Leading You to Live Out Your God-Given Mission
"To be better, you have to have the courage to open your eyes and look.
To be the best, you have to take action on what you now see."
- Lisa Marie Platske
Leadership is a journey that never truly ends.
You walk through your life, doing the usual things.
You work.
You come home.
You go to sleep.
Maybe you work out …
Maybe you spend time with people who love you ...
On this journey, you probably experience one hard thing after another ...
... constant storms that take your breath away ...
~ Sickness - your own or a loved one
~ Divorce or a bad break-up
~ Death of a parent or a child
~ An abusive boss or relationship
~ A painful childhood
~ Bankruptcy
~ Business deals that went sideways
The list goes on and on.
You think, "This isn't the way my life is supposed to go. When am I going to finally catch a break?!?"
It brings up feelings of ...
~ Loneliness
~ Heartache
~ Regret
~ Desperation
~ Being lost
... a feeling of not being good enough for good things
... or sometimes even shame or embarrassment, wondering what you did
wrong, or what you did to deserve this.
Like so many others, you never address the root of your problems because
you're told by the world to:
"... suck it up ...
get it together ...
move on ...
plow forward ...
keep grinding …
because everyone has hard things ..."
You get bombarded with the dangerous message that --
"Winners push through. Losers wallow.
So, you should just shut up - and get back to work.
Because that's what leaders do, they lead."
Yet this message is exactly that - dangerous.
Because it has you keep pushing .. and pushing ... and pushing ...
... collecting one heartache after another, never fully realizing the consequences on your spirit or the toll it is taking on your body.
And, what if they got it wrong ...
... and your attempts to cope with the pain through ...
~ Sex or empty relationships
~ Drugs - prescription or not
~ Alcohol
~ Long hours at the office
~ Working out incessantly
... all trying to fill the ache.
You tell yourself, "I can do hard. Whatever it takes to succeed."
Yet, there's a nagging ache in your heart and soul as you move
through each day - and it keeps getting bigger.
Along the way,
You forget how to have fun.
You forget how to laugh.
You forget how to relax.
You forget how to just be ... you.
One day, you wake up and look around - shocked.
You've got all the right stuff.
The car. The house. The clothes.
People look at you -- and see you as successful.
A Leader.
Yet, you know the truth. The scary truth.
You're standing at a crossroads.
With a great big ache in your being, wondering what to do.
Oh, I get it.
I've had that ache.
And I tried to numb it for years.
What I learned is that ...
... You can do the usual stuff that's not really working - or you can venture
into what I refer to as the Messy Unknown.
No one ever thinks they'll be standing at this crossroads.
And few people will admit it.
I certainly didn't want to.
I remember thinking, "How did I even get here?!? I had everything all planned out..."
You set out to be a certain person in life - and life hits you so hard that you begin making compromises that take you so far off track from who you know you are and doing what you know you are meant to do.
So I hesitated, and questioned if I had the courage to take this journey.
The journey into the Messy Unknown.
Did I have the courage to take the leap of faith that I knew I needed to take to get what I truly wanted?
My biggest fear at the time was what if it didn't work?!?
Yet, I knew I couldn't stay where I was.
Fast forward ...
... and this journey of leadership gave me ease, peace, and freedom ... and a level of health, happiness, success and meaning that is hard to describe.
When you study my life, you'd understand.
Right now, you're doing something in your life to get something that you've been told you should want ... and can't even see what that is. (Read that again.)
We all have unconscious behaviors and drivers.
Over time, they stack up and keep us from having a meaningful and happy life.
Yet, when you're the one driving the bus, it's hard to see how the engine actually works.
You need someone from the outside who recognizes your past successes, sees your shortcomings, and is able to give you a blueprint for a new operating system that will give you ease, joy, and peace.
What if you 100% knew that your ache would be gone if you took this journey?
Want to know where to begin?
It starts with a single step.
Just one.
One decision from getting off the never-ending treadmill.
One decision from getting out of the hustle and grind.
One decision from getting from here to there.
Let's have a call.
Together, we are going to address the ache, the pain, and the prosperous path forward.
You're one decision away.
Don’t look back five years from now wishing you would have taken that leap of faith.
All you have is this precious moment,
So don’t waste it.
One decision, one call, one opportunity to transform your life.
Begin YourJourney
When you apply Upside Thinking to your life, you will enjoy clarity, peace of mind, and ease - and be the kind of leaders others want to follow.
Access the Health, Happiness, Success, and Meaning You Desire
Whether you want to have more influence in your workplace or home, enjoy a fulfilling career, or grow your business on your terms so you can make a bigger positive impact in the world...
