Each year is unique and full of challenges and surprises. This spring semester was an extra challenging one, with a new level of disengagement among students.

But, it was more full of joy on multiple levels for me.

First, I was chosen as the winner of the Class of 2026 Senior Faculty Appreciation Award. This is voted on by the senior class, and I’ve been a runner up twice over the last three years. Part of being awarded this is being encouraged to give a short speech at the honors convocation, and you know how much I love the stage.

I wanted to make sure that everyone in the Chapel that night knew exactly how much teaching and helping young people mean to me. I don’t do this for the money or the awards, but I do it for them. I also took the opportunity to speak on topics that were important to me, and I’m thankful it has sparked some needed conversations on campus. You can watch the speech below if interested.

I was also asked to serve as the faculty speaker at our First-Generation Student Celebration. This warmed my heart, and it is always special to celebrate these students from so many different backgrounds. It made me smile to have colleagues thank me afterward for sharing more of my story with them.

Finally, after our final faculty meeting of the year, I was completely surprised to be named the first Cheryl Vedoe ‘74 Endowed Professor of the Practice in Business and Management. Three of these endowed positions were named, and while we haven’t been told exactly what they entail, it is truly an honor for me.

This morning, after a few days of professional development workshops, my summer break begins. I spent the early hours of the day sitting in our sunroom, reading and enjoying the neighborhood waking up around me.

I’ve got trips to Mexico and Panama on my calendar. A bunch of tidying up of my digital footprint that I hope to get to. A series of videos that I want to create before the start of the fall semester. Miniatures to print and paint. Words to put down and perhaps finally finish a couple of projects I haven’t made the time to get to yet.

There are a few lingering work related things on the horizon that are keeping me from fully unplugging. Hopefully, they go the way I hope/believe they should, and then I can fully enjoy my summer. But, the academic year is over and I have a lot to be thankful for from it.

Every December is a time of reflection for me as the work winds down, the holidays arrive, my birthday happens, and another year is put into the history books.

I still go through the three word exercise, but don’t always share it publicly anymore. I find the exercise more potent than the explanation, and we each need to find out what works best for us. Especially in these dark and dangerous times.

Last year, I chose to focus primarily on my students. A lot is going on around me, and after years of actively trying to change things, I decided I’d narrow my focus so that every day I’d be working to improve what I could control. It helped keep me sane through a lot of turmoil, and while it wasn’t easy for me to ignore so many things, I did better than I thought.

This is my last semester with required weekly meetings with my Posse. I don’t know where the time has gone, but these ten young men and women mean the world to me. My relationship with each one of them is unique, but I’d do anything for any of them. 

After winning the Digital Marketing Competition this past fall, I was pushed to start interacting with more faculty from different schools. It is something I’ve thought a lot about, but never got the kick I needed to start it. It began with a visit to Bryant, and recently, an old friend connected me with several others around the country. I’ve been finding more on Threads every day and will do more writing to find others. If you know someone in academia or working with young adults that you think I should meet, please introduce us.

We rang in the new year in California. My mother-in-law had always wanted to see the Tournament of Roses Parade. While it rained on the day of the parade for the first time in twenty years, we had a great trip full of memories. At the end, we flew back to Arizona, and both kids flew in for a lovely weekend together. Sadly, Laura came down with the flu (she is almost back to full strength; get your vaccines!), so it was a quieter time together than planned, but it was still a good time.

While it seems a lifetime away, I’m starting to think about what I want to do this summer. The obvious thing is to dig into my next book or some consulting work, finally. Those are always on my to do list, but are there other opportunities I should chase? I’m having a conversation next week about some possible international work, but it feels too good to be true. If I can help you in some way, let me know.

As I type this, our country continues its downward spiral. Every day, something new and more evil comes to light. I hope that everyone reading this is finding ways to survive all of this. Some days I do better than others, and I’m sure I’m not alone in that.

Everyone online is looking back at 2016 right now. To flip it, I thought about what I want 2036 to look like. That gave me some big smiles, and it might help yo,u too.

I hope the next twelve months are filled with more good than bad for each of you. I hope we all make it to the other side of this madness. Celebrate all the victories and look for the good whenever possible.

Catch ya on the flipside. 

From the moment Ann Handley and I first met to discuss working together, we were committed to writing a book that would not be outdated the moment it was printed. Instead of focusing on tools, we’d focus on mindsets and strategies that would stand the test of time.

It still gives me a giggle to think about how, within the year between the first edition and our paperback edition, Instagram launched, and we had to add a section around social photography since it was clear that it was going to be a significant new addition to everyone’s marketing efforts.

I know we accomplished our goal of writing a timeless business book, because it is still being used in classrooms and offices around the world. It isn’t uncommon to find a new reader singing the book’s praises online every few weeks. Each one fills me with pride and is appreciated. 

While I still hold out hope that we will someday publish a second edition, I wanted to reflect on our twelve rules and why I believe they remain as crucial as ever. 

Embrace Being a Publisher 

Thankfully, most people no longer question this one. Now that we all have a phone in our pocket that can create almost any content we want, being a publisher is second nature. Without any budget, an individual or organization can begin publishing content to help them find their audience and build their community. 

However, you must start if you are going to be successful at it. As a professor, I’m constantly encouraging my students to start creating if they want a career in this field. Doesn’t matter if it is the occasional LinkedIn article, fun TikToks, or a blog of movie reviews. Publishing content that showcases your personality and talents helps significantly more than just words on a resume. 

Insight Inspires Originality 

Data might not be the sexiest thing to you, but the more you know about yourself and your audience, the better you can create content that will be of interest to them. Tracking impressions and engagement is a minimum requirement for all. Digging deeper into understanding who your target audience is and what motivates them is the next step. Most of our tools have some sort of reporting built into them now, so you’ve got to be smart and use both sides of your brain.

Build Momentum 

We all have to start somewhere, and there are very few overnight successes. The key is to always be thinking long term and to continually build on your success to propel you to your next goal. Want to land a great job or launch a successful Kickstarter? Then you need to start building your community months and years in advance. Everyone’s social media account starts with zero followers, and growth only comes over time. Strategically thinking about how you can continually build upon what you’ve already done is where your mind should be. 

Speak Human 

We might need to update this one to be “don’t lose your humanity” in our AI-filled world. Being authentic shouldn’t be a strategy, but should just be. In everything you create, don’t forget that on the other side are humans you hope to engage enough that they come back for more, make a purchase, or take an action you are calling them to do. Sure, the algorithms are out there, and you need to think about them constantly, but as the tools get better, the temptations are going to grow to use AI as a shortcut rather than a sidekick. 

I recently tried Google Pomelli and instantly knew it could help many small businesses and individuals get started with improving their content. But when I had it create some content for me, it felt like a soulless computer wrote it, and it certainly didn’t sound like me. Use the tools to help you, but don’t use them to replace yourself. 

Reimagine; Don’t Recycle 

When something works for you or another brand, it doesn’t mean it’ll work a second time. Learn from the past, but always be thinking bigger. Your fundraising campaign last year, using puppies, led to a boom in donations. Awesome! This year, don’t do the same thing, but think of new ways you can use those fuzzy bundles of joy so that your audience isn’t bored by the same old thing. 

