Your family. Your employees. Your clients. Your team. Your church. Your friends.

You spend your days solving problems, encouraging people, making decisions, and carrying responsibilities…yet quietly wonder, “Am I doing enough?”

If you’re a parent, coach, business owner, teacher, or leader, I have a feeling you’ve wrestled with that question too. I know I have.

For me, July was one of those months.

On paper, July was incredible:

• Our financial planning team was recognized as one of the top teams in the entire country - a goal I’ve been working toward for thirteen years.

• I had the privilege of coaching an amazing group of girls from incredible families during another AAU basketball season.

• The Knoxville Summit continues to grow, and we’re working on some exciting things that I can’t wait to share.

• Our girls are loving their new school.

There was so much to celebrate. But if I’m honest...July felt heavy.

Not physically, but mentally and emotionally. Two clients and a cousin we loved passed away unexpectedly. Two others faced serious medical emergencies. AAU recruiting season brought pressure to help our girls succeed while navigating expectations from every direction.

At home, our daughters started a new school, and because of their modified year-round schedule, summer seemed to disappear overnight.

I had told my family that this summer would be different. I’d work less and slow down and spend more time with Brooke and the girls outside of a basketball gym.

Instead...July flew by.

Then one thought completely stopped me: I only have two summers left before Charli goes off to college.

That sentence hit me harder than I expected. While I’ve been measuring calendars, goals, and responsibilities...my daughters have been growing up.

Like Brooke reminds me often, I don’t sit still very well. Even when I’m sitting, my mind isn’t. I’m thinking about clients, our team, Knoxville Summit, basketball, family, emails I forgot to answer, and text messages I still need to return.

If I’m honest, it’s exhausting. Can you relate?

One thing I’ve realized is that no matter how much I give, I often end the day wondering if I’ve given enough: to my family, to our clients, to our team, to our players, to the Knoxville Summit community…

Is it ever enough?

Leadership has a way of making us question ourselves.

Was that the right decision?

The reality is that most people don’t come to leaders because life is going great.

They come when they’re discouraged, confused, frustrated.

When they need wisdom, encouragement, direction.

Leadership is an incredible privilege.

But let’s be honest...it’s also a tremendous weight.

While writing this newsletter, my mind drifted back to our girls changing schools. There have been moments I’ve wished we never had to leave. We loved so many people there.

But then God reminded me of something I had completely overlooked.

If we had never changed schools, we never would have met Myrah, a player who has become a part of our family. We never would have built friendships with people we now love deeply. We never would have experienced many of the lessons God wanted to teach us during that season.

That’s when I realized: I had spent weeks replaying everything that felt difficult about July, while almost completely overlooking what God had been doing in the middle of it.

That changed my perspective. It changed this newsletter.

And honestly...it changed my heart.

That realization exposed a lie I think many leaders believe. We think we’re supposed to have it all together. Social media certainly reinforces that idea. Everyone else seems to be winning while we’re quietly wondering if we’re falling behind.

As I was writing this, I even wondered...

“Should I really share this?”

“Will people still trust my leadership if they know I struggle too?”

Then I realized, I don’t trust people because they’re perfect. I trust people because they’re honest.

Having struggles doesn’t disqualify us from leading.

If anything, it reminds people we’re human.

I don’t have all the answers. I make mistakes. I still want to grow. I still want to serve people well.

But one lesson July reminded me of is I need to trust God more.

Whatever role you have...

Parent. Coach. Business owner. Leader.

You’re first a steward.

We’re stewards of the children God entrusted to us. The people we lead. The businesses we build. The influence we’ve been given.

Somewhere along the way, though, many of us start carrying responsibilities God never asked us to carry. We convince ourselves that every outcome depends on us.

No wonder we’re exhausted. God never asked us to carry every outcome. He simply asked us to faithfully steward what He’s placed in our hands and trust Him with the rest.

As I proofread this newsletter, one final thing convicted me.

I’d spent nearly the entire article writing about the burdens of July. I had barely mentioned the blessings.

My sister is expecting a baby. Our family is healthy. My marriage is strong. We were able to help some incredible new clients. New basketball opportunities have opened. The Knoxville Summit community continues to grow.

I could keep going. It made me wonder...

Maybe joy isn’t found in receiving more. Maybe it’s found in noticing more of what we’ve already been given.

Before You Go...

I’d encourage you to take five quiet minutes this week to write down the three biggest responsibilities you’re carrying right now.

Then ask yourself one simple question:

Did God ask me to carry this, or did I pick it up myself?

That question has been changing me. Maybe it’ll do the same for you.

If you’re carrying a lot today...

Remember this: You don’t have to have it all together. You don’t have to pretend. And you don’t have to carry what God never asked you to carry.

Let’s keep leading faithfully. Let’s keep loving people well. Let’s keep noticing the blessings we’ve been given.

Because in the end we were never called to do everything for everyone. We were simply called to faithfully steward the people, opportunities, and influence God has entrusted to us.

He’s got the rest.

And maybe it’s time we finally got some rest too.

I’d Love to Hear From You

What’s one responsibility you’ve been carrying that you know God never asked you to carry?

Just hit reply and let me know. I read every response, and I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts.

Knoxville Summit Community

We’re putting the finishing touches on something we’ve been working on for quite a while, and I truly believe it’s going to become one of the most valuable resources we’ve created for business owners and leaders.

If you’re not already following the Knoxville Summit on Instagram or LinkedIn, now’s a great time. I’d love for you to be part of what’s coming next.

January is full of energy. We set goals. Build routines. Buy the journal. Start the plan.
We convince ourselves: This is going to be our year.

Then life happens. Schedules fill up, work demands more, opportunities and distractions all start to how up.

Suddenly, it’s July…and we’re wondering where the time went.

The Mid-Year Reality Check

Maybe you’re exactly where you hoped you’d be. If so – keep going!

But for most of us, there’s at least one area that’s lagging:

• Health

• Work

• Marriage

• Faith

• Discipline

Something we said we’d do that we haven’t done yet.

Here’s the good news: The calendar doesn’t determine your future – your decisions do.

Not someone else’s. Not your circumstances. Yours.

The Question I Can’t Shake

Lately, there’s one question I haven’t been able to get out of my head: Where are my EYES?

Where’s my focus? Because I know this is true:

Where focus goes, energy follows.
And where energy goes, your life eventually follows.

So the real question is: Are your eyes fixed on excuses or on what you can control?

A Simple Framework That Hits Hard

I’ve started using the acronym EYE’s as a personal filter:

• Eliminate YOUR excuses

• Enhance YOUR effort

• Enhance YOUR execution

• Enhance YOUR energy

Simple, but not easy. Because if I’m honest, this forced me to confront something I didn’t love about myself.

The Tension We Don’t Like to Admit

I get frustrated when people don’t follow through. When commitments aren’t kept. When excuses show up. But then I had to ask myself:

Why do I expect others to keep their promises while I justify breaking the ones I make to myself?

It sounds like: “I’ll start next week.” “I’ve just been busy.” “I’ll get back to it when things slow down.”

We’ve all said it. And over time, those small excuses become habits. And eventually – what we tolerate begins to control us.

• If we allow distractions → they control our attention

• If we choose comfort → it limits our growth

• If we tolerate excuses → they shrink our future

Protect What Matters

So here’s a better question: Have you created the boundaries necessary to protect what matters most?

No one else is going to do that for you. Not your boss. Not your calendar. Not your circumstances. That responsibility belongs to you.

A Reset for the Second Half

As we step into the second half of the year, I’m not asking: “Are you ahead or behind?” I’m asking: Where are your EYES? Because the second half of your year won’t be defined by what happened in the first half. It will be defined by what you focus on starting today.

3 Ways to Reset Your Focus This Week

Here’s what I’m personally working on, and I’d invite you to join me:

1. Build One Non-Negotiable

Just one. A simple routine in the area that matters most, done regardless of how you feel.

If you want a practical framework for this, reply “TRIPLE THREAT” and I’ll send it to you.

2. Tell Someone You Respect

Accountability changes everything. When the right person knows what you’re working on, your follow-through goes up.

Text or call one person today and tell them what you’re committing to.

3. Start Small (But Start Today)

Don’t wait for momentum – create it. Keep one small promise to yourself today.

Ask yourself: What’s one action I can take in the next 24 hours? Then do it.

Looking Ahead

Six months from now, we’ll all arrive at the end of the year. What will we be talking about?

The excuses we made? Or the consistency we built? My prayer is that we’re celebrating the effort, execution and energy that changed our lives.

Stay Connected

If you want to keep growing alongside other leaders who are thinking this way, here are a couple easy ways to stay plugged in:

• Join us for our next live podcast – July 16 at 2:30 PM
  This is a simple way to learn, connect, and stay sharp.

• Follow along for upcoming opportunities
  Instagram & LinkedIn: @knoxvillesummit

If you’ve been on the edge of getting more connected, this is a great place to start with no pressure.

Final Thought

You don’t need more time. You need clearer focus. Where are your EYES?

—Mark

It’s become a rhythm for us. Right after school ends, we step away for a few days:

No tournaments.
No meetings.
No rushing.

Just time to think, pray, talk, and reset for the season ahead.

This year, I went in with one goal: Evaluate my priorities. Not because anything was obviously wrong, but because a lot is going right.

