Realistic CEO

10/17/2026

Some of the most valuable connections happen when you stop trying to network and start genuinely getting to know people.

Be interested, not just interesting.

You never know where a real connection might lead.

10/13/2026

Teachers have a tough job. Be kind to teachers.

10/11/2026

10/10/2026

LBW 🚀

10/09/2026

I WENT GOLFING TODAY! ⛳️

But the coolest part wasn’t the golf.

I got to hang out with some of the CEOs who met me before I was even a book!

Back then, I was just a story Mikey read to them from the Notes app on his iPhone. 😂

No printed pages.
No thousands of books.
I wasn’t even a real character yet!

Today, they got to meet ME!

And I got to practice something I teach kids in the Realistic CEO® book:

NETWORKING.

It’s one of my 5 Types of Work.

Meet people.
Build relationships.
Have conversations.
Stay connected.

That’s exactly what I did at the YMCA of Greater Springfield’s 6th Annual Golf Tournament supporting its scholarship program.

From an iPhone Notes app to networking on the golf course with some of the same CEOs who heard my story at the very beginning.

That’s pretty dope. 😎⛳️

Huge thank you to Michael Kelley, AVP Mortgage Loan Officer at BrightBridge Credit Union and Realistic Lemonade Board Member, for inviting us!

My network is growing. 📚🚀

Now I just need to work on my golf game. 😂

10/07/2026

We’re finishing the first six-week Realistic CEO® program with middle school students in Springfield.

One seventh grader started the program not wanting to be there.

By Week 6, he was named Most Improved Executive.

When his facilitator asked him why he thought he earned it, this was his answer:

“I didn’t want to be in here… then I actually started liking the work… explaining my reasoning… now I keep doing more than what’s required of me, and now I know that I can achieve my dream.”

That last sentence.

“Now I know that I can achieve my dream.”

This is why we do the work.

Realistic CEO x Realistic Lemonade

Protect, Pump & Pour Life Into Kids’ Dreams! 🚀

10/04/2026

♥️

😡 THE TEACHER CANNOT CARE MORE THAN THE STUDENT FOREVER.

There.

I said it.

Because there are teachers exhausting themselves trying to rescue grades for students who are putting almost no effort into earning them.

The teacher creates the assignment.

Explains it.

Models it.

Gives class time.

Checks for understanding.

Offers help.

Reminds the student.

Extends the deadline.

Contacts home.

Provides another copy.

Offers another chance.

Checks again.

And eventually...

THE TEACHER IS MORE STRESSED ABOUT THE STUDENT FAILING THAN THE STUDENT IS.

How did we get here?

This isn't about children who genuinely need additional academic support.

Students struggle.

Students have disabilities.

Students experience things outside school that affect their ability to learn.

Those students deserve every appropriate support we can provide.

I'm talking about something different.

A student has the ability.

The opportunity.

The support.

The time.

And still chooses not to engage.

At some point, teachers cannot be expected to manufacture motivation on behalf of another human being.

You can encourage.

You can support.

You can build relationships.

You can make lessons engaging.

You can provide choices.

You can celebrate progress.

But eventually...

THE STUDENT HAS TO PARTICIPATE.

Because education cannot be something adults do TO children while the child remains completely passive.

Learning requires something from the learner too.

Effort.

Practice.

Attention.

Persistence.

A willingness to try.

And I worry that sometimes, in our effort to make sure students succeed, we've quietly transferred so much responsibility to the adults that the student barely owns the outcome anymore.

Student failing?

What can the teacher change?

Student missing work?

What can the teacher provide?

Student disengaged?

How can the teacher make the lesson more engaging?

Sometimes those are exactly the right questions.

But there needs to be another one:

WHAT IS THE STUDENT GOING TO DO DIFFERENTLY?

Because teachers can open every door in the building.

Eventually the student has to walk through one.

Teachers, where do you think the teacher's responsibility ends and the student's begins?

10/04/2026

Meet them where they are.
Discover what they’re capable of.
Strengthen what they’re missing.
Develop what they’re good at.
Challenge them to keep growing.

Not every fish needs to learn how to climb a tree.

But every kid deserves the opportunity to discover what they can do.

That’s Realistic CEO®. 🎯

09/26/2026

These girls at Girls Inc. came ready to participate, ask questions, share ideas and think for themselves.

That’s what we want.

Realistic CEO® isn’t about convincing every young person to become an entrepreneur.

It’s about helping them build the confidence to think, decide, plan and take action wherever life takes them.

Because every girl in this room is already the CEO of one very important thing:

Her future. ❤️