Dr. Ben Barton’s career is built on structure, discipline, and long-term thinking. From his early years balancing academics and athletics to advising cash-based medical practices, he focuses on turning big ideas into practical systems that create clarity, stability, and sustainable growth. From early discipline to long-term vision Big ideas often start quietly. For Dr. Ben Barton, they began with structure, discipline, and a steady belief that systems matter. Barton grew up in Asheville, North Carolina. As a student, he balanced academics and athletics. He was an NC Scholar student and an All-Conference athlete in two sports. That mix shaped how he approached challenges early on. “I learned pretty fast that effort compounds,” Barton says. “What you do every day matters more than what you do once.” That idea stayed with him as he moved into higher education and, later, into his career. Education that sparked a bigger question Barton attended A.C. Reynolds High School, then went on to Appalachian State University. He later studied at Clemson University and completed his doctoral education at Palmer College of Chiropractic. While learning the clinical side of healthcare, he noticed a gap. Many providers were highly skilled. Yet many struggled to translate that skill into stable, well-run practices. “Medical training is intense,” he says. “But business education is often missing from the picture.” That realization planted a long-term idea. What if medical professionals had clearer systems for running their practices? Bringing structure to cash-based medical practices After completing his education, Barton moved into medical consulting. Over time, he joined Regen Medical Consulting, where he has worked for five years as a Medical Consultant. His focus became cash-based medical practices. These models operate differently than insurance-heavy systems. They require clarity, positioning, and operational discipline. “I saw a lot of smart people reinventing the wheel,” Barton says. “Not because they wanted to, but because they didn’t have a framework.” Rather than pushing trends, Barton focused on repeatable structures. He studied how practices scheduled patients, communicated value, and made decisions. Patterns began to emerge. “Once you see the same issue in ten different clinics, it stops being random,” he says. Those observations became the foundation for his next big step. Writing down the patterns others missed Barton decided to organize what he was seeing into a clear framework. That work became his book, Practice Prosperity: The Six Biggest Mistakes Costing You Millions. The book was not written to promote a method. It was written to document common errors and blind spots. “I didn’t want to write something abstract,” he says. “I wanted it to reflect real conversations I was having every week.” Each section of the book draws from situations Barton encountered while consulting. The focus is on decisions, structure, and long-term thinking. The book is listed on Amazon and is often referenced in discussions about practice management. “Most mistakes aren’t dramatic,” Barton says. “They’re small choices repeated over time.” Leadership beyond the office Barton’s approach to leadership is not limited to business. For years, he invested time in service. He volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters for five years. He also volunteered with Make-A-Wish for seven years. “Those experiences changed how I define success,” he says. “You start to think less about outcomes and more about impact.” That same mindset shows up in how he challenges himself personally. Lessons learned at high altitude Outside of work, Barton spends time mountain biking and hiking major peaks. He has climbed Mount Elbrus in Russia and Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. He is scheduled to climb Aconcagua in Argentina, his third of the Seven Summits. High-altitude climbing requires patience and planning. Barton sees clear parallels to business and career growth. “You don’t rush progress at altitude,” he says. “If you skip steps, the mountain reminds you.” These experiences reinforce his belief in preparation and long-term thinking. Big goals require small, consistent actions. Contributing big ideas without big noise Today, Dr. Ben Barton speaks on topics related to medical business, entrepreneurship, and practice operations. His approach remains grounded. He avoids hype and focuses on clarity. “I think big ideas should feel practical,” he says. “If someone can’t use it, it’s not finished.” That philosophy defines his contribution to the industry. Rather than chasing attention, Barton focuses on refining systems and documenting what works. His career shows how ideas evolve when they are tested, adjusted, and applied over time. “You don’t have to change everything at once,” Barton says. “You just have to start with the right question.” That steady, structured approach continues to shape his work today.

From a three-person startup in California to a global transformation partner, Epik Solutions is quietly shaping the way businesses grow, with purpose, people, and platform-first thinking. How Epik Solutions got started In October 2015, Epik Solutions’ CEO and two partners launched Epik Solutions with a simple but powerful idea, help businesses grow by making technology work for people, not the other way around. “We saw companies struggling with digital change,” said the CEO. “They had systems, platforms, and people, but they weren’t connected. That’s where we knew we could make a difference.” They chose the name “Epik” to reflect their vision. Not just growth. Not just tech. But epic transformation, the kind that touches customers, employees, and operations at the same time. What does Epik Solutions do? Today, Epik Solutions has about 250 employees across the U.S., India, and Mexico. Their services cover: Digital and AI transformation Talent acquisition and workforce solutions Platform services for data integration, aggregation, and visualization But their approach is what sets them apart. “We don’t replace existing systems,” their CEO explained. “We build around them. We extend their value. That’s why our deployments are fast and flexible.” Their tagline, “Simplify and grow”, isn’t just branding. It’s their method. They help businesses take what’s already working and make it more efficient, more connected, and more people-friendly. Why repeat customers keep coming back In an industry where long-term partnerships are rare, Epik Solutions  has an impressive stat, 90% of their business comes from repeat clients. That’s not an accident. “We track every engagement with clear KPIs and service level agreements,” the CEO shared. “If we can’t measure it, we don’t do it.” The company focuses on solving specific pain points, often ones buried in the back office or overlooked in user journeys. Over time, those improvements stack up. One of their most impactful projects involved wildfire mitigation work with utility companies, a high-stakes, high-impact area where data and action had to move in sync. “It wasn’t just about building a tool,” the CEO said. “It was about protecting lives and land using the data already available. That’s the kind of work that motivates us.” A culture that puts people first While Epik Solutions helps businesses grow, it has never lost sight of its own people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company made a bold choice, not a single employee was laid off. “That was never on the table,” the CEO said. “If we ask people to believe in us, we have to show that we believe in them too.” That belief goes beyond crisis management. Epik has a global work-from-home policy and encourages employees to work at a pace that suits them. “Work should fit around life, not the other way around,” their CEO explained. “We hire smart people. We respect how they work best.” What makes Epik different in a crowded market? There are plenty of firms offering transformation services. But Epik Solutions takes a more collaborative, layered approach. Their goal isn’t to sell a tool. It’s to create a better experience, for customers, for employees, and for leadership. “We call ourselves a ‘transformation partner,’ not a vendor,” the CEO said. “That means we work inside the business. We ask hard questions. And we stay for the answers.” Rather than pushing the latest trend, Epik focuses on practical innovation. They use AI and automation, but only when it fits the problem. And they’re deeply committed to social impact, especially climate tech, where they've built tools to help businesses align with environmental goals. Looking ahead: What’s next for Epik Solutions? The team isn’t chasing rapid growth or flashy headlines. Instead, they’re focused on long-term relationships and meaningful impact. “If our customers succeed, we succeed,” said the CEO. “That’s our business model.” They continue to expand their footprint across North America and Asia while staying lean, focused, and values-driven. For businesses stuck between outdated systems and overwhelming tech choices, Epik Solutions offers a clear path forward, one that’s big on vision, but grounded in execution. And in a world full of complexity, that clarity might be the most transformative thing of all.

