What You’ll Find Between the Coffee and the Curveballs

Because coffee is essential for survival, culture makes or breaks a business, and life… well, life always throws a few curveballs.

Every good series needs an introduction, so here’s mine. It’s not a blueprint, not a textbook, and certainly not a “10 steps to guaranteed success” kind of thing (if only it were that simple). This is just me — sharing what I’ve learned, what I’ve messed up, what I’ve tried, and what I’ve seen in business, leadership, and life.

The series is called Coffee, Culture & Curveballs for three reasons:

1. Coffee is essential. Without it, most of us wouldn’t make it through the first email of the day, never mind a board meeting.
2. Culture is the heartbeat of any business. It’s what keeps strategy alive, teams motivated, and clients coming back. Get it right, and everything flows. Get it wrong, and… well, you’ll be needing more coffee.
3. Curveballs are inevitable. Life, leadership, real estate, business — they all have a way of throwing surprises when you least expect them. Some you swing at and miss, some you connect with beautifully, and some smack you square on the head and leave you dazed for a bit.

I’m not writing this series because I have all the answers. Far from it. If leadership has taught me anything, it’s that nobody really has it all figured out. We’re all just trying, failing, adjusting, and trying again. But along the way, I’ve read books that made me rethink everything, worked with people who taught me lessons (sometimes the hard way), and lived through experiences that were equal parts humbling, frustrating, and funny in hindsight.

Some of what I’ll share will be lessons in leadership, some in running a business, and some in just navigating life when it feels like the universe is throwing curveballs faster than you can duck. I’ll share what worked, what didn’t, and what I’d never, ever do again (consider this a gift to your future self).

You’ll find stories about hiring the right people, protecting culture like your life depends on it, stepping out of comfort zones, avoiding the dreaded “rotten apple hire,” and the ongoing battle of resisting easy wins when the long game matters more. And yes, there will be dinosaurs, apples, and the occasional dodgy metaphor involving Wi-Fi.

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being intentional. It’s about leading in a way that balances business goals with human realities. And it’s about remembering that coffee, culture, and curveballs aren’t just catchy words — they’re the daily reality of anyone trying to lead, grow, and survive in business. So grab a cup, settle in, and join me for the ride. I can’t promise I’ll always be right, but I can promise it’ll be honest, light-hearted, and hopefully useful. And if nothing else, at least you’ll get a laugh or two along the way.