"You Don’t Need to See Everything as a Problem to Solve"

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read time: 8 minutes of gratitude

Welcome to Game On, a weekly newsletter where I share my journey as a former collegiate athlete, e-commerce operator, husband, father, and man of faith.

This Week’s Agenda:

• Inspiration: New Perspective on Problem Solving
• Word of God: Psalm 46:10
• Mandatory Movement: Aerobic Capacity
• Lessons from: New Book and New Project

Where’s My Head At - Inspiration

The other night, in the middle of me overanalyzing a conversation with my wife, Jessie hit me with a line that stopped me cold:

“You don’t need to look at everything as a problem in your head.”

At first, I brushed it off. That’s just how I operate, right? I see something, break it down, analyze the angles, and try to fix it. It’s how I approach business, training, and even life at home. But the more I sat with it, the more I realized how much that mindset shapes my daily experience—sometimes in ways that don’t serve me.

There’s a fine line between being a problem-solver and living in a constant state of problem-identification. When everything feels like something that needs to be worked through, there’s no room for peace. Even in the wins, my brain jumps ahead to the next thing that needs fixing.

Right now, I’m in a season of recalibration. I’m pushing my running, trying to get my pace down while keeping my heart rate in check. I’m making real progress, but instead of celebrating it, my brain keeps asking:?Am I optimizing this enough? Should I be tweaking my programming? What’s the next thing to refine?

Same goes for my nutrition. I’m 13 days into Whole30, and I feel better. I’ve dropped weight, my energy is stabilizing, and I’m seeing changes. But instead of just accepting that as a win, my mind starts running scenarios:?What happens when Whole30 ends? Should I be adjusting my macros differently?

And then there’s parenting—a whole different arena where my problem-solving brain tends to overwork itself.

We’ve got a six-month-old who’s going through a sleep regression, which means nights are unpredictable, and exhaustion is real. But instead of just accepting that this is part of the season, my brain keeps trying to “solve” it.?Are we handling her naps right? Should I be researching a better nighttime routine? Is there something we’re missing??The reality is, babies do what babies do. Sometimes the answer isn’t a strategy—it’s just patience.

At the same time, Ellie and Mae are growing into a new stage of life—one where their emotions and independence are expanding fast. They don’t need us in the same hands-on way they did as toddlers, but they do need guidance, reassurance, and a whole lot of patience. Some days, I feel like I’m doing a great job helping them navigate that. Other days, I catch myself trying to “fix” their frustrations instead of just walking with them through their feelings.

Through all of this, I’m realizing how much my faith needs to be at the center. Jessie and I are trying to prioritize time in the Bible together. I’m seeing more clearly that leadership—whether in parenting, marriage, or work—isn’t about having every answer but about showing up with consistency, faith, and trust. With the kids, that means leading by example, handling stress with patience, and making sure they see me leaning on God instead of just my own ability to “figure things out.”

And in the middle of all that, Jessie’s words keep echoing in my head:

“You don’t need to look at everything as a problem.”

Not everything is broken. Not everything needs fixing. Some things just?are.?Some seasons aren’t about pushing—they’re about trusting. About being present. About surrendering the need to control every variable and just letting God do His work.

I’m learning (slowly) that not every moment requires a strategy. Sometimes, I just need to be in it. To let things unfold. To allow the season to be what it is without constantly trying to mold it into something else.

Maybe you’re wired like me—always looking for the next thing to improve, to refine, to optimize. If so, here’s my challenge to you (and to myself): Pause for a second. Recognize what’s?good?in this season. Accept that some things are still in progress, but not everything needs to be a problem to solve.

Sometimes, the best move isn’t to push harder—it’s to step back, surrender, and trust that God’s got it covered.

Word of God: Verse of the Week

“Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10

This verse has hit differently lately. So much of my wiring tells me to keep moving, to find the next play. But sometimes, God’s calling isn’t about action—it’s about stillness. About trust. About remembering who’s really in control.

Workout of the Week

5-mile aerobic Zone 2-3 run ? Pace: 9:00/mi down to 8:30/mi ? Heart rate goal: Sub-147 BPM (check out the Mafetone method) ? Focus: Staying controlled, building aerobic efficiency

I’ve been working on my aerobic capacity—getting faster without pushing into high heart rate zones. This run is all about discipline, staying in control, and trusting the long-term benefits. It’s not about max effort, just about showing up and building.

Who’s Inspiring Me This Week?

? My Wife Jessie: That one-liner from my wife has had me reflecting all week. She keeps me grounded when my brain wants to overcomplicate things.

? Sahil Bloom : My buddy Drew Shore got me a copy of Sahil Bloom’s new book The 5 Types of Wealth and I'm diving head?

? Jeremy Berman :A friend and founder who planted the seed for a Charleston coffee meet-up for operators and builders. Sometimes inspiration is just a simple conversation that sparks action.

Game on.