Returning to Intentionality in the New Year

It has been about a year since I last sat down to share thoughts on this platform. In that time, life did what it often does when we are not looking. It moved fast. I spent the last twelve months with my head down, completely absorbed by the demands of work and the daily grind of professional leadership. While the work was productive, I realized recently that I had allowed the rest of my life to run on autopilot.

When we focus exclusively on one area, the other pillars of our existence begin to drift. We stop being the architects of our lives and start becoming passengers, bystanders even. I created this site to be a resource for young professionals and emerging leaders, yet I realized I was failing to practice the very intentionality I aim to teach. This year is about changing that trajectory for myself and for this community.

As we enter 2026, I am not interested in fleeting resolutions or vague goals. I am interested in a strategy for living. To get back on track, I have developed a framework I call the 7 Fs. These are the seven areas where I am committing to be fully present and highly intentional.

Throughout the coming weeks, we will explore each of these in depth. We will discuss Family and Fellowship, Faith, Fitness, and Fulfillment. We will also dive deep into two areas that are vital for any professional: Function and Freedom.

Function is more than just having a job. It is about your craft, your career roadmap, and choosing a path with a specific result in mind. It is the difference between working for a paycheck and working with a purpose.

Freedom is the ultimate goal of a well managed life. To me, freedom means more than just financial independence. It includes the emotional liberty that comes from forgiveness and the discipline to partition nonsense from your life. It means eliminating toxic relationships and wasteful habits that take more than they give.

The goal of this site remains the same as the day I named it. I want to provide the kind of environment I had growing up, where you could seek advice from a friend’s parent when you did not have the answers yourself. I am here to share forty years of experience so that you can navigate office politics, personal finance, and tough life decisions with more confidence.

I invite you to follow along as I break down each of these pillars. I will be sharing stories from my career, practical strategies for growth, and honest reflections on the challenges of adulting. You can also find shorter daily insights and community discussions over on my Instagram handle, @myfriendsdad



The autopilot is officially turned off. It is time to start driving.