I’m reaching nearly 50 years of age. Looking back, it’s amazing how much I’ve learned.  Still, there’s so much more about life that I don’t know. But what I do know has kept me grounded and...

Anyone can shoot a gun. But not everyone can become a soldier. Anyone can punch and kick. But not everyone can become a fighter. Training and preparation are necessary to achieve that...

In a recent Facebook reel, I shared a quote from one of my favorite martial artists of all time, Bruce Lee. Whether we like it or not, the grind in life mostly boils down to monotony.  And...

There is a sad and dark truth about becoming ultra-successful. It’s a lonely and often miserable life. Behind every trophy, belt or accolade, there’s sacrifice, broken families, torn relationships,...

Fight friends and fans, it’s time for a knockout article. Today, we’re addressing the problem of time management.  There’s a ton of literature with advice ranging from to-do lists to...

It’s strange that immediately after I write a blog post, I read it back to myself and think, ‘Gee, maybe I could use some of this advice myself!’ So often, I find myself falling back into the same...

This is not a Jedi mind trick article. Rather than recommend a quick mind hack, I think it’s actually much more meaningful to share a mental routine that has helped me achieve success. Also, I think...

Since I started writing about regrets, I seem to have gone down a rabbit hole of reflection and honesty.  Having stepped away from the media spotlight for many years, I can safely say that I’m...

Whether it’s on my Facebook, Instagram, or website, I enjoy interacting with my fans and followers. It’s never a dull moment and if my recent Reddit AMA was anything to go by, I’d love to do that...

I’m not someone to live with regrets. Yet, as I reflect upon my mixed martial arts career, I must admit I do feel a slight unease. Sometimes, I do wish that I had made more mistakes.  In fact,...

In an earlier post, I emphasized the importance of surrounding yourself with good people.  Whether it’s business, sports or life, you can benefit from others who will challenge your ideas and...

Besides the bible, one of my favorite books to read has been ‘The 48 Laws of Power’ by Robert Greene. Source: ThePowermoves.com We’re all players in this game called life.  And if you want to...

As a professional MMA fighter, I know what I speak of when I proclaim, “Failure is not an option!”. It’s hard to think of a more fitting battle cry for anyone about to step into a cage and fight....

Focusing on the right things can help you maximize your effort and generate better results. But how can we be sure what the right things are? In business and professional settings, teams and...

Of all the guests I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with this year, none have made quite the impact as Darcy Gaechter did on Quite Franklin. Her podcast episode is one of my favorites and I...

On Quite Franklin, I frequently host guests who share their success routines, habits, and motivations.  Despite the different paths and choices in each of their personal stories, they’re bound...

If you’re like me, chances are you’re probably drowning in work.  It can feel as if all the responsibilities and tasks are pulling you in different directions. To make matters worse, your boss...

Whether you’re pursuing a career or trying to get better at something, it’s a challenge to go from an amateur to a professional. We typically use the term “turning pro” in sports to indicate that...

No matter how many times someone else claims otherwise, rejection sucks. Even the 100th rejection stings. The only thing that makes it even the slightest bit better is that you learn how to...

The most famous line from the movie Fight Club is “The first rule about fight club is you don’t talk about fight club.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zngeSzH3cFk Source: YouTube As a currently...

Remember how when you were growing up, the most important thing was fitting in? And remember how you would often hear advice like “Just be yourself.”? That might be the worst lie ever told....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L3OG-fl9tE TEDxUChicago: How to be a loser The last time I publicly discussed failure, I was up on stage at a university in Chicago. It wasn’t the classical rhapsody...

https://www.youtube.com/embed/_BVloS2mqRY Granby Roll A granby roll is a move in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling that allows you to either escape from or reverse counter an opponent trying to pass...

As I’ve gotten older, one thing has become apparent to me. It can be quite a struggle to focus for long periods.  Bear in mind I travel frequently to cities, work in two different time zones as...

