April 1, 2025
For decades, I poured myself into building cityHUNT, my team-building company.
As the expert on gamification and positive psychology, I helped corporations create environments where employees could have “their best day at work.”
On paper, I had it all figured out. In reality, something fundamental was missing. In 2019, I experienced what I can only describe as an awakening.
Where it All Started to Change
It wasn’t planned or expected—quite the opposite. I thought I was headed to a luxury resort in Costa Rica with a squash buddy for a typical vacation.
Instead, I found myself at a transformative yoga and meditation festival in the jungle, with nothing but a bathing suit and a hammock, completely cut off from technology and my normal routines.
That weekend of disorientation became the catalyst for a complete life transformation. Stripped of comforts and totally out of my element, I connected with something deeper than I’d ever experienced.
This unexpected detour led me to travel to India, spend time with indigenous communities in Ecuador, and ultimately reimagine my entire approach to both business and life.
From Performance to Presence
Before my awakening, my understanding of wellness was purely performance-based.
When I thought about meditation, it was always tied to tangible outcomes—meditation as a tool for creating wealth or achieving success, very much in the Tony Robbins framework.
Everything revolved around external results. The ancient wisdom I discovered through yoga, meditation, and shamanic practices offered a completely different perspective.
Instead of focusing on external achievement, these traditions emphasized finding joy within.
They taught me that true fulfillment comes not from accomplishment or acquisition but from connection—with myself first, then with others, and with the natural world around us.
This shift from performance to presence changed everything. My meditation practice wasn’t about “getting” anything; it was about being fully present with myself.
My yoga practice wasn’t about achieving perfect poses; it was about reconnecting with my body after years of neglect.
My time in nature wasn’t about conquering trails; it was about remembering my place in the larger web of life.
My Physical and Emotional Transformation
The external changes were dramatic and visible. I lost 50 pounds without trying to “diet.” My relationship with food transformed completely.
I used to consider chicken wings health food because of their protein content—I could eat them and still lift weights, so they must be good for me, right?
Social drinking had been a constant in my life, essential for networking and building business relationships.
As my practice deepened, these habits simply fell away. I didn’t consciously decide to change my eating or drinking patterns; they evolved naturally as my awareness shifted.
My body knew what it needed once I started listening to it rather than imposing my will upon it.
The internal changes were even more profound. I had always derived my sense of worth from making others happy, often at my own expense.
This led to codependent relationships where I never took time to simply be with myself.
During COVID-19, isolated on a farm with just my dog after my divorce, I was forced to confront myself for perhaps the first time in my life.
Through meditation, yoga, and time spent in nature, I discovered the power of solitude and the difference between being alone and being lonely.
I learned to be comfortable in my own presence, to value the quiet moments between thoughts, and to find joy in simply being rather than constantly doing.
Reimagining Business Through Ancient Wisdom
As my personal life transformed, so did my approach to business.
I made a fundamental commitment that cityHUNT would never turn away schools, nonprofits, or mission-based organizations due to budget constraints.
Team building was too important to be accessible only to those with deep pockets.
This principle gave birth to our “Make Awesome for Others” (MAFO) initiative, where profits from corporate clients fund scholarships for those who couldn’t otherwise afford our services.
Over the years, we’ve channeled about half a million dollars into these scholarships and grants, making our experiences available to a much broader community.
I also transformed my relationship with material success. At one point, I owned multiple houses and vehicles—all the external markers of achievement.
After my awakening, I simplified dramatically, selling properties and possessions and focusing more on experiences than acquisitions.
I realized that true fulfillment didn’t come from what I owned but from how I lived.
Today, I make my home in Serenbe, a wellness-focused community outside Atlanta, surrounded by 2,000 acres of preserved nature.
I spend as much time as possible outdoors, often taking business calls while walking in the forest.
This environment nourishes my ongoing practice and reminds me daily of the interconnectedness of all things.
The Biophilic Approach
One concept that’s become central to my thinking is biophilism—the understanding that nature operates in cycles of giving and receiving, never taking without giving back.
This principle applies equally to farming, business, and personal relationships.
In conventional models, we often extract value without replenishing the sources: from the land, from employees, from ourselves.
The result is depletion and eventual collapse. The biophilic approach recognizes the need for regeneration, for giving back to the systems that sustain us.
I’ve applied this thinking to both cityHUNT and my nonprofit work with The Warrior Sanctuary.
In business, it means creating models where everyone benefits: employees, clients, communities, and the natural environment.
In wellness, it means ensuring these life-changing practices are accessible to everyone, not just those with financial privilege.
Merging Ancient and Modern Wisdom
What I’ve discovered through this journey is that ancient wisdom and modern approaches aren’t in opposition—they complement each other beautifully.
Gamification, which I’ve studied for years, has actually existed forever. Indigenous cultures have always used play, challenge, and reward to teach essential skills and strengthen community bonds.
This blend of ancient practices and modern play creates powerful opportunities for authentic connection.
Having witnessed too many entrepreneurs suffering from burnout and disconnection, I want to share what I’ve learned about weaving wellness into the entrepreneurial journey.
The Essential Insight: Connection First
If there’s one insight that defines my journey, it’s this: human connection comes first—connection with oneself, then with others, and with the natural world around us.
In my previous life, I was constantly connecting with others, but never truly connecting with myself. I was the “invincible fun warrior,” never showing vulnerability and always performing.
Now I understand that authentic connection with others can only happen when we’re connected with ourselves.
Through my involvement with men’s groups, I’ve created spaces for emotional vulnerability—something I would have dismissed as weakness in my former life.
I’ve witnessed how this kind of authentic engagement transforms not just individuals but entire communities and organizations.
The ancient wisdom traditions I’ve encountered all point to this same truth: when we’re grounded in ourselves, everything else flows naturally.
Business becomes more sustainable, relationships grow more fulfilling, and life finds greater balance—not because we’re forcing these outcomes, but because we’re aligned with the deeper rhythms of being.
Conclusion
This journey continues daily. I haven’t “arrived” at some perfect state of balance and wisdom. Instead, I’ve discovered practices that help me return to center when I inevitably drift off course.
I’ve committed to sharing these practices through my business, my nonprofit work, and my daily interactions—making ancient wisdom accessible in contemporary contexts for anyone seeking it.