21st Century Renaissance Man

Creating Resilient Communities: Why I’m Excited About MeshTastic and What You Need to Know

In a world that’s more connected than ever before, it’s easy to forget that the internet and cell service don’t always work when we need them the most. Whether it’s a natural disaster, a remote hiking expedition, or simply a weekend off-grid, there are countless scenarios where traditional communication channels fail us.

That’s why I’m excited about a little-known technology that’s been quietly empowering individuals, communities, and organizations to stay connected when all other systems fail: MeshTastic.

What is MeshTastic?

At its core, MeshTastic is an open-source mesh networking technology that uses low-power LoRa (Long Range) radio devices to create self-sustaining communication networks. It allows people to stay connected across long distances without relying on cell networks or the internet.

Think of it as DIY communication for communities—a tool for creating a private, decentralized messaging network that’s as simple as it is powerful.

MeshTastic uses compact hardware, often a small LoRa device (similar to a walkie-talkie), that can be paired with your smartphone to send text messages, share GPS locations, and communicate in environments where traditional technology might fail. Best of all, it’s extremely affordable, easy to set up, and doesn’t require any special technical skills.

As someone with a background in community-building, technical writing, and psychology, I’ve always been fascinated by how people come together in times of crisis and adversity. MeshTastic is one of those rare technologies that has the potential to strengthen human connections when external infrastructure falls apart.

Why MeshTastic Resonates with Me

For over a decade, I’ve led and grown virtual communities. From founding a 42,000-member veteran support group to managing teams of over 200 individuals, I’ve seen firsthand how critical it is to have strong, reliable communication channels in any community, whether virtual or physical.

But here’s the thing: in a world that increasingly relies on technology, we can easily overlook the simple human need to belong—a need that goes beyond Wi-Fi signals and social media likes. As a community leader, I know that trust and reliability are the bedrock of any strong group. And MeshTastic offers something that a lot of modern communication tools lack: the ability to remain self-sufficient when everything else fails.

In fact, MeshTastic provides a back-up network for communities, teams, and even families that doesn’t rely on centralized infrastructure. It’s a system where everyone is a node in the communication chain, making the network resilient and highly adaptive to the challenges we face in disconnected environments.

How MeshTastic Works: A Simple Yet Powerful Technology

If you’ve ever been frustrated by a dead zone or lost signal, you’ll appreciate the simplicity and power of MeshTastic. The key technology behind MeshTastic is LoRa, a long-range, low-power radio that allows for wide-area communication.

LoRa devices are tiny, portable, and energy-efficient, allowing them to transmit over miles of range while consuming very little battery.
By using MeshTastic, you can connect multiple devices and create your own mesh network that can expand as needed, like a spiderweb of communication that doesn’t rely on any central server or internet connection.
You can send text messages, track locations, and share vital information across these long distances, all without needing a cell phone tower or Wi-Fi network.

Here’s a quick look at what a typical MeshTastic setup might look like:

Hardware: A LoRa device (like the T-Beam or TTGO T-Display) that you can easily pair with your smartphone. These devices are affordable (often under $50) and widely available.
Software: The MeshTastic app, which is free to download on Android and iOS. This app serves as your interface for communication, allowing you to send messages, view other node locations, and adjust settings.
Setup: Plug in the LoRa device, load the firmware, connect your smartphone, and you’re good to go. The setup is easy enough for anyone to follow, and no technical expertise is required.

Why I’m Personally Excited About MeshTastic

When I think about the potential for MeshTastic, I see more than just a cool tech gadget. I see the future of communication for communities, organizations, and individuals who are looking to remain connected and resilient, especially in an increasingly unpredictable world.

Imagine being able to create your own private, secure communication network that works in places where cell towers don’t reach—whether you’re hiking in remote mountains, managing a volunteer team in a natural disaster, or just trying to stay connected at a music festival where the signal is always lost.

For me, MeshTastic is a perfect fit because it ties directly into my work as a project manager and community leader. Throughout my career, I’ve led projects that required clear communication, efficient workflows, and the ability to manage diverse teams. MeshTastic can enable all of that, even in low-resource environments where typical communication tools aren’t available.

But beyond the practicality, MeshTastic represents a larger, deeper idea: empowerment through technology. It’s about taking control of your own communication networks, ensuring that you can remain connected to those who matter most—without being at the mercy of corporate networks or centralized authorities.

How Can You Use MeshTastic?

Whether you’re part of a remote team, an off-grid enthusiast, or someone who just wants to create a reliable backup communication system, there are endless applications for MeshTastic. Here are a few ideas:

Disaster Preparedness: In the event of a natural disaster, MeshTastic can help you communicate with neighbors, friends, or emergency teams when cellular networks go down.
Hiking and Outdoor Adventures: Stay connected with your hiking buddies or team even in areas where there’s no signal. Perfect for off-the-grid trips.
Event Organizing: Use it to keep track of volunteers, coordinate with crew members, or ensure reliable communication during large public events like festivals, races, or conferences.
Community Building: As someone passionate about building communities, I see tremendous value in using MeshTastic nodes to create local communication hubs—places where people can come together, share resources, and support each other, all without needing external connectivity.

Why This is Just the Beginning: My Vision for MeshTastic and Community Building

MeshTastic is a tool for today’s world, where we’re looking for ways to be more self-reliant, more connected, and more resilient. But what excites me most is that this technology is only just beginning to gain momentum. Imagine if every neighborhood had its own local mesh network, enabling faster, safer communication during emergencies or even just everyday life.

If you’re curious about getting started with MeshTastic, I encourage you to explore the options and see how this could benefit your own personal or community-driven projects. Whether you’re an amateur radio operator, a prepper, or just someone who wants to explore new technologies, MeshTastic offers a unique blend of practicality, innovation, and community-building potential.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated with poor connectivity or wanted a better way to stay in touch with people outside of traditional networks, MeshTastic might just be what you’re looking for. Let’s embrace the future of resilient, off-grid communication and bring human connection back to the forefront—no matter where we are.

Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear your thoughts on MeshTastic! Have you ever used mesh networking technologies before? Or maybe you’re interested in building your own network? Let me know in the comments below, or reach out to me directly to start a conversation about how you can use MeshTastic in your own projects.

Together, we can build stronger, more connected communities—one node at a time.

BREAKING THE RUT: RECLAIMING YOUR LIFE THROUGH CHOICE, COURAGE, AND CONSCIOUS REBELLION

There are moments in life when the world seems to flatten out. The colors dull. The momentum stalls. You know the feeling—waking up with that quiet ache of sameness, the sense that your days have blurred into a loop you don’t quite remember signing up for. Maybe your job has become mechanical, or your relationships feel scripted, or you sense an inner spark that once motivated you drifting further into the background. You’re not unhappy, exactly—but you’re stuck. Caught in a rut. And what’s worse, you can’t quite identify the moment when you slipped into it.

But here is something you need to understand immediately: you are not stuck because you are weak. You are stuck because you are human.

For decades, psychologists such as Stanley Milgram and Philip Zimbardo have explored how unconscious social forces shape human behavior. Their research—often chilling, sometimes inspiring—reveals something essential: people tend to follow prescribed patterns, even when those patterns fail them. But here’s the part we don’t talk about enough: those same forces that keep us stuck can be redirected to pull us out.

You can use the science of conformity, obedience, identity, and agency to reclaim your life.

You can turn the very mechanisms that make you feel trapped into mechanisms of liberation.

And you can begin today.

This is not about motivation in the “poster quote” sense. This is about revolution—internal, personal, deliberate. This is about looking at your life and saying, “I will not sleepwalk through this any longer.”

Let’s walk through this transformation step by step.

1. Understanding Why You’re Stuck: The Psychology of Ruts

A rut is not laziness. It is not a flaw in character. It is simply a groove you’ve slipped into—a path worn down not by intention but by repetition, routine, and the invisible hand of social expectation.

Milgram’s obedience studies showed that people will continue doing something simply because an authority figure—or a system, or a role—tells them to. They keep going, not because they agree, but because stopping feels like a violation of the script. Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment revealed something just as powerful: when people inhabit a role for long enough, that role begins to define their behavior.

Think about that.

How many of the patterns that keep you stuck were handed to you?

How many routines do you follow because “that’s just what adults do,” or “that’s how this industry works,” or “that’s who I’ve always been”?

You may feel stuck because you are living inside an identity that no longer fits you.

You may be obeying expectations that were never yours to begin with.

You may be following a script that you never consciously chose.

The rut is not a failure. It is a sign—a signal from the deeper parts of you that your life needs conscious authorship again.

So let’s shift from unconscious obedience to conscious intention.

2. The First Step Out: Becoming Aware of the Cage

Milgram’s participants often continued down the path of obedience simply because they were not fully aware of the psychological forces nudging them. They weren’t evil. They weren’t thoughtless. They were human beings who had not paused to examine their context.

Awareness is the first strike against stagnation.

Ask yourself:

What scripts am I following automatically?
Whose expectations am I trying to satisfy?
What roles have I slipped into without choosing them?
What patterns feel familiar but suffocating?
What desires have I silenced because they seemed impractical?

You cannot break a rut you cannot see.

Zimbardo often spoke about the importance of situational awareness—the capacity to step outside the moment and ask, “What forces are shaping me right now?” That capacity is what separates people who get trapped from people who transform.

Today, start noticing the cage. Not to be discouraged by it, but to understand it. Because once you see a cage clearly, you can plan your escape.

3. The Power of Choice: Rediscovering Your Agency

Milgram’s studies contained something fascinating that often gets overlooked: some participants refused. They said “no.” They walked away. They broke the script.

Those individuals were not special. They were not superhuman. They simply remembered something everyone else forgot: they still had a choice.

Agency is the antidote to the rut.

Agency does not require perfect confidence. It only requires awareness and a willingness to disrupt the pattern.

To reclaim agency, practice these steps:

A. Interrupt the autopilot

Do one thing today differently—on purpose. Wake up ten minutes earlier. Take a different route to work. Change the order of your routine. When you disrupt even a tiny habit, you create space for new awareness.

B. Make one small decision that’s truly yours

It doesn’t matter what the decision is. What matters is that you consciously choose it. The more you practice making intentional choices, the more your sense of agency expands.

C. Challenge one expectation

If someone has come to expect you to be quiet, speak.
If someone expects you to always say yes, say no.
If someone expects you to be predictable, surprise them.
If you expect yourself to be passive, dare to take one step forward.

When you choose, you rewrite the script.

4. You Are Not Defined by Your Past Role

Zimbardo’s research demonstrated how quickly a role can consume you—but also how quickly you can step out of it once the context changes. The guards in his experiment stopped acting cruelly once the experiment ended. The prisoners stopped acting submissively once the role dissolved.

Your rut is not your identity.

It is just a role you’ve been playing without realizing it.

Maybe your role has been “the reliable one,” “the agreeable one,” “the overachiever,” “the peacemaker,” “the quiet one,” “the provider,” or “the one who doesn’t make trouble.”

The problem is not the role itself. The problem is that it became a cage.

Here’s the profound truth: You can drop a role the moment you realize you are playing it.

Not gradually.
Not painfully.
Instantly.

This is not wishful thinking. It is psychology.

Roles only hold power when they are unconscious.

Once you see the role, you can choose how much of it still belongs to you.

5. Rewriting Your Identity on Your Own Terms

Zimbardo later developed the concept of the “heroic imagination”—the idea that ordinary people can train themselves to act heroically by redefining their identity.

Not as a bystander.
Not as a follower.
But as someone who intervenes, who chooses, who sets direction.

The heroic imagination is precisely what you need to pull yourself out of a rut.

Here’s how to cultivate it:

A. Identify the identity you want to grow into

Not the one you think you “should” have.
Not the one others expect.
The one that feels like a deeper version of who you already are.

Ask:

Who do I want to become?
What kind of decisions would that person make?
How would that person spend their day?
What habits would support that identity?

B. Act “as if”

This comes straight from cognitive psychology: behavior can shape identity just as much as identity shapes behavior.

If you want to become the type of person who speaks confidently, start speaking slightly louder today.
If you want to be someone who takes risks, take a small one this week.
If you want to be someone who pursues their passions, schedule one hour for it—not someday, but now.

When you act “as if,” you pull your future self into the present.

C. Reinforce your identity publicly

Milgram’s disobedient participants often verbalized their refusal. They said out loud, “I won’t continue.”

Words rewire identity.

Say things like:

“I am changing my life.”
“I make my own decisions.”
“I choose my direction.”
“I refuse to live on autopilot.”
“I define who I am becoming.”

When you speak your identity, you step into it.

6. Your Environment Must Change for You to Change

This is one of the most powerful lessons from both Milgram and Zimbardo: environment shapes behavior more than we realize.

