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The greater something is to your personal growth and evolution, the more resistance or push-back you will experience from the world and the people you love. Think about that. You’ve got a force inside of you that works against your desire to be better. In his 2002 book, “ The War of Art” , Steven Pressfield talks about this inner force as "the resistance". This inner force or resistance you feel creates distractions to take you off-course from fully stepping into who you're called to be. Activities like… Scrolling through Instagram Watching your favorite TV show or movie Shopping for more cool stuff … may seem fun yet they aren't designed to get you closer to what you want most in life. They also won’t move you forward in every single area of your life. And yet, you still find yourself doing them. Why? Because Resistance is subtle. It doesn’t shout—it settles. It lulls you into routine. Resistance may pull you into a comfortable groove where you just keep doing what you’ve been doing, ... and someday you wake up wondering, “How did I get here?!?” You’re not off track for feeling this way. You’re simply at a pivotal point, one that asks you to decide who you’re becoming. Moments like this aren’t meant to be rushed. They’re invitations to rise, realign, and remember what matters most. Resistance is where the growth is. It’s time to push back against it. What are you waiting for? ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to choose one area—leadership, relationships, health, or spiritual growth—and make one intentional move in that space. Do it with presence. Do it on purpose. Here are a few ideas: Begin your day by speaking one thing you’re grateful for. Hold off on replying to that text until you can be fully present. Take 60 seconds before a meeting to get still and set your intention. You don’t need more tasks. You need aligned action.

You probably don’t want to be in the same place a week from now, let alone a year from now. Yet, you keep doing the same thing over and over and over again, expecting different results. You would never add 1 + 1 again and again — and expect your answer to be 3. So, stop doing the same things over and over hoping that you’ll magically be where you want to be — and everything you want for your life and business will come to fruition. Sometimes you need a new way of being, thinking, and living. That was one of the hardest lessons I've ever learned. Not knowing a lot about how to start a business, I relied on what I thought was the wisdom from other business owners. I didn't make decisions based on whether the people I had hired and listened to were 1) where I wanted to be, or 2) who I wanted to be when I got there. I looked at success as having a formula, and I just wanted to know what that formula was so I could get my piece of the pie. As each week went by, I got further and further away from the values I held dear before I started my entrepreneurial journey. I found that I was making decisions based on what seemed like I had to do versus what I wanted to do. So much of my day was spent chasing "opportunities" that I darn near lost my way. I remember one day looking up and thinking, " How the heck did I get here?!? " From the outside, it looked like I've got a great business, yet on the inside, if I'm honest with myself, I don't like what I'm doing, or who I have to pretend to be to do it. Every day felt like I added one more layer to the façade. Over the years, I've bought into the belief that I needed to be something — correction someone — different than who God made me to be. I can't tell you how many clients have come to me with that monkey on their back. A new way of thinking, being, and living was an arduous journey. I knew the path I was on. It had become familiar. And I was quite comfortable with the folks in my circle. Yet this wasn't the place for me to stay if I was going to do what God had been nudging me to do all along. I remember the first time I used the word Holy Spirit in one of my marketing pieces. I waited for the backlash to come. I waited for folks to call me out on who I was, and whether I had the right to speak about God. After all, I wasn't a pastor, a preacher, or someone who held a degree in religious studies. And yet, when no backlash came… when instead, I heard “ Thank you for saying what I’ve been feeling, ” something shifted. I realized I didn’t need another strategy. I needed alignment. Both in my business and in my whole life. The truth is, you already know when something isn’t working. You feel it. It nags at you in quiet moments. It whispers that what you’re doing is no longer sustainable — and maybe never was. So, let me ask you this: If nothing changes, where will you be this time next year? Because if you're still adding 1 + 1, you'll still be getting 2. And maybe what you need isn't just a new plan, maybe you need a new path. One that doesn’t force you to abandon who you are, and instead invites you to bring more of yourself into every space you lead. If something’s stirring in you, don’t brush it off. You weren’t made for surface-level success. You were made to lead from the inside out. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to slow down before making any decision — big or small. Ask yourself: "Is this aligned with who I am and where I’m being called? Or is this just what I’ve always done?" Then choose from that place of awareness. Becoming a purpose-led leader isn’t about doing more — it’s about being intentional with every step you take. Let this practice guide you back to alignment, one decision at a time.

