Of all the things that make a marriage work,

Hope rises above the rest.

When it’s gone, so is the marriage.

5 practical ways to keep hope alive (a thread): There are many things needed to make marriage work -

Love, commitment, kindness, patience, humility, listening, grace, cooperation, care, compromise.

But in 25+ years of marriage, I’ve found one rise above all others:

Hope

When it dies, so does your marriage.

In the last few years, I’ve personally closed over $10 million in deals.

I lead a team that’s closed 10’s of millions.

And that's in a business where our average sale is $9k.

When I started, I had never sold anything.

Everything I’ve learned about sales in one thread: People buy emotionally.

100% of people, 100% of the time.

Stop trying to convince people to buy from you with logical arguments.

Ask questions to uncover their pain. Then, help them discover how what you sell will alleviate it.

“In sales, being different is better than being better.”

It was 4 years ago when the person sitting next to me on a plane said that phrase to me.

20 years into my career, I had taken on responsibility for sales for the first time.

And I was struggling.

Since then, I’ve closed… https://t.co/tZr7iqLL0Mtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…
@blakeaburge Definitely a struggle for all of us, but I've found that it's a mindset that can be strengthened with daily practice.

I am a father.

And this is my heart for my children: My name is Strength.

There's nothing I can't handle.

I will stand with you. I will stand for you.

Without wavering.

I won't demand you see my strength.

Each day, I will quietly offer it to you.

In obvious ways - and those that are hidden - I am a rock that won't be broken.

Begin with the end in mind.

A parent's guide to preparing for the day your child leaves home: Last week, I moved the kid in that picture to college.

If you're a parent who hasn't done this yet,

I'll share the major emotions I've felt (4 negative, 4 positive).

Along with my thoughts on what you can do now to prepare for it.

Grab a tissue.

Here's what I've felt:

A boy's heart is shaped by his father.

8 life shaping gifts every father can give his son: No one impacts a boy like his dad.

When dad gives him what he needs, he develops an internal sense of worth.

If he doesn't, the boy spends his life trying to prove his worth.

The best gifts from a father aren't pocket knives or fishing poles.

8 gifts your son needs from you:

Parenting is a long journey in failure.

8 hopeful truths to put your parenting ups and downs in perspective: 1/ Parents fail constantly...and that's good news!

No matter how hard you try, how thoughtful or intentional you are,

You're going to fail with your kids.

Over and over again.

Release the pressure.

If there's no "getting it right,"

You have permission to be imperfect.

Happy parents raise happy kids.

8 traits of happy parents: When I was a young parent,

I had a vision for raising happy kids (but didn't know how).

So I looked to parents a few stages ahead of me whose kids seemed genuinely happy.

I made a startlingly simple discovery -

Happy parents raise happy kids.

8 things they all had in common:

In parenting, more is caught than taught.

9 life-shaping qualities every child needs to see in their parents: My father started seeing a therapist at 72.

At a time of life when most people settle into "I am who I am,"

He chose a different path.

It impacted me.

Our kids hear what we say.

But our real impact as parents comes from what they see us do.

9 qualities I'm trying to model:

Parenting is a long game.

Play to win.

15 high-impact principles for raising emotionally healthy adults: Parenting success isn’t measured in years.

It’s measured in decades.

20 years in, I’m not ready to say I know what I'm doing.

But I am starting to see the fruit of long-term thinking.

Here's what I've learned (so far):

Over the past decade, I've met with dozens of men in failing marriages.

If you want to be happy in a marriage that lasts, here's what you need to know: As a man who's had serious marriage struggles (and been open about them),

I often get asked to meet with men whose marriages are failing.

Over the years, I've noticed a trend.

100% of men in failing marriages share these 5 core issues:

If you want to live a life that matters,

Here's the only roadmap you'll ever need.

5 powerful habits of a life well-lived: My family recently gathered to celebrate my mom's 75th birthday.

Through an evening of stories from children, grandchildren, and friends,

She was honored for her impact.

Everyone wants their life to matter.

But few know how to make sure it does.

If that's you, start here:

18 years ago, my first son was born.

Today, I'm a different man.

18 ways having sons changes a man: I have two sons.

The oldest turned 18 this week.

I deeply and dearly love my daughters,

But there's something special about the bond between a father and a son.

It has changed my life.

In honor of my son becoming a man,

Here are 18 ways having sons has made me a better man:

12 life rules your kids need to understand before they leave home: In a few months, my second child will leave home.

The day will come when your kids leave too. Sooner than you think.

You'll be left wondering:

Did I do enough?

There's no time to wait.

Here are 12 life rules I've spent years driving home.

Steal them (or make your own list):

If you want to change the world,

Start at home.

8 ways parents can shape kids who shape the world: Parents are the most influential people on the planet.

While you scroll social media feeling outraged or afraid at the state of the world,

Your greatest opportunity to make a difference is in the next room eating cheerios.

Here are 8 ways you can raise world-changing kids:

Don't make 2023 just another year of chasing more success, stuff, or sex.

Make it the year you pursued beauty.

Here’s how to find it: French philosopher Simone Weil said only two things pierce the human heart.

One is beauty.

The other is affliction.

Life brings you affliction. In buckets.

This leaves a longing in your soul for beauty.

But to find it, you must know it.

5 pressure-packed lies parents believe - and the truths that can help set you free: I have a mentor who says:

"Pressure kills everything it touches."

Including parenting.

Parenting is already a tough job.

Putting unnecessary pressure on yourself (and your kids) only makes it harder.

If you want some relief from it,

Break free from these 5 lies:

9 commitments every parent should make: "I will take pride in being taken for granted."

Parenting is a thankless job.

As an approval addict, this bothered me.

Until it hit me ⏤

I want to be taken for granted.

It's a compliment.

It means you're there for your kids so consistently that they stop noticing.

Your career is a long game.

You can't win if you don't stay on the field.

6 habits for surviving - and thriving - in your career: I'm 25 years into my career.

When I started, my goal was to develop technical skills.

I believed long-term success was about my ability to be good at something.

I was wrong.

Technical skills get you started.

Emotional competence keeps you going.

These habits cultivate it:

I am a father.

And this is my heart for my children: My name is Strength.

There's nothing I can't handle.

I will stand with you. I will stand for you.

Without wavering.

I won't demand you see my strength.

Each day, I will quietly offer it to you.

In obvious ways - and those that are hidden - I am a rock that won't be broken.

The greatest gift you can give your kids,

Is to heal your story.

10 life stories every parent must examine: I'm not a therapist or licensed counselor.

But, as a father, I long to see my kids become emotionally healthy adults.

I've seen how my life story - especially the unhealed parts - impacts them.

I want to be free so they can be free.

These are 10 stories I'm examining: