The Tale of Thirty-Three Candles: Life, Business, and the Joy of Now

So, I turned 33 yesterday. Another year, another notch on life's measuring stick. It got me thinking about something we all dance around – the big 'M', mortality.

There's an old saying you've probably heard, "Live every day like it's your last."

It has a certain ring to it. But, it's not always clear what it means.

Should we start skydiving and eating dessert first?

Not quite.

This isn't about throwing caution to the wind. It's a nod to Stoicism, a philosophy of embracing the now.

Folks like Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus were big on it.

They had some pretty smart things to say about life. And its flipside.

Seneca put it this way, "It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it."

Here's the crux.

Live all-in.

Each chat with a friend, Each bite of your sandwich, Each business meeting, Each belly laugh, Each tear.

Be there. All of you.

It's less about making a scene. More about making a difference.

Don't put life on hold. Today is your day.

Look at your work, Your dreams, Your team.

Are you just showing up, or are you really there?

Make it matter.

My 34th ride around the sun just started. But who's keeping track?

What's important isn't the candles on the cake, But the warmth they bring.

Run your business, live your life – With fire, With meaning, With heart.

So here's to another year. A year of more light.

We're all on borrowed time. Me too.

But, every day is a treasure chest of moments.

Find them. Shape them. Live them.

So, as I kick off my 33rd year, I hope you'll join me.

Life's too short to just keep score, let's make each day a win.