Whenever you are inspired by something you see elsewhere, come up with a way to reimagine it for you. Rarely does an idea from someone else translate perfectly to you and your audience. Look for a fresh spin that you can add to it, making it your own. 

Share or Solve; Don’t Shill 

With the holiday marketing blitz in full effect right now, most of us are already sick of the constant consumerism push to buy more. Consumers are savvy enough to know that all the content any company creates is in the hopes of eventually getting their dollars. However, you might get them quicker if you help others. Show them how to use your product to solve their problems. Share in your customer’s successes. People love an emotional tug in their hearts and brains, and you can do that. Why aren’t you?

We all go to Google and TikTok to ask questions, so why aren’t you creating content that answers them? I used to tell every company to take their ten most asked customer service questions and create a FAQ answering them on their website. Now, I’d advise them to create video content as well, since more and more people are searching social apps rather than search engines. 

Show; Don’t Tell 

This is the one rule that was forced upon marketers as video became the must have medium since our book came out. Having a blog and a newsletter isn’t enough anymore. You’ve got to be creating snackable content across digital marketing platforms that users can see and hear about your products. I never thought I’d see vertical video becoming the norm, but here we are.

Do Something Unexpected 

This will always be the most challenging rule to follow. Anything that involves even a sliver of risk scares the tie wearing uptights in any organization. We never meant for you to throw caution to the wind in pursuit of potential viral success. But doing something innovative, fun, and different for you can help break through the doom scrolling and gain attention. Smart experimentation has always been my advice to every organization I’ve worked with or consulted for.

Pay attention to what's happening in the world. What is trending on different platforms and in the zeitgeist at the moment. Don’t jump on every trend and meme you come across, but when it makes sense, go for it. Yesterday, I had a student show me Walmart’s post, which is a “if you know, you know” reference to the current Starbucks Bearista shortage. A perfect example of something unexpected that made sense for them to do.

Stoke the Campfire 

To be successful in marketing, it isn’t something you can do for a few months and stop. You also can’t decide to start it up and expect immediate results. It is an ongoing, year after year, week after week effort that can’t be ignored. When planning for next year, start with the biggest initiatives and break them down into smaller pieces. Planning a huge product launch in the summer. Great, what are you doing on a random Tuesday in March that will help your brand? Anyone who has enjoyed the warmth of a fire knows that if you don’t tend to it and keep adding to it, that it will eventually burn out and leave you in the cold. Marketing works the same.  

Create Wings and Roots 

Students in my digital marketing course are finishing up their personal portfolio sites this weekend. I have them complete this assignment so that they can establish their first online presence. Depending on only their LinkedIn profile to land jobs and internships isn’t something I believe in. Everyone needs to have their roots online, which for most of us is a website. Then everything you do across all digital channels gives you wings to spread across the web and reach others. We all hope that people will share what we create, but we’ve got to make it as easy as possible, and then don’t forget that for it to be most beneficial, they’ll be able to come back and find us again. 

I’ve seen nothing yet that proves to me that having a website is still not the first thing you should establish. It is the one place you’ll always have full control over what is shown to everyone. The algorithms will never give up their grasp on what is shown to others, so create all the content you can and put it out there. With the rise of AI search, listen to the experts and plan your site and content appropriately. 

Play To Your Strengths 

You can’t do everything, so knowing what you are good at is always the first place to start. But, I do believe you need to be a lifelong learner who is always trying to expand their toolbox. I still recognize that editing video is not one of my strengths, but I want to create more videos nonetheless. When in doubt, find others to work with to help complement what you are good at and enjoy creating. Plus, by partnering with others, you’ll both expand your reach, and you never know what might come of it.   

Change is the Only Constant

During our book tour, we still encountered people who challenged us about the need to embrace social media to be successful in marketing. How silly does that sound now? Technology and consumers will constantly change, and if you work in marketing, that will keep you up at night. Currently, everyone is trying to determine where AI fits into the mix. Can you imagine what will be commonplace fifteen years from now as I look back on thirty years of Content Rules? Heads up displays in our glasses, foldable thin tablets that can do everything we need, and autonomous digital marketing asset creators? Anyone can guess, but I can promise you that things will change. They always have and always will. Few of us enjoy it, but we all must appreciate that it is never going to stop.

Writing this reaffirmed to me that our rules are holding up well. Thank you again, An,n for reaching out and asking me to write this with you. I may have said no at first (dumbest thing ever), but I’m glad you stayed on me to change my mind. It has changed so much in my life, and I know we’ve helped people around the globe improve their marketing as well. 

It may be time to write the next book before I reflect on Amazing Things Will Happen in a few years. 🙂

Last year, for my Graduate Capstone at ASU, I had to research and identify a communication challenge. Then, plan and create a detailed training module to help with the issue. The challenge I chose to focus on was helping first-year college students communicate better with their professors. 

I had hoped to give a version of this training, but it never came to be, so this year I committed to myself that I’d generalize it and put it out to help any new college student. 

Over fifteen minutes, I share details and advice on how students can get the most out of their email, in classroom and office hour communications with faculty. There are no life hacks or quick hustles here. Only practical advice that not enough incoming college students are ever told, and I’ve seen it hurt too many of them.

I’m thinking about doing more of these sorts of videos, so if there is a topic you’d like to see covered, please let me know.

Wasting time is a concept that is difficult to define, as we all approach it differently. Idling well is something we can all learn to do better. Remember when we could get bored and let our minds wander instead of pulling out our phone and getting lost in the black mirror?

So what have I been doing to pass the time? A bunch of different things.

I read a bit every morning since Jaz gets me up before the sun rises. I pushed my way through the new Mark Twain biography. It ultimately became a slog, and I now realize how poorly he performed as both a father and an entrepreneur. But one thing I took away was how often he’d go back and look at old writings. 

Inspired by this, I went back and read the approximately thirty thousand words I wrote in 2017 while participating in NaNoWriMo. It was better and more cohesive than I would have expected. The story was set thirty to forty years after the first Trump administration, and I imagined what the world might look like. At that point, I never expected a second ride on the hate merry-go-round, but here we are. I might dive back into the story because I genuinely liked the characters, and writing more fiction is something I always want to do.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has consumed me, which is one of the most beautiful video games I’ve ever played. With a four disc soundtrack, a heartbreaking story, and a world I don’t want to leave, it has everything. This was precisely what I needed after falling in love with South of Midnight earlier this year. I’m thankful that smaller game studios are taking the time to build worlds where people like me can escape from our dark reality and feel a sense of accomplishment. 

I’ve also been catching up on my backlog of miniatures that I want to print and paint. My painting skills are improving, which motivates me to continue doing it more often. Additionally, venturing down to the artist space in the basement is a perfect place to escape the summer heat, and having to concentrate solely on what is immediately in front of you is the kind of focus I crave. 

