04/13/2026
I don’t journal, but I do take time to reflect. This is probably as close as I’ll get to a journal entry for now, and it felt worth sharing to see who else relates.
Over the past few years, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about purpose. Not because I feel lost, but because I don’t want to miss what I was created for.
Back in college, and even early in my career, “purpose” wasn’t really on my radar. I was just living life and having as much fun as I could.
Then life changed. Got married, had kids, started a business. And in the last 10 years, my idea of purpose has probably changed 1,700 times. Maybe it’s not purpose that changed, maybe it’s just priorities. Maybe it’s both. I’m still sorting that out.
What I do know is what drives me right now.
Our weeks and weekends are filled with soccer. I’m coaching three teams, about four hours of practice twice a week, plus games on the weekends. It’s exhilarating, exhausting, stressful, joyful, rewarding, and challenging. Pretty much everything life is, wrapped into one sport.
And I’ve realized being a coach is about a lot more than teaching kids how to play. It’s about teaching them how to work together, how to treat each other, how to handle adversity, how to push through challenges, how to lead, how to support one another, and how to be their best.
Every weekend, I sit down with each of our 3 boys and tell them something I’ve seen them doing well, then give them a challenge for their games. Something to focus on or build on.
This past weekend, I barely finished talking to the first one before the other two were asking, “Dad, what’s my challenge?”
Otto worked on his first touch away from pressure.
Grayson tried the Matthews move, and nailed it.
Maddox focused on getting his eyes up and playing better passes.
Seeing all three of them intentionally work on those things, and then actually execute them… that lit me up. It’s such a simple lesson, set a goal and go after it.
And it got me thinking…
For a long time, I thought purpose had to be something massive. Something like “putting a man on the moon.” Something big enough to feel like it truly mattered.
But what if it’s simpler than that?
What if it’s just doing your best to lead the people around you? Your family, your team, your clients, your community. Showing up, making a positive impact with your time, your energy, your knowledge.
Raising kids who go on to make an even bigger impact than you ever could on your own. Being a positive influence in the lives you get to be part of.
At the end of our last game on Sunday, I told our team they had a lot to be proud of. The way their faces lit up caught me off guard. That joy that comes from working hard and seeing it pay off… that’s worth something.
So I keep coming back to this question…
Do you ever feel like you’re missing your purpose because you’re not doing something “big enough”? Like you’re capable of more, but not sure what that looks like?
What if purpose really is as simple as showing up as the best version of yourself for the people around you? Giving what you have, where you are, and seeing where it leads?
I started Paradigm Construction because I wanted to build something that makes a positive impact. Early on, I thought that meant it had to be massive to matter.
I still have big goals. That hasn’t changed.
But I’m getting more comfortable with the idea that it’s okay to focus on the impact I’m making today. Right now. With the people right in front of me.
Not giving up on the bigger vision, just not missing what’s in front of me while chasing it.
Work hard. Be present. Try to be good.
Have you found your purpose? Has it changed over time?
