Q: Why did you write this book?
A: I love my wife. It is no secret, and certainly not something I am ashamed of. If you were to ask me on the street ‘why’, I would be more than happy to share it with you. Our dream is to be sitting one day, late in our lives, just as happy to be together as we were the day we married. To do so requires a substantial amount of accountability from me.

Originally, I began writing this book for myself as a collection of all my thoughts and lessons I have collected and organized to improve my own relationship. The theme of my book revolves around business concepts and sports – two things I relate to best. As the thoughts continued to become more structured, I felt inspired to share it with other men. If what I have written helps even one man, married or single, to improve or have a meaningful relationship, then the time spent on this will be well worth it. For me, it already has been worth its weight in gold.

Q: What makes your advice different?
A: It is fresh, fun, and practical. I do not have a degree in psychology, nor am I a counselor – and I will never pretend to be.

What I am is a communicator. As one of my favorite leadership teachers, Dr. John Maxwell, says, “I put the cookies on the bottom shelf so everyone can have some.” As a communicator, I prefer to take a complex subject, issue, or topic and break it down making it simple to understand. That is what I offer: Logical, Practical, and Enjoyable solutions to relationships. I think you will find the information to be relevant and you will be able to immediately apply it to your life.

Q: Is this book going to revolutionize my relationship?
A: Yes - without a doubt. This book is intended to open your eyes, provide you with positive practical applications, and encourage you to approach your relationship with the same enthusiasm as you would your career. It is going to be a catalyst - a person or thing that precipitates an event or change - in your relationship. However, you are the Agent of Change - someone who intentionally causes or accelerates behavioral change. This book is going to get you excited about your relationship.

Q: Who should read this book?
A: Anyone who desires more than just the ‘average’ relationship - that is the ’standard’ answer, right? But let me explain why both men and women will enjoy this book:

Men - you need to read this book because you will have fun reading the stories of successful businessmen and athletes who can model, through analogies, how to have a great relationship. Furthermore, the book expresses exactly what women want you to know, presented in a manner that you will enjoy reading, which makes this material invaluable. Whether you are married, have a girlfriend, or would like one - this book is for you. (When you are done; have her read it.)

Women - While the book is written with a man’s interest in mind, women should read this book because it expresses exactly what they want men to know, presented in a manner men relate to. Therefore, women should read the book to, first become oriented with the message. By doing so she may be able to articulate to her man what she is looking for. Then, once she has read it, she can pass the book along to her significant other and say, “this expresses exactly what I want you to know.” If you have a husband, a boyfriend, simply want a better relationship, or you just want to help a family member - you need this book.

Q: What is your experience?
A: I hold a degree in Speech Communication. Dealing with people is something I find very enjoyable, maybe because it is what we do everyday - constantly. I think everyone, even with wide differences, should be able to communicate. Why? Because there is no real need not to. Communication, or lack thereof, is what starts wars and ends friendships. Therefore, interacting with people in a manner that relates to them has always been a passion of mine. My background is in TV and Radio Broadcasting and I have worked in both fields through college and into my early adulthood.

In the midst of this, I was fortunate enough to become a professionally sponsored wakeboarder. I traveled the country doing demos, competing, teaching lessons, representing my sponsors, and generally being an ambassador to the sport. I am often asked: where is the coolest place I have ever ridden? The answer can fall under the strangest, most unique, and yes ‘coolest’ place – Alaska. I would have never thought I would be doing a water sport where the ice barely melts off the lakes, the sun does not go down until after midnight, and where the moose, bald eagles, and grizzly bears are part of the audience. (Honestly, the bears were just cheering for you to fall near shoreline)

Since college, I have worked for a fortune 50 company, founded and/or consulted to multiple small businesses, and most recently became a father. Throughout all of this, I have learned that I can do a few things very well – Communicate, Lead, and Teach and I have decided to share what I have learned, or am learning, with you. Since discovering my strengths, I absorb as much information on these subjects as I can in order to help me mature these strengths and live my life with purpose and passion.

Q: How did you start writing?
A: As a hobby. I started writing in a journal to clarify and organize my thoughts. The more I wrote the clearer and quicker the thoughts became. That is why I wrote Developing a Million-Dollar Relationship. It defines my plan of action on how I am going to guarantee I have a long and happy marriage.