The only downside to printing is that I’ve realized I’ve outgrown my original FDM printer. I’ve been experiencing printing issues since moving it to the basement, and so far, everything I’ve tried hasn’t worked. Of course, this prompted me to start shopping around for a new one, as the technology has improved significantly over the last five years. The Bambu Lab P1S is the right one since it has a built-in enclosure and the multi-color printing AMS option. A few friends have one and swear by it, and it took everything I had not to buy one during a recent sale. 

Another part of my summer is always movies. My local theater is a Regal. I buy their unlimited plan for three months during the summer. I reach out to them every year, encouraging them to offer a teacher’s special because it would be very beneficial for them. As long as I see six movies throughout the summer, it pays for itself. I’ve seen six in the last month, so I’m doing well. The Life of Chuck is my must-see recommendation, and both F1 and Superman were a ton of fun on the big screen. 

I told myself that I wanted to try to hold off until August to work on my fall courses, but my brain can’t push something like that off. Not how I’m wired. 

Two of mine are updated and ready to hit publish in our LMS. The third one is my consumer behavior course, which I taught for the first time last fall. I learned a lot and have a long list of improvements I need to make to it. That one was left until later because it is the heaviest lift. I’m thankful for Gemini Deep Research, which helped me brainstorm a variety of assignments, readings, and other components from other business programs around the world. A slow, all summer approach feels like the right one to me for this, and already I’m feeling a million times better about it than I did last year. 

Throw in multiple weekend adventures with Laura (ice cream flights & Savannah Bananas at Fenway) and a recent trip to Detroit to visit my friend Richard (a separate post coming soon), and not all of my break is spent indoors. 

Recharging is vital, and we each need to find the ways that work for us. Consuming to be inspired and creating to feel are two of mine.

Plus, in today’s world, I need these escapes more than ever to think about anything other than the constant dread around us. Distractions help my sanity.  

At the beginning of the day, we’ve started hosting five to six minute MAPTalks around a theme to give them a little inspiration first thing in the morning. The theme was “abundance and reciprocity,” inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book The Serviceberry.

I chose to focus on the journey they are about to embark on and the abundance of opportunities available on our campus. This is what I said to them.

Good morning. My name is C.C. Chapman, and I’m a Senior Professor of the Practice of Business and Management. I’m also the Faculty Advisor for The Ohm Initiative, the Faculty Advisor for the Werwolves & Wyverns Gaming Club, and the Sophomore Posse Scholar’s Mentor.

Welcome to Wheaton!

You are all about to set off on an epic journey, and parents, while you are starting a new one as well, this morning, I’m speaking directly to the students.

Now, I’m a massive fan of journeys of all sorts. On this arm, I have Tolkien reminding me that “not all who wander are lost,” and on this arm Bourdain forever nudging me that “the journey changes you.”

Up until this point, most things in your life have been planned for you. School was a block of each day, and while you had some choices, it was nothing like the freedom you are about to experience.

Later this afternoon, each of you will make the choices of what classes you want to take this fall. You all have areas of interest. Some of you have ideas for what you want to major in. The cool thing is that Wheaton allows you to explore, experiment, and experience a wide variety of classes with our Compass curriculum. The choices are up to you!

But your classes are only one path that is part of this next journey for you all, and I hope you’ll take the time to go on a variety of side quests and adventures that will allow you to take full advantage of all that college has to offer you.

There is not a single way to complete college correctly. I will tell you that there is one big way to do it wrong. I know, because I completed college wrong.

I arrived on Bentley University’s campus and got involved with the theater program and the college radio station. I attended my classes, mostly completed my homework, and ultimately graduated. The only staff I talked to were when I was struggling to pay my tuition, and the one time I went to a professor’s office was when I worked up the nerve to ask about a programming assignment I didn’t understand.

I did not take advantage of the variety of resources and opportunities in college, but here I stand today, hoping to inspire you all to do better than I did.

Wheaton’s campus is home to an abundance of amazing and inspiring individuals. Professors who want to get to know you and help you, even if you never take a class with them. Staff who will go above and beyond to make sure you have what you need to be successful.

There are no NPCs here. Everyone who works at Wheaton wants to be part of your amazing adventure.

On this journey, you could get up and go to your classes. Go to Chase or Emerson for your meals. Hang out on the Dimple with friends. Do your homework in the Library or your room. Four years from now, I’ll see you all over there on The Dimple, and you’ll be handed a diploma. There will be cheers and bagpipes, and you’ll move on to the next phase of life.

When the activities fair happens this fall, go to it and meet students from every corner of campus who might share interests with you. Don’t be afraid to try something new, attend an event that sounds interesting, or say hi to someone who catches your eye.

Go to women’s basketball games, theme house cookouts, and plays in this theater. Attend the opening nights of the gallery, business information sessions in the Life and Career Design Institute, and listen to guest speakers when they come to campus.

Talk to your professors outside of class. Go to their office hours. Have conversations with them. It might start with not understanding a reading and end with a recommendation letter for graduate school or your first job.

I have students swing by my office to grab candy, discuss the latest movie they've seen, or brainstorm around their future career plans. If you have pets at home that you miss, be sure to show me photos! I love that I have a reputation for helping any student, and how often I hear, “I was told I should talk to you.”

You are all about to spend far too much time and money, not to take advantage of all the opportunities at Wheaton.

Never, ever think “I can’t go to that as it is outside my major, or I don’t know anyone else going.” Get out of your dorm room and attend everything and anything that gives you a twinge of “that sounds like fun.”

College is what you make of it, and I’m begging you not to waste the abundance of gifts that can be found on our beautiful little corner of the world.

We may not have dragons, but we do have fun surprises in the woods, a wizardly corner of the library, and the only cowduck I know of in the world.

Please enjoy your amazing college journey and stay safe out there.

Thank you.

This one was full of learning for me. It was a weird cocktail of embracing and fighting reality while trying to always focus on what matters most to me. 

A Growing Family

Anyone who has not been a Posse Mentor can not fully appreciate what this responsibility entails. Each mentor approaches it differently, but the ten students I spend time with weekly are viewed as extended family members in my heart. They know I’m there for them in ways that I can’t be for all students, and watching them all struggle and thrive this year kept me going on the darkest days. 

It baffles me that their first year of college is complete, and they are now sophomores. Some have found love. Others have started new clubs. They all start counting at seven and have far too much on their plates, but it is part of their DNA to be leaders, so I stopped harping on that and embraced their desire to make change in so many ways. I can’t wait to see some of them on their home turf in a few weeks, since I miss them already.

Missing Management

Being asked to serve as Department Chair for the first time was horrible timing. But we all know that challenges are never given to us on our schedule, so I dug in and did the work.

I learned a lot during those few months. The biggest was how much I miss being in management. I enjoy managing a team and helping drive success. Granted, it also reminded me how frustrating it is not to be high enough to make the most critical decisions. I’m thankful I was given this opportunity since higher education has many outdated thoughts on hierarchy. Helping to kick another brick out of that ivory tower makes all the meetings worth it. 

Spring Semester Was HARD

For the longest time, I thought it was just my classes, but the more people I talked to, the more I realized we were all experiencing it. This spring was hard for most of us.

