“More Than Average” is a phrase that I’ve come to love over the years as it applies in so many areas of my life. Optimizing your life has become a super hot topic and I’ve spent many years researching and practicing new ways to improve myself personally, professionally, spiritually and physically. There is a host of books, podcasts, medical studies, TV shows, and guru personalities that have been hoping to impart all of this found knowledge to us regular folks. I’ve spent the better part of 15 years reading, learning, trying, and even failing to implement many of the suggestions and findings from all these resources and have found so much success in many aspects of my life because of this work. It wasn’t until I got married and then had my first child that I realized how much I needed to continue to grow this knowledge as well as be able to pass it on to the next generation. The trouble was a huge influence in my life had been taken from me, my father, before I made this huge next step in my life and transitioned from just being a son to being a husband and some day a father. So now my role model and source of answers for many of life’s questions wasn’t there to bounce ideas off of. Many of the lessons he had already passed down were of course burned in my memory but I still had so much to ask and would need a way to continue to grow. I poured myself into books, I traveled, I asked so many questions, I listened, I shared more things with more people to broaden my knowledge pool. This pivotal time in my life caused me to form a “tribe” of friends, family, and mentors that I could now rely on for the future and not feel alone to sort through life’s challenges as a man and husband. I found that as you transition from being solely an individual and then becoming part of a team when you become a husband, wife or partner the rules change. You will now have less time to be “selfish“ and now the bulk of your time will be moving hopefully towards common goals with you and your partner. Now once you add kids into this mix things change...Again. As you continually whittle down the amount of time that you feel you have to yourself you understand the importance of working together, communicating, sharing goals, and optimizing your day. I’ve now been able to experience first hand what years of having a “Tribe” that knows your goals and aspirations can do for you. It’s truly a 1+1 =3 principal, meaning, utilizing your tribe allows you to accomplish much more than you may be capable on your own when you learn to effectively leverage it. I believe that by taking a, "fitness first" approach we can learn to be better humans, community members, neighbors, professionals, friends, husbands, and fathers.