A skilled cyclist performing a daring stunt at night on a city street.

Try Something New

When was the last time you tried something new? I have never been great at wheelies – the number one most fun thing to do on a bike, according to my buddy, Russell (number two is skidding and number three is coasting – so you probably have a pretty good understanding of how Russell rolls … Continued

Stu Swineford carrying his skis in the wind. Photo by Johnny Copp.

Stay in Your Zone of Genius

Recently, I was on a call with Clark Vautier, and we were supposed to be talking about business stuff. As often occurs in talking with Clark, however, our conversation devolved into our mutual love of climbing mountains, outdoor adventures, and, well… LIFE. We are aligned on the idea that one’s business should fuel living and … Continued

A top-down view of a white cup of coffee placed on an open planner with a monthly calendar layout for November.

Missing Your Goals Isn’t Failure

There’s a saying in skiing… If you aren’t falling down once in awhile, you aren’t pushing yourself hard enough. The same holds true in pretty much every part of your life. If you are achieving all your goals, you’re not aiming high enough. Growth happens when we fall. And missing your goals isn’t “failure”. It’s … Continued

A group of people participating in a tug of war game on a grassy field, showcasing teamwork and competition.

Playing to Win

Are you playing to win, or to “not lose”? That was part of a recent conversation with Jeff Kinsey (seems like we ALWAYS have fun, deep discussions – LOVE that about my relationship with Jeff!). There’s certainly a difference between going for it and playing defense. Sure, the outcomes may be the same, but the approach is WAY … Continued

You’ll Never Be Here Again

Have you ever considered that you can never be “here” again? We are all, collectively and individually… hurtling through space. And we will never be “here” again. Even if you zoom into a time and place and think, “It’s ok. I can come back here again someday,” you really can not. See, you will be … Continued

e you sent depicts a close-up view of wood pellets that are on fire, with flames dancing above them

Reframing Challenges as Opportunities: Mindset shifts to create positivity

Last night, our pellet stove started acting up. I ran through some troubleshooting and thought I had it resolved by about 11:00. When I woke up at 4:00, it wasn’t working. And our wee cabin was CHILLY. So I started working on it again. I could have gotten frustrated or angry. But I made sure … Continued

A hand holding a coin

Money isn’t the Best Measure of Worth

There are so many ways to measure progress. For me, money isn’t the best measure. I have made a lot more money at points in my career than I do now. And I was miserable. It wasn’t until I understood that one’s ability to manage time as one sees fit is the better measure of … Continued

jigsaw puzzle

Problem Solvers Create Problems

Do you self-identify as a problem solver? Most eager, aspirational leaders do. But here’s something interesting about calling yourself a problem-solver. It puts you in the awkward position of seeing EVERYTHING as a problem in need of fixing. I used to fit this bill to a t. The world was broken and only I could … Continued

Person walking alone

Marketing Blue Sky: A little better is better than nothing

There’s an old story/joke about being chased by a bear. The punch line goes something like this… “I don’t have to be the fastest. I just have to be faster than one of you.” And that idea plays pretty well in the marketing world as well. We all want to be first. To do things … Continued

A person holding a green plant on black pot

Impermanence in Marketing – How to create longevity in your messaging

Lately, I’ve been pondering the idea of impermanence and how we have become a “throw-away” society. Everything from clothing to containers to content has become disposable. Use it once and toss it in the garbage. As a lifelong environmentalist and someone who tries to extend the lifespan and “value” of pretty much everything I use … Continued

Strategy Videos from the Relish YouTube Channel