You cannot lift yourself out of a rut while living in a context that continually pushes you back down.

A few questions to consider:

What environment keeps you small?
Who benefits from you staying stuck?
Which habits around you reinforce the rut?
What physical or emotional clutter holds you in place?

Sometimes the rut is environmental, not internal.

If your workspace drains you, redesign it.
If your social circle traps you, diversify it.
If your home feels stagnant, change something—move a piece of furniture, declutter your desk, open the windows, introduce a plant, paint a wall.

Even tiny environmental shifts spark psychological momentum.

Remember: you are not bound to the space you are in. You can reshape it or move beyond it.

7. Resistance Is Not a Failure—It Is a Sign of Change

Milgram’s study showed that participants often felt intense discomfort when resisting a script, even when they believed resistance was right.

Change feels uncomfortable because you’re pushing against invisible forces that used to guide your behavior.

If you feel resistance, celebrate it.

Resistance means you are no longer passive.

Resistance means you are disrupting the old patterns.

Resistance means you are waking up.

Your discomfort is not a weakness—it is a compass pointing toward growth.

Every rut has a wall.
When you feel that wall, do not turn back.
Push through.
Your future is on the other side.

8. Building Momentum: The Psychology of the First Step

A powerful insight from behavior research is the foot-in-the-door effect—once you take one small step in a direction, the next step becomes easier. People are more likely to continue a behavior once they’ve begun it.

This is exactly how you escape a rut: one small, deliberate action at a time.

The key is to choose actions that are:

clear
simple
low-friction
repeatable

Examples:

Write for five minutes.
Walk for ten minutes.
Clean one drawer.
Read one paragraph.
Make one phone call.
Say one bold sentence.

Do not underestimate the power of small steps.
Small steps compound.
Small steps build identity.
Small steps create momentum.

You do not need to transform your life in a day.
You need only to begin.

9. Breaking from the Crowd: The Courage to Be the First

One of the most striking findings from Milgram’s studies was that when even one person refused to obey, others felt empowered to do the same.

Courage is contagious.

When you break out of your rut, you become a catalyst in your own life and in the lives of those around you. Your act of defiance—against stagnation, against fear, against expectation—creates a ripple effect.

Do not wait for someone else to go first.

Be the one who steps out.
Be the one who stands up.
Be the one who says, “I choose more for my life.”

Your courage will inspire others, but more importantly, it will inspire you.

10. Your Life Is Not a Script—It Is a Draft

The world will hand you scripts.
Your culture will hand you scripts.
Your family, friends, workplace, habits, fears—all will try to hand you scripts.

But scripts are optional.

You can revise.
You can rewrite.
You can tear out entire chapters and start fresh.

Zimbardo often emphasized that human beings are not prisoners of their past behavior. Once the situation changes, people change too.

Your rut is not the final chapter of your story.
It is simply a scene.
And you are the author.

11. Choosing the Hard Thing on Purpose

One of the strongest ways to break a rut is to choose something challenging—not because it is required, but because you consciously decide to do it.

When you choose a difficult action voluntarily, you reclaim mastery.

It might be:

speaking up in a meeting
signing up for a class
telling the truth about what you want
cutting off a draining relationship
starting a side project
going to therapy
applying for a new job

The challenge itself doesn’t matter.
What matters is that you choose it.

Voluntary difficulty recalibrates your sense of self. It reminds you that you are capable of more than the rut allowed.

Choose something hard.
Choose something meaningful.
Choose something that stretches you.
Choose something that reminds you of your own strength.

12. Reclaiming Your Future: A Declaration of Self-Authorship

Milgram and Zimbardo have shown how easily people slip into patterns that feel inevitable. But they also show something else—something far more important:

a single individual with awareness and conviction can defy the pattern.

You can be that individual.

Not tomorrow.
Not someday.
Now.

Stand up inside your own life.

Say:

“I refuse to live a life written by someone else.”
“I choose my own direction.”
“I am capable of more than I’ve allowed myself to believe.”
“I will not obey the rut.”
“I will define myself.”
“I will write my own story.”
“I take the next step, and then the next, and then the next.”

Your life is not waiting for permission.
Your future is not waiting for a signal.
Your story is not waiting for a better moment.

The turning point is you.

Right here.
Right now.
With the decision you make today.

13. The Rut Is Not Stronger Than You

You have something the rut does not: self-awareness, agency, identity, direction, and the power to choose.

You can outgrow the patterns that trapped you.
You can outthink the habits that limited you.
You can outmaneuver the expectations that boxed you in.
You can outlive the roles that minimized you.

You are more powerful than the scripts you inherited.

And you are more capable than you may have ever realized.

Every transformation begins the same way:

With a single moment of clarity.
With a single declaration of intent.
With a single step toward a life that is wholly, authentically, unapologetically yours.

This is that moment.

Step forward.

Break the script.

Redefine your role.

Choose your life.

Please feel free to comment, ask questions, or follow. I intend to continue adding to and building upon this writing. Please check back Daily.

THE YOUNG MAN WHO STOOD IN THE DOORWAY

He stood in the doorway like someone caught between two worlds. The room behind him, the bedroom he grew up in, was a museum of unfinished stories: old basketball trophies dull with dust, posters peeling at the corners, textbooks stacked like little monuments to promises he once made to himself. The hallway ahead of him led into a future he couldn’t yet picture. He was 19. Not quite a man. No longer a boy. And painfully aware that he was stuck.

He whispered to himself:
“What if I just never become anything?”

And this is where most stories end before they even begin—not with a dramatic failure, not with some explosive downfall, but with a quiet surrender. A slow collapse into inaction. A kind of psychological obedience to the pressures around us that we cannot even see.

He felt that pressure deeply: the expectations of school, of family, of culture, of the algorithm that kept telling him what to think, what to want, what to fear… and who to be.

But what he didn’t understand—what no one had ever told him—is that the pressure shaping him was not destiny. It was simply the default of someone who hadn’t yet learned to stand.

This post is for him.
And it’s for you.
And for every young man standing in a doorway somewhere, wondering if he has what it takes.

Let me tell you something with absolute clarity:

You are not alone.
And you are not doomed to be crushed by the world you inherited.
But you must choose to stand.

II. THE INVISIBLE CURRENT: WHY YOUNG MEN FEEL LOST TODAY

If you feel directionless, defeated, or disconnected from your own potential, you’re not broken. You’re responding to powerful psychological forces that have been shaping human behavior for decades—and you’ve probably never been taught how to recognize them.