Sergey Macheret’s career spans decades of advanced plasma science, aerospace innovation, and applied research. From leading institutions to cutting-edge engineering programs, he has focused on turning complex scientific ideas into practical solutions with real-world impact. A career shaped by curiosity and execution Some careers are planned step by step. Others grow from a single question that never goes away. For Sergey Macheret, that question was simple: How do molecules, atoms, and electrons behave in extreme physical conditions, and how can we control them in practical application? That curiosity became the foundation of a career that spans continents, institutions, and industries. Over more than four decades, Macheret has moved between research labs, classrooms, and advanced aerospace programs. Along the way, he has helped turn complex plasma science into tools that engineers can actually use. “I never thought in terms of titles,” he says. “I thought in terms of problems. If a problem mattered, I wanted to work on it.” Early training in high-stakes science Macheret was born in Kiev, Ukraine, when it was still part of the Soviet Union. He finished high school there before heading to college in Moscow. He earned his master’s degree in physics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in 1980, graduating with distinction. He then completed his Ph.D. in Plasma Physics and Plasma Chemistry at the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy in 1985. His early research focused on plasma chemical reactions—fields where small errors can lead to big consequences. “At Kurchatov, you learned discipline fast,” he recalls. “You couldn’t hide behind theory. Your work had to match reality.” Those years shaped his practical mindset. Plasma was not just something to model on paper. It was something that had to behave predictably in extreme conditions. A move to the United States In 1991, Macheret moved to the United States and joined Ohio State University as a lecturer and research associate. Three years later, he moved to Princeton University, where he spent more than a decade in roles ranging from research scholar to senior research scientist and lecturer. At Princeton, he focused on bridging theory and application. He worked on models that explained how plasmas behave in fast-moving flows, with direct relevance to aerospace systems. “Teaching helped sharpen my thinking,” he says. “If you can’t explain a concept clearly, you don’t really understand it.” His work began drawing interest beyond academia. The ideas were solid. But more importantly, they were usable. From academia to skunk works In 2006, Macheret made a major shift. He left academia to join Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Development Programs, better known as the Skunk Works. The move placed him inside one of the most demanding engineering environments in the world. Projects were classified. Timelines were tight. Expectations were high. “At Skunk Works, you didn’t have the luxury of endless refinement,” he says. “You had to get results that worked, and get them quickly.” As a Senior Staff Engineer, he worked on advanced plasma concepts tied to aerospace performance and control. His contributions earned him multiple service recognition awards and the Aero Star Award in 2012. The experience reinforced a lesson he still shares with students. “A good idea isn’t enough. It has to survive testing, schedules, and real constraints.” Returning to purdue with industry perspective In 2014, Macheret returned to academia as a professor at Purdue University, joining the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. From 2022 to 2024, he also held a concurrent role in Electrical and Computer Engineering. At Purdue, he applied lessons learned in industry to research and teaching. His work focused on efficient plasma generation, control of nonequilibrium plasmas, and magnetohydrodynamics. He published more than 170 journal and conference papers, contributed to books and chapters, and filed 12 patents and patent applications. He also became known for a direct teaching style. When a student once brought him a failed experiment, he didn’t dismiss it. “This is good data,” he said. “Now we know what doesn’t work.” That mindset helped shape a generation of engineers who learned to treat failure as information, not defeat. Recognition from the aerospace community Macheret’s influence did not go unnoticed. He was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), one of the highest honors in the field. In 2022, he received the AIAA Plasmadynamics and Lasers Award for pioneering work in plasma generation and aerospace applications. “These awards reflect teamwork,” he says. “No meaningful work happens in isolation.” Beyond awards, he chaired conferences, edited journal issues, and delivered nearly 60 invited lectures worldwide. Each role expanded his impact beyond his own research. Founding US plasma engineering In 2023, Macheret founded US Plasma Engineering LLC, marking another shift—from teaching and research to focused execution. The goal was not to chase trends, but to apply decades of plasma expertise to real engineering problems. “After years in universities and large organizations, I wanted something agile,” he explains. “A place where ideas could move quickly from concept to testing.” The company reflects his career-long pattern. Identify a hard problem. Apply deep science. Build something that works. A leader focused on what comes next Today, Macheret remains focused on progress, not legacy. He sees plasma technology as an underused tool with wide applications, from aerospace to energy systems. “We are still at an early stage,” he says. “Plasma is powerful, but control is everything. That’s where the real work is.” His career shows what happens when curiosity meets discipline and persistence. From Soviet research institutes to American universities and advanced aerospace programs, Sergey Macheret has spent a lifetime turning complex ideas into practical impact. And he is not finished yet.

Written by Elizabeth Ballin, Professional Certified Coach In this series, Elizabeth Ballin, PCC, offers reflections from her coaching and mindfulness practice on how people discover insight, meaning, and resilience in the changing landscape of modern life. Her perspective is rooted in years of working with people from many cultures and in a driven curiosity that understands human growth as life in motion. As the year begins, many of us feel a strong desire to make a change, whether to improve our personal or professional lives or to fix what feels broken. We are eager to set new goals without taking a deeper dive into what has worked in the past, what has not, and what is achievable. This pressure to do or be better can consume us, especially when we want to make significant changes in our beliefs, relationships, growth, and success. Why acceptance is important Rather than focusing only on setting new goals, which remains important, I am choosing acceptance as my theme for this year. The word acceptance is often used casually, but for many, being told to “just accept” a situation can feel unhelpful and even isolating. Yet, in my coaching practice, acceptance holds deeper significance. If we first learn how to accept what is difficult and what we have, we gain clarity about what is truly present and possible, which brings us closer to what we genuinely seek. So how do you learn to accept? How do we start? From my perspective as a coach, it starts by becoming aware of what we are dealing with emotionally and physically, and by taking time to notice our resistance, our emotional fatigue, and the subtle ways we avoid certain thoughts, feelings, or situations. Awareness is being conscious of these signals. Awareness can show up in many ways. It can appear as a sense of unease or urgency, for example, toward the end of the year, when we feel pressured to push forward. It can also highlight what is going well, which can go unnoticed as well. As awareness builds and we gain more clarity, the next step is acknowledgement. This is the moment we stop turning away and name what we see, be it disappointment, frustration, relief, loss, or strengths we have overlooked. Acknowledgement is like noticing clouds in the sky. We observe them, know that they are clouds, but we do not necessarily immediately assign meaning to their presence. This stage is about just noticing before jumping to interpretation or action. Naming loss can be challenging. Loss need not be dramatic to matter. Losing a job, going through a divorce, or letting go of a role or future can make us lose our way. Acknowledging loss means admitting that something important to us mattered, and that its absence has a profound effect on us. Many try to move past loss quickly, but unacknowledged loss lingers and subtly shapes our choices. Once we acknowledge what is present, authenticity becomes essential, often requiring bravery. Authenticity is being honest about our feelings and wants, even when they conflict with past plans or expectations. This may mean facing the fact that something we worked toward no longer fits, or that what we hoped for