When “Good” Starts to Compete

Over the past several years, I’ve been entrusted with things I once prayed for:

• An incredible wife

• Healthy, thriving daughters

• A growing financial practice

• The Knoxville Summit community

• The opportunity to coach my girls

It’s all good. But here’s the tension:

Even good things can become unhealthy when they aren’t evaluated and prioritized.

• Working out is good…until it consumes your life

• Building a business is good…until it costs your family

• Serving people is good…until you say yes to everything

As leaders, one of our greatest responsibilities is deciding where to invest our limited time, energy, and attention.

Personally, I don’t want to be average at ten things. I’d rather be great at the things that matter most.

A Decision That Created Clarity

Going into that time away, I felt stretched thin. I was committed to too many people and too many opportunities. After prayer, reflection, and conversations with people I trust, I made a hard decision: I reduced several commitments so I could fully lean into one significant leadership responsibility for the next six months.

Not forever. Not indefinitely. Six months.

Why “Temporary” Changes Everything

That six-month window changed how I felt immediately.

When something feels like “forever,” it becomes heavy. The challenges feel bigger. The weight slows you down.

But a defined season?

It creates focus.
It creates urgency.
It creates energy.

Six months is long enough to:

• Improve culture

• Drive performance

• Evaluate leadership fit

…but short enough to stay engaged and fully committed.

Research actually supports this. People are far more likely to follow through when a commitment has a clear time horizon. “Forever” feels overwhelming. “For now” feels achievable.

Questions Worth Asking

That time away led me to wrestle with a few questions:

• What (or who) am I giving too much time to simply because it’s become routine?

• Where am I chasing outcomes more than evaluating effort?

• Am I giving things enough time…or quitting too early?

Because we’ve all been there:

• One tough week → we question the business

• One rough quarter → we question our leadership

• One hard conversation → we question our calling

But the truth is: Most meaningful things take longer than we want them to.

A Simple Framework That Keeps Me Grounded

One tool I keep coming back to is this:

• Execute daily → action creates momentum

• Measure weekly → what gets measured improves

• Adjust monthly → small corrections prevent big mistakes

• Evaluate quarterly → real results take time

It’s simple, but it keeps me from overreacting and under-committing.

Stay Anchored to Your Mission

One final thought: Make sure you’re building your life around your mission - not someone else’s.

Not:

• Social media’s definition of success

• Culture’s expectations

• Other people’s opinions

The older I get, the more I realize: Leadership is often about saying no to good things so you can say yes to the right things.

Not impressive things. Not popular things. The right things.

A Couple Next Steps for You

If this resonates, here are two simple ways to take action this week:

1. Run a quick “priority audit.”
   Take 15 minutes and list everything currently competing for your time.
   Then ask: What actually matters most in this season?

2. Choose one thing to commit to for a defined season.
   Not forever, just a clear window (30, 60, or 90 days).
   Watch what happens to your focus and energy.

Join the Conversation

I’d genuinely love to hear from you: What’s one area of your life or leadership that deserves more intentional focus right now?

Hit reply or send me a quick note. I read every response.

This idea connects directly to something every business owner will face: You will not lead your business forever.

Whether that’s in 12 months or 12 years, the question is: Will you be prepared when that day comes?

That’s why we’re hosting our next Knoxville Summit event:

The Exit Strategy: Preparing Your Business for Its Next Chapter

We’ll hear from experts in:

• Business valuation

• Tax strategy

• M&A

• Legal planning

3:00–4:30 PM – Panel + Q&A
4:30–5:30 PM – Community Social Hour

Even if you can’t make the panel, I’d encourage you to come to the social hour. Some of the greatest value in this community happens in the conversations, not just the content.

If you’ve been meaning to get more connected, this is an easy first step.

You’ll never have enough time to do everything. But you do have enough time to do what matters most. Make sure you’re investing it wisely. Keep giving it your best.

—Mark

P.S. Even if you’re not actively thinking about exiting your business, understanding what makes a business valuable tends to make you a better leader today. I’d love to see you there. Let me know if you have any questions.

At a glance, a lot of people look generous. We help others. We share resources. We invest in people. We support causes. But the real question is: Why do we give? Have you stopped to evaluate that lately?

Coming off the momentum of The Knoxville Summit – an event that required significant time, money, and energy – I found myself asking a hard question:

Why am I doing this?
Is the impact worth the cost?

That reflection led me here. I believe deeply that giving to our community matters. But I’ve also learned this: The motivation behind our giving matters just as much as what we give.

And if we’re honest, it’s not always pure.

Three Types of Givers

Most of us operate in one of three ways:

• Givers – Give with no expectation of receiving anything in return

• Traders – Give expecting something back

• Loaners – Give while subconsciously keeping score, expecting repayment later

And this realization challenged me.

There have been plenty of times I’ve operated as a trader or loaner:

• Encouraging someone so they’d encourage me back

• Giving to be recognized or to gain access

• Showing up because I knew I’d need something later

And when the return didn’t come? I felt frustrated. Disappointed. Even resentful.

Because it wasn’t really giving, it was a transaction.

The Shift

Over the past few years, my perspective has changed.

Am I perfect? No.
Do I still catch myself being transactional? Yes.
Do I get frustrated when generosity isn’t appreciated? Of course.

But I’ve learned something important: If you want to be a true giver, you have to be okay with occasionally getting taken advantage of.

Your ability to be authentically generous is revealed when:

• It’s not appreciated

• It’s not reciprocated

• It’s not acknowledged

A Quick Clarification

There are healthy transactional relationships in business:

• You do work → you get paid

• You sign contracts → both parties deliver

• Partnerships → mutual value exchange

That’s not wrong. That’s necessary. But that’s not what I’m talking about here. I’m talking about the posture behind how we show up as leaders, partners, and people.

The Leaders Who Make the Greatest Impact

Think about the people who have impacted your life the most. Chances are, they weren’t calculating what they were getting back. They were focused on what they could give.

• Great coaches invest in players who may never thank them

• Great parents sacrifice daily without recognition

• Great leaders pour into people long before results show up

• Great teammates do the work nobody posts about

That kind of giving is powerful. And it doesn’t just change the people receiving it, it changes the one giving it.

What the Data Says

Research backs this up. Studies from places like Harvard Business School and the University of Pennsylvania show that generosity is linked to:

• Higher fulfillment

• Stronger relationships

• Greater well-being

• Long-term professional success

Adam Grant, in Give and Take, found that while givers can struggle in the short term, they often win in the long run, because they consistently create value for others.

Because people:

• Trust givers

• Follow givers

• Remember givers

Over time, opportunities tend to find them.

The Hard Truth

Here’s the tradeoff:

If you choose to become a true giver…

• Some people will take advantage of you

• Some won’t appreciate you

• Some won’t reciprocate

That’s difficult. But if your peace and purpose depend on how others respond, you’ll live frustrated. A true giver understands: I’m not giving for their response. I’m giving because of who I want to become.

Why This Matters for Leaders

This mindset changes everything:

• How we lead teams

• How we build companies

• How we show up at home

…and it changes culture.

Imagine if spouses who stop keeping score, if teammates asked, “How can I help?” instead of “What do I get?” or if leaders focused on creating value, not just extracting it.

That’s how strong organizations and communities are built.

A Simple Challenge

Before you move on, I’d encourage you to do two things:

1. Thank the givers in your life.
   Reach out to two people who’ve poured into you and simply say thank you. Encouraged givers keep giving, and impact multiplies.

2. Get honest with yourself.
   What’s holding you back from giving more freely?
   What’s one small step you can take to move from trader or loaner → to giver?

None of us will do this perfectly. I won’t. But I do know this: The people who make the greatest impact aren’t focused on what they can get – they’re focused on what they can give.

I’d genuinely love your feedback on this month’s newsletter.
How can it be more helpful? More impactful?

And if you’re not yet part of the Knoxville Summit community, I’d love to connect – no matter where you live. Reach out at events@knoxvillesummit.com and let’s start the conversation.

When my alarm went off at 4:00 a.m. on the morning of the event, I felt like I was waking up for game day at Neyland Stadium. Every year, the weight and pressure of the event feel heavy. I want the day to be special. I want it to be impactful. So many people invest valuable time and money to attend, and I never want anyone to leave feeling like it was anything less than worthwhile. My hope is that every person leaves having learned something new, met great people, felt encouraged, and been genuinely thankful they came. So yes… the pressure is real.

The day began at the epic and historic venue of Neyland Stadium. For some, the Summit started at 9:00 a.m. But for others, it began at 7:00 a.m. with a workout inside the stadium alongside roughly 25 Elite and Platinum members. The workout was challenging, but when you’re standing on top of Neyland Stadium overlooking the football field, seeing the Smoky Mountains in the distance, and surrounded by high performers encouraging one another, it becomes easy to push beyond what you thought you were capable of. People often ask why we begin the Summit with a workout each year. My answer is simple: when people go through something challenging together, like a tough workout, it brings them closer.

As I reflect on the event each year, it’s always the people who stand out to me most. This year, we created some incredible experiences: access to the football locker room, customized jerseys for our Elite members, and special Q&A time over lunch with Jon Gordon. But as great as those experiences were, they still don’t stand out to me as much as the people do. I shared this from the stage, and I’ll say it again: when high-level people come together with humility and a spirit of contribution, everybody wins. And I truly believe everyone won on Thursday. Throughout the day, there were meaningful conversations during our designed connection moments, over lunch, and during the social hour afterward. That was always the vision behind the Summit. I didn’t want people leaving with just pages of notes. I wanted them to leave with relationships. Because this is not just an event… it’s a community.