It shouldn’t be surprising that we are presented with a new crisis in our country every day. So much of what makes us a great nation is being dismantled and destroyed. New threats arise every day, so you can’t blame anyone with a heart for being distracted from the work in front of them. Many students have decided to give in to the AIs instead of thinking for themselves. The level of engagement, conversations, and original thoughts plummeted. 

With a few more volatile years of this on deck, I am actively thinking about ways I can combat it in my classrooms. How best to provide the support and structure for success is always at the forefront of my mind, but it needs to change and evolve for these times.

Need for a Summer Focus

Last summer, I had just completed my Master's Degree and was determined to exist for a while rather than try to accomplish anything. I need to focus this summer to survive, so I’m actively working on figuring out where best to spend my time.

After quick trips to New York and Detroit and doing a deep refresh on all of my courses, how should I spend my time? I’ve got a bunch of miniatures I’d like to print and paint. As always, there is a deep desire to write and photograph more. But, outside of that, I still don’t know. Perhaps I thought that writing this might shake some dust in a corner and reveal something. It hasn’t as I type these words, but still, I click away searching. 

I’m Doing The Right Thing

While I miss many things about my career before academia, I have zero questions about doing precisely what I was meant to do. 

I’ll never be rewarded with tenure and the job stability that comes with it, but I have an ever growing list of students I know I’ve impacted. Just yesterday, a student I met a few years ago in a class gave me the most thoughtful thank you gift and note I’ve ever received. This was not an advisee or even a student in my major, but I helped them. That is why I do what I do. Why I fight for what I fight for. I do it to help young people succeed. That means different things to different students, but every decision I make is to help as many students as possible. I must be doing something right to be recognized as one of the top three professors again by the senior class. 

With all that is happening in the world, it keeps me moving forward. Knowing that I can help another young person find their way in the world just a bit better gives me enough positivity to keep my brain balanced from all the other things happening. Yes, I miss the creative brainstorms, the keynote stages, and the late-night conversations with friends in far-off places. That is nothing compared to a student pouncing into my office to share great news, seeing the lightbulb go on when a topic clicks, or the hugs at graduation.  

I won’t truly be on summer break until the end of next week, but I am determined to get out of the house today. Find a micro adventure to keep my mind occupied. If the sun is out where you are, I hope you feel its warmth today. 

I’m reading 4,000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman, which is all about time management because our current life expectancy is roughly four thousand weeks. It's not my typical read, but a trusted friend suggested it, and thus, I’m reading and enjoying it. 

In our post-COVID world, I’ve already put into place much of what Burkeman writes about. My priorities and decisions have evolved because I’ve embraced that there is only so much I can control and that my time is limited. All of us could be gone instantly, and then all the things we were concerned or worried about wouldn’t matter to us anymore. I promise that it isn’t as dark as it sounds. It is the truth for us all and has removed a burden I’d carried for decades. 

Since the kids moved out, Laura and I have been trying to do more outside our house. Last weekend included checking out a new independent bookstore and a local restaurant we’ve been saying we had to try for years. This weekend, the weather is supposed to be nice so perhaps we’ll go for a walk in the woods. 

When I was traveling the globe, speaking and consulting for a living, I saw my friends more often. Many of them would attend the conferences I was speaking at, or we’d grab a meal while I was in town. The hugs and conversations were constant. 

Social media gives us all a false sense of connection. Since we can see what our friends are doing via their photos and brain slurpees, we know what they are up to. But that is not a connection, and I need conversations beyond comments on posts. 

I’m actively trying to say yes more often, whether to have that coffee catch-up that has been talked about for months or to visit that friend I’ve wanted to take photographs with for years. I’m sick of saying, “I should do that,” and then something happens that prevents me from ever being able to.

My dear friend Tigger didn’t get her four thousand weeks on earth, breaking my heart. I’m grieving because this bright ray of sunshine is no longer there, and I didn’t follow my instinct to reach out and say hello when I could. 

We must ensure we are doing what fulfills us with the weeks we have. I hate that it took someone’s passing to remind me again of this importance. 

Looking back, this was another interesting year on earth for me. When you stop and think about it, aren’t they all?

The first half had me focused on finishing graduate school at ASU. It was the final semester of two of the most challenging years of my adult life, trying to juggle all the chainsaws that come with trying to do this as an adult. I will never forget the deep breath of the desert air and the smile as my name was read while I walked across the stage.

The year's second half was the busiest semester I’ve ever experienced in higher education. Taking on the responsibility of mentoring our newest group of Posse Scholars would have made it heavy enough. However, three days before the start of the semester, I was asked to serve as the interim chair of our business department.

The number of meetings and responsibilities of being a department chair was more than I expected. There was one day that I wasn’t on campus all semester, which was quite different from my typical semester. I’m glad I had the experience that came with this. I quickly realized that being a Chair is far from being a manager in any other team I’ve ever worked on. Thankfully, my department is full of faculty who always put the team first, and they made it a pleasure to take on this responsibility.

I’m most proud of my ten Posse Scholars and how well they did in their first semester of college. Being an advocate and mentor for all of them fills me with pride. Sure, I wasn’t ready to advise on some of the things they asked about, but being able to cheer them on as they succeeded and grew makes me smile to type about. Ten young men and women who had already been bonded together let me in, and now I’d like to believe we’d do anything for each other.

This is where I’m supposed to talk about resolutions, three words, or other typical New Year stuff. But, I’m in a more survive than thrive mentality now. I hope the year is full of more smiles than struggles for everyone. I plan to tighten my worry circle to focus on the things I can make positive changes on and help anyone I care about. That circle is a big one, but I know I can’t change everything, so the only way to stay sane over the next few years is to put as much good in the world and fight the good fights as I can to help change the outcome.

Too many people I love and care about will find themselves in a more perilous world in a few weeks. Please know that I'm here for you if you nod reading that. That will never change. It is more important than ever to be an active ally.

I always think back to a conversation with Brad Montague and his simple advice: There are plenty of negative things in the world, so why not promote more positive things? That helped me the last time, and I will keep it close this time.

As usual, I want to escape the screens and get out more. It is far too easy to sink into the couch on a weekend and unwind from the work week. I want to do simple things this year, like checking out a new bookstore, grabbing a meal at a new restaurant, or going on a road trip just to see where it takes us.

I’ll continue to read, play, and consume when the time allows. I finished reading James this morning and have spent the last two days completely immersed in the world of Baldurs Gate 3. I have a never-ending list of new recipes I want to try and a stack of photos I hope to turn into another book of my photography. I’ve been eating healthier and moving more, but that is a lifelong battle I’ll always fight.

2024 ended with a delivery driver letting his van smack into our garage (he forgot to put it in park) and my first adult accident as a driver not paying attention rear-ending me on the Pike (I’m fine).

2025 started as the year that I truly cared about the outcome of a college football game (they lost), so who knows what other firsts it has in store for me, you, and everyone.

Make the year what you need it for you and those you love. I hope our paths cross soon.