For a good portion of my life, I found it difficult to hear God's voice. Mostly I heard just static. Every so often, I'd listen to a song or get a nudge to do something, and mostly it was just quiet in my prayer time. In 2020, something broke open for me. I had been in a terrible place, working very hard in a few different areas. Yet, overall, I felt my life was stuck - and I wasn't making any progress anywhere. I looked at closing my business down and getting a job. My head was hurting from running into what felt like stone walls, and I was plain tired, battered, and bloodied. And I was embarrassed that I wanted to throw the towel in on things I had been working on for years. While many of the leaders I was coaching were doing well, I couldn't figure out the missing piece for where I was standing. And I was getting angry as it seemed my whole life was on the verge of one big meltdown. On a walk in my neighborhood in Virginia, I looked up at my street sign. I lived on Faith Court. The irony of God bringing me there. I decided that I would just start talking to God, and began asking Him questions as if He were walking beside me. I'd often sent clients on God walks, and today I felt this was my last hope. As fast as the questions came, so did the answers. Pieces of my life became clearer and I got an explanation of what had been going on behind the scenes when I thought God had forgotten about me. At the end of my walk, I had a re-commitment to going where God was leading even if it didn't make sense. It was profound and has led me to where I am today. Maybe you’ve felt that silence, too. That deafening quiet when you’re asking for direction, begging for clarity, and all you get is static. And maybe you’ve also been tempted to quit—to let go of what once felt certain, just because the road got too hard, too confusing, too quiet. Yet at times this silence isn’t a void, it’s an invitation. What broke open for me didn’t come from striving harder. It came from walking with God like He was right there beside me—because He was. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to ask God one real question today. Just one. Go outside. Take a walk if you can. Leave your earbuds behind. Imagine Him walking with you, then ask. Not with fear. Not with desperation. Just… ask. And listen. You might be surprised by what you hear when you stop trying to figure it all out and simply make room for Him to respond. You don’t have to get it right. You just have to get moving.

Have you ever struggled with taking action on what you really wanted? Have you ever wondered if you’re not living up to your full potential? Research shows most people regret the choices they didn't make and the chances they didn't take at the end of their life. Yet, I get how sometimes fear can paralyze you from moving forward with what you want most. Over the past several years, I've been learning how to walk by faith, moment by moment. And when I look back at my life, I realize this has been a journey that began a long time ago. I would never have left working in Federal law enforcement if I didn’t take the journey from fear to faith. When I made the decision to turn in my resignation, my dad wanted to know why I was going to move from the steady income of a 6-figure government gig... ... to a zero-dollars-promised opportunity opening up my own business. I had no business degree, knew no one who had ever owned a business, and was living 3000 miles away from my closest friend or family member. Still, I took the leap of faith and trusted a net would appear. That's what most folks don't get. You have to take the leap BEFORE the miracle can show up. The journey to get from there to where I am today wasn't a solo effort. The people around me shaped my growth. I chose to surround myself with folks who think differently — who have challenged me to grow and evolve way beyond what I knew. The right leadership and different communities I stepped into gave me the confidence to move forward, even when the path ahead wasn’t clear. That’s why I believe coaching and community are essential for anyone who wants to go beyond where they are at this moment. See, every day you get an opportunity to decide what you are going to do with your life. Moment by moment, time moves forward without regard to your answer. Where do you need to take a leap of faith? Remember, your life is simply the sum total of all of the choices you've made. If you’re not happy with where you’re at, make different choices. It really is that easy.  ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to examine your decisions and see where you might be playing it safe. Because comfort doesn't change the world.