You need leadership.
Not just any leadership – Courageous Leadership.
We can provide you with the tools and strategies to get you to your destination.
After almost 25 years of researching the very best leadership methodologies and working with clients we’ve proven that our live events, online courses, and coaching programs take you on a journey of leadership -- one that is aligned with your values, customized and develops your true potential.
For years, I hung around with folks who told me I had to build an empire. And to build an empire, I needed: More clients More employees More products More space More revenue More choices Because this is what success looks like. Yet, it really was just more complication. And it made me dread doing the work that I once loved. Over time, I got the "more" I really needed was focus… and belief in God's grace and favor. I've been in a season of letting go. 100% of what I'm doing has been under examination for about 15 months. I've been looking at all the areas that may be costing me money, time, and energy I don’t need to spend. I've said good-bye to entire product lines, software, and processes. I've also been purging what’s in my home and closet, examining the clothes in my wardrobe, and what’s in the garage and barn. All of this has allowed me to untether from what I own. None of these things define me. When I left federal law enforcement, I remember feeling lost. I turned in my badge, my gun, and what felt like my identity. I am not my business, my sales, my revenue, -- or even my profits. The focus has been to simplify — and not add more "stuff" to my life. I've got folks who come to me with: Complicated systems Employee hassles Warehouse worries ... ... and more line items than in a Senate appropriations bill. And there's some value they get from having a business that looks like that. What do you get from creating complexity in your life?!? I promise you that you get something. The questions I've been asking myself louder every day are: ~ "Does this get me closer to living out my Divine mission?" ~ "Does this allow me to be a greater force for good on the planet?" If the answer is no, it's got to go. I see too many leaders carrying weight they were never meant to carry, overwhelmed by things that were never theirs to hold. They know something needs to shift, and they don’t step back long enough to make it happen. That’s why I’m intentional about creating space for leaders to reset and realign. Because clarity doesn’t come from doing more—it comes from stripping away the unnecessary. If you’ve been feeling that nudge to step away from the noise and get clear on what actually matters, consider scheduling a Private, Leadership retreat at Summit Hills Farm. I have a limited number of private retreat days available for 2025. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to identify one thing adding complexity without real value. Ask yourself: Does this align with my Divine mission? Is it making a real impact? Would letting go create more space for what matters? If not, release it. Less clutter, more clarity. Less doing, more purpose. The world doesn’t need more of your stuff—it needs you.
Hope isn't a strategy. You can’t hope your way into a better job, career, or business. You can’t hope your way into a better relationship. And you can’t hope your way into a better life. I've watched people who "hope" others will trust them enough to do business with them. Or hire them for their dream job. Or "hope" that the most talented people out there will want to work with them in their company. Or "hope" that the man or woman of their dreams will show up on their doorstep and ask them out. Hope is defined as a "feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen." When invest time to get clear about who you are, what you want, and why it matters, it's more than just feeling your desire for something. You spent time, energy, and money creating clarity for your soul. This Upside leadership principle ensures you're not strong in only one area of your life - while being completely out of balance everywhere else. It keeps you from burning out after a year, or even a few. Because operating with clarity, confidence, and strategy ensures you get results that last. And that requires more than just hope. What kind of difference could that type of clarity make for you? If you want to be successful and profitable all areas of your life, this is the work I do so perhaps you're being called to dive in deeper to this community. Because the world needs you at your best. And hope isn’t the way to get there. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to identify one area where you’ve been hoping instead of leading. Where have you been waiting for a breakthrough instead of creating one? Take one decisive action today to move forward. Make the call. Send the email. Have the conversation. Do the work. Because God moves with you when you do.