I spent last week in Arizona taking part in the graduation celebrations at Arizona State University alongside 20,700 other Sun Devils graduating as part of their largest class ever. I earned my MA in Communication from the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Going back to school was never something I had given thought to until a few years ago when I made the transition to academia and realized that was where I wanted to spend the rest of my days. Academia has rules and beliefs that are deeply entrenched, and as someone who had only earned a Bachelor’s Degree, it was held against me and prevented me from doing some things I hoped for. When I first heard, “I’d love to hire you full-time, but you don't have a high enough degree,” it hurt and made me wonder if it would be worth it.

Fast forward to a chat with my Department Chair, with a big nudge to get my Master’s Degree. She has become a trusted mentor and friend, so her words hit home, and I began my search for what school I wanted to add to my story.

My daughter had begun at ASU until COVID changed her path. While she was there, I fell in love with the school. Their approach to education, innovation, and forward-thinking resonated with me. It is the sort of place where I could see myself teaching one day.

I took a deep look at the variety of online asynchronous graduate programs out there. Many of them added an “online” or “global” to their title, which I hated. I wanted to earn a degree that had the school’s name on it, the same as any other graduate. I also wanted a school with an extensive alumni network that I could then be part of. ASU was the one, and we celebrated when I received my acceptance letter.

Balancing being a quality professor, an engaged member of my college community, a loving husband, AND a graduate student was not easy. Most nights and weekends were filled with reading, writing, and grading or lecture prep. I didn’t share what I was doing with many people because I hoped no one would notice, and I think I pulled that off.

Traveling to Arizona and celebrating it with my family made it all extra special. Seeing the pride on my parent’s faces warmed my soul. Neither of my kids got to have their graduation celebrations, so the reality of me being the one walking across a stage in Arizona made us all giggle.

I’m emotional but kept things in check most of the week. But, as I returned to my seat in the stadium after walking across the stage and having my name called, I noticed a video message. It was from one of my current students, along with several other students screaming as they watched the livestream of my ceremony. I broke down because that was the only confirmation I needed that I was right where I should be. I never had a connection with a professor like that, and it let me know I’m approaching teaching exactly as I should be.

They say, “Once a Sun Devil. Always a Sun Devil.” I’m proud to call myself now one.

People have asked what I will do with my summer, and I keep telling everyone I will breathe. I have a new class to prep for the fall and want to do some overdue tweaking of my other courses. I have some training to attend, and Laura and I will take a needed vacation.

I’m infinitely thankful to all of you who supported me through these last two years. The hugs, words of encouragement, and not looking down at me were appreciated. I’ll never judge anyone by what degree they do or don’t have. This degree was for me and my future. Twenty-eight years after my first one is a long time for this kid who has always loved to learn but rarely enjoyed school.

#ForksUp

An email expressing my desire to try teaching eventually led to an opportunity as an adjunct for several semesters at Bentley and then to a full-time teaching position at Wheaton College, where I recently celebrated my sixth anniversary.

While I love teaching, it is the relationships I build with students outside of the classroom that I genuinely love. I’ve found that I get the most rewards by serving as an advisor. I especially like working with first-year students to adapt and succeed in college. Many educators are not fond of this part of their jobs, but it is my favorite. A lot of this has to do with how, looking back, I realize how wrong I approached college and wish I had done it differently. 

During my first year at Wheaton, I met my first Posse Scholars, and since then, I’ve had the pleasure of teaching and advising many of them. Several have impacted my soul in ways I’ll never forget.

The Posse Foundation is an inspiring organization that “believes a small, diverse group of talented students—a Posse—carefully selected and trained, can serve as a catalyst for individual and community development.” Colleges nationwide choose these young leaders to attend their schools, and Wheaton has been a long-time supporter.

Wheaton College welcomes a Posse of ten new students who have earned this scholarship every fall. They are assigned a mentor who will stay with them through their four years of school. From talking to past mentors, I know how important this relationship becomes.

I’m honored to announce that I’ve been asked to be the mentor for Wheaton Posse 25!

In January, I snuck into NYC to attend the awards ceremony and meet our incoming students briefly. This is an emotional night where the families share their pride and words of encouragement. The weight of responsibility for each of these students instantly hit home. It was only more solidified when one of the student’s fathers shook my hand, looked deep into my eyes, and bluntly stated, “You will take care of my daughter, correct?” Yes, sir, I’m going to do everything possible. 

This is something I’ve been hoping to be asked to do. I know how hard it can be for students in new environments, and while I don’t know them yet, I’m already pondering what the years ahead will look like for them all. We only know each other through Instagram stories, but this summer, we’ll spend time together, and then there will be weekly meetings with each of them during school. 

It has been a lot of fun talking to past students and mentors about what to expect and to gather advice. Thankfully, I heard more than once that I should be myself because these students will need that. Hearing this from multiple graduated students reminds me I must be doing something right. 

My kids have joked that now I’m going to have ten more children, and while I know that isn’t exactly how this works, the family metaphor is one I’ve heard from everyone I talk to. This is more than only advising and support. It takes all that to another level, so I’m excited and nervous about this opportunity.

Posse 25, you don’t know me yet, but I promise I’ll be there for you. I tell my students now that my door is always open, and I’m only an email away. I’m excited to get to know you this summer and to see you on campus soon. 

Looking back, I didn’t create as much as I would have liked. Sure, I took many photos and journaled a bunch, but there was not enough photography and writing. That will only make sense to some of you, I know.

I started the year in Arizona and will return later this week. It has become a twice-a-year trip, and I can’t wait to head out there in May for a week I never thought would happen.

Looking back, it is easy to say that not much happened, but to pause and reflect truthfully, you find many little things that add up to a good year. 

• Another two successful semesters at Wheaton, including launching our new marketing major. 

• For the first time in my life, I had to buy a smaller belt.

• I had former students come back to campus to visit me. Realizing that the last time we saw each other in person was the week before the COVID lockdowns was a shocking reality. 

• Both kids are figuring out their paths in life. Emily is making her house a home, and Dylan packed up and moved to Boise to start his career. 

• Completed seven more courses.

• Taught seven courses. 

• We celebrated my parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary.

• We checked off a bunch of activities on our Summer To Do & See list. 

Going forward, we never know what a new year holds for us, but I am excited for the arrival of 2024. Laura and I have decided it is the year to “do more and move more.”

Now that we are empty nesters again, we look forward to more adventures. They don’t need to be epic, but we try to get out and go to a museum, try a new restaurant, or see a town we’ve never been to. It makes for great weekends away from the couch. We want to do more of that this year. We’ll start in Idaho, then Arizona, and hopefully in a new country this summer. 

2024 already has an immense sense of possibility. There is a lot of work in my future, but I’ve never had a problem with that. The upcoming months will consume me with a big project I’m shaping and planning. This summer will include creating a new course and, hopefully, a well-earned vacation. In the fall, I’ve been asked to take on a responsibility I’m excited about and can share more about soon. 

If you are reading this, I hope the year holds positivity and wellness for you and those you love. That is what matters most. Make the most of it!

