Growing up in the Midwest, camping and hockey were a big part of my life, and both taught me great life lessons that have impacted my personal and professional lives.  When I was younger, my parents sent me and my siblings to a camp in Algonquin Park, Ontario, where we spent the summers canoeing, portaging, and camping for a week at a time.  When you're with a small group in the middle of the forest and must work together for your survival, you learn essential skills like cooperation, collaboration, teamwork, leadership, passion, empathy, and respect for others and your environment.

 

Also, while growing up in Michigan, winter sports, especially hockey, were a big part of my life.  When I was a kid, while I always played pond hockey, playing organized hockey was a dream of mine.  It wasn't until I started my professional career that I forced myself to get involved and play organized hockey.  I feared that I wouldn't be good enough and that everyone else would be so much better that I would never fit in or be able to continue with my dream.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  I learned some great lessons.  First, if you have confidence in yourself, there are no obstacles you can't overcome.  Second, while playing the game, the teams that always won were the teams that played selflessly and collectively towards the same goal.  Each person played an important role; without each person's contribution, it's not easy to win.

 

These life lessons have shaped who I am and how I live, lead, coach, and teach.  Because of these experiences and the skills I've gained, I have had a very successful career in sales and sales leadership, training, marketing, and logistics.  My professional dream was to be able to share these experiences and skills with others to help provide them with the same or better level of success I've had over three decades.  Helping others succeed has always been my passion, and I look forward to helping you, too.