As I see it, my wife gambled on me, took the initiative to say ‘I Do’, and chose to spend the rest of her life with me. The least I can do, for both of us, is to make sure that I give her the best odds of winning and having the best years of our lives. The book serves as my manual and record of how I can accomplish that.

Q: Why did you start blogging?
A: Regarding leadership and life lessons, I believe in two rules.

No.1 – Whether or not you want to be a leader, in life, everyone has one person they must lead – Themselves. And whether you want to lead many or simply be a follower; you always have to at least be accountable for yourself. Life is nothing more than leading yourself so well that others cannot help but follow. That is simply why I blog – they are thoughts to myself so that I can lead myself effectively.

No.2 – I follow the 24 Hour Rule. What it says is: if you share with people something new that you learned within 24 hours, you have a higher percentage of remembering it and applying it to your life. (Now - you are doing two things – you are leading yourself and influencing others)

So in essence, the blog offers me the following benefit: A place to share with myself/others what I have learned so that I can retain it and lead myself effectively.

As for my readers, they serve two additional purposes. First they will help to keep my motives pure. Meaning they will help keep me honest and strengthen the thought. Also, if I am involving my readers, I am certainly not going to do something that would be irresponsible for me and definitely not for someone else. The second purpose the reader serves is an outlet to share my ideas. I have an intense desire to add value to people’s lives and this blog fulfills that purpose as well.

Q: So what is next?
A: Currently I am going to continue promoting my blog and book, and I have begun writing my next book which is scheduled for release late 2008. Finally, with a little favor, maybe I will be making an appearance on Oprah. LOL

Purchase Today.

  Share This

This is an exerpt from the book Developing a Million-Dollar Relationship: A Man’s Strategy to a Real Relationship.

“I love you, you are perfect, now change!” Such a statement seems to be the underlying message of most modern relationships. Most people believe that change needs to happen in their relationship, but ironically it is usually directed at the other person. They believe themselves flawless, or at least their flaws aren’t affecting the relationship negatively. Most of us honestly believe that if our woman would change a few key areas in her life, our relationship would be perfect. How selfish!

Over the years, I have met many people who actually believe that they can ultimately change the person they are with into the person they want. How many times have I heard, “Well, he may not be perfect now, but that will change when we get married.” And then there is the somewhat frustrated young man who states, “She doesn’t do what I want her to do, but when we get married she won’t have a choice.” Sound familiar? Everyone can find flaws in another person, but somehow we are unwilling to even consider that we are the ones that need to change or adapt.

No relationship was built in a day. Instead they develop gradually over time, and only with effort and the willingness to improve yourself. A relationship requires daily care, daily growth, daily change. Most of the time, the person that needs to change is yourself. Read the rest of this entry »

  Share This

This is an excerpt from the book Developing a Million-Dollar Relationship: A Man’s Strategy to a Real Relationship 

     Last summer, I was watching the Home Run Derby during the all-star break. As I was watched, I couldn’t help but wonder, “What would the game be like if the players didn’t know how many home runs they hit, the distance it traveled, or who won?” Most likely complete boredom; fans worldwide enjoy the rush of gazing at the scoreboard and hoping to see their favorite player at the top. Not only does a player become truly able to appreciate his or her performance, but the competition challenges them to drive for more. Sometimes an athlete’s greatest opponent is their own record.

     Successful corporations drive their companies with a similar method as a sport scoreboard. They compile a company’s success in the form of quarterly results, shareholder numbers, and market share and compare them against their competitors. You cannot know where you are going or where you have been until you know where you stand.

     My wife and I have a scoreboard of our own. While its actual existence may exist only in our minds, it does serve a real purpose. About once a week, either at breakfast or somewhere we are alone, we ask each other, “Am I meeting your needs this week, or do you feel that I am doing a good job at meeting your needs?” If the answer is yes, we move on; however, if the answer is no it is very essential to listen with an open mind. Instead of feeling like my wife is complaining, I think of her just giving me her score. Just because the answer was yes last week, doesn’t mean that it will be so all the consecutive weeks as well. Relationships are about constant growth. Sometimes I feel that I had done a great job, but my wife is the judge. I have learned to view her score as a challenge to improve, and a compliment that she cares enough to let me improve. I have occasionally used a 1 - 10 scale to quantitate more delicate issues and determine the level of need. Read the rest of this entry »

  Share This