December always finds me overly reflective. Work winds down, holiday music plays everywhere, and my birthday arrives. I’ve been worried about this December, but the reality is that I’m good with turning fifty. Much better than I was when I turned forty.

Laura hates me saying this, but ten years ago, my mortality worried me. Would she and the kids be ok? Did I have more ahead or behind me?

There is a strange comfort in realizing that when you are gone, you no longer know. But I know my family will be okay because while they are still figuring things out, they are old enough and strong enough to get through anything.

These last ten years went differently than planned. Several significant starts and stops. Epic losses and gains. A global pandemic. A complete shift in my career. But here I sit, happier and healthier than I have been in a long time, and for that, I’m thankful. After all, the journey changes you, right?

At this point, do I measure time in decades rather than years? I know you begin to notice birthdays on the fives after you turn twenty-one. Now, will it be the tens? I wonder.

We’ll order a ton of tacos from a local taqueria tonight, and I’ll make a bucket of margaritas. The neighborhood will come over for a casual celebration. Some wanted a bigger gathering, but this time of year is tough enough on everyone, and I hate planning the logistics of a party. We can have one next summer when another milestone is reached.

Life is in a constant flow of change, and the older I get, the clearer that becomes. We can set resolutions and make wishes, but the only guarantee is how little control we have over things. The last few years have taught me to focus on what I can directly influence and what is closest to me. It was the only way I stayed sane since 2016.

2024 and the forthcoming decade will be one of even more changes. Your guess is as good as mine, and I’m not going to make any predictions. Next year, there is a possibility of visiting a new country and starting a new book. Will either happen? Only time will tell.

If you are reading this, thank you for being part of my life. It brings me more joy than I can express to have the friends and family I do around the globe. I don’t see many of you as often as I used to, but please know that if you are ever in my corner of the world, I’ve got time for you, so please say hello.

It's time to see what being a quinquagenarian is all about.

This year, as my winter break began and I was noodling over how to spend the weeks ahead, my three words came to me. I wrote them on a sticky note, and it has sat here on my desk collecting dusk and tempting me to change them.

Typically this exercise finds me jotting down words in my Field Notes and trying to focus them down and clear out the extras over the course of many weeks. This is the first time the three popped out and instantly made sense. Perhaps I’m figuring out this thing called life?

Sharpen

As a lifelong learner, I strive to improve my skills continuously. I’m relatively new at teaching in the grand scheme of things. Teaching the same courses every semester means I’m constantly fine-tuning them. This year I want to sharpen them up.

Changes had to be made during the hybrid days. Some worked, and many didn’t. Based on student feedback and personal reasoning, I know some things need to be updated, and I will dive deep into them this year.

Focus

My core DNA is around being a ‘helper.’ This means that I always want to say yes, but this next year I need to focus my efforts and energy towards a couple of specific goals that to complete successfully means I’ll be saying no more than I’m used to.

Thankfully, I’m surrounded by people who primarily support this and understand why these priorities must be what they are. I had to say no to something I’d spent the last five years hoping to be asked to do next year. It was the hardest no I’ve ever let out of my mouth, but I know it was the right thing to do.

Balance

Looking at my first two words, I know a lot is going on in the next twelve months for me, and it’ll be essential to balance out the work, goals, life, family, and everything else that matters. Knowing myself, this will be the hardest of the three words to succeed at, but I’m confident I can pull it off.

I had a little test run at the end of this year, and while the scales went back and forth, I only partially crashed the see-saw, so I will take what I learned and help me through the coming months.

These three words have appeared individually in the past in one capacity or another, which may be why they came together so clearly in my heart and soul this year.

I know myself, and I suck at asking for help, so if you haven’t heard from me in a while or I look down, please give me a hug, hello, or bourbon. No matter my mood, any of those will usually bring a smile to my face and be what I need.

The rest of my winter break plan includes migrating my courses from Moodle to Canvas (yeah!), lots of reading, quality quiet time, and not much else. I hope to see some people I haven’t seen in person in a while, but you never know how schedules may end up.

I hope you have a nice last few days of 2022 and that your 2023 starts on a good foot forward.

While I consider myself an alpha adopter who loves to play on the bleeding edge of tech, I know that I can’t see and touch it all, and I’m ok with that. I also know that my students and colleagues will try new technology before and long after I do.

I’m collecting my thoughts and sharing them in the hopes of helping others.

Artificial Intelligence is something that has scared generations. Skynet and the impending overthrow by our robot minions don’t concern me, as I’ll be dead long before that happens. But, the waves of people blindly feeding/teaching these new AI tools without thinking about what that means do concern me.

Over the last year, I’ve played a lot with the newest AI image generators, such as Midjourney and Dall-E-2. I use them to take the vibrant images in my head and create something I don’t have the talent to do. The image above was created by my AI Art Assistant, as I like to call them specifically for this post.

Debates are happening now around if these are ethical or not. I’m comfortable with how I’m using them, but I do understand the concern. Chuck Wendig wrote a great post about this recently, and there is tons of conversation happening online around it.

Recently, ChatGPT made waves as more people realized the power of AI-based text generators. Give it a writing prompt, and it’ll write you an answer. Give it an author style you want it written in, and it’ll deliver.

This morning I saw that the popular content creation tool Canva unveiled its version of this called Magic Write. I didn’t expect this tech to go mainstream so quickly, but you can be sure now that they opened up the box others will follow suit.

I asked the tool to “tell me about C.C. Chapman,” and a second later, it wrote this:

“C.C. Chapman is an internationally recognized speaker, author, and creative consultant. He has worked with some of the world’s leading brands, from American Express to Microsoft. He is the founder of the Digital Dads podcast, and the author of Content Rules and Amazing Things Will Happen. He is also the co-founder of the popular podcast network, The Advance Guard. C.C. is passionate about helping individuals and organizations understand how to use storytelling and content to reach their goals. He is a sought-after keynote speaker, and a regular contributor to various publications, including The Huffington Post and Entrepreneur Magazine.”

Now, a lot of that is correct, and it did a good (not great) job writing a boring bio of myself. The key is that many of the details are not quite right. Anyone who knows me will get a kick out of the little mistakes the AI made.

As I finish my semester’s grading, I’m already looking toward the spring. I know my students will learn about these tools, and some will choose to use them for the assignments I give. What I’m trying to determine is how to approach that.

Part of me wants to address it on day one in the class and my syllabi. I refuse to be the professor who, 15 years ago, insisted they had to go to the physical library to do their research and not use some fancy new tool called a search engine.

The wise advice of one of my college professors pops into my mind, “give me the right answer, and you get a B. Tell me why that is the answer and how you feel about it, and you get the A.” Right now, AI is going to deliver the bare minimum, but it isn’t going to get creative.

Trust me, students who care more about passing the class than learning will use these tools. Your brightest students will use them as a starting point and then make the assignments their own and better to save time.

Technology enables us to do more. It helps us skip over mundane tasks and focus on other things. I love it for that.

Humans will always look for shortcuts, especially for something they don’t care about or want to do.

