I opened a health insurance statement recently and saw the words: “Don’t worry – it’s not a bill.” Just below the fold, I then saw "What you owe: $13,000." It was a reminder of something leaders too often forget: when the topic is compensation, benefits, or employment status...reassurance risks landing as condescension. In those moments, respect matters more than reassurance.

Leaders often try to do it all themselves—but outcomes improve dramatically when someone advocates for you. From my jaw surgery experience, I was reminded of the power that comes from proactive support, vigilance, and guidance. Explore why bringing the right coach or mentor alongside you can make all the difference.

Real resilience isn’t built from laminated reminders or slapping a sign (or bracelet, in my case) on something — it comes from how leaders empower staff, create redundancy, and design systems that catch mistakes before they cause harm.

“You probably won’t want to do much until about a week after surgery,” my surgeon had warned. “And most people feel like themselves again in three weeks, at best.”

But five days post-surgery, I walked five miles. About a week out, I played some golf. By about day 12, other than being limited to soft foods, I felt like myself and by day thirteen, I was back at the gym — well ahead of schedule. 

Here’s the truth: my recovery wasn’t about grit or willpower in the moment. It was the result of nearly a decade of consistent effort. A choice, made years ago, to prioritize my physical and mental health through structure and habit.

With all there is to accomplish as a leader and the endless problems to solve, taking time to ask for feedback on how my actions impact their success wasn't high on my to do list.

But It should have been!

Read more about my recent discovery and it's practical, everyday application.

We’re emerging from the winter of wilderness therapy—a season marked by the closure of many traditional, immersive programs. These programs saved countless lives, but a wave of criticism and vilification overtook the narrative. We need a story that meets this moment— A story that honors past harms, casts out true villains, and invites clients to become the heroes of their lives.

We make mistakes, we cause harm, and it’s time we own it.

I do not believe any of the programs I know well or the people who run them intend to do harm, but it is human nature to make mistakes and for things to go awry.

It’s time we take this as an opportunity to grow and advance the field and adopt an approach that works to maintain trust when harm happens.

I suggest the behavioral healthcare field adopts a standard, borrowing directly from the medical community by requiring programs to have a communication and resolution program (CRP).

After Open Sky closed, I took a long exhale. I was fortunate enough to take time to spend with my family, travel, and relax in a way I had not been able to for years—really, more than a couple of decades. But, there was this periodic nagging that would creep in. A kind of unease. Then a conversation with someone I just barely met a couple days before changed everything.

Frustration is part of the work—and part of the growth. When things aren’t going well, it’s easy to question your impact, your path, or your leadership. But frustration often signals that you care deeply and are seeking something better. In this reflection, Danny shares how he’s come to view frustration not as a weakness but as an invitation—to pause, recalibrate, and move forward with greater clarity and purpose.

"I didn’t plan to teach a lesson that morning. I just felt compelled to act. As cars cut the line in a snowy traffic jam, I pulled halfway into the opposite lane and blocked them—because it felt like the fair thing to do. Later, I realized that simple, slightly awkward act reflected one of my core values. Fairness isn’t something I talk about. It’s something I live. And sometimes, that means sticking your butt out."