Yes, the speakers were incredibly powerful. One thing I always find interesting is that everyone seems to have a different favorite speaker. Not once have we had everyone choose the same person. While each speaker shared impactful leadership lessons, business strategies, and practical ways to improve personally and professionally, that still wasn’t my favorite part. My favorite part was something deeper. Every speaker talked openly about the challenges they’ve faced. So often, at conferences and events, speakers focus only on discipline, working harder, doing more, and highlighting their successes. But these speakers showed humility. Despite achieving at a high level, none of them pretended to have life completely figured out. They shared struggles, setbacks, adversity, and lessons learned through difficult seasons. And something else stood out to me: every single speaker pointed back to faith as the foundation of their life. Every one of them. It was a powerful reminder that no matter how successful life becomes, or how challenging life feels, trusting God remains essential.

As I write this, that reminder is helping me personally. I’m naturally a “doer,” so my mind immediately starts thinking about what’s next. How can I continue creating impact and value for the Knoxville Summit community? How can we make the 2027 Knoxville Summit even better? The speakers reminded me to continue trusting God, focus on what I can control, and keep bringing great people together with a desire to make an impact. My commitment to you is simple: I will continue to do exactly that.

Please feel free to reach out to me anytime. But for those who are part of the 2026 Knoxville Summit community, our next scheduled connection point will be our first monthly webinar on May 14. You’ll be receiving a calendar invite shortly. I know life gets busy, but I truly hope you’ll make time to join us. The more you engage with this community, the more value, encouragement, and meaningful relationships you’ll receive from it. And if you weren’t able to attend the Summit but have interest in joining this community of people striving to grow, lead well, stay humble, and make a meaningful impact, email me at events@knoxvillesummit.com. I’d love to help get you plugged into the community.

Thanks again for being you! Let’s keep doing all we can to make IMPACT!

In these moments, you don’t have the answers. You don’t understand why - or how - it’s allowed to continue. You may think you do, but you don’t.

The unknown.
The lack of understanding.
The loss of control.

It’s tough.

It’s especially tough when the standards and values you try to live by, and expect from others in organizations you trust, get tested.

We’re here right now. We have been for a month or so.

Can you relate? Have others let you down, lied, or told half-truths? We’ve all either been there or will be someday.

As I work through this season, here are eight things I’m learning right now…

1. Standards That Cost You Are the Only Ones That Matter

Anybody can say they value integrity. Any organization can post values on a website.

But when doing what’s right means losing something (i.e. comfort, a game, a business deal) that’s when it becomes real.

Values that don’t cost you anything are preferences…maybe even a marketing strategy.

Values that cost you are commitments. Convictions. Promises.

2. Your Reputation Gets Attached to Your Environment

Every environment has a culture. Every culture has a standard.

Whether we like it or not, what we stay connected to, we become associated with.

You don’t just choose where you are…you choose what your name gets attached to.

Fair or not, association becomes perception…and perception becomes reputation.

“Bad company corrupts good character.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

That’s not just about people. It’s about what you’re willing to stay around.

Choose wisely.

3. Leadership Isn’t Just About Growth…Sometimes It’s About Protection

We live in a world that constantly talks about growth. I’m as guilty of that as anyone.

“If you aren’t growing, you are dying.”
More opportunity. More responsibility. More exposure.

But this season is teaching me something different: Real leadership isn’t just about what you say yes to. It’s also about what you’re willing to say no to.

Leadership isn’t just about growth. Sometimes it’s about protection.

● Protection of your values

● Protection of your people

● Protection of what matters most

Not every opportunity to grow is good. Not every person you can grow with is right.

Sometimes the most powerful leadership decision you can make is walking away.

And sometimes, you don’t even know what you’re walking toward - you just know you’re protecting yourself from what you’re walking away from.

4. You Don’t Have to Win Every Conversation

When you’re in tough situations, especially with people on “different sides of the aisle,” the noise starts. Opinions. Assumptions. Stories. Sometimes even lies.

The temptation is to respond louder…to correct and defend yourself immediately.

But strong leaders understand: You don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to.

• Not every person deserves your energy

• Not every comment warrants your response

• Not every misunderstanding needs your voice

Truth doesn’t need volume. It’s revealed through consistent actions and words.

Most of the time, the quietest person is the one others eventually see is right.

5. There Are Wins in Every Loss

Some seasons look like losses on the surface.

Things don’t go as planned. People get hurt. Challenges show up you never expected. Doors close.

But if you look deeper, there are wins everywhere:

• New relationships that will last a lifetime

• Stronger convictions

• Greater clarity

• Lessons that will shape how you lead forever

Not every win looks like a win in the moment. Some of the greatest growth in our lives comes disguised as disruption.

With the right perspective, we can be grateful even in the middle of it.

6. Strong Leaders Feel…But They Don’t Decide Emotionally

I can be an emotional person. Challenges come with emotion - frustration, disappointment, anger, even hurt.

As leaders, we can’t ignore emotions, but we also can’t be led by them.

Some of the best leaders I know feel deeply. But they decide intentionally.

They never let emotions overtake their values and standards.

7. Doing What’s Right Often Feels Like Loss Before It Feels Like Peace

In the moment, doing what’s right can feel heavy. Especially when it involves family, friends, employees, or people you care deeply about.

Doing what’s right can feel like losing. But over time, even though the right decision doesn’t always feel good immediately, it produces peace.

God doesn’t always call us to what’s easy. He calls us to what’s right.

Your peace follows obedience.

8. You Won’t Always Know the Plan…But You Can Trust the One Who Does

One of the hardest parts of leadership is making big decisions without full clarity.

As a parent, coach, business owner, or leader - you won’t always know how it will play out. You won’t always understand why things are happening the way they are. It can feel messy, overwhelming, and never-ending.

But faith reminds us: We may not understand the plan, but we can trust the One who does.

God’s plan isn’t always clear in the moment, but it is always perfect.

His grace is sufficient.
His mercy is constant.
His direction is trustworthy.

It won’t always make sense, but you can always have peace knowing God’s got you.

Final Thought

There are seasons where everything feels aligned and seasons where your standards get tested. I’m learning to be thankful for both.

This life is too hard to go at alone. If there’s anything I can do to help you, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d be honored to talk with you about anything you’re facing - personally or professionally.

Seasons like this are one of the main reasons I built the Knoxville Summit community.

We all need people who help us grow.

Email me at events@knoxvillesummit.com to set up a time to connect or to learn more about the 2026–27 Knoxville Summit community.

And if you haven’t already, make sure you’re following us @knoxvillesummit to keep up with one of the best Knoxville Summits to date.

A few weeks ago at the Super Bowl, I experienced firsthand the realness of Patriots Head Coach Mike Vrabel. At the same time, I’ve also experienced the disappointment that comes when you discover half-truths - or even lies - from leaders you trusted.

It reminded me of something important: Being real isn’t optional for leaders. It’s essential.

And despite what some people think, authenticity isn’t soft.

At its core, it’s toughness.

In fact, authenticity is becoming one of the greatest competitive advantages a leader can have.

But leaders, that’s not even the most important reason.

Authenticity is a biblical calling.

Let’s break it all down.

The Data Is Clear: Authenticity Builds Trust

Leading purely from emotion or opinion is dangerous..

Harvard Business Review studies show employees who see their leaders as authentic report significantly higher levels of trust and engagement.

Gallup research shows highly engaged teams outperform disengaged teams by:

● 21% in profitability

● 17% in productivity

Sports research published in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology shows athletes perform better when they believe their coach is genuine and honest. Motivation rises. Resilience increases. Teams stay unified.

Why?

Because trust drives performance.

You’ve probably experienced the opposite.

A leader who doesn’t keep their word.

Someone who speaks in half-truths.

A leader who constantly shifts direction.

It creates confusion. Frustration. Disengagement.

You don’t need research to know how that culture feels. You’ve lived it.

But when a leader is authentic, trust grows. And when trust grows:

● Clarity increases

● Energy rises

● Commitment strengthens

That’s the environment where winning happens.

So Why Do Leaders Struggle to Be Authentic?

The answer is simple.

Ego.
Pride.
Selfishness.

Fake leaders can still say the right things. They may have the right mission statements on the wall or the right posts on social media.

But internally, ego whispers something different: “Protect your image.”

Great leaders say: “I will do what is best for the team, even if it costs me.”

Poor leaders think: “How do I protect myself?”

Great leaders pursue mission.

Insecure leaders pursue self-preservation.

Inauthentic leaders surround themselves with yes-people.

Authentic leaders surround themselves with truth-tellers.

And over time, something predictably happens…

On the outside everything will still look successful. But inside, the insecure leader will constantly manage and protect an image.

God never called us to protect an image.

He called us to walk in integrity.

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor.”
- Ephesians 4:25

Authenticity isn’t just strategy.

It’s obedience.

The Myth Leaders Believe

Many leaders quietly believe, “If I admit I don’t know something, I’ll lose credibility.”

I understand that fear. But the research says the opposite.

Harvard researcher Amy Edmondson found that teams perform better when leaders acknowledge uncertainty and invite input.