Combine those two things, and it is obvious that AI tools are here to stay and will be used by individuals and organizations alike. How, when, and why they are used is still to be seen.

I’m using AI tools to help me with my ideas, and I have a friend using them to illustrate comic books. Students will use them to write papers and college essays. Brands will use them for all of the above and more.

No matter how good these tools get (and they will get VERY good), I firmly believe that we are far from the day when humans can’t do better. Our brains are powerful machines that we barely understand all the details of.

Artists will always create. Writers will always tell stories.

Now, do you know if an AI or C.C. wrote this? Something to ponder on, isn’t it?

It is a time of change in the world and on my campus. I’ll be in a classroom maskless for the first time in two years, we have a new President in their second semester and an evolving student body. The world around us is still filled with hate, and empathy seems to be at an all-time low for many.

I’ll be teaching the same three courses I have for years. I am excited about a new first-year experience I’m teaching alongside professors from the Theater, English, and Chemistry departments. “What’s Your Story?” should be a lot of fun for all of us. Merging all of the students together in our experimental theater will be a challenge that I’m excited to face.

This summer, I was given a new title of Professor of the Practice of Business and Management. I’ve worked hard for this and continue to work to ensure that non-tenure track faculty across our campus are more respected and treated equally. So many colleagues worked hard to make this a reality, and we still have more work to do even as we take positive steps forward.

This summer, I took the time to relax and unplug a bit. I read a bunch and watched a ton of shows and movies. I continue to play around with AI-generated art to supplement my ideas and have been learning a lot. The Prusa began printing again, and I still think it would be fun to start painting more of my prints, but I haven’t taken the full plunge yet to try it.

I prepared my courses early with plans to spend August channeling my creativity into a couple of possible projects. Jaz needing knee surgery and constant monitoring during recovery threw those plans away. She is healing but is still restricted to no exercise for a few more weeks.

This semester will also find me mentoring new faculty members, continuing work on evolving our department’s internship program, and a few more things I can’t share yet.

Wish me luck, and I hope whatever next week holds for you that it is positive and inspiring.

As with the rest of the world, I haven’t been doing any of that due to the global pandemic, and before that, an evolution in my career cut down on the number of new passport stamps I received. The reality that my carry-on was collecting dust has been an itch that I couldn’t safely scratch. 

So, one night as we lay in bed, my wife and I began trying to remember the last time only the two of us had gone anywhere that wasn’t to visit family and was longer than a weekend. We realized that it had been almost eight years, which wasn’t acceptable to either of us. 

I told her to find a week that she could escape, and I’d take care of the rest. Being a college professor allows me free time in the summer and thus a much easier schedule than hers.

She has always wanted to try an all-inclusive resort, and while this sounded like a circle of hell with drinks and bikinis, I decided that this would be a perfect safe week away from everything.

I began looking at the Caribbean as a close destination with many options. Plus, as I looked at the COVID statuses of various locations, it became clear that some were better than others. Eventually, I decided on Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. 

All Inclusive Outlet handled our travel arrangements and bookings for our vacation to Iberostar Selection Bávaro Suites. The best part was discovering that JetBlue offers direct flights from Boston, which would be under four hours on the plane. 

Overall, we had a great time on our vacation and the time away together was exactly what we needed. But, the minute we arrived at the hotel, we began to run into an endless stream of things that were not quite right, less than the quality promised, and overall not a great experience. 

The resort looks like the advertised “five-star resort” as soon as you enter the lobby. The decor is opulent and vibrant. The helpful staff all jumped to escort us from the car to the front desk. The refreshing drink offered to each guest was a welcomed bit of refreshment. 

Sadly, this was the first hotel I’ve ever stayed at in my life where there was no overview or welcome given to us once we were checked in. They put our all-access bracelets on and said someone would take us to our room immediately. We assumed a map and a list of times and activities must be waiting for us in our room, but that would not be the case. We spent the first two days very confused about where everything was and all the promised amenities were located. 

This resort even gave us a personal concierge with whom we exchanged WhatsApp contacts so that they could help us with everything we needed. In reality, this was mostly me asking questions or making requests, either being ignored or only half completed. On the first morning, when we were to meet so they could secure our dinner reservations for the week, we showed up to find out they had already booked them without asking us for preferred times or cuisines. While he was a nice guy who always greeted us with a smile, he needs to learn how to do his job better.

While every hotel in the world ensures its lobby is one big piece of welcoming marketing to the establishment's style and vibe, a room's first impression is when things truly come into focus and reality. 

Because I wanted to pamper my wife on this trip, I booked a junior suite with a jacuzzi. Opening the door to our room, there was no jacuzzi and two double beds instead of the king-sized bed that was paid for. We raised this concern immediately, and after more than a day, we were told the only option was to push the beds together, and there were no rooms to move us to. 

One aspect of the resort we loved is that all the drinking water on-site is filtered. Each room is supplied with two large glass bottles that can be filled at numerous stations around the resort. That way, guests always have safe drinking water.

While we appreciate them cutting down on plastic, one improvement would be to make at least one bottle in each room a reusable plastic bottle since we saw people (us included) shatter their glass bottles poolside every day. 

Of course, one of the bottles in our room was dirty and sticky upon arrival. It took us three days and multiple requests to different people (including our “personal concierge”) before we finally received a clean one. We thought about drinking one of the sodas in the complimentary mini-bar and using that, but they don’t provide you with a bottle opener in the room to open them. Five-star treatment, huh?

The resort is beautiful, and the food/bar staff is friendly and helpful. Two standouts were Sonya, the hostess at the resort’s Mexican restaurant, who found us a table when on our first night, we were confused about where and how to find food. 

Also, a special shoutout to bartender Santo, who made us more than a few caipirinhas over the week. I’ll never forget a junior staffer making our drinks incorrectly and him instantly jumping in to fix the situation with a laugh. Just look at his smile! 

On the topic of food, there is a buffet available for all meals and offers a great variety of options daily. A snack bar also has constantly grilled items (and french fries) that are perfect when poolside during a long afternoon. You have to make reservations to eat dinner at any of the individual restaurants on the resort, even though none of them were ever more than a third full whenever we ate at one of them. 

The food was good, but nothing was outstanding. The lack of seafood options disappointed me, but I had a delicious steamed red snapper one night. There are plenty of options for kids, and if you have a sweet tooth, there is no shortage of sugary delights. 

Discova Tours, who handled our airport transportation and booked our one excursion, is one part of the trip I do want to give a shout-out to. Everything they did was top-notch, customer first, and worth the money. 

That excursion was the only time we left the resort to spend a morning with Adventure Boogies. This included swimming in a freshwater cave, tasting local chocolate and coffee, and ending with a nice long dune buggy ride. We were told we would head out to a point and then back, but it was one big loop, so only my wife got to drive, but it was a bunch of dusty fun! 

It is strange to realize I visited a beautiful new country and only saw it from a passenger seat. I want to return someday, visit the country, and experience all it has to offer. 

Sadly, we couldn’t spend time in the ocean, and going for walks along the beach was out of the question due to the daily piles of seaweed that washed ashore and filled the first 20-30 feet of the ocean. Locals told us that it is getting worse and if you want to go into the ocean, don’t visit from May - August when this is common. 

