During the pandemic, I realized that not only is life short, but who we choose to spend it with matters almost more than anything. Moreover, through my teaching, mentoring, and building my own businesses, I’ve learned that my purpose is guiding and inspiring others. Helping those who are stuck, those who are asking the right questions about life and career, about marriage and parenthood. Helping my students to find their footing, to illuminate the path ahead, and provide them the tools and courage to walk their own paths. 

As such, this summer, I will be getting certified as a coach following the launch of this blog. My first goal is to write prolifically about how I arrived to this point - what I did, what worked, what didn’t. To write about how to get back on track, to explore and share my art, and to provide some amusing and occasionally tear-jerking life lessons along the way. My inspiration and canvas are my children, my wife, my friends, and Chicago. Next, I want to offer my course, Entrepreneurial Endurance that I co-created at Northwestern and bring it to other universities and colleges. 

By combining my business experience and creative streak with her incredible talent and fierce independence, we are coming together this year to by single-family homes or small apartment buildings that we can convert into either affordable living spaces or modern oases in the city. Check out her work here. 

Along with getting certified as a coach, which will take the better part of a year, I will be using the summer to continue writing for my blog. This material will be largely derived from my work in the classroom, mentoring, and coaching as well as daily observations and reflections on the world around me.