I run most mornings through Germantown before the sun comes up. Same routes, same rhythm, same pace. It's comfortable. I know every turn, every hill, every place where the streetlights cut out.

And it’s nice. But it isn’t growth. Still exercise? Of course. Still valuable? Undoubtedly. But will it push me to the next level? Not exactly.

Business is no different. When everything feels easy, when you can operate on autopilot, that's usually when you're in the most danger. Not from external threats, but from your own complacency.

I used to think protein powder was the answer to everything. Shaker bottles in my car, protein bars in my briefcase, and enough supplement tubs in my kitchen to stock a GNC. Then I realized I was making nutrition way too complicated for someone who runs companies, trains for ultras, and feeds five kids every night.

After years of overcomplicating my nutrition, I've landed on a protein strategy so simple that I can execute it during my busiest weeks. No measuring, no obsessing, no special trips to specialty stores. Just real food, strategic timing, and enough consistency to fuel both boardroom presentations and 20-mile training runs.

Five kids, five different schedules, five sets of needs—and somehow, my wife and I make it work. As I lace up my running shoes for my daily miles through Germantown, I can't help but reflect on how raising five children has fundamentally shaped my approach to business growth and leadership.

Most business books talk about scaling in terms of systems and processes. But parenting five kids? That's the ultimate masterclass in operational efficiency, resource allocation, and strategic thinking.

Last week, I calculated something disturbing: I spend 12 hours weekly on conference calls. That's 624 hours annually—or 26 full days—sitting still, staring at a screen, slowly morphing into my office chair. As someone training for ultras alongside my (busy) career, those numbers felt like thieves.

Then I had an epiphany: What if these calls weren't stealing my fitness time but adding to it? What if every "This meeting could have been an email" moment became a training opportunity?