The parable of the blind men and elephant A group of blind people were brought to an animal, which was an elephant. They were not aware of its shape or form and decided to understand it by touch....

There comes a time when every person looks back on their life and wonder if they’ve truly fulfilled their potential. Some experience this epiphany in their forties, aka the dreaded midlife crisis....

Life wisdom is not easy to come by. So, when I had a chance conversation with a 92-year-old guy on a domestic flight, my ears perked up. I was flying between cities for work, and he was on the same...

What does mastery look like to you? Does the word conjure up images of dominance and power? Is it a sense of control or is it passion that you’re really feeling? True mastery is hard to grasp. It’s...

I have a confession.  It’s been seven years since my retirement from mixed martial arts and I still suffer from situational amnesia. In my 13-year career, I can only remember parts of the good and...

Katariina Rosenblatt, a sexual assault and sex trafficking survivor, spoke about psychological coercion on the Quite Franklin podcast a few weeks ago. This came right around the time of Ghislaine...

New year, new beginnings. I trust that you already have your resolutions and goals planned for the year. Although the new year brings hope and promise, that spirit of optimism will only linger for...

Confidence is not just a feeling.  Confidence can be many things and often, it can take different forms. The way you act, speak and behave are all expressions of confidence. Since they are mostly...

Thanks to the abundance of happy people seemingly living exuberant lives on social media, being alone can feel frighteningly alienating. We humans are social creatures after all. Studies have often...

There is no question that any kind of success involves good habits and routines.  But are some habits more important than others? If the past thirty odd years of my life are anything to go by, my...

Deep breathing is more than just a matter of survival, according to Wim Hof. Pretty strange, coming from an extreme athlete who first set the world record for the longest swim under ice. Yet Hof...

When faced with uncertainty, especially in the constantly changing business world, rely on your internal compass instead of a roadmap to guide you. Crisis and uncertainty should not be seen solely...

One of the more surprising facts about my career as a pro MMA fighter is just how unsurprising it was. Well, that’s not to take away from several high points, which included becoming a three-time...

In my previous post about intuition, I posed a question at the end.  When intuition lets us down, what then? If you think about it, (ironic since there is typically no time to think in such...

Ever get the intuition that something bad is about to happen? MMA fighters get it all the time. Although I will say, when you’re locked inside a cage 10 feet away from a guy who’s trying to maul...

Have you ever found yourself flustered, pressed for time and anxious when making a tough decision? That’s pretty much everyone I know and that’s ok. When it comes to decision making, human beings...

If you don’t succeed at first, try and try again. Things will work out eventually, right? But for every person who succeeds, there are likely hundreds and thousands who either give up or burnout...

Fear is a fickle friend. Often, it’s a welcome accomplice on some of your greatest victories, heightening your senses while keeping the adrenaline flowing. Other times, fear is the unwanted...

Life is a fight and I feel blessed to be an MMA fighter. Paid to perform in front of thousands, I got to travel the world and compete against other athletes. Honed through years of sacrifice and...

Success is an oft misunderstood term. Many are quick to associate successful people with perfection and having no weakness whatsoever. Despite knowing that no one is perfect, humanity is obsessed...

Consider just a sampling of these statistics. 1 out of 4 girls and 1 out of 6 boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18.  1 child goes missing every minute of the day and every 73 seconds,...

Though she was born without arms due to a congenital defect, Jessica Cox isn’t one to keep her feet on the ground. Exhibiting remarkable dexterity and confidence, Cox never viewed the lack of her...

Couple of weeks ago, a news article from ABC about people swimming out in the cold in the UK caught my eye. Intrigued, I read on, only to realize this group consisted of over 150 daily swimmers,...

As the mind-body-soul connection has been foundational to my daily living, it should come as little surprise that I highly value the mind and mental strategy in achieving success. The strategies and...

Heralded as the greatest samurai ever, master swordsman Miyamoto Musashi is one of Japan’s most revered cultural icons. Musashi lived through a turbulent period – amidst feudal wars and a declining...