Let’s name them.

1. The Pressure to Conform (Milgram’s lesson)

Milgram’s experiments revealed something unsettling: ordinary people can be led into obedience—not because they are weak, but because authority structures are invisible and powerful. Today, those “authorities” aren’t scientists in lab coats. They’re:

social media metrics
ideological echo chambers
corporate marketing
cultural scripts about masculinity
education systems that reward compliance over courage

Young men aren’t failing out of laziness.
They’re being quietly conditioned to obey impulses, expectations, and technologies that shape their choices long before choice even occurs.

Most men don’t feel lost.
They feel pushed.

2. The Power of the Situation (Zimbardo’s lesson)

Zimbardo showed that the environment can shape identity so deeply that people become who the environment expects them to be.

If your environment is:

chaotic
fatherless
hyper-digital
academically bureaucratic
socially isolating
economically uncertain

…then of course you feel anxious, emotionally exhausted, or disoriented.
This isn’t a weakness. It’s psychology.

You are not the only one living in a world that constantly tells you:

“Don’t take too many risks.”
“Don’t stand out too much.”
“Don’t express ambition too boldly.”
“Don’t be too masculine.”
“Don’t fail.”

But if you’re told all your life what not to do, where does that leave you?
It leaves you with no map, no mission, and no sense of belonging.

3. When Society Removes The Ladder

For thousands of years, young men had pathways into adulthood:

Apprenticeships
Military rites of passage
Communal mentorship
Physical challenges
Generational duties

Now?
The rite of passage is… a glowing screen.

Young men today aren’t failing themselves.
They’ve been placed in a psychological environment that would disorient any human being.

But here’s the turn:

You cannot control the situation you were born into—
but you can absolutely control the story you choose to claim.

And claiming that the story starts with recognizing you still have agency.

III. THE BREAK: THE MOMENT YOU REALIZE YOU HAVE A CHOICE

(Peterson-inspired charisma, but original language)

There’s a moment in every man’s life when he realizes that people have stopped asking who he wants to become. The world just assumes it knows. School assumes. Work assumes. Culture assumes.

But the truth?
You get to decide.

Not in the vague, motivational-poster sense.
Not in the soft, modern “follow your bliss” sense.

No—
In the gritty, steel-spined, brutally honest sense where you face your own weaknesses, fears, and potential without flinching.

Let me put it bluntly:

No one is coming to save you.
But that’s not a threat—it’s your liberation.

Dependence breeds anxiety.
Responsibility breeds strength.
Agency creates momentum.
Momentum creates purpose.
Purpose creates identity.

And identity—real identity—is not given.
It is earned.

IV. THE SYSTEM THAT SHAPED YOU—AND HOW TO BREAK OUT OF IT

Now we go deeper.
Let’s examine the psychological obstacles young men face today.

1. The Tyranny of Comparison

You scroll through social media and are bombarded with:

perfect bodies
perfect careers
perfect relationships
perfect self-help routines
perfect success stories

But none of this is real. It’s curation.
And you’re comparing your unfiltered reality to someone else’s edited highlight reel.

Psychology calls this “negative self-referential comparison,” and prolonged exposure leads to:

decreased self-confidence
increased depression
passive behavior
reduced goal-setting
learned helplessness

You’re not failing.
You’re drowning in images you were never built to metabolize.

2. The Collapse of Purpose

Evolutionarily, men were shaped by:

challenge
mission
struggle
danger
contribution

When these disappear, meaning evaporates.
And when meaning evaporates, addiction and escapism rise.

This isn’t a moral failure.
It’s a psychological vacuum.

3. The Erosion of Brotherhood

Young men once belonged to tribes.
Now they are isolated.

Isolation breeds self-doubt.
Brotherhood breeds courage.

When you lack a male community:

problems feel larger
fear feels heavier
shame feels more toxic
victories feel less significant

You were not designed to navigate life alone.
No human is.

4. The Sterilization of Ambition

We tell young men today:

“Don’t be too competitive.”
“Don’t speak too confidently.”
“Don’t be too assertive.”
“Don’t pursue power—it’s dangerous.”

But ambition is not toxic.
Uncontrollable ambition is toxic.
Responsibility-fueled ambition is not.

Ambition tethered to values is the backbone of civilization.

Young men need not less ambition—
but direction for their ambition.

V. THE TURNING POINT: WHAT THE DOORWAY REALLY MEANS

Let’s return to the boy standing in the doorway.

You know why he couldn’t step forward?

Because no one had ever told him that his feelings of confusion and inadequacy were normal. He thought he was alone. He thought everyone else had it figured out. He thought he had already fallen behind.

But the truth was simple:

He hadn’t failed.
He just hadn’t chosen yet.

He didn’t need clarity.
He needed commitment.

Many young men wait for a plan before taking action.
But that’s not how growth works.

Action precedes clarity.
Courage precedes confidence.
Responsibility precedes identity.

You don’t become a man by waiting for the world to hand you a mission.
You become a man by choosing one.

VI. THE CALL: CLAIM YOUR STORY

Here is where the psychological theory meets the reality of your life.

You are not powerless.
You are not lacking potential.
You are not behind.

You are standing in a doorway.
And that doorway is the symbolic threshold between the life you’ve inherited and the life you will claim.

Here is the truth:

No one can choose your story but you.
No one can rescue you but you.
No one can write the next chapter but you.

But you don’t have to write it alone.

And you don’t have to be perfect to start.

VII. ACTION STEPS: THE 12 CHAPTERS OF THE MAN YOU ARE BECOMING

These are the steps—grounded in psychology, behavioral science, and decades of research into human agency—that will move you forward from where you are.

Print these. Save these. Use them.

1. Clean a Single Space

Order in your environment creates order in your mind.
Begin with one small area—your desk, your closet, your car.
Small wins generate momentum.

2. Set One Non-Negotiable Habit

Not ten. Not five. One.
Make it a foundation habit:

20-minute walk
10 push-ups
5 minutes of journaling
1 cold shower

Consistency beats intensity.

3. Take Ownership of One Failure

Don’t wallow in shame—extract the lesson.
Responsibility transforms weakness into wisdom.

4. Build a Physical Practice

Strength is psychological as much as physical.
Men think clearly when their bodies are challenged.

Pick something:

lifting
running
martial arts
calisthenics
sports

Your body is your anchor.

