I left more than a decade of corporate work in September 2024. I have written a fair amount since then about what I was building. I have written almost nothing about what it took. This is that post. Year one was loud The first stretch was all motion. Doors, calls,
You cannot say no to anyone until you have somewhere else to go. That is why bad advice sticks to people in their first year of anything, and it took me most of two to see it. Before there was anything The pattern started before the company did. In late
Something good is happening around me, and it is worth naming. Leveling up. Serious operators, established organizations, and the kind of individuals who lift everything they touch. People who back what we are building and want to build alongside it, who lead with generosity instead of ego, who open doors
Monday morning. Quiet house, coffee going cold because I forgot about it again. That is usually a good sign. It means my head was somewhere useful. The house is quiet but the city is not. All-Star week is here. The Home Run Derby hits Citizens Bank Park tonight, the
Every so often it is worth stepping back from the work to take stock of it honestly. These last two months earned that. They tested me as a founder, as an entrepreneur, and as a person, and they moved the business further than any stretch before them. Here is where
Written on America's 250th. Mostly about my own. This morning, I realized something. I have reached a point where I trust my own footing. It is fitting that today marks America's 250th anniversary. Independence has always been more than a declaration. It is the ability to
The past few weeks have been some of the most stressful, but also some of the most rewarding, of my journey. Building something meaningful is not just about strategy or execution. It is about carrying uncertainty, solving problems, making difficult decisions, and continuing to move forward when the outcome is
Father's Day, 2026 It is Father's Day. I am not a father yet. Today I am thinking about the one I intend to be, and why the work of this month is part of getting there. This company was never only about the business. I started
A lot has shifted so far this year, and it is worth naming. Onward Upward Sports & Events is being met with real respect. Not polite curiosity. Respect. Venues are opening doors. Vendors are bringing ideas before I ask for them. People I had not met a month ago are
Heading into this week, I feel steady. Not loud. Steady. It took me a while to understand the difference. There is a version of confidence that needs an audience. It keeps score in every room and measures itself against whoever happens to be standing nearby. I spent more time in
Some weeks give you clarity. This past week did. The business is moving and the events are becoming real. Connections Night is next week. Speed Dating is the week after. We are working with some of the best people in the area, and the momentum behind Onward Upward Sports &
Most of this chapter, I have carried the weight myself. Not entirely alone. A few people, a small and consistent handful, have been here since the early days, when this was still being built. But the day-to-day load sits on one set of shoulders, and that was the