When I was at the bottom of the pit, I stood in the darkness wondering how I had gotten there. It was so dark that I couldn’t even see my hand in front of me. And, deep down I knew how I got there… … yet to admit the truth would mean I had to look at all of the actions I had taken to get me to the abyss I was in. It would require me to take personal responsibility and be accountable for my actions. At the time, denial seemed easier. Blaming others seemed simpler. So I did. ~ My family history. ~ My background. ~ My genetics. I traveled a long and winding road to discover that the light I was seeking was in me all along. It takes me back to a widely publicized interview of two brothers. One was wildly successful… a wealthy professional deeply respected by his peers. Another was homeless… an alcoholic living from street corner to street corner. When asked how they got to where they were, both of them credited their father. “See… my daddy was an alcoholic…” yet they each took different roads. One took the road of personal responsibility and accountability. The other took the road of shame and blame. The tale of two brothers was living out in my body at that moment in time. One of my clients who I worked with over 10 years ago sent me a message after seeing one of my Facebook posts. “I thank God for amazing people like you and for giving me the opportunity to benefit from your knowledge and guidance from the first day we met (even from a distance). Thank you for reminding us of the true meaning of life and for inspiring us to be our own person. “Go out and shine your light.” - Lisa Marie Platske. You can take credit for some of the positive changes I made in my life. May He continue blessing you and all the people around you. Biggest hug.” She was in the same pit I was in years ago, and now she’s thriving using the tools I gave her. Most of my clients are fighting for peace… … for health … for happiness… … for success… … for meaning. They’ve sacrificed for others and been left bleeding by people who they called “friend”, lover, and even sometimes spouse. Many of them have seen the worst of the worst, and have the battle scars to prove it. And there is a piece of them that understands they too are destined for More. That there is a reason they’ve lived through this. I have had that same revelation and it’s why I’ve been to the bottom and am here now speaking about how to tap into your Divine Mission purpose and calling. I was given those experiences to be of service to others. There by the Grace of God go I. That is MY story. And, it just may be yours too. So if you’re trying to make sense of where you’re at, and it just feels dark all around you… ... remember the light within you. It’s there. And then remember, you weren't meant to walk this journey on your own. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to think of a time you found yourself in a dark place, where it felt like everything around you was falling apart. Name one choice you made that led you there. Then, ask: “ What would it look like to choose differently today? ” Your past doesn’t define you. Your decision to rise does.

Have you ever had one of those days where it feels as if nothing went the way you planned? ~ You’re late for work or... ~ You spill something on your favorite shirt or.. ~ You get in a fender bender. Or, worse… ~ You get a call from your doctor and are diagnosed with something you wouldn’t wish on your enemies. ~ You lose your biggest client and/or you lose your job. ~ The love of your life says they don’t want to be with you anymore. Let’s be real… There are days when life can be heart-wrenchingly painful. And, there may be days when you want to stay in bed and wait for tomorrow to come. It's easy to forget that what we tell ourselves about these situations matters. The story we tell ourselves and others become part of our beliefs. I get how easy it can be to give up on days like this, and how tempting it can be to give in to the feeling that you did something wrong to cause this. I’ve been there. In business… … I’ve lost close relationships. … I lost big opportunities. … I lost my belief in myself. And I’ve been lied to and betrayed more times than I can count. There was a time, years ago when I lost sight of my Divine mission, and applied for a job when I had a full book of coaching clients. My confidence took a beating and I didn’t know how to move forward. The good news is that with the support of friends, family, and a strong coach - and leaning on the Holy Spirit - I got clear on what I needed and what was important to me. And I practiced forgiveness, for myself and others. I told myself through each challenge, that these were great lessons, full of learning that I could share. And, I created a community where thinkers, leaders, and world changers could come to do their work. You can focus on what you see as negative in the situation and make excuses for why you’re standing still. Or you can find the upside and create solutions to get to where you want to go. It’s really your decision. You are where you choose to be. So, if you’re going through one of those days in your life… …or one of those weeks… …or one of those months… …or what feels like one of those years… I get it. Take a Godwalk. Place your attention on where you want your focus to be. Decide what the most constructive story to tell yourself that aligns with what you want would be. Then, commit to taking action on what you truly want. Make peace with anyone with whom you are out of alignment with in your life using the power of forgiveness. The 1st person on your list may need to be you. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to practice the art of writing your life when things are hard. Being aware of the story you are telling yourself with each experience. What's the story that will serve you best so that you move forward productively? If you get stuck, take a God walk, and then pick up the phone to connect with someone who appreciates who you are - and where you are on your life's journey.