A few years ago, I felt as if I was on a hamster wheel in my business. It seemed as if I was in the same place every morning - and running fast. Maybe you can relate. I knew I needed someone else to take a look and see what I couldn't because I was too close to it. I sought out someone who would let me learn from their mistakes and not have to make them all on my own. That’s one of the greatest benefits of leadership coaching. Can you be a leader without it? Sure. Yet, the odds of you wildly succeeding are stacked against you for so many reasons. And the biggest one is, you will be light-years behind your competitors if you have to make all of the mistakes on your own. You can always benefit from wisdom gained through others' direct experience, thereby saving yourself a great deal of time and energy. And, you never outgrow the need for coaching. For example, although my leadership coaching and consulting give my clients insights into other industries and companies and have them consider questions they may never have thought about, I, too, have undergone gap analyses in my own business. With the help of others, over 15 months, I examined every single activity that every team member did as well as scrutinizing where my time gets INVESTED. I brought in someone to look at processes for operations, and had a firm conduct a financial audit. We re-wrote SOP's (standard operating procedures), streamlined systems, and eliminated duplication. Some of the questions that I asked were: ~ Is this the simplest way to do this? ~ Is this (action, system, app, etc.) truly needed to run the business? ~ Is everyone on the team committed to the mission, values, and vision of Upside Thinking? ~ What can be automated or done differently? ~ What am I missing? While I talk to business owners almost every day with these questions in mind, it was an interesting journey to do this for me and my business and understand how important it is to ensure the people around me are involved in the process despite this being my area of expertise. Sometimes you can’t see what’s in front of you on your own. You have to be willing to see a new perspective. And then you have to be willing to do something about it. Sometimes, you need to step out of your current environment completely to gain the perspective you’re missing. That’s why I create spaces where leaders can reflect, and recalibrate. If this resonates with you, consider signing up for a Private, Leadership Retreat Day at Summit Hills Farm in Richmond, Kentucky. Our Spring and Fall Upside Retreats are already sold out. And I have a limited number of private retreat days available for 2025. Make a plan to reset, gain clarity, and step fully into what’s next for you. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to be committed to personal development, understanding you can't see what's getting in the way on your own. So, where in your business or life do you need outside perspective? Be open to taking action to get the answers needed to move forward with greater ease. Remember, you’re here for a reason… …and the world needs you and your brilliance.
That’s the question, isn’t it? If we’re connected, you’re probably not someone who settles. You stretch yourself regularly, and you know there’s always more to do and be. Yet even the most conscious leaders can fall into the comfort of what’s familiar. It’s easy to mistake movement for progress, busyness for impact, and routine for purpose. Settling doesn’t always look like giving up, it often looks like: ~ Saying “yes” to things that keep you busy and yet you don’t move you forward ... ~ Downplaying your vision because it feels too big or uncertain ... ~ Waiting for clarity instead of creating it through action ... ~ Feeling restless yet unsure how to break through ... It’s not a lack of ambition. Rather, it’s a lack of space to recalibrate, strategize, and listen to what’s next. Stretching requires intention. It means: ~ Surrounding yourself with people who challenge you to expand ~ Creating space for deep, strategic thinking ~ Taking bold action even when the path isn’t fully mapped out ~ Bringing God into the process so you’re aligned, not just accomplished I used to wonder where leaders -- those who wanted to change the world -- went to do this kind of work, to breathe life into their vision and build their next level. When I couldn’t find it, I built it. A space for those who refuse to settle for “someday.” Because when you decide to stretch into your highest calling, clarity follows. And when you surround yourself with others who are doing the same, transformation happens. Where are you stretching next? ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to identify one area where you’ve been holding back, whether it’s speaking up, taking a bold step, or committing fully to your vision, Then take one action today to stretch beyond it. Growth happens when you move past comfort. And the miracle happens after you take the leap of faith.
Everyone wants success, yet few are willing to take the steps required to make it happen. The difference between those who wish for more and those who create it comes down to one thing — moving from belief to bold, faith-filled action. Napoleon Hill famously wrote in PMA: Science of Success Course that "The majority of people never discover the difference between wishing and believing; nor do they recognize that there are six steps which people usually follow in using their mind-power for the attainment of their desires. These steps are: First: Wishing or having wishes. The vast majority of people go through life by merely wishing for things. The percentage of people who stop at wishing is estimated to be 70%. Second: Developing wishes into desires. A much smaller percentage of the people develop their wishes into desires. These are estimated at 10%. Third: Developing wishes and desires into hopes. A still smaller percentage, estimated to be 8%, develop their wishes and desires into hopes. Fourth: Use mind-power to form hopes into beliefs. A still smaller percentage, estimated at only 6%, apply their mind-power up to do this step. Fifth: Crystallize wishes, desires, hopes, and beliefs into burning desire and faith. A very much smaller percentage of people, 4%, get this far in transforming their initial wishes. Sixth: Put faith into action by (1) planning and (2) carrying out those plans. The percentage of people who take the last two steps, putting their faith into action, is estimated to be only 2%. The outstanding leaders in every walk of life are the ones who carry on through each step and reach the sixth. They are a small group who recognize the power of their own minds, take possession of that power, and direct it to whatever ends they choose. To these people, the word impossible has no truth to it—no relevance to their lives. To them, everything they want or need is possible, and they manage to get it or make it happen." To quote Napoleon Hill, "The only trait which differentiates them from most of the others who accept failure as their lot, is that they recognize and use their mind's power for the attainment of the circumstances and things they want while the others do not. " I believe that this process, this use of my mind, and the power of my intention are how I ended up with a farm, barn, caretaker's cottage, and an event center. When you surround yourself with the right environment and take intentional steps forward, the shift from wishing to action becomes easier. That’s why I created the Upside Retreat , a space designed to help purpose-led leaders move beyond possibility and into reality. You were created with the power to bring your vision to life. Every desire placed on your heart is there for a reason, and it's your responsibility to move it forward. Action, guided by faith, is what creates transformation. So trust the process. Lean into what’s possible. And take the next step. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to recognize where you started with a wish and went through all six steps to bring it into action or being. If you cannot find an example, start today. Commit to persevering, to ignoring the concept of impossible. Whether you are celebrating a past success or starting anew, strengthen your mind-muscle around developing wishes through beliefs to faith to fruition. Go shine your light. Because the world needs you and your brilliance.