is no longer available. This honesty is inward and takes courage and strength. I see this often in my coaching work, not only around loss, but also around accepting positive truths. I once worked with a client who was successful and widely admired. She was respected professionally and cared for deeply by her friends, yet she lived with a strong belief that she was not good enough. She dismissed compliments, and they made her nervous. She questioned positive feedback. She thought she would never measure up to what people thought of her, so it was easier for her to put those compliments aside. Over time, this belief began to isolate her from the very people who supported her. As our conversations unfolded, I encouraged her to examine the compliments she quickly dismissed. Who gave them, and what relationship did they have to her? I asked her to be specific about when these compliments appeared and what actions prompted them. Gradually, she realised she could see herself through others’ eyes and began to acknowledge their compliments as genuine, even if accepting them fully would take time. Over time, she began to recognise that the harshest voice she trusted was her own. She also saw that by rejecting those who appreciated her and cared about her, she was distancing herself from relationships that mattered deeply to her. She was not able to fully embrace acceptance at first, but over time, she developed a more positive outlook on herself. With many of my clients, once they can clearly acknowledge their struggles, they become ready to accept them. Typically, acceptance is felt when internal debates subside, opening space for clear thinking, honesty, and authenticity. Acceptance is not about agreement or resignation, or embracing every event as part of our identity. Rather, it involves recognising reality and choosing how to relate to it. As acceptance takes hold, perspectives shift. We start to gain a deeper understanding of what needs to change or what we need to let go of. At this point, instead of urgently seeking solutions, we feel emotionally safe to be more curious about our feelings, needs, and future goals. This openness allows us to be creative in determining how we wish to proceed. Acceptance, however, can unfold gradually, and it is during these moments that reflection becomes possible before taking any action. It is also important to recognise that for those who have faced significant loss or trauma, acceptance may take more time and external support. In these situations, drawing on support networks, whether friends, family, spiritual advisors, or psychologists, can make the difference between feeling isolated and gradually learning to live with change. Taking action, whatever that may be, follows acceptance. The actions and decisions you take become more intentional, more authentic, and more aligned with your values. They are guided by clarity, honesty, and courage rather than by fear and pressure. In summary, acceptance is not a single goal reserved for the start of a new year. It is a process that unfolds throughout the year, as life continues to shift and new realities emerge. For me, beginning the year this way feels more grounded, knowing that simply starting with awareness can already make a meaningful difference. Follow me on LinkedIn and visit my website for more info! Read more from Elizabeth Ballin Elizabeth Ballin, Professional Certified Coach Elizabeth Ballin, PCC, is an ICF-accredited professional coach and mindfulness practitioner working globally with people and professionals from many backgrounds. She combines emotional insight, cultural intelligence, and practical structure to support meaningful growth. She brings a lifelong multicultural awareness, deepened by twelve years of coaching across more than twenty cultures, which helps her attune to the emotional and practical realities her clients face. Her writing spans themes such as curiosity, creativity, well-being, communication, judgment, and the inner shifts that support meaningful growth in the complexity of modern life.

Written by Tahira Holland-Tucker, Life Insurance & Annuity Professional Tahira is a highly knowledgeable life insurance professional with a strong understanding of financial protection strategies and a passion for helping individuals and families secure their futures. Life insurance and annuities play a critical role in building a secure and balanced financial plan. Life insurance provides essential protection for your loved ones, helps cover debts and expenses, and can create a lasting legacy. Annuities, on the other hand, help ensure you do not outlive your money by providing guaranteed, predictable income in retirement. Together, they protect both your family and your future, giving you financial stability, confidence, and peace of mind at every stage of life. Let’s check out the breakdown of both. Life insurance is more than a death benefit. It is a foundation of financial security. 1. Protects your loved ones If something happens to you, life insurance can: Replace lost income Pay off debts such as a mortgage, loans, and credit cards Cover funeral expenses Fund your children’s education Ensure your family maintains their lifestyle 2. Builds wealth with certain policies Permanent life insurance, such as whole life or indexed universal life, can: Accumulate tax-advantaged cash value It is used for supplemental retirement income Serve as an emergency fund or opportunity fund Provide tax-free access when structured properly 3. Helps with estate and legacy planning Provides liquidity to pay estate taxes or expenses Allows you to leave a guaranteed legacy to heirs or charities Can help equalize inheritances among family members Why annuities are powerful for financial planning Annuities are designed to solve one of the biggest retirement fears, “Will I outlive my money?” 1. Creates guaranteed lifetime income Annuities can: Provide income you cannot outlive Act like a personal pension Cover essential expenses such as housing, food, utilities, and insurance 2. Reduces market risk Depending on the type of annuity, you can: Protect your principal from market losses Still participate in market-linked growth Create stable, predictable income even in volatile markets 3. Improves retirement confidence Helps you budget better in retirement Reduces stress about market crashes Creates a solid income floor you can rely on Why they work even better together When combined: Life insurance protects your family and builds a legacy. Annuities protect your lifestyle and income in retirement. Together, they help: Manage risk Create a guaranteed income Build tax-efficient wealth Protect both today and tomorrow Think of it like this. Life insurance equals financial protection, a legacy, and an optional wealth tool. Annuities equal income security, longevity protection, and peace of mind. A strong financial plan is not just about growing money. It is about protecting it, using it wisely, and making sure it lasts. Start your journey to securing your future today by connecting with me below. Connect with me: Life insurance Annuities Contact email here . Contact phone: (609) 365 9193 Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and LinkedIn for more info! Read more from Tahira Holland-Tucker Tahira Holland-Tucker, Life Insurance & Annuity Professional Tahira is a licensed life insurance and annuities professional focused on helping families build strong financial protection. She specializes in customized strategies designed for long-term security. Tahira is passionate about educating clients and empowering them to make smart decisions. She believes planning ahead is the key to financial freedom. Her approach is strategic, caring, and client-centered. She is dedicated to creating real results, not just policies. Tahira’s mission is to help families protect today and build for tomorrow.

Emma Grede has become one of the most influential business figures behind today’s biggest consumer brands, not by being the loudest voice in the room, but by owning the table. As the co-founder of companies like SKIMS and Good American, Grede has repeatedly emphasized that real power in business doesn’t come from visibility alone, but from equity and decision-making authority. In recent interviews and public appearances, Grede has spoken openly about the importance of founders thinking beyond short-term wins. Her philosophy is clear: building a personal brand or landing high-profile partnerships matters far less if entrepreneurs don’t retain ownership and control over what they create. Grede’s approach reflects a broader shift in modern entrepreneurship, where founders are rethinking hustle culture and focusing instead on sustainable growth, smart partnerships, and long-term value. Rather than chasing attention, she advocates for building systems, teams, and structures that allow businesses to scale without burning out their leaders. For entrepreneurs navigating today’s fast-moving economy, Grede’s message is timely. In an era where visibility is easy to buy but ownership is harder to secure, her perspective serves as a reminder that true leverage comes from what you own, not just what you promote.

