Rise & Shine.

This is Man Morning.

Every week I share lessons, stories, and insights to help us get better.

As a husband, father, and professional - this is personal.

Thanks for being here.

In This Issue.

• Wise Words

• 10 Steps For Major Life Shifts

Wise Words.

“There’s a key for every door, and if you can’t find it, you can make one. That’s always an option.”

Pharrell Williams

News for humans, by humans.

• Today's news.

• Edited to be unbiased as humanly possible.

• Every morning, we triple-check headlines, stories, and sources for bias.

• All by hand with no algorithms.

Sign up now!

10 Essential Steps For Major Life Shifts

You’ve reached an interesting point in life where things are “good.”

You checked off all the main boxes society conveniently lined up for you.

• Education. ✔

• Career. ✔

• Mortgage. ✔

• Family. ✔

• Bucket list trip. ✔

Things are “stable,” and no one’s worried about you (except, maybe, you).

On the surface, all is well.

But beneath that calm, there’s an uneasiness you can’t shake. It’s like the dripping of a faucet that never stops.

You’ve wondered if this uneasiness is what they mean by a "midlife crisis." It’s crossed your mind more than once.

Deep down, though, you know this “crisis” - or awakening - has nothing to do with chasing a short-term thrill like an affair, investing in worthless NFTs, or trying to reclaim a past version of yourself.

It’s about something far more important: not settling.

When you reflect, like really dig deep, you realize something - it’s possible you’re bored.

Bored with the life you’ve chosen up to this point.

The truth is, you’re sitting in a room where the walls probably haven’t changed in years. Everything around you looks eerily similar to how it did five years ago.

You’re “crazy busy” with a full schedule - work, family, responsibilities.

But in those rare quiet moments - first thing in the morning when it’s just you and your thoughts, or on those long drives when it’s just you and the road - you feel it.

Something’s not right.

It’s like an itch. A quiet, persistent whisper in the back of your mind, asking, “Is this really it? If it all ended today, would I consider my life a success?”

You can’t help but wonder what the 25-year-old version of you would think of the current you.

What would that younger, more idealistic version say about how you’ve settled into routines that feel more like autopilot than actually living and going for it?

Here’s a truth no one likes to admit:

The reason older generations sometimes clash with younger ones isn’t because they dislike them. It’s because those younger faces remind us of who we once were. Optimistic. Hungry. Willing to take risks without hesitation.

It’s hard to see that spark in someone else when you’ve let your own dim.

For quite some time now, you’ve been thinking about making a real change.

Maybe switching industries, starting your own business, relocating to a new city or country, going back to school, or even chasing a dream that’s been collecting dust on a shelf or hard drive for years.

It could be bigger.

You might be considering ending a long-standing relationship like your marriage or a close friendship.

These kinds of decisions don’t just affect you. They also crash through the lives of the people you love.

You’ve heard stories about people who’ve made these “big leaps.” The Hollywood, best-selling types of tales - people just like you - who walked away from secure jobs to start something new, or moved across the world to reinvent their lives.

But have you noticed? The stories we hear and read are always the success stories. The extremes. The outliers. What about the stories we don’t hear?

What those success stories rarely tell you is the truth behind the scenes.

They skip the tough decisions, the real steps, the tears, and the inevitable bumps along the way. They leave out the voices telling you you’re crazy, or that something must be wrong with you for wanting more.

There’s a tendency to romanticize the transformation while glossing over the parts that actually matter - the struggle, the doubt, and most importantly, the how.

And that’s the challenge, isn’t it?

How do you change, start a new chapter, and get off the never-ending treadmill you stepped on so long ago, without losing everything you’ve worked so hard to build?

How do you step into something new without destroying the security you’ve created for yourself and your family?

You do it by not being reckless.

By not making rash, emotion-driven decisions. Standards, values, and a plan are essential.

What people never tell you about “burning the boats” is that it’s not just about torching your past. You have to build something stronger and more sustainable in its place.

That’s what it’s about: making smart, calculated decisions that allow you to grow without destroying everything in your wake.

It’s about finding ways to bet the garden, not the whole farm.

Through my work as a journalist, author of the international bestseller Stop Living on Autopilot, and after coaching hundreds of men through their own crossroads, I’ve developed a clear, practical framework for making a major life change.

What follows is a 10-step plan, rooted in real-world experience and backed by research, for men who want to make a bold move - but want to do it with strategy, purpose, and a proven method.

The Framework: Your Blueprint for a Bold, Controlled Pivot

This isn’t just another vague guide or generic high-level strategy.