5. Reduce Digital Noise

Turn off notifications.
Limit apps that drain you.
Reclaim your attention.
Your mind is worth protecting.

6. Create a Weekly Challenge

Challenge builds identity.
Every week do something uncomfortable:

talk to someone new
apply for something
confront a fear
learn a new skill

Courage compounds.

7. Build a Circle of Men

You don’t need 20 friends.
You need 2 or 3 brothers who want you to win.

Find them.
Or build them.

8. Define Your Archetype

Every man becomes a story:

Warrior
Builder
Healer
Teacher
Explorer
Leader

Which path speaks to you?
Choose it consciously.

9. Cut One Vice

Not everything at once.
Just one thing that drags you downward:

gambling
porn
alcohol
junk food
escapism

The mind becomes lighter when the body is unchained.

10. Read for 20 Minutes a Day

Pick authors who stretch your mind, not just entertain it.
This is cognitive nutrition.

11. Commit to a Purpose for 90 Days

A mission is born through action.
Give yourself 90 days of disciplined pursuit:

a fitness goal
a business idea
a learning project
a social challenge

Purpose emerges from movement.

12. Rewrite Your Story in Future Tense

Write a letter from your future self:

“I became the man who…”
“I built the life that…”
“I overcame…”
“I learned…”
“I chose…”

This is not fantasy.
It is neurological priming.
Your brain moves toward the story you repeat.

VIII. THE RETURN TO THE DOORWAY

The young man in the doorway eventually stepped forward.

Not because he suddenly believed in himself.
Not because he found the perfect plan.
Not because the world changed.

He stepped forward because he realized something:

The doorway wasn’t a barrier.
It was an invitation.

He didn’t know where the path would lead.
He didn’t know if he’d stumble.
He didn’t know if he’d succeed.

But he stepped forward anyway—
because he finally understood that becoming the man he needed to be was his responsibility and no one else’s.

That is the day a boy becomes a man:
not the day he becomes perfect,
but the day he becomes accountable.

IX. THE FINAL CALL: CLAIM YOUR NARRATIVE

Let me speak directly to you now:

If you feel lost, confused, isolated, or behind—
you are not broken.
You are not alone.
You are not too late.
And you are not without power.

You are standing in the doorway of your own life.

What you choose next matters.

Not because the world is waiting for you—
but because you are waiting for you.

Your story is unwritten.
Your identity is unclaimed.
Your potential is undefeated.

But nothing happens until you decide.

Decide to step forward.
Decide to become responsible.
Decide to build discipline.
Decide to surround yourself with people who lift you.
Decide to reject the narrative that labels you weak or disposable.
Decide to craft a story you will be proud to tell.

And when you take that step—
no matter how small—
you join every man in history who chose courage over comfort,
growth over stagnation,
direction over drift,
and responsibility over victimhood.

This world needs strong, grounded, resilient young men more than ever.

So let me end with this:

Your life is not a sentence—
it is a script.
And you hold the pen.
Write something worth living.

Information is Key

After taking a few months away from things, and looking at the direction that I would like to see this blog direction to go I have returned to the same place that and have chosen to keep the same direction and pathway. Having seen some of the analytics of the demographics of the traffic, I would like to serve the readers and the people that have been viewing what I write here. In order to do that I need to ask the viewers of this blog to leave me comments and or suggestions for topics to address, review and analyze. Additionally, are there any topics of concern that you are readers would like to see addressed? are there perspectives you all would like to see analyzed? I know that there is a lot of content on Rumble or You Tube among a lot of other platforms addressing things are there any videos or subjects that you as readers would enjoy or would like to point me in the direction of subjects to address? I have been a guest host for a multitude of livestreams on Rumble, You Tube to name a few platforms I have been on. I would like to start writing more content and make a more consistent blog posts that will address issues and different perspective on things that you the viewers and readers would enjoy engaging with. Feel free to leave a comment or email me I will be checking that as well.

Building your Inner Self

Each and everyone one of us is a work in progress in all aspects of life. No matter how we may appear to anyone else who sees, or thinks we may have it all, no one has everything figured out and we are all working on improving every day. It has been said many different times in many different languages and ways, but the general principle is the same no matter how it is said.

We all remember the first time we have any done or completed a task of any type. It is rewarding to feel that sense of accomplishment no matter how often it happens even in our daily lives. Building up knowledge and learning to adapt to doing any task leads to the development of competence. I can completely understand when we get started doing anything new that we begin to start to compare ourselves against others doing the same thing and is completely normal, but we have to remember that we are our own toughest critic and that can lead to self sabotage and destroy any chances of a future success. However, changing the perspective of how we look at our own work can make all the difference in the world. Try to remember not to compare yourself to others, only compare yourself to where and who you were yesterday. This is the first step in building company, find your efficient way of learning and doing things to have the maximum effect and produce the best final outcome you are able to do that day and then, do better the next.

With repeated competency will come confidence. It is only a matter of time and repeated competency that you will begin to build your confidence in what you are doing and that can be extremely rewarding. when it comes to building up your confidence, reviewing and looking at how you have changed and improved everyday is one of the small things you can doo that will change your perspective of how you have grown and advanced building up your confidence in what ever task you are doing. This can become infectious, leading you to take on more and more challenging things allowing you to grow and advance your skillset to become more and more diverse in you skills than where you were just a year prior. One key that may help a great deal is working with someone more advanced that you are who can show you some tip, trick and things they have learned just like an apprentice. Having a connection with someone like that and having that connection will help you grow, build you confidence.

Often times, we find ourselves working with or learning from someone showing us the ropes so to speak that is a great way to get some guidance and help in learning any new skill, having a mentor work with you help you through things and problem solving along way can be a confidence boaster as well as building a connection that sometimes lasts years or even a lifetime. Building a connection with like minded people like a mentor can and often times does help boast self confidence, building on your competency along with some comradery fueling the innate human need to belong which builds on personal character development.

Part of life is learning who you are as a person and learning on a deeper level what your morals, ethics and where you will and will not compromise as a person and building your own character. Understanding that compromising is perfectly acceptable as long as it does not require you to change who you are as a person or puts you in a compromising position challenging who you are as a person. With that being said, being challenged as a person in some capacity allows you to build, refine and hone your skills, competency and helps further develop dimensions of who you are as a person allowing you to grow multidimensionally as a person, boasting your confidence helping your self esteem. Just like the adage that Rome was not built in a day, discovering who you are as a person, what you are passionate about, as well as what motivates you to be a better person all contributes to who and what type of character you are and will become in the future.