Written by Michael J McCusker, Founder/Podcast Host Michael J McCusker is a Global Freedom Fellow, a multiple author, and host of the acclaimed “Lived Experience Podcast Series.” He’s a respected advocate for justice reform and a thought leader in Lived Experience Leadership, using storytelling to spark social change. There’s a quiet discipline behind every powerful brand, every bold vision, every room-commanding speaker. It’s not just strategy. It’s not just funding, marketing, or even raw talent. It’s self leadership. And it’s one of the most overlooked yet transformative forces in entrepreneurship and thought leadership today. Because long before you build a business that changes lives, you have to build a mindset that can withstand the storm. The difference that makes the difference Over the last few years, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing over 120 guests on The Lived Experience Series podcast, from founders to creatives, reformers to rebels. And no matter how different their industries or paths, a clear pattern has emerged. Those who lead best are those who first lead themselves. They’ve developed something more than motivation. More than good habits. They’ve cultivated internal alignment. A kind of fierce self awareness mixed with radical responsibility. That’s what makes them magnetic. That’s what makes their impact sustainable. Self leadership isn’t a productivity hack. It’s a philosophy, one that keeps you grounded when everything around you gets loud. Leadership isn’t a title, it’s a decision Entrepreneurship is often glorified as freedom, but what we don’t always talk about is the emotional intensity it brings. You will be tested. You’ll face rejection, creative drought, financial uncertainty, and moments where quitting whispers like a siren. You’ll wrestle with imposter syndrome, comparison, and the weight of wanting to make a difference now. That’s where self leadership becomes essential. Because when there’s no boss to answer to, you become the one who sets the standard. For your energy. Your integrity. Your creativity. Your recovery. And let’s be real, that’s not easy. But it’s worth it. The inner game behind outer impact True self leadership starts with three unshakeable pillars: 1. Self awareness The ability to pause and ask, "What’s driving me right now? Is it purpose or pressure? Ego or alignment?" Entrepreneurs who win long-term aren’t just externally clear, they’re internally congruent. They know their values. They understand their triggers. They see their blind spots. They’ve built a mirror, not a mask. “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom,” Aristotle. 2. Accountability Not just to outcomes, but to the process. To the quiet promises you make to yourself that no one else sees. Self leadership means you take responsibility for your emotions, your choices, your calendar, and even your energy levels. You stop outsourcing your consistency to mood or motivation. You become someone you can rely on. 3. Emotional agility Business and life will shake you. There will be days of doubt, failure, even shame. But those who rise don’t suppress emotion. They move through it. They learn to sit with discomfort without letting it dictate their next step. They cultivate resilience without becoming hardened. They lead from presence, not panic. Thought leaders are self leaders, first There’s a reason the most impactful thought leaders don’t just share ideas. They share their process. Their wounds. Their doubts. Their internal victories. Because influence isn’t just about intellect, it’s about integrity. People follow voices that feel real. If you want to speak on stages, host a powerful podcast, or launch a movement, self leadership is what gives you the staying power. The focus is to say “yes” with intention and “no” without guilt. The clarity to stay rooted in purpose when visibility increases. Self leadership protects your vision from dilution. And it helps you build a message that’s not just compelling, but consistent. Self leadership in practice Here are five practices I return to repeatedly, and the ones I invite my clients and listeners to try: Daily check-ins: Before diving into the to-do list, pause. Ask, "What am I feeling? What do I need? What matters most today?" This three-minute ritual builds emotional intelligence like nothing else. Clear boundaries: Your energy is your greatest asset. Protect it. Not every opportunity is aligned. Not every invitation deserves a “yes.” Boundaries are a leadership tool, not a personal flaw. Compassionate discipline: Don’t wait for motivation. Build habits that honour your future self. But ditch the punishment. Replace perfectionism with consistency. Speak kindly to yourself: Your internal dialogue shapes your results. If your self talk is cruel, your output will suffer. Learn to lead with grace, especially when you fall short. Own your story: Whether you’re pitching, podcasting, or presenting, lead with lived experience. People resonate with real. Be brave enough to say, “Here’s what I’ve walked through, and what I’ve learned.” The future belongs to the self led In this next era of leadership, where AI is accelerating and attention is fleeting, the real differentiator won’t be speed or scale. It will be self. Your inner compass. Your clarity. Your ability to choose what matters over what’s trending. The world does not need more reactive experts. It needs reflective leaders. Builders. Creators. Visionaries who know how to manage themselves when things get messy. That’s the kind of leadership that lasts. That’s the kind of leadership that transforms not just businesses, but lives. If you are a thought leader, entrepreneur, or creative, don’t just ask yourself how to grow your brand. Ask, "How can I grow my capacity to lead myself?" Because the greatest ROI doesn’t come from the next strategy. It comes from inner alignment. Self leadership isn’t optional. It’s the edge you’ve been searching for. To find out how you can do this as well, click the link Hidden Potential: Unlocking the Door Within and read the steps. Follow me on Instagram and visit my website for more info! Read more from Michael J McCusker Michael J McCusker, Founder/Podcast Host Michael J McCusker is a dynamic storyteller and podcast host who uses the power of voice to spark meaningful change. As a seasoned leader with lived experience, they’ve dedicated their life to guiding others toward purpose, self-leadership, and impact. Through powerful interviews and transformative conversations, their podcast The Lived Experience Series  amplifies voices that are often unheard but deeply needed. A published author, Michael J McCusker, writes with clarity and conviction, Hidden Potential: Unlocking The Door Within ,  turning personal insight into universal lessons. Their work empowers individuals to own their story, speak with influence, and lead with authenticity. Whether on stage, behind the mic, or on the page, The Resilient-Irishman: How to Tackle Life's Adversities.  Michael J McCusker is committed to shifting narratives and building a legacy that inspires others to rise.

