part never really stops. You may shift into new seasons when you can rest more or enjoy newfound financial stability. But here’s the thing about owning your own enterprise: you’re responsible for keeping it going.

Future-proofing a business is one of the smartest things entrepreneurs can focus on, especially with how fast tech, markets, and consumer behavior evolve. You don’t want your business to end prematurely. So, take these tactics to heart so your business thrives through thick and thin!

For entrepreneurs and business owners, stepping into a formal leadership role is an inevitable shift. Becoming a first-time leader means evolving from a hands-on doer to someone who inspires, empowers, and drives results through others. Once you start building a business with a team or find yourself promoted to a managerial role, you might feel lost. I know it was that way for me in the beginning!

But with the right mindset and strategy, you can step into leadership confidently and effectively.

Here’s how to make that shift successfully.

What do you consider the most crucial aspect of your exercise routine? I’ll be honest, you can make a case for many different aspects of working out. Form? Essential! Equipment? Non-negotiable! A training plan? Absolutely necessary. 

But for me, as an endurance runner? I believe recovery is the most critical part of my exercise routine. And it’s also one of the most neglected.

Endurance running takes a heavy toll on the body, so smart recovery is crucial—not just to bounce back, but for long-term performance gains. With that in mind, I’ve been considering all the different ways to recover from intense exertion.

Have you ever stopped to consider just how weird it is that we have April Fool’s Day as a holiday? Most holidays have some form of significance, whether religious or cultural. But April Fool’s? I did a bit of digging this year and discovered that plenty of cultures have days dedicated to harmless pranks, but there’s no straightforward “origin story” for what we call April Fool’s Day.

Every entrepreneur feels stuck sometimes. Maybe you’ve been lost in the weeds, pulled away from the big picture. Maybe it’s been tough – you’re treading water, just trying to stay afloat, and the thought of doing more than surviving seems impossible. Perhaps you’re just burned out, jaded, and done with it all.

Where do unhealthy habits come from? Nutrition can be tough to navigate in the United States, especially with the prevalence of processed foods and nutritional misinformation. Even now, so many things are marketed as “healthy” alternatives that it’s hard to know what we can really trust. But still, I don’t want to discourage you from tweaking your diet.

Even small changes to your diet can greatly impact your health and nutrition. You don’t have to revamp your whole diet overnight. But here are some easy swaps you can begin to make to live a healthier life:

Would you consider yourself a disciplined person? Many of us can see the dedication, commitment, and willpower in others and think, “Oh, man. I could never do that!”
It's important to remember that discipline, while not innate, is a skill that can be developed by anyone.

Discipline goes against our natural tendencies. Our brains are wired for comfort, instant gratification, and energy conservation, which makes it difficult to choose effort and delayed rewards over immediate pleasure. Overcoming this isn’t easy, whether you’re trying to build a career or get in shape. (I’ve been through it myself! No one becomes an endurance runner overnight.)

No matter where you land on the professional ladder, you will be surrounded by other people. And you may not get along with those people. We’re human! Sometimes others rub us the wrong way, earn our ire, or are just plain difficult to work with. It might not even involve personal problems – maybe you don’t mesh. 

Even the most accomplished leaders understand that effectively working with people they find difficult or unlikeable is an inevitable part of their journey, regardless of industry.

Taking the high road and doing what’s best for business isn’t always easy when emotions get in the way. Here’s how I’ve learned to navigate working with people I don’t necessarily get along with.