It’s a proven 10-step framework designed to help you take decisive action, manage real-world decisions, and navigate the complexity of a major life shift without sacrificing everything you’ve worked so hard to build.

These are the exact steps I’ve seen work time and time again, both in my own life and in the lives of the hundreds of men I’ve coached, as well as the tens of thousands of men and women across the world who have read my book.

These steps take you from feeling stuck, uncertain, and “figuring things out” to moving forward with clarity, intention, confidence, and results.

What Each Step Provides

Each part of this framework provides a detailed, actionable breakdown that is designed to move you forward with purpose.

Here's what you can expect from each step:

In-Depth Breakdown of Each Step: You’ll receive clear, actionable steps tailored to help you achieve tangible progress. This ensures that you know what to do and how to do it at every phase of your pivot.

Key Questions for Self-Reflection: Each section is paired with critical questions that challenge you to think deeply and reflect on your unique situation. These questions will help you refine your vision, identify obstacles, and clarify your path forward.

Real-World Case Studies: You won’t just learn theory. You’ll gain insights from real people who’ve successfully navigated their own life pivots. These case studies highlight what worked, what didn’t, and how they overcame challenges similar to your own.

Next Steps and Practical Action Items: At the end of each section, you’ll be provided with clear next steps that break down exactly what you need to do to keep your momentum going. These practical action items will ensure you're not left wondering what to do next.

Suggested Resources: A future issue will provide recommended books, podcasts, products, and trusted coaches and consultants. These resources will deepen your understanding, provide practical tools, and connect you with experts who can fast-track your progress.

A Glimpse of What’s to Come

Here’s a look at what you’ll explore throughout the framework:

1. Uncover Your Deep Why

Every meaningful change starts with understanding, finding, or creating your North Star. Without a strong “why,” it’s easy to lose momentum when things get tough. This step helps you identify what’s driving you and translate that into a clear, motivating goal.

2. Take Honest Inventory of Where You Stand

Before you leap, you need to know exactly where you are. This step involves an honest assessment of your finances, skills, and the responsibilities that will influence your change. Knowing your current reality sets the foundation for what’s possible.

3. Commit (And Recommit) to Your Pivot

Nothing will change unless you make space for it. This step is about blocking off intentional time and energy to focus on your future - and treating it like a priority. Regular, dedicated time will keep your progress steady.

4. Build Your Tactical Roadmap

Dreaming about change won’t make it happen. Here, we’ll get tactical, laying out the exact steps you need to take - from upskilling to setting realistic and actionable metrics. This is where vision becomes a practical plan.

5. Set a Realistic, Flexible Timeline

Change doesn’t happen overnight. This step will help you build a roadmap grounded in reality, allowing you to make progress at a manageable pace while staying adaptable to life’s twists and turns.

6. Identify and Manage Your Risks

Risk is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be reckless. We’ll dive into strategies for preparing for the unexpected, building a financial buffer, and having backup plans ready so you can move forward with confidence.

7. Get Your Wife on Board

Major changes affect the people closest to you. This step is about ensuring your wife (or partner) is aligned with your vision, making her part of the journey and strengthening your relationship through the process.

8. Build a Power Network

No change happens in isolation. You’ll learn how to tap into your existing network, expand it strategically, reintroduce yourself, and use the power of community to fuel your transition. The right connections make all the difference.

9. Leverage Coaches and Consultants

Why reinvent the wheel? This step focuses on how to use mentors, coaches, and industry consultants to accelerate your progress and avoid costly mistakes and save you time. Surround yourself with those who’ve already been there.

10. Execute, Adjust, and Keep Moving

This is where it all comes together. Execution isn’t about perfection. It’s about taking calculated action, adapting to obstacles, and continuing to move forward. Consistency and adaptability will fuel your success.

These 10 steps are your roadmap to a bold, controlled new chapter.

Ready to dive deeper and learn the specifics that will actually get you from where you are now to where you want to be?

This is the first of a two-part series where we’ll break down the full framework.

In this issue, we’ll cover the first five steps that lay the groundwork for your change, helping you create a solid foundation for success.

Stay tuned for the Part 2, we dive into the final five steps that complete your blueprint for a successful life change.

The remainder of this post, is reserved for paid subscribers. Upgrade now to unlock the entire framework and take the first step toward your next chapter.

Become a paying subscriber of Premium to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content.

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.

A subscription gets you:

• • Bonus "Power Issues"
• • Get The 1-Day Planner
• • Subsctiber only posts + full archive
• • Free extras
• • Early access to special events, products, & trainings