Written by John Comerford, Author/Motivational Speaker John Comerford is the author of Tarzan Loves Jane and Battle Armour (25 Tools for Men's Mental Health). John is also one of the authors of the number one Amazon best-selling book series, "Start Over." Men in Australia keep dying by suicide at close to three times the rate of women, yet year after year, hundreds of millions of dollars are flowing into mental health campaigns, charities, and hotlines. If money were the answer to fixing men’s suicide rates, it would have worked by now. The brutal truth is that the system has learned how to collect money off men’s pain, but not how to listen to men, trust their lived experience, or build the kind of real connection that actually stops a man from taking his own life. This is not a story about insufficient funding. Rather, it highlights how funding often takes centre stage in discussions about men’s mental health, while men themselves sometimes feel unheard or overlooked. The numbers say it’s not about “awareness” Across just four big-name charities in Australia, well over $150 million a year now moves through the books. Much of this is raised on the back of male suicide statistics and heartbreaking stories. Men’s faces, tears, and funerals have become the emotional engine for a thriving industry of campaigns, corporate partnerships, and merchandise that promises to “change the face of men’s health”. In 2024 alone, one men’s health charity reported raising around $137.2 million globally and roughly $32 million in income just in its Australian trustee entity, spending about $28 million and banking a surplus of around $4 million for that year. Another’s most recent national figures show revenue in the region of $118 million across a financial year, powered by government contracts, corporate partnerships, and public donations, while a third, a newer player in the market, reports more than $9 million in annual income. There is nothing small about this money. And yet, men are still dying at nearly the same rate. The curve is not bending the way those fundraising videos imply it should. The story the numbers tell is blunt. Money clearly buys more campaigns, more branding, and more organisational growth. It is not, on its own, good at stopping suicide. The mental health “cash cow” Once you see it, you cannot unsee it. Men’s mental health is now a cash cow. There is always another awareness day, another colour to wear, a new challenge to join, or a corporate breakfast with a mental health ambassador and keynote speech. Beards and moustaches become donation funnels. Footy clubs and workplaces become branded backdrops. Social feeds fill with carefully crafted posts about “starting the conversation”, often posted by organisations that do not frequently disclose how much they spend on marketing or how much ends up in executive salaries and reserves. The man in real trouble is often portrayed as a story, a statistic, or a campaign hook within this system. Once the campaign ends, he returns to the same challenges of long waits, unaffordable therapy, shame, silence, and isolation. The financials make the cow visible. These charities openly celebrate global growth and long-term investment funds, explaining that only about three-quarters of every donated dollar is available for programs after admin and fundraising take their cut. One Australian charity discloses multi-million dollar executive remuneration pools while relying heavily on volunteers to staff its phone lines. Another spends the vast bulk of its income on running the campaign itself, staff, events, marketing, and “conversation convoys”, not on direct crisis support or material help for the people its message reaches. None of this is illegal. None of it is even unusual in the charity world. But when the product being promoted is “saving men from suicide”, it can appear troubling to see multi-million dollar surpluses and six-figure executive packages alongside families who cannot afford a single ongoing therapy session after a crisis. Why isn’t all this money working? If funding alone could reduce male suicide, Australia might no longer be grappling with this issue. However, challenges remain, as much of the funding may not be directed in ways or to the depth needed to have the greatest impact. First, it is overwhelmingly tied up in awareness and branding, not in the messy, long-term work of healing. Campaigns like RUOK? have saturated the country to the point where “Are you okay?” has become a reflex slogan rather than a genuine question backed by the capacity to respond. People know the words. They do not know what to do if the answer is “No, I am not.” A day of conversation without structure can actually make the pain sharper. You disclose, someone panics or freezes, and you learn it was never really safe to speak. Second, the funding flows are still organised around systems, not stories. Governments and big donors back entities that can produce glossy reports, neat outcome frameworks, and KPI friendly numbers. They reward scale, brand recognition, and the ability to manage risk. What they do not know how to fund is the quiet, unglamorous work of sitting beside a man who is completely shattered and staying there for months or years. That work does not produce simple metrics or viral campaigns. It produces human beings slowly coming back to life. Third, the system is built on the distance from the pain it describes. Decisions about where money goes are typically made by boards, executives, consultants, and bureaucrats who may care deeply but have not personally lived through the kind of sustained suicidality, childhood trauma, or abuse they are talking about. They commission research, they survey “stakeholders”, they hold roundtables. But they do not put people with lived experience in charge. Without that, the money keeps circling the same safe orbit, awareness, training modules, brief interventions, and short-term projects. The men on the edge do not live in that orbit. Money versus conversation, connection, and truth When men talk about what actually kept them here, the stories rarely start with a campaign and almost never start with a grant. They start with a mate who refused to leave, a quietly persistent partner, a stranger on a helpline who really listened, or another survivor who said, “I know exactly where you are, I’ve been there.” These are not “awareness activities.” These are acts of connection. Research is slowly catching up with what survivors have been saying for years. Peer-based and lived-experience-informed supports reduce isolation, increase help-seeking, and change how people relate to their own suicidal thoughts. Training rooted in the lived experience of suicide has been shown to increase knowledge and confidence without increasing distress, showing that carefully held real stories are not dangerous. They are powerful. These findings are not perfect or complete, but they point in one direction. Real, grounded work held by people who “get it” saves more lives than scripted, branded, and detached talk. Meanwhile, the money machine keeps pushing “check in with a mate” soundbites without putting serious funding behind what needs to exist after the check-in, safe, ongoing spaces, long-term trauma work, stable housing, and peer workers who can walk with a man through the fallout from disclosure. The gap between the message and the material reality is where trust dies. Lived experience isn’t a garnish, it’s the only way out Australia’s own suicide-prevention policy world has started using the language of lived experience, but too often it is treated like a garnish, one story at an event, one seat on a board, one quote on a brochure. That is not lived experience leadership. That is lived experience decoration. When people with lived experience talk about what they want, they are crystal clear. They want to be in the room before decisions are made, not after. They want control over funding priorities, not just a chance to comment on pre-written strategies. They want services and campaigns to be built from the ground up around the realities of trauma, shame, masculinity, addiction, poverty, and abuse, not around what is comfortable for government and corporate partners. National bodies and dedicated organisations have begun to spell out frameworks for genuinely embedding lived experience into suicide prevention systems, with tools to measure how deeply, or superficially, it is integrated. The direction is clear. Systems that are led by people who know suicide from the inside look and feel completely different. They are less polished, more honest, more uncomfortable, and more effective at building trust. When men’s mental health is framed as a significant funding issue, perhaps the most meaningful response is not additional fundraising, but instead providing decision-making opportunities, resources, and influence to men who have experienced these challenges and understand which approaches are most helpful. Until this becomes standard practice, references to lived experience may continue to fall short of their potential. What would it look like if the money followed the men? Imagine if even a fraction of the money currently circulating through campaigns and branding were redirected to what men with lived experience say they need most. The landscape would change fast. Instead of another awareness day, you would see: Funded, properly paid peer workforces made up of men who have survived suicidality and trauma, trained and supported to walk alongside others in crisis for as long as it takes. Trauma-informed services that understand childhood sexual abuse, institutional abuse, family violence, and complex PTSD not as side notes but as central drivers in male suicidality, with long-term therapy available regardless of income. Community-controlled spaces, peer groups, men’s circles, and survivor hubs, where the rules are written by people who have been there, not by marketing departments and risk officers. Integrated supports around housing, employment, legal issues, and family law, because lived experience will tell you that a man does not kill himself because he saw the wrong campaign. He kills himself when he can no longer see a way to live with everything collapsing around him. These are not hypotheticals. Lived-experience groups around the country have published exactly this kind of agenda and are calling, loudly, for funding to follow it. The main reason it has not happened at scale is not a lack of evidence or ideas. It is a lack of willingness on the part of those currently controlling the money to let go. Stop pretending money is the hero The hardest, clearest line in all of this is simple. Money is not the hero of this story. Men don’t stay alive because an organisation raised another million. They stay alive because someone met them in the dark and did not turn away. Money can support that work, or it can smother it under branding, bureaucracy, and distance. Right now, too much of it is doing the latter. If the system really cared more about men’s lives than men’s stories, it would: Stop using suicide as a marketing hook unless there is real, funded, ongoing support behind every message. Publish brutally honest breakdowns of where every donated dollar goes, not buried in footnotes, but on the front page. How much goes to executive pay, how much to marketing, how much to reserves, and how much to direct support or grants? Put lived-experience-led organisations and peer programs at the front of the funding queue, even if they aren’t tidy, glossy, or “on brand”. Until then, the question “Why isn’t the money working?” has a straightforward answer because the people who know what actually works are still being treated as case studies, not as leaders. Men’s mental health does not need another cash-rich campaign that tells them to speak up in a system that cannot hold what they say. It needs men who have lived through hell to set the terms, design the responses, and hold the space. That is what will change the trajectory. Everything else is just noise, and while the noise grows louder, the funerals keep coming. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website for more info! Read more from John Comerford John Comerford, Author/Motivational Speaker John Comerford is a leading advocate for men’s mental health and trauma recovery. A survivor of childhood sexual assault, he endured four decades of silence before, after a suicide attempt, beginning the hard work of confronting his past and rebuilding his life. He shares his story in “Tarzan Loves Jane,” a dark romantic comedy based on his experience, and created “Battle Armour: 25 Tools for Men’s Mental Health” to equip other men with practical support. Today, he speaks, writes, and leads with one message. Speak up. His mission is that no man suffers in silence.