When leaders admit mistakes:

● Innovation increases

● Collaboration improves

● Performance rises

One of the most powerful things I saw while playing and working for Coach Bruce Pearl was his willingness to admit when he got something wrong.

Was he great? Absolutely.

Did he have it all together? Not even close.

And he’d be the first to tell you that much of Auburn’s success came because he learned from mistakes he made earlier in his career and became a more authentic leader.

The Difference Between Healthy and Unhealthy Ego

Some people hear this conversation and push back: “But Mark, great leaders need ego.”

I agree - but only the healthy kind.

Healthy ego says:

● I’m capable.

● I’m called to this role.

● I’m responsible for this team.

But it’s also secure enough to:

● receive feedback

● admit mistakes

● celebrate others’ success

Unhealthy ego is different.

It ties identity to performance and perception.

It needs to be right.

It resists correction.

It protects image over truth.

Healthy ego builds influence.

Unhealthy ego slowly destroys trust.

And trust is what leadership runs on.

The Slow Collapse of Inauthentic Leadership

So will fake leadership eventually fail? Yes.

But not immediately. Why?

Because many leaders know how to play the game. They say the right things. They create excitement. They produce short-term wins.

From a distance everything looks great. But over time cracks appear.

Research studying trust breakdown in organizations shows that within 18–36 months, warning signs usually begin to surface:

● Increased turnover

● Declining engagement

● Quiet exits from top talent

● Culture erosion

● Reputation damage

In sports it shows up within a few seasons.

● Players stop responding.

● Effort drops.

● Buy-in disappears.

Inauthentic leaders can fool people for a while. But you cannot sustain influence without authenticity.

Character always compounds. For good or for bad.

Scripture reminds us:

“The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.”
- Proverbs 12:22

Eventually what is false gets exposed.

Where Authentic Leadership Begins

Authenticity doesn’t start with strategy. It starts with self-examination.

First with God. Then with ourselves.

Ask yourself:

● Am I talking to God about what I’m dealing with?

● Am I honest about where I need to improve?

● Am I being authentic with the people in my life?

Or:

● Am I avoiding hard conversations?

● Am I protecting my ego?

● Am I pretending to know things I don’t?

● Am I leading in ways that benefit me more than others?

Strong leaders examine themselves first.

David prayed in Psalm 139: “Search me, God, and know my heart.”

That’s courageous leadership.

Not perfection. But surrender.

Not ego. But calling.

The Challenge

You don’t need to have all the answers. You don’t need to look perfect.

But you do need:

● Integrity

● Courage

● Humility

● Selflessness

So in a world chasing attention…Be real.

In a culture chasing likes…Choose character.

And in moments when ego says “protect yourself”…Choose truth.

Because authentic leadership doesn’t just win in the short term, it builds something that lasts.

And a legacy built on truth and character is something every leader ultimately wants.

________________________________________________________

An Invitation

Authentic leadership isn’t something we stumble into. It’s something we intentionally grow into.

That’s one of the reasons I’m so passionate about creating environments where leaders can grow together. This spring, we’ll gather leaders from business, sports, ministry, and organizations from across the region at the Knoxville Summit.

It’s a day focused on helping leaders grow in character, clarity, and courage so they can lead better in every area of life. If you’re serious about becoming the kind of leader who builds trust, develops people, and creates lasting impact, I’d love for you to join us.

Click HERE to find out how you can be a part of the Knoxville Summit.

And you’re definitely not for the same people in every season of life.

You grow. They grow. And relationships change.

Years ago, I heard something called The Rule of 10:

Out of 10 people:
• 3 will like you
• 3 will not
• 4 aren’t paying attention at all

Yet many of us, especially leaders, spend an exhausting amount of energy trying to win over the wrong three…or worse, performing for the four who don’t even know what’s happening.

We make decisions to impress people we don’t really know, and sometimes people we don’t even like. Over time, that pressure quietly pulls us away from who we’re actually called to be.

Here’s the truth that has anchored me in a season of shifting relationships and increased pushback:

It’s better to be disliked for who you are than liked for who you aren’t.

Most critics don’t know the real you.
They don’t know your context, your constraints, or the weight of the decisions you carry.
They don’t see the heart behind your leadership.

If we’re not careful, we still allow those opinions to define us.

You were not created to impress people.
You were not designed to chase approval, fit neatly into expectations, or live for applause.

You were created to do what you are called to do.

That doesn’t mean disrespecting others or dismissing different perspectives. In a culture that thrives on division, strong leaders must hold conviction and respect at the same time. We need leaders who can disagree without being distracted and who stay anchored to their purpose while treating others with dignity.

That’s where real impact happens.

And real success?

It’s not being known by everyone.
It’s not being liked by everyone.
It’s not being celebrated by everyone.

Real success is alignment – living and leading in step with who God made you to be.
It’s freedom from expectations, opinions, fear, and comparison.

When things get hard, this is what I remind myself:
I believe God believes in me and that He trusts me with the challenges I’m walking through.

None of it is accidental.

So as you attack your day, remember this:
You are not for everybody and that’s a good thing.

Be who you are.
Do what you’re called to do.
Respect others.

But never let someone else’s opinion pull you away from your purpose.

Because every moment you try to be everything to everyone, you lose.
But every moment you choose to live the life you are called to live – you win.

And this world needs more of you.
Keep going.

Have you heard who’s coming to the Knoxville Summit?

Leadership journeys can feel lonely, especially when you’re committed to growth, conviction, and impact. That’s exactly why we created the Knoxville Summit.

On April 23, leaders from across industries will gather at the iconic Neyland Stadium for our main event of the year featuring world-class voices like Jon Gordon, Willie Robertson, and other top leaders who understand the weight – and responsibility – of influence.

If you’re looking to be empowered, sharpened, and surrounded by leaders who get it, this room is for you.

Spots are limited and filling quickly.

Register now at knoxvillesummit.com or email events@knoxvillesummit.com and our team will help coordinate next steps for you and your leadership team.

I’d love to see you there.

New goals. New plans. Renewed energy.

But most years don’t fall short because of bad goals. They fall short because leaders avoid discomfort, lack patience, rely on weak systems, or refuse to surround themselves with truth-tellers (ego has a sneaky way of doing that).

I’ve missed goals for all of those reasons in business, coaching, and leadership. If you’ve already stumbled this year, you’re not behind. Let’s attack it together.

If you want to talk through a goal, strategy, or accountability point, I’d love to help…and I could use your help, too. Email me at events@knoxvillesummit.com, and let’s set up time to connect.

Three Leadership Lessons We Can’t Miss in 2026

Several years ago, we had a highly talented person in our organization. They produced results, drove revenue, and brought real value.

But their success slowly inflated their ego, and it began to erode our culture.

It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t obvious.
It showed up in tone. Dismissiveness. How people felt after interacting with them.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: We didn’t address it fast enough.

Because they were “valuable,” we justified it. We told ourselves others could toughen up. By doing that, we unintentionally sent clear messages:

• Their behavior was acceptable

• Results mattered more than people

• Our values were just words on paper

Eventually, by God’s grace and the courage of teammates who spoke up instead of leaving, we saw it clearly. We made the hard decision to let them go. Not because of performance, but because how people are treated matters.

Lesson #1: Culture Doesn’t Collapse Overnight

Culture erodes one tolerated behavior at a time.
One excuse. One justification. One turned cheek.

What are you tolerating today that you’ll regret later?

Lesson #2: The Standard Is the Standard

Real standards don’t care who you are.
They apply to everyone, including the leader.

This is why I’m so firm when coaching basketball. Talent doesn’t exempt you. Status doesn’t protect you.

Late to practice? You don’t start.
Do it again? You step back in the rotation.

No emotion. No favoritism.

Fairness isn’t treating everyone the same - it’s holding everyone to the same standard. Leadership isn’t about comfort; it’s about building people while pursuing the vision.

Lesson #3: Avoiding Discomfort Now Creates More Pain Later

Most leaders want peace. We want things to run smoothly. And sometimes, we allow comfort or production to trump culture.

That never ends well.

Culture can’t thrive when corners are cut for a select few. Favoritism is failed leadership. Leadership without accountability is easy…but weak.

Sometimes growth comes through subtraction. Letting go of someone who damages culture can strengthen the entire organization.

Questions Worth Asking Early in 2026

• What behaviors am I tolerating that don’t align with our values?

• Who or what is pulling me down?

• What am I blaming instead of owning?

• Have I defined the daily actions required to hit my goals?

• Who has permission to tell me the truth—and will I actually listen?

(If you want it, email me and I’ll send you my free Triple Threat Exercise that changed how I approach goals.)

Your best year won’t be built on resolutions, quotes, or things written on paper.

It will be built on courageous action over comfort and the discipline to hold the standard, even when it’s hard.

You can make 2026 your best year yet.
Now let’s take unwavering action…together.

As I reread this year’s newsletters and reflected on the conversations, experiences, and growth that shaped 2025, here’s what I’m carrying with me into the year ahead.

The Work We Do Has Value Even When It Doesn’t Feel Like It

Earlier this year, I questioned whether I should continue writing this newsletter. I wondered if anyone really needed it. If it was worth the time and energy.

What changed my mind were the notes many of you sent sharing how these words encouraged you, challenged you, or helped you think differently. It reminded me of something leaders often forget: much of our impact goes unseen. Appreciation isn’t always expressed. Doubt creeps in quietly.

