Photo by Spencer Backman on Unsplash
I remember being a kid, riding up north to Shanty Creek with my family. My dad had his Walkman on, listening to tapes about growing his dental practice. That was his classroom.
My mom spent the drive talking with us, asking questions, offering guidance the way only a mom can. All instinct. All heart.
Looking back, I realize how lucky I was. A dad running his own business, teaching me the art and science of it. A mom grounding everything in values, judgment, and life wisdom.
Business and life weren’t separate in our house. I learned both early—by listening and watching.
I’d give anything for one more of those car rides. Now I find myself recreating them with my wife and kids. Same conversations. Same themes. You don’t realize it in the moment, but what matters most has a way of repeating.
Growth is sacred.
And while my family shaped me first, many others have mentored me from afar. Their work helps me start my days mentally, physically, professionally, and spiritually—so I can help people get unstuck and grow from the inside out.
To my family. And to my mentors. Thank you.
Brian Tracy Brian Tracy International – The Spark That Started It All
When I was 18, my dad gave me Brian Tracy’s audiotape series The Psychology of Success. He said, “I know you’ll do well in college, but I think you’ll get more out of these tapes than you will from school.”
At that moment, my car became a university on wheels. My Walkman became a mobile classroom. And I became committed to self-learning. Brian’s words lit something in me. A fire that’s still burning. From that point forward, I’ve spent every day studying business, life, and how to grow.
Brian, thank you. You helped unlock a mindset that shaped my entire life.
David Senra – Founders First Thing in the Morning
Every morning when I get in the car—heading to the gym or the office—I hit play on Founders. It’s the first voice I hear, and it sets the tone for my day. Through David, I’m learning from Carnegie, Estée Lauder, Jobs, Arnold, and more.
But it’s more than that. It’s the way David shows up—with intensity, passion, and complete focus. He’s reading, breaking it down, and making sure the lessons of greatness land in real time.
David, thank you. You’ve added years of wisdom to my path, and every episode helps me think bigger.
Jesse Itzler – Life, Designed
I got my Big A## Calendar in November 2025. Since then, I’ve been building my year day by day. It’s up on the wall. I look at it every morning. I update it often. It’s not just about goals—it’s how I stay aligned with the kind of life I want to live.
Jesse’s voice, his energy, the way he shares—it’s real. It reminds me to make space for what matters—family, growth, fun, impact.
Jesse, thank you. You’ve helped me design life with urgency, creativity, and joy.
Dan Go & Dr. James DiNicolantonio, Pharm.D. – Keep It Simple. Keep It Daily.
Dan Go brings it back to what works: walk, train, eat clean, protect your mind. No hype—just fundamentals executed daily. A steady reminder that consistency beats complexity.
Dr. James DiNicolantonio reshaped how I think about salt, minerals, hydration—and how the body actually runs. Evidence-based. Practical. Rooted in physiology, not trends.
Together, they help me stay in good health. Better fuel. Clearer thinking. One decision at a time.
The body is the first business we build.
Thank you both for cutting through the noise and making health practical—not performative.
Brad Jacobs – Calm. Clear. Kind.
Brad’s interviews and books are different. Quiet power. Clear structure. No extra noise. What hits hardest is this: he proves that being kind in business isn’t weakness—it’s a superpower.
He builds big. He leads well. And he does it without losing his center.
Brad, thank you. You remind me that success and humility are not opposites—they belong together.
James O’Shaughnessy – See the People
James has this gift—he sees what others miss. He looks for potential. Not just what someone has done, but what they could do. His thinking keeps me grounded in long-term vision—with people, with ideas, with myself.
Business is about belief. And James lives that.
James, thank you. You’ve helped me lead with depth and bet on people with heart.
Dr Joe Dispenza – Train the Mind. Regulate the Body.
Joe’s work helped me understand how the mind and body actually work together. Through neuroscience, meditation, and intention, he teaches people how to break old patterns and rewire how they think, feel, and respond.
What matters most to me is the practical side—regulating the nervous system, building awareness, and creating real change that shows up in health, performance, and daily life.
Joe, thank you. Your work helped me slow down, get present, and build from the inside out.
Eckhart Tolle Eckhart Tolle Foundation – Be Here. Watch Clearly.
Eckhart’s work reminds me to slow down and be present. To step back, observe my thoughts, and not be run by them.
Being the silent watcher creates space. Better decisions. Less reaction. More clarity.
Eckhart, thank you. You’ve helped me lead—and live—from a calmer place.
With Gratitude,
JD