Written by Alberto El Bitar, Founder and CEO of Rē Wellness Alberto Bitar is the CEO and Co-Founder of Rē A Social Wellness Club, Dubai’s first holistic wellness sanctuary. With a background in sports science and boutique wellness, he is dedicated to creating transformative, science-driven experiences that enhance mind, body, and biochemical health. Every January, motivation floods our feeds. New planners, new promises, new versions of ourselves. Yet by February, most of those goals have quietly faded. It’s not a lack of willpower; it’s how our brains work. Motivation is a chemical spark, not a sustainable engine. The real fuel for change lies in something much smaller: micro habits. The myth of motivation Motivation feels powerful because it triggers dopamine, the neurotransmitter that drives anticipation and reward. But dopamine spikes are short-lived. When we rely on motivation alone, our brains experience what psychologists call reward prediction error. The excitement fades when the effort doesn’t instantly pay off. That’s why big resolutions so often collapse. The gap between the “ideal” and the “daily” becomes too wide. Sustainable change happens not through massive action but through neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire itself through repetition and experience. The science of micro habits Neuroscientist Donald Hebb famously summarized neuroplasticity in one line: “Neurons that fire together wire together.” Every time you repeat an action, you strengthen the neural pathway that supports it. Over time, the prefrontal cortex, the decision-making center, hands that behavior off to the basal ganglia, the habit center. What once required effort becomes automatic. Micro habits leverage this principle beautifully because they bypass the brain’s resistance to change. Small actions create low cognitive friction; the brain doesn’t perceive them as threats or heavy lifts, so it cooperates. Think of it as neurological compounding interest, tiny deposits of consistency that grow into identity-level change. The five science-backed techniques that work 1. Habit stacking Popularized by James Clear, this method attaches a new behavior to an existing one. “After I make my morning coffee, I’ll write three things I’m grateful for.” This uses contextual cues. Your brain already recognizes the coffee routine, so adding a new habit rides on an existing neural pathway. 2. The two-minute rule Start so small that it feels silly to resist. Read one page. Stretch for two minutes. Step outside for one deep breath. Stanford researcher BJ Fogg notes that emotions, not repetition alone, cement habits. Each micro success gives your brain a small dopamine hit, reinforcing the behavior loop. 3. Environment engineering We overestimate self-discipline and underestimate design. Shape your surroundings so the “right” choice is the easy one. Keep water visible on your desk. Lay out workout clothes before bed. Your environment cues your behavior before willpower even gets involved. 4. Dopamine anchoring Reward yourself immediately after completing a new habit. Play a favorite song after journaling or step into sunlight after meditating. The reward strengthens the association between the action and pleasure, reinforcing the loop within your brain’s reward circuitry, from the ventral tegmental area to the nucleus accumbens. 5. Identity reframing Behavior follows identity. Instead of saying, “I’m trying to eat healthy,” say, “I’m someone who values energy and longevity.” According to research from the University of Illinois, people who link habits to identity show significantly greater persistence. Your brain seeks consistency with who you believe you are; it prefers to prove itself right. Why it matters for longevity and performance At Rē Social Wellness Club, we see this principle play out daily. Members who focus on small, structured actions, showing up twice a week, practicing recovery rituals, tracking one simple metric, experience the greatest long-term results. Micro habits don’t just change routines; they change self-perception. Each repetition rewires not just what you do, but who you believe yourself to be. That’s neuroplasticity in motion, and it’s the science behind sustained wellbeing. The takeaway Forget the myth of “New Year, New You.” The brain doesn’t transform through massive declarations; it evolves through micro adjustments repeated with intention. Motivation gets you started. Micro habits keep you going. And over time, they quietly turn effort into identity, one neural connection at a time. Follow me on Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Alberto El Bitar Alberto El Bitar, Founder and CEO of Rē Wellness Alberto Bitar is a leader in luxury wellness and the Co-Founder of Rē A Social Wellness Club, an innovative sanctuary set to transform Dubai’s wellness landscape. With a foundation in sports science and experience managing boutique wellness centers, he combines expertise in bio-mechanical, bio-chemical, and mental health practices to create a truly integrative approach to well-being. His work at Rē blends personalized care with science-driven techniques, empowering members to elevate their health through tailored programs. Alberto’s passion lies in redefining wellness standards and fostering a supportive community where mind, body, and biochemical health come together.