The resort was beautiful, but their lack of ability to deliver even the most basic quality of customer service turned me off from ever visiting another Iberostar property in the future.

We also didn’t appreciate their hard sell to join their “not a timeshare” club but did get a constant giggle for the rest of the week after they pitched us the price. It will always baffle me what some people will pay for.

I had a better time than I expected. Quiet days under the shade of a big umbrella with a good book is not a bad way to spend a few days. Plus, we were lucky that at least a few days saw a drop in humidity, so it wasn’t as bad as I expected.

Our family has always had a “roll with it” approach to life, and as we’ve told friends since getting home, we had a great time even with all the problems we ran into. 

I’m excited about our next adventure together, wherever that may take us. 

They may ask for it, and even if you double-check to confirm that they are ok with what may be shared, they rarely think through their answer.

They get angry when you give them their medicine since they expect cake.

How are you doing? It has been far too long since I last wrote here. Can it be over five months since I last opened my brain and dribbled my thoughts through my keyboard?

The first half of the year was another interesting one on campus. Students improved, and life got a bit closer to the before-times, but the masks never came off in the classrooms.

While the country I love continues its backslide into a future that will have us even more divided into the two camps where only one side cares about everyone, and the other side wants only what looks like them. There are scary days ahead, and I wonder how dark they may get.

Me? I’m trying to continue to focus on my direct sphere of influence and ensuring that I find the positive around me and help with the things I can directly make positive changes with. My family, my classroom, and my friends. That trio is where most of my efforts go, and it keeps me balanced away from the edge on most days.

I’m trying to take some quiet time this summer. My job provides me the time, yet I always feel guilty about using it. The long stretch of weeks feels foreign to me, and of course, it isn’t something I can enjoy alone, so I’m finding ways to focus during the days to try and make it work.

I taught a new course this summer and have another exciting new one this fall.

Last week I got to do one-on-one advising with incoming first-year students.

I’ve been reading a ton of books and watching some quality shows.

Next week, there will be an overdue vacation with high-quality unplugging.

It is a weird summer where COVID is alive and well, but every day there feels like another horrible moment for humanity. Then, sitting around with friends on a quiet night, you forget about it for a couple of hours, and bliss rains down.

Life is strange, and we each get a blink of it to do with it as we choose. I know I’m using mine well, and I’m thankful for that.

Sorry for the ramble; that is how we are rolling today and what my brain needed. It needed to clean out the cobwebs to make room for more. More thoughts. More hope. More whatever I need.

I hope July treats you well, and I hope it isn’t November before I find myself writing here again.

No promises, though. It is going to be a busy fall :)

Last week, I check off one as I announce the release of my first photography book titled Windows and Doors.

While most of my reading is done electronically, I still love to buy hard copies of photography books. Being able to flip through them for escape or inspiration is something I’ve always loved to do. Looking at photographs digitally is never the same as looking at them printed.

Putting together a photography book is a unique challenge. When my friends Richard, Roxanne, and Geoff put together theirs, I loved hearing about the process, and their knowledge was beneficial.

While I first hated the notion of needing a theme to pull the book together, I realized that there is a reason this is how most photobooks are done. Looking through my shelves of books, each of them has a theme of some sort, even if it is something as simple as a date range.

After my initial attempt in 2020 to pull together some of my favorite photos with the stories behind them was a failure, I promised myself that I would dig in and make a book happen this winter break.

Thankfully as I kept pondering the idea, I was thinking about it over coffee, noodling about it in the shower. The idea clicked.

I had two phrases that came to mind. Faces and Places. Windows and Doors.

Both are combos I love taking photographs of, but I kept coming back to all the doors and windows I’ve taken pictures of over the years. Plus, if I went in that direction, I didn’t need to worry about any model releases, and it felt like it would be easier to go through and narrow down my selections.

I started with printing 116 photos to sift through, and after several weeks of shuffling, choosing, shuffling again, I narrowed them down to the 50 photos in the book.

They are laid out in the book by themes, locations, and inspirations. See if you can figure them out as you flip through your copy.

Also, if you order a copy, you’ll find some bonus content out there for you that I hope you’ll enjoy.

Thank you to anyone who buys a copy of this book. You supporting my art means the world to me.

Writing is self-care for me, and if I’m being honest, I haven’t been taking all that great care of myself during this global clusterfuck we are all living through. My focus has been on doing what I can to keep those around me comfortable, sane, and COVID negative through all of this.

I have been writing a bit on the site I set up at school. Writing about the semester’s fun I’ve had and taking my students into the Metaverse to expose them to all the hype. There has also been plenty of chicken scratch in my journal with a bit of regularity. But I’ve neglected this most sacred of spaces and today felt like a good day to brain dump.

Decembers are hard. Maybe challenging is a better word? They always have been.

Endings in preparation for new beginnings. Dark days. Lonely nights with a busy mind.

But, as I approach celebrating another road trip around the sun, I’m not as reflective as usual. It might be the fact that I’m a week behind, and the reality that Christmas Eve is a week from today genuinely confused me. Not sure where I lost a week, but haven’t we all lost the last two years almost?

I dove into work this past year serving on different committees, taking on more responsibilities, and growing as an educator. Co-teaching this fall with another professor I barely knew went better than I could have ever imagined. Writing a detailed report with three life-long academics has opened my eyes to so much. This coming year will be an interesting one as the school goes through the kind of transition I’ve never been part of, and I’m looking forward to what I learn through all of it.

Most days, I’m filled with a kind of rage that is normal for our world these days. Too many people are not being held accountable for their harmful actions, from people in power down to the everyday person who refuses to do what would help those around them. Following the rules and common decency is now optional as generations of participation trophy cry babies are empowered by the misinformation buffet black mirrors all around them.

I long for the day when we will finally be able to safely spend time with friends, strangers, and students without our masks, even though that little piece of emotional cover will go away that I’ve grown used to having.

Even as I watch humanity take another dangerous turn, every day, I see little moments that remind me that even with all the bad, there is always good. Each of those slices of positivity reminds me there is plenty to be thankful and hopeful for. Humanity has done plenty of evil shit during our short time on Earth, and yet we always find a way forward.

Wow, my coffee cup runs out, and I go darker than my morning brew.

I’m thankful for every day I get to walk the earth. Just yesterday I was reminded by a stranger who found a copy of Amazing Things Will Happen and the words touched his life. Moments like that make me thankful. Waking up each morning to kisses from Jaz makes me thankful. Being able to hug my kids good night and good morning makes me thankful. Having a job, I love, and a wife who loves me makes me thankful.

As my Dad always told us, “someone is always having a worse day than you are.”

2022 is around the corner, and none of us know what it holds. We all have pieces on the gameboard, but the rules are still being defined.

As I dive into reading my next good book, finish up my grading and then hopefully enjoy a productive winter break, I hope each of you who chose to spend a few minutes with my rambles has a happy and safe rest of the year.

Don’t let the asshats get you down!