I love my job. I know it’s controversial to say — the old caricature of the businessman is miserable, dreading to clock in and chomping at the bit to clock out. Here’s the honest truth: I love what I do! The real estate business is fast-paced and exciting. That’s not to mention my own entrepreneurial efforts. 

Toxic work environments don’t fix themselves. We often don’t even realize we’re in the thick of one until the emotional and mental damage is already done. I know for me, cultivating a harmonious and family-like atmosphere has always been a priority for my family and myself. We see it reflected in our work culture at Memphis Invest

Research says that only 21 percent of adults reach the minimum baseline of physical activity. Fewer than 5 percent perform physical activity for more than 30 minutes a day. The unfortunate truth is, most of us are stuck in a sedentary lifestyle. We sit at desks day-in and day-out and then “decompress” in front of the television afterward.

One of the most dreaded things for any person, in any context, is to say no to someone. We don’t like to disappoint people. Even when strangers ask for help, I can’t help but feel a twinge of doubt or regret when I can’t spare what it is they need. It’s even more true of friends, family, and colleagues. 

Some of the most iconic names in business started when they were well out of their bright-eyed teens and twenties. While we typically think that starting a business is up to the young firestarters, there’s also a wise saying that youth is wasted on the young.

What season has the best food? They all have their benefits. I certainly love summertime for the abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables. If I had to pick, I’d say that fall has the best selection. For me, fall is more than a never-ending pumpkin spice joke. Even though the season is full of fattening desserts and decadent entrees, make no mistake — some of the healthiest foods around are ripe for the picking this season.

Our relationship with money — how we treat it, the habits we adopt, and how well we manage wealth — is something that builds and shapes over time, often unconsciously. Children learn about money and how to use it through their parents. Small comments that we don’t consciously think about have an impact on our financial health years down the road.

For all of us, each season brings with it different opportunities and challenges. Finding the right balance between work, family, and the things that we care about seems to get more and more difficult. I’ve found, for me, that life tends to pick up in the fall.

No matter what your job description says, chances are you’ve ended up a Jack-of-All-Trades in some form or fashion. As professionals, we’re often called to embody so many different professional traits and skills. Truth be told, we’re not always good at what we’re asked to do! 

Trying to eat healthy in the information age is challenging. Because fads are always changing and research shifts along with it, those of us trying to keep up can often get lost. One week we’re doing what everyone says is the best way to lose weight or be healthy, the next we’re being told how that exact thing is bad for you, if not outright dangerous to your health.

I’m a goal-oriented person. I have to be — with a job as busy as mine and with my fingers in so many proverbial pies, it’s important that I know what I’m doing and why! However, I’ve found through the years that being hyper-focused on accomplishing my goals may or may not be the most effective way to get where I need to be.

The old adage declares that time is money. Usually, this is said to encourage professionals to work harder, fill up their schedule more, and pack as many things into their time as possible. It has to be worth it, right?

We’ve adopted some weird ideas about leadership. For many of us, leaders are the ones with all the answers. They’ve done it all and seen it all. However, the omniscient leader is a myth. He’s also dangerous to our career in leadership. 

For runners, shoes are our best friend. Unfortunately, many of us are running in the wrong kind of shoes without even realizing it. We’ve just accepted that we’re running, so naturally, our feet will hurt and we’ll have shin splints.

What’s your definition of success? For some of us, success is all about the end result. We want to reach the summit along our path. For others, success is in the journey. No matter how we define success, it’s critical that we’re the ones defining it. When you allow your ideas of success to be dictated by outside expectations, looking to role models, or a default idea of what success is, you open yourself up to becoming disillusioned.

I’ve been in some position of leadership for most of working career. My father demonstrated this leadership to me when he started what ultimately became Memphis Invest in 2004. As a partner in the company, I’ve found myself at the helm of countless leadership decisions — not only for the sake of the company, but in my own journey as an entrepreneur, speaker, and writer.

When we think about the benefits of running (or any exercise) we tend to fixate on the results that show within the first few weeks and months of committing to our routine. We think about weight loss, increased energy, and an overall good feeling. Regular exercise makes us feel more alert, sleep better at night, and increases mental health almost immediately.

If you’re like me, there are plenty of habits that you would love to adopt. If you’re also like me, you’ve no doubt failed at maintaining these new habits once you’ve begun. Consistency is tough to master, it’s true—but that’s usually because we’re going about making these life-changes all wrong. 

Some of us believe that you have to be young to be an entrepreneur. Our mind’s eye sees young, slick professionals trying to make out in the Wild West of business. That’s a young man’s game. I’m here to tell you something you might not be used to hearing: you’re not too old to start again.

They say that there are only two sure things in life: death and taxes. While it might sound depressing, I would add disappointment to the list. We will inevitably face disappointment throughout our lives. It could be disappointment over a business failing, a plan not going as expected, or the behavior of the people in our lives.