Written by Anne-Sophie Gossan, Transformational Career Coach Anne-Sophie Gossan, founder of Inner Spark Coaching, supports individuals going through career transitions so they find meaningful direction, reignite their spark, and thrive. She brings calm, clarity, and deep empathy, and asks the questions that unlock their truths while holding space for both vulnerability and growth. So, here we go again. A new year. Fresh calendars. Bold intentions. But the real question isn’t what your New Year’s resolutions are. It’s this, "Is 2026 ready for you?" If New Year’s resolutions work for you, then honestly, brilliant. Keep going. But let’s be honest, for most people, they don’t. And it’s not because we lack willpower or discipline. It’s usually because those resolutions aren’t anchored in anything meaningful. Simon Sinek talks about the importance of starting with why, because when the why isn’t clear, the how quickly falls apart. New Year’s resolutions are a perfect example of this. They often focus on what we want to do differently, without ever addressing why it matters in the first place. Resolutions tend to sound good in January and feel like a burden by February. Why resolutions fall apart I know this because I’ve been there. In the past, I’d set New Year’s resolutions and then quietly forget about them. Not immediately, more like a gradual fall into obscurity. A few weeks in, the motivation would slip. Looking back, I can see why. Some of those goals weren’t rooted in anything deep. Some existed because everyone else was making resolutions, so I felt I should too, jumping on the bandwagon rather than making a conscious decision. Others were just vague ideas, never fully cemented in my mind or connected to the life I actually wanted. Without a clear why, even the best intentions turn into pressure, guilt, and eventually something we give up. So instead of asking, “What should I change?” Try asking, “What actually matters to me, and why?” That’s where things start to shift. And that’s when things can get really exciting. Three questions to set the tone for 2026 Before rushing ahead, pause for a moment. Grab a notebook. This part matters more than you think. “Write it down. Written goals have a way of transforming wishes into wants, can’ts into cans, dreams into plans, and plans into reality. Don’t just think it. Ink it!” – Michael Korda What habits or mindsets are you ready to leave behind? Think about the patterns that drain your energy, chip away at your confidence, or keep you playing small. Here’s my “goodbye, not sorry” list for 2026: I am calling out imposter syndrome when it shows up. I am loosening the grip of self-doubt. I am taking a more honest look at relationships that feel one-sided. Giving endlessly without receiving isn’t sustainable, and recognising that is a form of growth, not selfishness. What do you want to bring into 2026 that genuinely energises you? Not what sounds impressive. Not what you should want. What actually lights you up? For me, that looks like: Being braver. Saying no to distractions that don’t deserve my time. Letting go of what I can’t control, always a work in progress. More intention. Less noise. Where do you want to be by the end of 2026? This is where clarity really comes into play. To give you an example, this is how I approached it: I’ve defined my boundaries and what balance genuinely looks like for me, not someone else’s version of it. I’ve set an ambitious but achievable financial goal. I’m clear about how I want to be seen, knowing that this directly impacts how I show up for myself every single day. Because confidence isn’t just about how others perceive us. It’s about alignment with who we say we are. Be specific. Be honest. Be bold. Make it visible, make it real As mentioned above, write it all down and keep it at the front of your mind. When distractions creep in, and they will, clarity becomes your anchor. It helps you focus on what actually moves the needle and quietly lets go of the rest. Growth doesn’t come from doing everything. It comes from doing the right things consistently. As Dory famously said in Finding Nemo, and yes, I do love highbrow quotes. “Finding my purpose is my greatest adventure.” It can be yours too. And it doesn’t have to be loud, dramatic, or perfect. It just has to be intentional. If this resonates, take ten quiet minutes this week to answer these questions honestly. No filters, no pressure. And if you’d like support in finding clarity, setting boundaries, or reconnecting with your why, let’s explore together. Book a call here . Follow me on Facebook ,  Instagram , LinkedIn ,  and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Anne-Sophie Gossan Anne-Sophie Gossan, Transformational Career Coach Anne-Sophie Gossan spent 25+ years in the corporate world navigating high-stakes environments and career transitions. She spent years building a career and a home, juggling the demands of raising two boys while holding down a very demanding job. When redundancy struck, it shook her confidence and identity in ways she hadn’t anticipated. She decided to qualify as a coach and to create Inner Spark Coaching: Reimagine Your Story, a safe space where her clients can reclaim the unstoppable version of themselves that’s always been there. Through coaching, conversation, and deep transformation, she guides individuals into their next chapter with clarity, confidence, alignment, and renewed purpose.

Written by Gemma Gains, Director Gemma Gains is a Space Holder and Facilitator in the world of healing and transformation. She specializes in the subtleties of reading and harnessing energy. As the New Year approaches, many of us rush to set resolutions driven by guilt, pressure, or the promise of self-improvement, only to watch them quietly fade. This article invites a deeper question: what if our resolutions are not just about personal change, but about the legacy we pass on? By exploring alignment, embodied behaviour, and inherited patterns, it challenges us to redefine success, not as goals achieved, but as the emotional inheritance we leave for our children and future generations. Your embodied behaviour becomes your child’s inheritance We have all embarked on our festive journey through overindulgence, perceived momentary time freedom, and the traditions maze we adopted from generations past. What a wonderful time to end up lost! This setup often leads us to make New Year’s resolutions that live and die, way before Jesus at Easter. Ready to make them stick this year? A legacy is built from childhood, we are all capable of building lasting abundance for our children and our children’s children. This not only improves the lives of our family, but also of the community and the world. When we are in alignment, body, mind and soul, we create magic, miracles and dreams do come true. The mind, the body and the soul. The intention, the thought and the action. This is not about doing more, this is about choice. Directional intention: The heavy cargo resolutions train If we look up the word “resolutions”, in Latin, Resolution means Release. But we don’t, do we? We start new relations with supplements, gym schedules and diets that feel like punishments. How are we expecting our resolutions to go the distance if we are creating them from Fear, guilt, or shame? Unregulated, low self-worth or lack? How could we ever manifest a new self from a place of self-improvement, which implies we aren’t enough?  We list goal-based wishes. Lose weight  Earn more money. Stop procrastinating  Work on Mental Health  Spend more time with family Can you easily see the thread pulling these all together? Imagine stepping onto a station, excited to get to a set destination, looking forward, thinking to yourself how great it is that you are doing something for yourself! Finally! Then sitting down, getting comfortable and then realising you are on a train that is going in completely the wrong direction? The transmission principle What if I said that your resolutions were inherited from your parents? You are trying to drop what they could not.  You didn’t learn how to be through your parents’ teachings, explanations, or sacrifices. You learnt how to be through their nervous system states and emotional responses. How to relate to work, money, rest and play all by being a witness.  Your parents’ behaviour, repeated conversions and the environment they built were your reality. Their embodied behaviour and emotional environment became your inherited identity and the baggage that you carry… That is why so many of us get so incredibly stuck when we say ‘I’m never going to be like my dad/mum!’ “From shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations” In societies that value hard work, duty, endurance and output, wealth, status and success decay… England: "Clogs to clogs in three generations” China: "Wealth does not sustain beyond three generations"  Japan: "Rice paddies to rice paddies in three generations” Scotland: "The father buys, the son builds, the grandchild sells, and his son begs" The stiff upper lip is not strong enough to hold true wealth, as it is not supported by internal capacity. Values based on competition and scarcity lead to resentment and then entitlement. Wrapped up in ‘I want my kids to have the things I didn’t’… Children who grow up in convenience are like butterflies who have someone else break them from the cocoon, they never learn how to fly. Their wings never gain the strength from the struggle. Dead end – Money legacy We have beliefs that working harder, longer, always searching for the highest figure in our bank accounts, will cover them for life. “Make things easier” “I am doing this for my children” Absence dressed up as provision? While we don’t see them, missing sports practices, our absence is felt at special moments where our children long to be seen. After those gruelling days, we are tired, overstimulated and stretched, and our children navigate feeling our unavailability and rush. Inheriting that earning money means loss of connection with the people I love the most. That work literally feels like abandonment. That success comes with a huge emotional cost that they don’t ever want to feel again. The wealth you are building could be resented. The blessing, blocked unconsciously, and they could avoid ambition or burn out completely. Believing their worth is in work and not in themselves.  