In a seemingly fast-paced society, it appears all too often that people claim to not have the time to even be polite, offer a helping hand, or engage in some simple kind gestures for others. many times, people regulate charitable contributions to only holiday time at the end of the calendar year, but that does not have to be the case. Contributing also known as paying it forward can come in a multitude of forms and does not always have to be a financial contribution. Contributing can be something as simple as being that person that offers to hold the door for someone who has their hands full it can be a random act of kindness, For example, being friendly to someone even making them laugh letting them know that they are seen and not invisible in the everyday race can have a profound effect. We all lead busy lives and are all too often preoccupied with the challenges of our days and lives that we seem to forget how lucky we are to have the lives we have and that even though there is someone who has more than we do or is more successful than we are, we are in some cases the one that has more, or more successful than others.

Life is not fair, and it seems that just as soon as you get comfortable and things are going well that is when Murphy’s law strikes. With that being said, it is the fact of enduring a defeat that allows us to enjoy the victories when we do get them in life. This is where the vital skill of coping comes into play. Learning to deal with adversity, and defeat because adversity and defeat not only teach us were our limitations and weakness are but also shows us real life examples of what we can do to improve

One of the most challenging aspects of building and developing emotional resiliency is being self aware and knowing what you can and can not control, knowing that you have some people you are close to that you can share emotions, discuss what is going on in your life and can get some reassurance from people around you and being there for them as well. However, it is also important to be able to have and know your limits and not being afraid to say now and not feel guilty about having boundaries with other people. another part of emotionally well being is being able to look at your life, and see and enjoy the small everyday little thing s in life. Far to often, we all get caught up in social media, or seeing what neighbors or other have that we do not, and that can leave you thinking that you are inferior to someone else but that is never the case. Being able to take a deep breath, sit back and relax, clear you mind, watch a sun rise or sun set and just enjoy the small things in life. Being able to put things into perspective like that can help you center your emotions.

A phrase that I was told when I was a teenager still rings true today. that phrase seems to have been lost over the past thirty or so years and it is “those who believe they can do something are right, so are those who believe they can’t”. Inner drive is something that can push and self motivate you to achieve things that many people may think to be impossible, and for them it may be. However, find something you want to do, and imagine that there is a smaller version of you as that is shoveling coal into a fire to power a steam engine. the more you shovel the hotter it gets. Use that heat, energy and transform that little you into being the best version of who you will be not can be. Changing the perspective on something like that can be the little thing that can allow you to achieve great things that many may see and think is impossible.

Perspective is key, we all know that Rome was not built in a day, and building on the previous statement of believing in yourself, self-motivation, and changing the perspective form can do, to will do will alter your focus to being more future-focused. Look at where you are as a checkpoint or waypoint to change up or course correct to keep yourself headed in the direction you want based on your goals. the toughest step in every journey is always going to be the first step. No one is born being able to run a marathon without training. However, pushing yourself a little further everyday working to be a better you in some way, shape, or form can make a world of a difference and often times is the defining factor in-between those do, and those who do not. changing the perspective of “failing” to learning a way that did not get the end result that you were going for just shows you that there are other ways to complete a challenge.

Physical health is something that everyone is always working on for the better or worse. Some people think they need a gym membership to be active and that is far from the truth. If that is what you need to stay motivated, then by all means get a gym membership, but you may fall short of your intended end goal. When setting a goal for physical health, be sure to use the S.M.A.R.T goal standard. For example, the goal of “get in better shape” falls short and more than likely will not succeed. As an example, setting a goal of walking 30 minutes every day for one week is a good base point. it is Specific it is Measurable, it is Achievable, Relevant and it is time-bound not only daily but for a weekly goal. you can always adjust the time duration of the goal and advance it to make it more challenging.

Please keep a close eye on this. I will be adding more content in the near future. Feel free to email me, comment or ask questions and I would gladly go more in-depth on any requested points.

Looking for a Purpose

In these crazy times, seeing people more concerned with their public image and their following on social media platforms, there seems to be a growing trend of people forgetting about the people in their community. Getting out, getting to know your neighbors, and finding out about the people who live around you can be a rewarding and great learning experience. Having spent over a decade of time volunteering with an elder service provider taking personal care items, groceries and other things to older adults that are home bound, or stuck in a nursing home has been something that has opened my eyes to a perspective of life that many do not realize it even out there. Sitting and talking with and learning from someone who is two or three times your age is an experience in life that many people seem to neglect. Having learned this lesson in my late 20’s and early 30’s I have made a point to look for the generation that is following mine, and looking for those interested and willing to learn from a different perspective. I have to say that over the past decade, I have had my life enriched by people and their experiences through the years by younger as well as older people.

looking back many of the older adults I came to call friend taught me so much about life, happiness and enjoying the small little things in life. Even when it comes to how to deal with adversity is something that I will always cherish. Having spent six years sitting talking with a few elder men, they told me first-hand accounts of what it was like in North Africa, what it was like during World War Two. They seemed to chuckle about what little I knew about it from reading a history book and they told me that I will never truly understand until I find myself as the old man talking with a younger man who is willing to listen to the ramblings of an old man. now, I have to say even though those men are gone, they partly live on through my memories and the lessons they taught me and intend to pass these lessons on to the next generation of whoever is willing to listen. Continue to follow along, ask questions, comment and let’s see where this all goes.

Packing to Favor the Prepared Mind

Many people have heard of events in the past when people have been stranded in bad weather or unforeseen events that leave us stuck with only the basics we keep on our person, or in our day packs. All too often, many people are caught unprepared and lack even some of the basics to manage comfortably through 24 or 72 hours.

The first layer of being prepared is the everyday carry (EDC) items that you can layer and keep on you at any point in time. Whether it is a few dollars in everyday cash, Chapstick, a small keychain or pocket flashlight (other than your phone), a lighter, a pocket knife, and small multitool, a pen with a pocket-sized note pad, even pocket-sized travel tissues. all of these things can easily be paired up and clipped on a belt loop with your keys, and stuffed in a pocket. Having these simple items on you at any given moment can help solve a multitude of everyday complications if you have them with you. As the adage goes, proper planning prevents poor performance.

On top of having these items on you at a moment’s notice, there are a few more items that can easily fit into a daypack, or even one of those small bags that we all have received as a promotional gift or even if one chooses to do so go out and get a dedicated everyday carry bag of one’s choosing. Carry a cutting tool of your choosing that fits well in your hand, is comfortable for you to use, and you are experienced in using that you know you can trust to have with you at those moments when old Murphy stops by to visit you and brings his infamous Murphy’s law.