Creating a life you want sounds like it should be EASY … … yet most people get caught up in the busyness of life and fail to identify what they truly desire. Studies show that very few people actually live a life that aligns with what they deeply want. See, most people fill in the blanks with what they believe they can have, rather than what they truly want. To build a life that reflects your deepest desires, you must have absolute clarity about what you want and why. Instead, many have a “dream life list" centered around things, rather than what matters at a Soul level. When you have CLARITY at a cellular level: ~> You don’t get distracted by bright, shiny objects. ~> You make choices based on what matters most at all times. ~> You focus on the journey rather than just the final destination. ~> You fully experience and enjoy each moment, even amidst challenges. There are no “failures” … … just opportunities to learn, pivot, and grow. Humans are hardwired to learn and improve. If we weren’t, we never would have left the cave, invented the wheel, explored new lands, or traveled to outer space. To gain this level of clarity, your life must have SPACIOUSNESS . If you’re in constant motion, it may seem counterintuitive to slow down. Yes, the world will keep turning, and the people around you will keep moving. Giving yourself time away will leave you refreshed and make you a better friend, parent, spouse, leader, and human. And when you step away, even for a short while, you gain the bandwidth to reflect and reconnect with what truly matters. That’s what intentional time on the farm has given me and it’s exactly why I created my Upside Retreats. Time and time again, I’ve watched my clients step away from the demands of everyday life and step into the clarity they’ve been searching for. They leave with renewed energy, a clear vision, and the confidence to make decisions that align with their highest purpose. For most of my life, I’ve made time away a priority, because I am a priority in my own life. And each time I step into that space, I’m reminded of what’s essential. Take the time. Be clear about who you are, what you want, and why it matters. It’s one of the best investments you’ll ever make. Because a life you love, one that feels aligned at a Soul level, doesn’t just happen. It’s created with intention. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to: Make the decision to invest in yourself. Clear some space in your calendar. Use that space wisely… to breathe, reflect, and realign. Room for replenishment. Room for insight. Go shine your light. The world needs you and your brilliance.
There is an African proverb that has been hanging on the wall in my office for 15 years which reads, “You are the connections you weave.” As someone who values connection, it’s been a personal mantra of mine. The tales of suffering and joy or tragedy and triumph bring about potential connection to others. They reveal our humanity. When shared at the right time and in the right context, they can be powerful gateways that open the doors to unseen opportunities. One of the pillars in my 7 Pillars of Leadership is to “Build Powerful Partnerships. ” Partnership begins with connection, making connection the business equivalent to using a lever in physics. With less effort, you achieve bigger results. The single characteristic shared by all of the successful people I’ve met in my life is their ability to connect and authentically build powerful partnerships, seeking to create a world where everyone wins. Now, these aren’t necessarily formal partnerships; they are connections that lead to opportunities, influence, and impact. And it’s something I taught in-depth at the Upside Summit. Three years ago, I said “YES!” to my friend Alan Belcher's invitation to sponsor his Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship debut. It came after prayerful discernment. I meditated and pendulum tested – and was clear this was mine to do. Never in my wildest dreams could I have envisioned it was ultimately a Leadership Vision Quest expedition filled with countless blessings along the way. From booking the flight to the conversation with several of the guys who were attending before the event to dinner before the event to the fight night at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center to watching the undercard fights to witnessing Alan’s commitment to designing his destiny – and securing a big W to the flight back home, there were more serendipitous moments where God was ever-present than I can count. Back to that proverb, “You are the connections you weave.” Who you choose to do life with matters. Remember, leadership is about inspiring, guiding, and directing others to their Highest and Best good and it doesn’t happen in a vacuum. The best leaders understand they need others to reflect back to them who they are and to steady them, providing connection and inspiration. ~ What connections are you weaving? ~ What do your connections say about who you are? The world needs you and your brilliance. Now more than ever. Go shine your light. ACTION: The Upside Challenge is to reach out to someone in your network you haven’t spoken to in a while. Send a message, schedule a call, or reconnect over coffee. The right connections don’t just happen, they’re cultivated with intention. You never know what opportunities, insights, or inspiration could come from a single conversation. Who’s on your heart right now? Reach out today.