Dead end – Pain legacy Stress is passed on. Shame, Guilt, and Anger pile up. Generations of pain, physical, emotional and spiritual, are passed on like a hot knife through butter. The only way to stop it is to address emotional regulation, relationship to discomfort, and to find purpose beyond survival. As a society, we are taught to avoid discomfort, to believe that play is not valuable, and that living in stress, depletion, and quiet resentment is normal. When we suppress our emotions, hide our pain and live in constant stress, we are expressing that life equals strain. That Joy is optional and that our needs are a burden.  Our children observe and respond.  They begin to carry our unprocessed pain and amplify it through their growth. They grow up too fast, having difficulty with pleasure, rest and ease and replicate our emotional contraction.  The bullet train to nowhere The truth is that what we hold on to, what we tolerate, becomes our child’s normal. Not at all because you wanted it that way… Because it was the load you were given. You don’t have to go back the way you came. You can find your way to your destination by resetting the internal compass. Presence instead of productivity, awareness stimulates. Become the man at the station – Define your legacy When we manifest from alignment, we turn the curse of the third generation on its head. How would you like your grandchildren to feel? Loved? Safe? Respected? Valued? Confident? Intelligent? Capable? What would your children have to feel to pass that feeling on? Now, how do ‘ you ’ have to feel… To pass that on? I can guess that it’s the same feelings? Did you have to lose weight? Did you have to earn more money? Alignment is a station, your manifestation train has no choice but to go in the right direction.  Travel light What can I give you to take away? Travel light, this New Year, let go of your old identity, let the opinions, expectations, and stories fall away.  Free yourself from your inherited legacies, not by disowning your parents, but by coming into alignment yourself through compassion for the past, present, and future. Forgive yourself. Time is not linear, there is no ‘dead end’, only infinite opportunity. What you choose today will change all time.  Your internal compass, shifted a small degree, will transform your destination considerably, watch. Instead of ‘losing weight’, signing up to the gym, dieting, and punishing yourself. Play with your kids every day. You will reach all 5 goals mentioned above and more.  So I ask, "Would you want your grandchildren to feel what you feel now?" Follow me on Instagram , LinkedIn , and visit my website  for more info! Read more from Gemma Gains Gemma Gains, Director Gemma is a space holder, guiding you as a compassionate, protective, and dedicated shepherd through the subtle energies of your field. With patience and wisdom, Gemma uses her intuitive card readings, deep conversation, and body work to help release blockages and heal generational traumas, realigning your energetic flow. Drawing on principles of quantum physics, Gemma can help you understand how your inner world reflects your relationships with yourself, others, and the Earth. As your unwavering guide, Gemma is dedicated to supporting you in returning to a "right" relationship with yourself, while leaving you with full autonomy over your healing journey. Her intention is to empower you to reconnect with your true self and cultivate harmony within your body, energy, and the world around you.

Written by Miguel Angel Garcia, Fitness Entrepreneur Miguel is a Fitness Coach, speaker, and founder of FitNationMG.com , specializing in body transformation, strength training, sustainable nutrition coaching, and immersive wellness experiences. He empowers individuals to achieve long-term results through personalized, science-backed programs designed to strengthen both body and mind. As parents, we spend a great deal of time thinking about what we say to our children, the advice we give, the lessons we try to teach, and the values we hope to pass down. Yet when it comes to health, children learn far less from our words and far more from our actions. They observe how we move, how we eat, how we manage stress, and how we respond to challenges. Over time, those observations quietly become their blueprint for life. This is why the foundation of family health is not rooted in short-term fitness goals or restrictive diets. It is built on a strong body, healthy skeletal muscle mass, and an active lifestyle lived consistently at home. Strength beyond appearance Skeletal muscle plays a critical role in overall health. It supports metabolic function, stabilizes joints, protects against injury, and contributes significantly to recovery and long-term vitality. For parents, maintaining strength is not about aesthetics. It is about energy, resilience, and longevity. Children may not understand anatomy or physiology, but they recognize capability. They notice when their parents move confidently, carry themselves with strength, and treat their bodies with respect. When strength and movement are visible, they become normal rather than intimidating or optional. A personal lesson in resilience This truth became deeply personal for me recently when my son fractured his tibia. As a parent, seeing your child injured is one of the most unsettling experiences you can face. Yet what stood out most during his recovery was not fear, it was resilience. Because he had already developed a foundation of strength and movement confidence, his body responded well. His recovery progressed faster than expected, but even more powerful was his mindset. He approached rehabilitation with determination, pushed himself safely, and viewed the process as a challenge rather than a limitation. That experience reinforced a lesson I see repeatedly in my work. Physical strength builds mental resilience. A strong body teaches a child that they are capable, adaptable, and not fragile, even when setbacks occur. Lifestyle and fitness are the loudest teachers Children rarely do exactly what we tell them to do, but they almost always replicate what we do consistently. If movement is optional in the household, it becomes optional for them. If meals are rushed and heavily processed, that becomes their baseline. If stress is avoided rather than managed, they learn the same response. On the other hand, when children grow up watching parents prioritize movement, prepare meals with intention, stay hydrated, and value rest, those behaviors become part of who they are. Health stops feeling like a rule and starts feeling like a standard. Making movement and nutrition normal An active lifestyle does not require extreme routines or long hours in the gym. It requires consistency and presence. Walking together, cooking meals as a family, choosing active outings, and normalizing basic strength and movement all reinforce healthy habits without pressure. The same applies to nutrition. Children do not need perfection. They need exposure. When parents model balanced meals, adequate protein intake, and mindful food choices, children learn that food is fuel, not a coping mechanism or reward. Building a legacy through action Every intentional choice a parent makes compounds over time. You are not just exercising to feel better today or eating well for short-term results. You are modeling how an adult takes responsibility for their health. That example lasts far beyond any workout plan or nutrition strategy. Strength beyond words True leadership in health is quiet and consistent. A strong parent builds strong children, physically, mentally, and emotionally. When children grow up seeing health embodied rather than explained, they inherit confidence, resilience, and self-respect that follow them into adulthood. Because fitness is not about looking strong. It is about being strong, especially when your children are watching. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , and visit my website for more info! Read more from Miguel Angel Garcia Miguel Angel Garcia, Fitness Entrepreneur Miguel is a Fitness Coach, speaker, and founder of FitNationMG.com , a platform focused on sustainable fat loss, mindset development, and wellness. After overcoming a lifelong struggle with severe stuttering, he developed a deep passion for personal growth. That journey fueled the creation of a thriving fitness business grounded in strength, discipline, and education. Through FitNationMG, Miguel delivers personalized coaching, evidence-based programs, and community-driven wellness events. He helps clients overcome both physical and mental barriers to unlock lasting results. His approach blends hands-on experience with proven strategies. Miguel’s mission is to empower others to lead stronger, more confident lives from the inside out.