Next, a combustion device is also a matter of personal preference. I have a few different options depending on the day and situation. One that I have carried every day, and still do is a Zippo Lighter in my pocket, making sure to refill and top it off once a week. Additionally, stormproof matches in my bag as a backup always as well I keep a rechargeable arch lighter, as a third option. The last resort is a ferrocerium rod also referred to as a farro rod in many cases. These can be a great source of a spark, but they do take practice. I will write more on last resort and Bushcraft-style stuff later.

This brings up another critical Item. Keeping a rechargeable arch lighter can be great too if it lasts This is where the multiple function solar rechargeable battery backup comes into play. Having a small solar recharging battery back can recharge with wireless headphones, phones, and even tablets if you carry one with you regularly and you make sure to get one that will change that as well. This is a complex topic, and I will go deeper into it later.

We all know it’s no fun being left out in the dark. This is where a lighting source can be a great thing to have with you. There are a multitude of options, that range in cost for a light source, but remember you always get what you pay for. This is nothing wrong with starting with a cost-effective small light. However, make sure to have rechargeable batteries with you, and this circles back to having a portable charger that can connect to your battery backup or solar charger. This is an in-depth topic, and I will go more into that later in another post.

Another key is a small weather AM/FM radio that you can go to for local information, weather, and even news to find out what is going on around the area you find yourself in. Another point is making sure that whatever light, and radio, you decide to select can be charged off your solar backup battery, as well as have interchangeable replacement rechargeable batteries in your gear bag. Most emergency radios today do have a solar panel on them or a hand crank that can recharge the internal batteries as well as can recharge a mobile phone as well. There are a lot of options in this field, and I will continue to post on this later.

Another piece of essential gear is a Poncho, rain gear, and a tarp. The reason I suggest a poncho as well as a tarp may sound redundant to many people and may be seen as unnecessary but there is a method to the madness. In many cases, in spring, summer, and even winter having the ability to make a shelter or to even protect gear outside of a vehicle, as well as protect supplies you have been able to forage in an emergency can help a lot. For example, having a poncho to wear while raining you can use the tart to cover gear, use it as a windbreak if you need to do things in or around a vehicle, or even make a shelter in the worst-case scenarios as well while not giving up your poncho which is protecting you from the elements. I will continue posting on this in a future date in other posts and go further in-depth

This brings up another piece of critical gear to keep with you in your bag which is cordage. The market is flooded with different types of cheap ropes that you can find almost anywhere. The reason many in the bushcraft community as well as others like parachute cord (paracord) is because it is nylon, mildew resistant thing, lightweight, multipurpose, as well as strong. Keeping 50 feet of paracord in your bag does not take up much space. It takes up about the same amount of space as a 16-ounce plastic water bottle. With paracord, you can replace broken shoelaces, and tie down a tarp as a makeshift shelter, to name a few jobs this works well at. I will cover this in more detail in future posts to keep a close eye out for that. In many cases, having a reusable emergency blanket can be helpful as well if you live in an area that gets cold. There are the smaller lightweight disposable emergency blankets, but they are fragile and are one-and-done. It is helpful to keep a few of these with you to help others in emergencies and not lose your good gear. In addition to this, keeping a blanket, poncho liner of your choice can also be a great asset in an emergency as well. I will expand on this in future posts as well.

This may sound odd, but having a cotton material item, like a shemagh can help protect you from the wind, direct sun exposure, as well as be used to bundle up smaller gear items to keep small items from getting lost. Not to mention, this can also be used in many more ways that I will go more in-depth with later in a more detailed post

Another item that many people seem to forget to keep handy is cargo tape. I understand, that keeping a large bulky role of cargo tape like Gorilla tape or duct tape is not the most convenient thing to keep with you due to its size and odd shape of it. However, with a little ingenuity, you can solve that problem and keep some handy with you in your bag. We all get those random gift cards or have an old back or credit card that we shred and get rid of. What I would suggest doing before shredding those cards, is take some parchment, or wax paper wrapping it around your card leaving a slot that you can slip the card out of, and start to wrap the card in cargo tape. I would suggest keeping about 10 feet or handier and guestimate how much that would be wrapped around the card. I think it is about one-quarter of an inch thick on both sides. This would give you a small emergency stash of cargo tape. This can be used to patch a poncho, even used to secure a bandage if needed. This Is a great multi-use item, and I will go into more detail on this in a later post.

In an era of the smartphone, and Global positioning systems many people have forgotten how to use, or even keep a compass handy in the case of an emergency. Since the raise of COVID, many more people have turned to road trips, and outdoor activities and have found themselves in areas where there is no mobile phone coverage available. Getting a compass and learning not only where you are, but also having paper maps of your area as well as the area you will be traveling through as an emergency backup just in case you lose mobile phone reception. Keeping items like these handy that you can drop in your bag and keep with you can help you figure out different ways to get to a destination, even find a way around traffic, construction, and even learn the layout of a city. With your map and compass, it is advisable to keep your notepad handy in case you need to write directions, notes, or written communication not relying on your smartphone. This is a complex topic, and I will post something later in greater detail. Keep an eye out for that in the future.

We have all seen or been in a situation where we have lost a button, ripped a shirt, or had something clothing-related fail. Being able to make small simple repairs can be great and can help extend your gear in situations where you have no other option. In addition to having a sewing kit in your bag, keeping a few paper clips can be handy as well. We all know that it is always in those random times where y the pull tab on a zipper breaks, or we know someone that it has happened to and it is usually the worst possible time and place, and an emergency sewing kit, there are small kits available at dollar stores or online and you can always hit a fabric store and select small spools of thread that match the typical clothing colors to match what you typically wear. Once again, this is a more in-depth topic, and I will go into greater detail later on this as well.

The greatest struggle for most people around the world is clean drinking water. Being able to collect and purify water is something vital to life for everyone. Depending on the situation you find yourself in. Having a single wall stainless steel 32-ounce bottle can be a container for acquiring along with having a water filter pump or point of use straw type of water purification can be extremely helpful. Additionally, having a second container to store purified water in can greatly improve how much water you can collect, purify, and store water. There is a multitude of methods to purify water, and we will get to those skills in a later post as well. I think we all can agree that accidents do happen to all of us, and therefore it is always helpful to keep a personal first aid kit. Everyone is different and has different needs when it comes to a first aid kit. No matter what it is or when having the simple fixes like a bandage, even antacids allergy medication, pain medication, or any other simple medication to help an individual make it through the say. Having these simple things on hand and readily available in a backpack or bag can be a way to handle your minor medical emergencies, or even pay t forward and help a member of your community. There is no need for the everyday person to carry around a tunicate, or airway tools with them. Coming from an EMS background, those things in the wrong hands can do more harm than good. Once again, this is another complex subject that we will jump into shortly.