But impact is still being made when we continue to show up and do the right things.

Lesson: Your voice matters. Don’t ever let doubt speak louder than your belief in the impact you’re making.

Leadership: Blessing or Burden?

You were placed in leadership for a reason. Yet so many leaders feel worn down, stretched thin, and overwhelmed. Leadership can start to feel like a constant tension between burden and blessing, panic and peace, influence and responsibility.

How we frame leadership shapes how we experience it.

Lesson: Leaders who see leadership as a privilege, not a burden, are more resilient, more joyful, and more effective.

Legacy Isn’t Built “Later.” It’s Being Built Now

Legacy doesn’t wait for retirement or life’s finish line. It’s written daily in how we coach a kid, serve a client, speak to a spouse, or show up at the dinner table.

Lesson: The accumulation of your everyday choices becomes your legacy. Live each moment intentionally.

Your Most Important Investment

With full calendars, big goals, and endless responsibilities, one truth became unavoidable this year: before we can lead others well, we must lead ourselves well.

And leading ourselves doesn’t start with control, it starts with trust. With listening. With following God.

Lesson: Our most important investment isn’t in things, people, or even ourselves - it’s in a personal relationship with Jesus.

Goals Don’t Fail. Focus Does.

Do you have goals for 2026? I’m confident you can achieve them.

Most people don’t miss their goals because they lack ability. They miss because they lose focus, drift from conviction, or struggle to say “no” to distractions.

Lesson: When goals are tied to mission and meaning, not recognition or possessions, we achieve more than we imagined.

Growth Happens Through Hard Questions

Growth often begins with discomfort.

Questions like:

• What am I doing that hurts my leadership?

• How am I really showing up at home?

• Why am I actually doing what I’m doing?

• What do I need to stop doing to move forward?

We’re quick to ask hard questions of others, but hesitant to ask them of ourselves. Often because we fear what may need to change.

Lesson: Schedule time to ask yourself hard questions. Your growth depends on it.

Perspective Changes Everything

The newsletter that sparked the most conversation asked a simple question:
If we only had six months to live, what would we do differently?

That question shifted priorities from productivity to presence, achievement to affection, and noise to what truly matters.

Lesson: Your worst day is someone else’s best day. Be grateful for every moment, both joyful and challenging, that God gives you.

The Enemy Isn’t Who We Think It Is

Leadership is a calling, and it’s rarely calm. One recurring theme this year was learning to lead through chaos without losing your center.

Some leaders panic. Great leaders pause, breathe, and act with clarity.

Lesson: You can’t eliminate chaos, but you can navigate it with discipline, focus, faith, and yes…a smile.

Relationships Matter More Than Results

Business wins, athletic success, and financial milestones matter, but they aren’t the point. The people along the way are.

Family. Teams. Clients. Friends. The Knoxville Summit community. That’s where life actually happens.

Lesson: If you measure life only by numbers, you miss its meaning. The real measure is the people who one day say, “You impacted my life and I’m thankful.”

Faith Isn’t Something You Have. It’s Something You Live

I hear many people talk about faith while living very differently and when I say “they,” I’m including myself.

This year taught me to loosen my grip on control and deepen my trust in God. I was reminded that I’m called to be a Connector of Joy, and I’m excited to lean into that even more.

Lesson: Faith must shape our actions, not just our words. And our joy must be rooted in God, not in immediate results.

2025 in One Word: Perspective

This year changed how I see things.

Not just how I plan.
Not just how I lead.
Not just how I work.
…but how I live.

Perspective has a way of quieting the noise and clarifying what actually matters. It separates urgency from importance and reminds us that many of today’s stresses won’t matter a year from now, maybe not even next month.

This year reminded me that:

• Success without presence is empty

• Achievement without relationships feels hollow

• What the world applauds isn’t always what matters most

Perspective softened my comparisons, reframed pressure, and helped me see leadership not as something I carry, but something I steward.

It reminded me that:

• Time is our most valuable asset and often our worst-managed

• The people in front of us matter more than the outcomes we’re chasing

• Legacy is built in daily conversations, choices, and consistency

As we step into 2026, my prayer is that the right perspective:

• Stays with us on hard days

• Holds us accountable to the right people and priorities

• Keeps us grateful and energized to lead

• Helps us choose gratitude over frustration

• Allows us to live with peace instead of stress

And maybe most importantly, it helps us remember why we’re doing what we’re doing in the first place.

Here’s to carrying that perspective forward.

2026 will bring challenges, change, and uncertainty, but let what we learned in 2025 shape not just what we do next, but who we become.

Thank you for being part of this community. Your engagement, encouragement, and messages inspire me more than you know. If there’s ever a way I can serve you, your family, your team, or your business, please reach out.

God bless,
Mark

P.S.

Leadership was never meant to be done in isolation. If you’re looking for community, challenge, and encouragement as you head into 2026, I’d love for you to stay connected through Knoxville Summit and the conversations we’re building together.

I lost my grandmother this week.

It’s the first time, as an adult, that I’ve walked through the loss of someone truly close to me, and it has affected me in ways I didn’t expect.

She was strong-willed, independent, and loving. She had a laugh that could fill a house and lift your spirit instantly. She loved her family, sports, and sweets. She was kind to everyone… even my dad, when she thought he was cheating at cards!

As I reflected on her life, one verse stayed with me:

“Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.” (Psalm 145:4)

This is legacy.

This is my grandmother.

Over the last few days, four reflections have stayed with me:

1. What I cherish most isn’t what she gave, it’s who she was.

My grandmother would have given any of us anything she could. But as I thought about her this week, I didn’t spend a single second remembering gifts.

I remembered:

• our conversations (and wishing I’d asked more questions)

• her homemade stews

• her laugh I can still hear

It reminded me that the most meaningful legacy we leave isn’t found in things… it’s found in the moments we choose to create and the person we choose to become.

2. Her legacy literally lives on in our family.

I keep coming back to the chain of God’s design:

He created her…

she married my grandfather…

they created my mom…

who met my dad…

who created me…

who met Brooke…

and now our daughters exist because of that entire sequence of God-woven moments.

If one link in that chain were different, none of us would be here.

Because of her, my girls exist.

And Lord willing, their children will too.

Her story continues through every generation that follows. I’m grateful my daughters got time with their GG. I pray her toughness, kindness, and fierce love for family stays with them forever. (Grandma, I love you, but I do pray they inherit the Pancratz height gene! Ha!)

3. I need to value the time I still have with my parents… and create more of it.

The day she passed, she had just been moved out of ICU. We believed, we truly believed, we had more time. Until suddenly, we didn’t.

It reminded me that time with the people we love is not guaranteed.

And appreciating time isn’t enough.

We have to create more of it.

This is hard for me right now. There are so many demands and responsibilities pulling at me. But it’s family. So here’s what I’m committing to:

• Call more.

• Ask more questions.

• Sit longer.

• MAKE more time.

4. I’ve struggled with this reality… life keeps moving.

The day she passed, life didn’t pause.

Work continued.

Practices continued.

Meetings continued.

Responsibilities continued.

The world didn’t stop, and that was disorienting. But in that tension, something became abundantly clear:

So much of what we stress over every day doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of life.

We worry about what people think, yet the day after we’re gone, most of those people won’t think of us at all.

We compare our lives to others—usually based on their money, title, or stuff—but none of that is fulfilling. (See Ecclesiastes 2:1.)

We chase more success, more recognition, more “one day I’ll finally feel enough” … but five years from now, or even five days from now, most of it won’t matter.

When our time here ends, people will grieve, but their lives will keep going.

Even our family’s.

So here’s the encouragement I’m taking away from all of this:

• Live the life God has called YOU to live.

• Spend time with the people He’s placed in your path.

• Do more of what brings you joy.

• Laugh more.

• Don’t hold back—tell people how much they matter.

• Take the risk.

• Value moments over things.

• And leave behind a legacy of faith, love, and impact that echoes for generations.

Because that’s the kind of legacy my grandmother left.

It’s the kind I want to leave.

It’s the kind you are capable of.

And it’s the kind of legacy God calls us to build.

In this follow-up video, one of my business partners, Jim LaPinska, and I share why we do our annual planning in October and how we help many organizations and people like you turn challenges into clarity, excitement, and measurable progress.

Here’s a quick look at a few of the topics we cover:

• Why October? Timing matters. We’ll discuss why taking the appropriate action before the year ends is vital to your success.

• Well-rounded success. Professional AND personal goals matter.

• The Triple Threat. Don’t just wish it. Take action.

Ready to make 2026 your best and most impactful year yet? Watch the video below and then send me a quick email at events@knoxvillesummit.com, and I’ll send you:

• Our Annual Planning Playbook: The exact framework we use with our clients and our own businesses.

• OR if you’d like me to bring this live to your team, we’ll schedule a complimentary Annual Planning Workshop, designed for your leadership as we head into next year.

Let’s turn the chaos we led through into a game plan we can win with!

Nobody can do it alone! Your best year begins with the plan we build together!

If you’re not feeling the pressure yet, give it a week–it’s coming.

We all know that as the holidays ramp up, demands will multiply. Expectations will rise. What should be one of the most meaningful times of the year often becomes the most exhausting, right?

