“Ritual” can sound formal… but what I really mean is this, what are the predictable, enjoyable moments in your home that are so consistent no one even thinks about grabbing a device? We’re not fighting against screens. We’re building a family culture that makes screens less interesting. When kids know when “Together Time” happens, the anxiety drops. The constant “Can I play now?” softens. Stability is powerful. A few simple ideas by age: 🧸 3–5: A 15-minute “Pajama Parade” before bed it could be one song, one prayer, one silly dance. Same rhythm every night. 🥞 6–9: Saturday breakfast with phones in another room. Pancakes. Bedhead. Conversation. 🧩 10–11: Friday Theme Night ideas include tacos, board games, movie picks on rotation. Let them help choose. 🚕 12–17: Make the car a short-trip phone-free zone. Some of the best talks happen while looking out the windshield. What ritual anchors your week? This is Day 6 of our 7-day screen struggle reset inside Connected Through Play where we focus on communication, cooking, and play. If you want practical ways to build connection without dramatic rules, come join us.

12 years ago, I was in a job that was meant to be perfect for me. I should have loved it. It was the job that was going to get me on the fast track to promotion, a bigger title and a juicy pay packet. I was an Exec Assistant to a Director with about 2,000 staff. I was working evenings and weekends - because that's what you're supposed to do I was attending late night work events - because that's what's expected of you I was 'networking' with people as senior as possible - because that's what everyone does One incident sums up how trapped I was in the jaws of "that's just the way it is". At 11pm one evening I got a call from my boss. "I've got a meeting tomorrow at 10am, could you build this slide deck for me?" Unreasonable... maybe... but that's what I'd signed up for wasn't it? At 6am the next morning, the phone rings! "Have you finished that slide deck yet?" Even more unreasonable... yes... but that's how everyone makes progress isn't it? After 11 months, my boss got a new role, and I decided it was time for me to move too. I talked to his successor before she joined, and told her I was ready to go, so wouldn't be there when she started her role. She asked me if I could give her three months to get up speed and for some unknown reason I agreed. Wow! My life was changed by that request and decision to stay! In those three months, she took time to get to know me. Not what I'd done or how much I'd contributed or what I'd been involved in - although she did get those too - but to actually get to know me. To be honest, I didn't really realise she was doing it at the time. But she started to use what she was learning about me to point me to specific tasks, to connect me with specific people, to get me specific training. Things that I loved. Things that challenged me. Things that made me smile. She would encourage me "Show more of this side of you", "Use more of this part of your personality" "Let that version of Gus shine more". She demonstrated that too. She was a very senior leader in a large financial institution and she turned up every day as herself and made a massive impact - for the business, but for individuals, and especially for me.

At some point, most of us realize that growth is not about doing more; it is about doing what matters. Many experienced solopreneurs are not lacking knowledge. They are simply carrying too much at once. Real clarity often begins when we slow the pace enough to see what is essential again. That idea has been shaping a lot of what I am building right now. Sharing a thought; perhaps it lands where it is needed.

Remember that argument on the playground? You know - the playgrounds with the metal slides that gave you 3rd degree burns on the way down. And at the bottom, Johnny was running his mouth about his dad beating your dad up. Remember? Even as a kid, I used to look at other kids saying that kind of thing and thinking... that's just stupid. Why would our dads fight? As an observer, looking back in time, I realize the driver behind it. Johnny saw his dad as tough, strong, and invincible. How do your kids perceive you? Are you happy with that perception? I hear perception is reality. What if you could live so intentionally that there was no way your kids could perceive anything but the truth about who you are? That you love them. You'd do anything for them. And yes... you could beat their friends' dads up. Click here and to start training to beat up other dads.

This space is honestly really weird some days. I have been trying to be super consistent with being active daily and work my way up to a consistent 50 daily activities... it's slow, but I've developed a habit of logging in everyday so that's progress. However, I was hoping the engagement would drive Membership requests. It hasn't. Then I see that in 4 months, someone is at $445 MRR and pushing for $1200 over this next quarter. Do little to no lead generation activities. Sometimes I look around and think... Mann people out there are seemingly just touching it and it turning to gold. Now granted, it's only been like a week since I've started trying (again). But does it feel like, to anyone else, that some people just "have it"? Lol