Love Is Not Enough: What Adoption Really Teaches You
Adoption is one of the most beautiful things we’ve ever experienced. But it’s also one of the most misunderstood. We often hear people say, “Those kids just need love.” And while love is essential—crucial even—it’s not enough. Love doesn’t erase trauma. Love doesn’t magically fill in the gaps left by instability or loss. Love doesn’t […]
We Didn’t Plan on Foster Care. But It Changed Everything.
Let me be honest from the start: foster care was not part of our original plan. My wife and I weren’t sitting around one night saying, “You know what would be fun? Government paperwork, deep trauma, and systemic brokenness. Let’s sign up.” No, like many families, we were just trying to build a life together—working hard, chasing […]
Becoming a Thought Leader Without Selling Out
The term “thought leader” gets tossed around a lot these days—usually by people who are more focused on looking important than actually being helpful. And to be honest, for a long time I cringed when someone suggested I should “build a personal brand” or “position myself as a thought leader.” But the truth is: if […]
Transitioning from “That One Business Guy” to a Builder of Impact
For most of my professional life, I was known as the energy audit guy. And to be honest, I leaned into it. I built Green Leaf Energy from the ground up and carved out a real niche in a city I love—Austin, TX. I knew my numbers, I knew my systems, and I knew what it […]
Community Support Makes All the Difference in Foster Care
When my wife and I first became foster parents, our agency advised us to make a list of people we could call upon for tangible, spiritual, or financial support. What we discovered was eye-opening: that seemingly robust list quickly dwindled when challenges arose. “We called upon our friends and family, but sometimes they just weren’t […]