Research shows 81% of people report higher stress levels during the holidays, and nearly two-thirds of leaders feel emotionally drained by year-end.

So how do leaders who carry massive responsibility–businesses, teams, families, and communities–stay grounded, focused and actually joyful when everything around them speeds up? How do we increase our joy and contentment while demands are increasing?

Simply put: How do we lead in the chaos?

Let me just say: I don’t have this mastered. I still say yes too often. But I’ve learned (mostly the hard way) that great leaders handle high-capacity seasons differently.

Here are four habits of impactful, grounded leaders who finish the year with both results and peace.

1. They Know Their Identity

When I’m at my best, I remember this: My worth isn’t measured by output or approval–it’s measured by obedience to my calling.

That’s countercultural for leaders who live in a world that glorifies busyness, metrics and public wins. But when your identity is secure, your priorities are clear.

You stop chasing every invitation. You start saying yes to the right people and the right responsibilities.

Identity creates focus. Focus creates peace.

2. They Remember Who They Work For

High-achievers thrive on progress, but fulfillment starts with perspective.

We’re called to work hard. To give our best. To pour ourselves out for the sake of others. But it becomes empty when we forget why we’re doing it. For me, that usually happens when I’m going hard throughout the day, emptying myself, while also being short-tempered and annoyed easily. That means I’ve forgotten the point.

Colossians 3:23 says it like this:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

That verse is both freeing and grounding. When your motivation is eternal, the opinions of others lose their grip.

Ask yourself these three questions:

• Why am I really going to that event?

• Why am I pushing that new initiative?

• Why do I want to hit that next milestone?

If the answer is ego or applause, it’ll never be enough. But if the answer is alignment and purpose–you’ll lead from peace, not pressure.

3. They Rest with Intention

You’re not going to like this one. I don’t think I really like it.

The best leaders don’t just grind–they rest.

I used to see rest as weakness. I’d get anxious just sitting still. But I’ve learned that when I never stop working, I’m actually worshiping productivity instead of God.

Even Jesus–carrying the literal weight of the world–took time to pray, retreat and rest.

Rest isn’t a luxury. It’s leadership.

Here are three practical ways to lead from rest:

• Block 30 minutes daily for silence, prayer, or reflection–no phone.

• Audit your calendar. Remove commitments that aren’t mission-critical.

• Model rest to your team and family. Don’t glorify exhaustion.

Rest reminds us: God is in control. We’re not.

4. They Stay Relational, Not Transactional

When pace picks up, people often get reduced to tasks. But leaders who sustain impact don’t just manage–they connect.

Success means nothing if the people closest to you feel unseen.

Here are three ways to lead relationally during busy seasons:

• Call someone simply to encourage them–no agenda.

• Protect date nights or time with those who matter most.

• Ask better questions: Not just “How was your day?” but “What was the best part of it?”

Studies show 79% of people neglect their relationships during the holidays–and most regret it. Don’t be one of them.

Choose presence over perfection, people over performance.

The Bottom Line

This season will test every leader you know–including you.

But if you stay anchored in identity, purpose, rest and relationships – you can close out the year with both impact and integrity.

You can hit your goals and still enjoy your life.

Because leadership isn’t about doing it all–it’s about doing what matters most, for the One who called you to it.

I’m praying you finish strong–with clarity, peace and joy.

If I can help you navigate the overlap of faith, health, and wealth, I’d be honored to connect. Never hesitate to reach out.

– Mark Pancratz
Founder, The Knoxville Summit

P.S. We’ve got a pretty big surprise coming for this year’s Knoxville Summit. Follow @KnoxvilleSummit for updates and an exciting 2026 announcement.

That’s what a business owner told me across the table recently. He wasn’t talking about closing shop—he was talking about the crushing weight of leading: endless problems, sleepless nights, and the pressure of knowing people’s livelihoods depend on him. I could see the weariness in his eyes.

If you’ve led anything worth leading – business, team, family – you’ve felt it, too. I know I have. Running companies, coaching, leading at home as a husband and dad – I’ve had seasons where leadership felt more like a burden than a blessing.

So, I asked him a question that stopped him cold:

“What if the weight you’re feeling isn’t just a burden – what if it’s actually a blessing?”

He didn’t love that question. But here’s what I know: the way you see, think, and talk about leadership shapes how you experience it.

If you call leadership a grind, it’ll feel like a grind.

If you call leadership a gift, it will become one.

Research backs this up: leaders who see their role as a privilege are more resilient, more effective, and more fulfilled. Their teams feel safer, more motivated, and more engaged. Leaders who only dwell on the difficulty? They burn out faster – and spread that same exhaustion to everyone around them.

Think about the environments you’ve been in. Stressed, negative leaders create anxious cultures. Encouraging, hopeful leaders build teams that thrive. The difference is night and day.

So, let me ask you: Right now, is your leadership a burden or a blessing?

No one ever promised this would be easy. Leadership is hard. But you are equipped for it – not by your own strength, but because God entrusted you with the role. He’s given you skills, people to lean on, and His Word as a foundation.

Leadership is pressure, yes – but it’s also a privilege.

If you’re in a hard season right now (or when you face one soon), here are five ways to reframe the weight:

1. Call it what it is – a blessing. The challenges in front of you prove people believe in you. More importantly, God believes in you.
   
   

2. Make God’s Word your anchor. Galatians 6:9 reminds us not to grow weary – because the harvest comes when we don’t give up.
   
   

3. Change the question. Stop asking, “Why me?” Start asking, “Lord, how can I be faithful here?”
   
   

4. Build your inner circle. Surround yourself with two or three men you trust who will speak truth into your life.
   
   

5. Rest and release. You will never do it all. God doesn’t expect perfection—so stop trying to be everything to everyone.
   
   

Someday, every one of us will hand off our leadership — whether in business, at home, or in the community. And on that day, the only review that will matter is hearing:
“Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

So, lead today in a way that makes God smile.

“In my downtime, that thought would keep coming into my mind: Only six months. I had to work really hard to replace the thought of dying with asking myself the question: How many people in my life have I really impacted? Who have I helped become a better person, get married, be a good parent ...you know, change the trajectory of their life and maybe even the lives of their kids?”

I nodded hoping he would continue. “‘You are dying in 6 months’ thought really wanted to take over my thoughts and force me into a downward spiral. Man, was that hard but I eventually thought of enough people that I helped, that I became completely at peace with, not dying, but with the life that I had lived while God allowed me to live it.”

I sat at a table in the middle of a busy, loud lunchtime rush at the Chop House, in silent admiration of “Jeff.” Jeff is a financial planning client of mine that from the outside looking in, people would say has got it all. The nice house, fancy cars, successful business, pictures of his family on extravagant trips....ALL the things. But, the Jeff I know, although he has been given a diagnosis of 6 months to live, he has so much more than that. He has perspective, wisdom, relationships and an impact that will live far beyond his worldly possessions and human body!

So what have I learned from my conversations with Jeff the last few weeks?

I’ve reprioritized what’s important to me.

1. Spend time with people you love and love you. Jeff said it’s interesting how some of the people he has loved the most during their time of need have been the ones that are there for him now the most. A lot of people he would spend time worrying about, but didn’t really care for him the same way, haven’t even reached out to him during his medical challenges. He wishes he would’ve spent less time with those people during his life and more time with the people that actually valued him.

2. Do things that fulfill you. We all find different things that fulfill us. Our spouse, kids, business, working out, being outside, sports, etc. Don’t get caught chasing the bigger house, the deal that makes more money, but deflates you because of the people who are in the deal.

3. Smile more. Life is too short to be worrying about all the little things that in another day, year, 10 years, won’t matter. So many people make you believe that to be great at something you need to be so relentless, that you can’t have meaningful, enjoyable relationships with people. TRUE greatness is actually in the relationships not the numbers in a bank account or the square footage of a house.

4. Have a plan. Not just for retirement, college and all the fun and exciting stuff, but also a plan for the “oh crap” moments of life. They’re hard but they’re not nearly as hard if we know our loved ones and business partners are going to be ok even if something happens to our health. Is your financial plan and estate planning up to date? If not, meet with someone!

5. Slow down to see and appreciate the little moments. We go so fast that sometimes we miss the little signs that our kids are showing glimpses of what we are working so hard to teach them. Go on lunch dates. Go for a walk. Ask the follow up question to learn a little more about their day.

Have you thought about dying?

Weird question to ask yourself, isn’t it? Here’s the reality.

Your time may be in less than six months like my client Jeff, or it may more than 60 years…

Either way, have you stopped to ask yourself: “How many people in your life have you REALLY impacted?”

PS: If you haven’t read the book of Living Life Backward by David Gibson, I highly recommend it.

Twelve years. That’s how long it had been since I’d thought about what this business owner brought up that day. I was leaving his office and before I could shut the door, he reminded me of The Toughest Decision Of My Life article I wrote on the day I told Coach Cuonzo Martin that I would be leaving coaching.

The next day, while finishing up at the gym, a man I see there often walked over and said: “I haven’t been getting your newsletter lately. Did you stop or did I accidentally unsubscribe?” I told him I’d gotten so busy that I had stopped writing. With little emotion, but strong directness, he said, “You shouldn’t do that.” And walked away.

Those two separate events led me through a rollercoaster of questions:

Should I restart doing this just because it’s impactful to others?

Just because others have asked for it, should I really do it?

