29 Years of Marriage Taught Me More About Leading Through Change Than Any MBA

And the biggest lesson? The only way you grow together is if you’re willing to change.

Story + Business Lessons in Parallel

We didn’t stay the same people we were when we said “I do.”

New cities. New careers. Kids. Losses. Wins.

Every chapter forced us to adapt, communicate, and grow—or risk drifting apart.

Business is no different.

If you’re a founder or exec leading a team through scale, transformation, or chaos, you know this truth:

✅ Open Communication Isn’t Optional

We spent countless hours talking through fears and hopes before every big move.In business? Avoiding hard conversations is what kills alignment.

✅ Embrace Flexibility

We left behind homes, friends, certainty—and found new adventures.Leaders who cling to “how things were” create fragile teams. True growth comes from exploring the unknown together.

✅ Build Trust on Purpose

Trust wasn’t a wedding gift. It was built through a thousand small, consistent actions.Same with teams. You can’t mandate trust—you earn it by making space for honesty, even when it’s messy.

✅ Celebrate the Wins

We toasted every milestone—big or small—to remember the journey was worth it.Your team needs the same. Recognize progress. It fuels resilience when change feels relentless.

The Takeaway

Change is inevitable. Alignment is optional.

If you’re navigating big changes, don’t just survive them. Lead your people through them.