Weathering the Storm & Elements

Fundamentally, a shelter can come in a multitude of shapes, sizes and the sky is the limit when it comes to building materials. As we all know, hour homes can be some of the safest and comfortable places to live. However, when traveling or enjoying outdoor adventures anyone who has spent time knows and can attest to the weather turning on a dime. Whether it is an unforeseen rainstorm, heavy winds, fog or even a surprise snowstorm. If you spend enough time outdoors you will experience one of these challenges of nature. Being prepared for them can be vital to survival, safety and longevity. Whether it is taking your poncho off and making a small single-personal shelter, tent or even a tarp, these are all great pieces of equipment that can help save and prolong your life.

When going out for any outdoor adventure, depending on the season and local climate, having some form of a shelter can be a benefit whether it is protecting you from the sun, wind, rain, or even a snow storm, being able to get out of the elements can be a life saver not only for moral, but quite literally be a life saver. For example, we have all seen all the news reports or people being “stuck” or trapped in their cars or trucks due to a storm, accident or things like that almost everyday around the world. that vehicle is a form of shelter as long as they stay with it and have supplies with them. Pioneers that migrated west through the united states, even going back to nomadic tribes of people who have traveled for millennia to populate distant regions of earth have all used some form of a man mad shelter, or even a natural shelter of an overhang, or even caves.

This is is where being prepared comes into play. Anyone can go out and pick up a cheap tarp, take it to a park or open space and practice different shelter configurations, using trekking poles, ridgelines tied to trees, the human imagination, and ingenuity are the only limitations. it is helpful to practice and become proficient when it comes to making an emergency shelter, learning to place the shelter in an area that is free for possible falling debris, on higher ground that will not flood, as well in a pinch, a nylon water proof poncho can become a shelter, or eve better, carrying a tarp along with a poncho can allow someone to build a shelter while staying dry in a driving rain. I have personally used ponchos, cheap hardware store tarps, waxed canvas tarps, and what works for one person may not work for another. I am not affiliated with nor do I receive any kick backs or compensation for recommending any of these produces. For me personally, I have found and have used, trusted and have come to love using the Aqua quest defender series tarps (https://aquaquestwaterproof.com/). I have had mine and take it with me any time I am on an outdoor adventure. Personally, I would recommend anything that is ten foot by ten foot (10×10 or 3mx3m) this size can pack down to be portable, give you enough room for gear, or even another person while not taking up to much space in a backpack. Keeping something like this, along with 50 feet of paracord and some light weight aluminum stakes can give you a fast easy and stable dry place to get out of the wind and elements. If this is all new to you, I would recommend checking out YouTube or Rumble and search “tarp shelters.” Additionally, it is helpful to pick up something like these tarps in a bright easy to spot color that can make you more visible for overhead search and rescue to make you stand out at higher elevations. if you happen to end up getting stuck on a remote road with no mobile phone coverage. More information will follow, along with some pictures when the weather permit and the ground is not frozen in my location.

21st Century Renaissance Man

The 21st century has seen advances in information sharing, and communication requiring people to have an amalgamation of skills, unlike any previous generations. In an era when the education system is producing more specialists in fields, everyone has more skills and aptitudes they use in everyday life. One of the most famous renaissance men is Leonardo da Vinci. In these new times, it is time for all of us to let that side shine and be resourceful. This blog is going to be the starting point to find out what base of knowledge not only I have, but as a way to leverage my research skills to not only offer my perspective but to search and find the reason or plausible explanation.

Amid all the chaos going on in the world today, it is times like this when
we need to all remain calm cool collected, as well as to adapt, improvise,
and overcome the challenges of today. In times like this, the innate fear of
the unknowing is the demon that is lurking in the shadows and chasing each of us in our everyday lives. I completely understand the fear of the unknown and having to adjust to the new reality that we are all facing every day, not
knowing who has what, when, where or how we may encounter the SARS2 COVID19 pandemic that is something that none of us can avoid. In times like this, we all need to remember to return to the basics and appreciate the small things in our everyday life that many of us have taken for granted.

The things that we can control in our everyday lives are making a point to
go for a walk, run, work out do something for our body at least 30 minutes of
physical activity can help reduce stress, this can be helpful in times like
this. Also, I understand that there is a thirst for knowledge and a craving to
understand what is going on in the world today. Shutting off the media at least one hour before you go to bed can make a world of a difference when it comes to helping with sleep. Also, take 30 minutes before sleep and clear your mind. Do some breathing exercises, take the time to focus on breathing relaxation, and do whatever it may take for you to relax and lower your heart rate.
Additionally, in current times, being able to reconnect with nature is one
of the greatest things any of us can do. Make a point every day of going outside to get some fresh air, walk, run, and exercise every day in some way shape, or form.

Being able to go out fishing at a local lake, the stream can help you reconnect to where your food comes from. Being able to plant a garden whether it is a herb garden, or a vegetable garden does something that allows you to source your food and become more self-reliant.

We need to control the small things in our lives that we can.
We can control when we wake up, and start the day off by completing the simple task of making our bed. This will give you a sense of accomplishment to get the day started by completing a simple task. these small everyday simple tasks can help you prepare yourself for a day of success. You can also make a point to block out some time of your choosing when we work out. when we go to bed. and remember that exposure to new media should be approached like food everything in moderation and overexposure can cause problems for us all.

Additionally, when it comes to taking on small everyday tasks it is like working out. Start small, and work your way up. Many people do not take the time to read and grow their knowledge base and work their minds. Over the years, many people I have spoken to have talked about not reading or not being able to sit down and focus on reading to advance and grow. Start small, set a goal to read five pages of a book that interests you every day. It makes takes time to get through the book, but five pages a day will get easier and easier. Then, start reading for fifteen minutes, when that becomes easier, take that to thirty minutes. Then build to reading an hour a day or more as you choose. Eventually, you will get to the point that reading a book a week or a book a month will grow and advance to whatever level you desire.