See, writing doesn’t come easy for me. I don’t want to use AI platforms to write content because I want it to be authentic and, more specifically, I want it to be impactful for you. If you’re going to spend the time reading it, I want it to be valuable.

But you know what? (And you may or may not like this.) I really enjoy doing this. It’s actually therapeutic for me. It forces me to think through different aspects of my life to find ways to share impactful strategies, thoughts and ideas.

Yeah, there is pressure and stress that comes from writing these. Where does it fit in everything I already have going on?

As I was still wrestling with committing to the newsletter, I got to have a “life” conversation with famous author and leadership coach, Jon Gordon. During that conversation Jon said, “Pressure is believing the lie that anything outside of you can impact how you feel.”

That changed things for me. So here we are, doing more of what aligns with our purpose, energizes us, brings us joy and makes impact and less of the things that we feel like we are “supposed to do” to live to other people’s expectations of us.

This is easier said than done so here are four things that are going to help:

1. Listen to ourselves less and talk to ourselves more.

   My thoughts are often negative. My thoughts are often the pressures, stresses and expectations of others. However, when I pay attention to how talk to myself, I choose to tell myself positive messages that lead to more joy, effectiveness and impact.

2. Write out and then read daily your “I Am Statement”

   This has helped remind and empower me to stay focused on what and who I am called to be. If you’d like me to send you my “I Am Statement” from the last two years, email events@knoxvillesummit.com.

3. Community.

   As the world becomes more reliant on artificial intelligence and meeting software, I’m confident that in person relationships and community is going to matter even more. Do you have at least one person you can talk with about your greatest successes, struggles and questions? Do you have someone who has been through what you’re experiencing right now? If not, I urge you to find that person or that community. There are some communities I can connect you with depending on what you need (there have been a few communities built out of our Knoxville Summit event) and know that if there is anything I can do for you personally, I am here to help.

4. Prayer.

   God has blessed us with the Holy Spirit. The more we connect with God, the more that we will become aligned with what God has planned for us. Just like with our spouse, children or work colleagues, real connection with God doesn’t happen by just talking. We need to sit and listen. Put aside the phone, turn off the notifications, let the people around you know you need some alone time, find a quiet place, surrender your current and future situations, let it all out…and pray.

I’m confident if you’re reading this, you’re successful. You’re doing big things. However, if you are like myself and so many of the high level people I am around, the achievement, success feels empty. There is always a pursuit for more, which really hinders our happiness. So how do we change that?

Seek YOUR passion + purpose and remember your worst day would be someone else’s best day. Despite your challenges and adversities, so many people would love to have your life. We. Are. Blessed.

Thank you, God!!

I’m launching something brand new in August: A Live Youth Sports Webinar.

Brought to you by the Knoxville Summit, this is an opportunity to open up the conversation so many parents are having right now: How much is too much? What should my involvement be as a parent? How do I know if we’re doing this all right? What will really help and what hurts?

As our kids grow in their passions, they’re looking to us for guidance. So let’s equip ourselves by paying attention to the experts in the fields our kids love and also those who have gone before us.

If you’re a parent of kids in youth sports or a coach, make sure you’re registered and pass it on:

Secure your spot and register now!

Leading your company, division, team or family is extremely rewarding but equally challenging.

A member of your leadership team has been incredibly successful until 3+ years ago. However, they haven’t been meeting expectations and are unwilling to change.

You love your kids. You hate seeing them struggling but you know having them work through challenges is what is best for their future.

Both sides of these situations are true which makes them hard.

My oldest daughter’s basketball season ended earlier this week. It was the toughest, yet most rewarding, year I’ve experienced with one of my daughters and sports.

Charli is an 8th grader who earned the opportunity to play on the high school basketball team. In addition to attending a new school, with higher academic expectations, and very few friends when she got there, high school athletics demands a new level of toughness, focus and effort mentally and physical.

The year was full of new challenges.

• 6am practices

• Higher demands of teammates and coaches

• Late nights of homework after a late game.

• Games she didn’t play.

• Games she didn’t play well.

She struggled at times but I’m so proud of her. She learned a TON and improved in so many ways.

But as someone who has coached almost all of my daughters’ teams since they started playing sports, this season was also a major learning experience for me. As one of the few times I’ve been able to be “dad” during a basketball season, I learned a few things:

1. My words matter. If I truly care about their walk with God, character, health, grades, etc. I can’t let my first questions be, “How did practice go today?” I can’t let them feel that I care about them more or less based on their performance.

2. I need to keep setting up my girls on dates. No. Not with boys, but with things I believe are important. The harder I push my girls toward something the harder they usually push back. (I think my wife and I are both wired this way.) However, with basketball, we have gently kept basketball around our family and now, in her own timing and on her own terms, she is starting to take her training to a new level. (TBD on how long it lasts!) What other areas of life do I need to incorporate this?

3. Highlight the exciting end goal more than the work. I try to do this a lot with our girls. I hear parents all the time tell their kids, “You have to put in the work. You have to grind!” Well, let me ask you something: If you didn’t have an idea where that work was going to get you, would you still put in the work? We have to talk to our kids about what the work is going to do for them…not you..but them! How do we make the work, not feel like work so it becomes exciting and part of what needs to be done to achieve their definition of success?

4. I didn’t always agree with the coaches and that’s ok. What’s not ok, is to talk about it with my daughter OR with my wife while my daughter can hear it. The coaches my daughter plays for are great. What I care most about is they love the Lord, care about all the players on the team by holding them accountable to become their best AND they know there are areas they can personally improve.

5. Everything looks different over time. When we are emotional, we just aren’t thinking at our best. I saw this most right after a game when parents wanted to talk with me about what did or didn’t happen in a game and on the car rides home with my daughter. In these moments, emotion was high and my judgement of the decision was often blurred. The more time I gave the situation, the more the “problem” looked different.

So what does this have to do with leadership and business?

It all leads to the questions I need to be asking:

1. How are you using your words? Are you encouraging others? Are you empowering them? Are you following up on what you say you are going to do? Are you admitting where you need help or are getting things wrong?

2. Are you being a leader that others want to follow? Every interaction you have with people in your organization you are holding a mirror up to them on who they could become if they follow you. Are those little encounters with you aspirational and encouraging or shallow and demotivating?

3. What are your goals and how are you keeping them in front of you every day? Do you think about those goals more than the challenges? Do you celebrate even the small wins of the day more than you dwell on what didn’t get accomplished today?

4. Great leaders are real. They admit when they mess up and don’t promise to have all the answers. The great leaders just promise they’ll give it their best and if you stick with them long enough, they’ll get it right. You don’t have to be perfect, but you do need to care.

5. Life isn’t problem to solve. It’s a process of evolution to becoming who God has called us to be. If something isn’t going right today, it’s ok. Learn from it. Each challenge, each win is all a part of the process.

6. What good things are going on in your life you’re choosing to look past? What is the good in the people around you (your spouse, kids, coaches, colleagues, etc.) you’re choosing to not see? Don’t search for the negative.

7. Are you trying to get better? As a spouse, parent, leader, etc? If so, great job! Can you get better? We all can. But sometimes you have to lean in, smile and know you’re doing a good job.

8. What’s holding you back? What are you waiting for? Why not make the change to a different environment? Why not go all in? Why not have the tough conversation? There’s a saying I heard from a mentor of mine last week called the Fools Bargain. Fools bargain with themselves and say, “Once things are different I will….” or “It’ll be different when….”

The reality is, things will only begin to be different when you begin to think and act differently.

Don’t wait another day. Start today. It’s true. Change is hard. Hitting big goals is hard. But it’s also hard staying the same. Not hitting goals. Looking back and saying, “I wish I would have….”. Don’t let that be you!

If you’re stuck and wanting to make that next big jump, I encourage you to join us at the Knoxville Summit where you will be surrounded by people to fuel your next level of growth.

Being surrounded by other like minded individuals will encourage you to keep going where you are and empower you to go to even greater heights!

I hope to see you there.

In the meantime, if I can ever do anything for you, please reach out to me at knoxvillesummit@gmail.com,

It seems like there’s always a fire to put out, a challenge to be faced. I had a conversation with a business owner last week and he said, “At this point in my journey, it’s pretty amazing what comes my way on a weekly basis that I now think, ‘Eh, that’s not a big deal. Go do this and we’ll be fine. Or we’ll figure that one out later.’”

What he was saying is pretty monumental for growing leaders to understand: As we get further into our leadership journeys (at work and at home), it’s normal for what used to seem so important, even “life ending” or career changing, to now seem just another email at 2:00pm on Tuesday. It may seem urgent, but is it important?

As challenges continue popping up (and they will), here are seven important strategies to keep in mind to keep your cool…

1. Accept There Will Always Be Challenges….and YOU are Good Enough

   Once you accept that challenges are just part of life and specifically the role God has called you into, they become easier to handle. And success feels a little easier when you remember that YOU are good enough!

2. Expect and Accept Push Back

   Some of the greatest, most influential people of our lifetimes have faced hate, doubt and adversity. Complete agreement is not the goal. You can move forward…even if every single person doesn’t like you.

3. Be careful not to become calloused to what other people see and feel as challenging.

   Sometimes, I find myself frustrated at what others spend time and energy being frustrated on. One tough day, the traffic, someone rescheduling, someone saying no. The refs, what “Susie” posted on Facebook, what to wear (I live in a house of girls) and did I mention refs?