In the past, I’ve looked in the mirror and seen a reflection of someone who wasn't good enough to have good things. So I would hide behind false bravado, pretending I felt worthy. I sized up my wins with an imaginary measuring stick. Over the years, what I've learned is ... ~ We all make mistakes. ~ We all get stuff wrong -- or feel like we can't get right. ~ We all say stupid stuff at some point in our lives. And, I've learned getting honest with yourself and being vulnerable is where real change begins. It can lead to forgiveness, including forgiveness of self. See, forgiveness is freeing. It's the only thing that changes the past, present, and future simultaneously in an instant. It's been a LONG TIME since I've been that girl looking in the mirror feeling so much less than enough. And I'm more committed now than ever to living out my divine purpose. Are you? ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to identify any destructive self-talk and decide to end it. Break the habit. Forgive yourself. Decide to be more committed to your divine purpose than to your old thinking. Set up a reward structure for your success. The world needs you and your brilliance.
"Of course …" “I just knew that would happen.” “I never seem to catch a break.” Maybe these thoughts have entered your head when something went sideways for you, after feeling as if you had gained a bit of momentum and were moving forward. Something must have happened that created a temporary setback. Only you can’t see your way out of it in the moment, and it doesn’t feel so temporary. Then a voice creeps in, validating every doubt you tried to squash, telling you that what you wanted just wasn’t possible—for you. Ouch. For you. Yeah, everyone else can have that sweet taste of success, and you somehow feel you were forgotten by God. For most people, this is the end of the story. Game over. The skeptical inner chatterbox wins again. The setback is simply evidence that other people are really more talented or favored, and what you want isn’t attainable anyway. So you choose to shrink a little, and simultaneously puff out your chest, telling yourself you didn’t really want "x" anyway. Yet for Upside Leaders, the setback isn’t the end of the road. They see it as an unexpected detour on the journey. Oh, and I get that more than most people right now, as I've been channeling my Upside Warrior for the past month, facing challenges with massive amounts of courage. Several friends have even shared they are in awe that I’m still standing after witnessing the blows I’ve faced. You may ask yourself the same question: What makes these two people different? Choice. Direction. Commitment. And, CONSISTENT ACTION. If you feel as if you keep experiencing setback after setback, and you’re not experiencing the BIG W, take an honest look at your consistent actions: Are you living your priority? Are you living moment by moment? Are you noticing—and celebrating—your small wins? Years ago, I got a flat tire on a dangerous highway in New Jersey. I stopped and was grateful for three things: I had a spare. A stranger saw me and offered to help. I didn’t wear white that day. Are you choosing to take consistent action and move forward just 1% ... in all areas of your life every single day?!? Setbacks are part of life and part of being human. Most people spend a good portion of their day looking back instead of being present. The best way to bend and not break when unexpected challenges confront you is to stay the course. The lyrics for one of the songs I've played in past Upside Summits' goes, “ And I’m taking it step by step, day by day, mile by mile … ” People with an Upside attitude see opportunities, not roadblocks. If you’re struggling with how to build this muscle into a powerful engine that propels you forward—seeking to quiet that demeaning, doubting voice that tells you you’ll never truly be successful—let’s talk, and sooner than later. You have a force within you that is more powerful than you may realize. Send me an email to learn more about how to get off this hamster wheel and get into our Upside Leaders program . Don’t go it alone, because the world needs you and your brilliance. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to harness in the power of your emotions. What’s one negative emotion you’ve experienced today? Maybe it was frustration, fear, or doubt. Whatever it was, pause for a moment and consider this: Name the emotion and recognize its presence without judgment. Ask yourself: What is God revealing to me through this experience? Take one action that shifts your energy toward growth and alignment. Your emotions are not your enemy; they are a compass, pointing you toward deeper wisdom and clarity. If you’re ready to stop letting setbacks or emotions define your story and want a proven path to breakthrough, let’s talk . The Upside Leaders program is designed to help you rise, rooted in Divine purpose and steady action.
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