Most people believe they're good at keeping commitments. They wake up, show up, and do their best for others. Yet that same desire to do good for the people around them can create limitations on the ability to keep commitments to themselves. Everyone has an internal account that holds what I call integrity currency. Think about it like this… Every time you make a promise or break a promise to a client or someone you care about, you either add a coin, or you subtract a coin from your account. The coins you deposit are made up of magnetic energy, making you less or more attractive to yourself and others. The human body is an electrical body made up of charged particles - and has its own magnetic fields. When you make a promise to yourself, like taking an afternoon off to rest, and you fail to honor it, it is a double break of your integrity and your account is withdrawn TWICE. Why? Being out of integrity with yourself causes internal stress, shame, and regret. You didn't keep your word to the most important person in your life — YOU. Because the coins act like magnets, when you make deposits in your account, your account grows and begins paying dividends. The result is that you begin magnetizing opportunities with ease. The opposite is also true. As your account shrinks from being out of integrity with yourself or others, opportunities bounce off of you and seem just out of reach when once they were plentiful. You may work hard and can’t seem to get further ahead. When this is happening, I tell clients to check their integrity account. ~ Have you failed to honor commitments to yourself or others? ~ Are you depleted? ~ Is your account overdrawn? Everything you do is creating a pathway in your brain to get you closer to what you want...or further away. You choose in every moment who you are, what you want, and why it matters. Leading with integrity doesn’t just impact your life; it creates ripple effects in your business, your team, and your ability to lead at the highest level. This is why the leaders in my Upside Leaders program learn to strengthen their integrity account and build a life that aligns with their values and vision. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to imagine yourself as a bank account. Where are you spending? Where are you investing? When and how are you making deposits? At the end of the month, quarter, and year, what do you want your statements to look like? Remember, the world needs you and your brilliance now more than ever.

My mom and I had a rocky relationship growing up. After my Daddy left, I suppose I was more affected than anyone understood. This was the 1970's and 'divorce' was a dirty word. Folks don't want to talk about the emotional carnage it leaves. My mom was forced into a situation she didn't choose or want ... ... and me and my younger sister were left to deal with it the best we could. In my teens, I blamed my mom for lots of things — and was disrespectful to her more than I'd like to admit. Perhaps it was because we were more alike than not ... ... and I didn't have any tools to deal with how I felt. Regardless, when I left home after college, I didn't leave on great terms. And at the time, I was too stubborn to make amends. Yes, there were seasons when I didn't speak to her or she didn't speak to me. And I never felt good when those were going on. At 55 years old, I have dealt with and healed the heartache, trauma, and pain that happened early on in life. It's given me deep compassion and wisdom ... and I desire to be able to love like Mother Mary does. This has helped me tremendously in my leadership coaching practice. While my mom and I still have our bumps now and then, today she's one of my favorite people to spend time with. Even when I'm frustrated or she pushes my buttons, I love who she is. I tell clients you can determine what you value by examining where you invest your time, energy, or money. My mom gets a lot of all three ... and I wasn't with her on Mother's Day yesterday. And we've got plans next month to go to the Jersey shore together as a family — as well as four other getaways, and one just the two of us. Whether you're close to your mom or not, or whether she's here or passed away, I hope you can reflect on one good memory today. Just one. If you're a mom, I hope you had a happy Mother’s Day. We don’t become strong leaders because everything goes smoothly. We become strong because we’ve lived through what we thought might break us. We lead how we heal. The work I’ve done with my mom ... learning to forgive, to listen, to understand ... that’s the same work I bring into the room with clients. You can't lead people well if you haven't faced your own stuff. The more I’ve grown, the more space I can hold. The more I’ve softened, the stronger I’ve become. And the more I’ve healed, the more clarity I have when it comes to what truly matters. That’s leadership. It's the transformation more than the titles or the wins. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to reflect on one part of your story that shaped who you are today. Maybe it’s something you used to hide or pretend didn't happen. Ask yourself: how does this part of my journey still influence how I lead, decide, or relate to others? The goal isn’t to fix anything — it’s to get honest about how your inner story is shaping your outer leadership. Because the more whole you become, the more powerfully you can lead.