   These are extreme examples but when you are dealing with what you deem are more important situations and challenges, it can be easy to become dismissive of what others are facing. Help lead people through their challenges just like others helped you. People often don’t need you to come solve the problem for them, they just want you to hear, understand and appreciate what they’re going through.

4. Compartmentalize/Time Blocking

   One of the things God has blessed me with is the ability to compartmentalize things. (However, he did not bless me with the ability to say that word very well.) A distracted leader is poor leader. Organize your day with time blocking and attack what you need to attack.

5. Empower Others

   Although it’s a common word used in the business world, I’m personally not a fan of the word delegate. I instead want to empower others. You can’t do this alone. Our teams are often more capable then we give them credit AND they want to help.

6. Important vs Urgent

   See the last newsletter on this, but empowering others allows you to focus on what you need to focus on and thus will move the organization along further.

7. Have Someone To Talk With

   I was with one of the most successful leaders in Knoxville this week (Hint: He spoke at last year’s Knoxville Summit.) He really challenged the thought that leadership is lonely. He said leadership doesn’t have to be lonely at all. Invite people in.

The more I have thought about that challenge, the more I realize how that is one of the driving forces around why I’m so passionate about making the Knoxville Summit as impactful as possible. I want to invite more leaders and high performers into my life. I want to surround myself with people that are having BIG wins, trying to making even more IMPACT, but also facing challenges a lot of people can’t relate to. I want to be surrounded by people who want to grow.

If this sounds like you or someone you know, I hope to see you at the Knoxville Summit.

We have 200 leaders and high performers from different industries and stages of life already a part of the Knoxville Summit. Although the early access discount has ended, email me at knoxvillesummit@gmail.com, tell me you read the newsletter and I will not only honor the discount but I will give you an exclusive “The Starting 5” discount!

The best leaders I know are the ones always looking for opportunities to grow, and to invest in their teams. This is your opportunity to learn from some of Knoxville’s top leaders. Don’t miss it. Click here to learn more.

PS You know that fire I referenced to start the newsletter? I really did get a phone call a couple of weeks ago that our west office was on fire. So, yes, literally there are fires.

78 text messages

12 phone calls

20 WhatsApp messages

10 direct messages on social media platforms

5 slacks

Those are my averages on each platform each day. My love hate relationship with my phone is REAL.

There’s so much good about a technology world, but if we’re not careful, it’s easy to spend our days responding to countless notifications, handling unexpected issues and managing last minute requests.

These often-urgent-tasks thrown at us by others demand attention, but do they truly drive long-term success? The best leaders I know understand the difference between what is urgent and what is important.

Urgent is reactive. Important is strategic.

If we become addicted to the dopamine hit of getting the urgent done, we risk neglecting the actions that create real impact. Things like vision-setting, building culture, developing people, and driving new initiatives.

CEO’s who dedicate time to long-term thinking generate 47% higher revenue growth over a decade compared to those who focus on day-to-day operation (McKinsey & Co.)

Employee’s in companies with clear long term priorities are 3X more engaged than those in reactive, crisis-driven organizations (Harvard Business Review)

But, what do you do when one of the messages you receive is important to a team member, but not important to you? How do you handle it?

1. Seek To Understand

   Before dismissing it, or getting frustrated (like I often do), take a step back and ask why is it important to them? What role do they have your company? Have they exhausted other avenues to get the question answered? What is at stake if you don’t address their question?

2. Alignment Matters

   Believe it or not, sometimes our initial reaction is wrong. Their question may be more important than you initially thought so determine if the question or concern is in alignment with the company’s mission, culture or long term objectives.

   If there need does align, find a way to support them. If the need doesn’t align,

   acknowledge their effort, but share why their need isn’t a priority right now.

   No matter your response, be transparent and honest. People respect clarity and

   directness more than avoidance.

3. Empower Your Team

   Demonstrate your appreciation for their work in that area, but empower them to take the lead in the decision if it is not an important decision or responsibility for you. Ask them, “If you were me, and that question was proposed to you, what would you do?” Questions are empowering. Many of your team members know the answer, they just want your validation. Growth occurs when you empower others to make decisions.

As a leader, you have a unique skill set and role in the team. It is different than almost everyone else’s in your organization. Even people with the same title. Don’t shy away from being confident enough to tell people “not right now” or “no.”

In so many ways the success of the organizations and teams you lead is determined MORE by your ability to say no than saying yes.

On a scale of 1-10, how good are you at saying no? (One being you are the ultimate yes person. Ten being you say no so much, people don’t come to you anymore.)

Since releasing the Knoxville Summit 10 days ago, I’ve been drowning by not following my own advice. I’ve been trying to do way too much of this event by myself. From getting the speaker line up, to the marketing of the event, to the private dinner portion to building out the attendee gift bag (BTW, all of the bags will be awesome but the platinum and Elite bags are going to be NEXT LEVEL!) — I have had my hands in all of it. I’ve done a poor job of staying focused on the mission critical things for me.

Instead, I’m way too deep in the weeds and not empowering others.

Our success isn’t measured by how much we get done, but by how much we enable OTHERS to accomplish. Sometimes we need a reminder (and I do right now) that the best results come from the right people doing the right work.

Don’t believe me? That’s ok.

Would you believe the Bible? Read Exodus 18: 17-23. Moses was feeling overwhelmed handling all the disputes and decisions for the Israelites. So, his father-in-law advised Moses to appoint capable leaders.

“But select capable men from all the people- men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain-and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.” (Exodus 18:21)

Want to learn the art of delegation?

Want to know how to prioritize what’s only for you to do and what’s meant to be delegated?

Want to learn how to empower your team to be self-starters and problem-solvers?

Want to be a better leader?

The mark of the best leaders is a desire to grow. That’s what The Knoxville Summit is meant to do. We want to grow the best leaders to lead the best businesses and organizations to make Knoxville even better.

Whether you’re just starting your business or leadership journey or have been thriving for years, you’ll uncover innovative strategies and fresh ideas to elevate your leadership, achieve unprecedented success, and create an impact.

Are you in? How about your team?

Take a look at all we’re offering, and if you have specific questions — make sure to let me know. Email the team at knoxvillesummit@gmail.com.

Don’t miss the early bird discount - register now!

“People in East Tennessee just don’t invest in themselves or their teams like that.”

“Don’t do it. You have enough going on.”

This was just some of the feedback I received in the early stages of planning the 2024 Knoxville Summit. At one point, someone said, “I believe someone tried to do a similar event years ago with Peyton Manning and Phillip Fulmer at it, and it was a huge flop.”

And they were right in some ways. Despite having an incredible speaking line up, an event team with a track record of success and a positive mission - last year’s event was a CHALLENGE to pull off for multiple reasons:

• The head of Audio and Visual for the event had a seizure on his flight coming to the event. This threw us in a frenzy to find a last-minute replacement.

• Because of the the timetable to pull it off, not everyone could work into their team calendars, which led to a financial hit.

• Weekends, early mornings and late nights were consumed by planning, recruiting and executing this event. It required consistent communication and creative strategies — both requiring more time than I thought.

So, as I sit here writing this, in the middle of planning The 2025 Knoxville Summit, it may bring up the question: Why would you do the event again?!

This event was never about me or what it required of me. It was about the leaders of this city and equipping them to grow personally and professionally as they continue leading businesses and organizations that make Knoxville what it is.

Feedback like…

“The event helped me get over some business and personal hurdles that helped me have my best year ever last year.”

“I didn’t even know who Adam Wright (CEO of Pilot) was last year but his leadership strategies and stories make me think about how I can show up better each and every day for my team.”

“The speakers were great but getting to meet a lot of other leaders at the social hour after the event was the best. It was just cool to be in a room of other people trying to get better. Iron sharpens iron and I need more of that in my life.”

When you receive messages like that, the question becomes: “How do I not only do the event again but do it, bigger and better?”

As leaders, we know we can’t operate off emotion. If we made decisions off the “hate” or “praise” of everyone, we would float in a sea of mediocrity and ride the emotional waves dictated by others.

The need for something like The 2025 Knoxville Summit is made clear once you do the research:

• “71% of top executives attribute their leadership development to learning from mentors, role models and peer networks,” says a Harvard Business Review study

• “Leaders with strong executive networks are 45% more likely to make informed and successful strategic decisions. They also experience a 20% higher career advancement rate.” (The Influence of Social Networks on Leadership Effectiveness study by Balkundi & Kilduff)

• “Leaders who seek out diverse perspectives and experiences are more successful in leading through uncertainty and change.” (The Center for Creative Leadership)

No matter your role at work or at home, you influence people each and every day — that makes you a leader.

And because, you’re a leader, I want to personally invite you to The 2025 Knoxville Summit on April 25 at the brand new Covenant Health Park, soon to be home of the Smokies.

We’ll hear from Inky Johnson, Clay Travis, Tamika Catchings, Randy Body and two different CEO panels as we, yet again, work to equip Knoxville’s elite to lead effectively and efficiently in every area of their lives.

Because this newsletter lands in your inbox, I’m specifically offering you and your team an exclusive early bird rate and access to tickets. Right now, you can purchase tickets with a 10% discount. This won’t be available for long, so go ahead and grab your tickets today.

You and your leadership matter — invest in both. I can’t wait to see you and your teams there.