The Controlling Point 

By John P. Slosek, Jr. — The Insurance Coach™       

I know what everyone is thinking. John, why would you post a picture of the main sewer line coming out of the house? Well, first, this is the metaphor for todays blog. Second, it is also the controlling point. Sometimes the greatest lessons in life don't come from a classroom or a big conference hall. A few weeks ago, our home gave us one of those lessons. The toilet wasn't flushing quite right. The sinks were draining slowly, and before long, even the shower started to back up. It was clear something was wrong, but we didn't know what. We called the water department, and within about an hour, a crew arrived. They ran a snake down the main sewer line and pulled out a tangle of roots and weeds. Then one of the technicians said, "John, do you realize that this one pipe is the controlling point for your whole house?" That phrase hit me like a lightning bolt. I took this pipe for granted. I always expected it to work until it didn't. It was a wake up call.

Every sink, every shower, washing machine and every toilet depended on that single line. And if that line was blocked, everything else was affected. That's when it clicked. Isn't that exactly how life works?
We all have controlling points. For some, it's health. For others, it's finances, or even a relationship we've been neglecting. When those areas become clogged with delay, avoidance, or simply hoping they'll fix themselves, everything else starts to back up. 
Success and failure both leave clues, and most of the time those clues are small. A tree root doesn't block a pipe in one day. It grows slowly over time, just like a small oversight in business, a missed conversation in a relationship, or a delayed decision about your own health. And the good news is this: once you find the controlling point, you know where to focus. Clear the blockage. Make the call. Have that tough conversation. Take the small first step. Fix the one thing that affects everything else. And that's the lesson. Sometimes changing your life doesn't require changing everything. It starts with finding that one point that controls it all.

That's what makes this lesson memorable. It's practical, it's vivid, and it's built on a real moment that naturally teaches a timeless truth. The lesson of the controlling point doesn't just live in our homes with a clogged sewer pipe; history offers sobering reminders as well.

On December 29, 1972, Eastern Airlines Flight 401 approached Miami International Airport. The crew was preparing to land when something unexpected happened. The indicator light for the nose landing gear failed to illuminate. The crew aborted the landing and engaged the autopilot while they focused on diagnosing that tiny light. But the landing gear itself was actually down and locked. Think about these two pilots and an assistant in the cockpit were all focused on the burnt-out light. Panic started to set in and in the fury of movement the pilot hit the main control panel and disengaged the auto pilot. Unnoticed by the crew, the aircraft gradually descended until it crashed into the Florida Everglades. The controlling point had shifted from flying the airplane to fixing a light bulb. How often do we do that? What became the controlling point?

The light bulb!

Chasing a small distraction while losing sight of the bigger picture. What is the true cost in the human life by choosing the wrong controlling points? That question lingers. Am I focused on the right controlling point? This is what bad habits do…they point you in the absolute wrong direction. I have learned one of many truths in life. This one has always hits home. “In life, you either pay the price of discipline or the price of regret.”

Sometimes changing one thing changes everything. Before you go to bed tonight, ask yourself one question:  What is the controlling point in my life right now?

Is it my attitude? My finances? My health? My marriage? My faith? My discipline? My habits? My priorities? Or perhaps it's something I've overlooked completely. Its up to YOU! If you know personal change is needed, then have the courage to face the truth! Point yourself in a better direction.

“Before you change the whole world... change the one thing guiding you.”

                                                          About the Author                                                                 

 John P. Slosek Jr. is the founder of Slosek Insurance Corporation, established in 1984 and still serving clients today. For more than 40 years, John has worked in the insurance industry helping individuals, families, and business owners better understand protection, risk, and financial responsibility. In addition to operating his and his wife’s insurance agency, John has spent over 30 years as a motivational and self-improvement speaker, focusing on common-sense life lessons, personal growth, and real-world decision-making. John is also the host of The Insurance Coach® radio show, heard every Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. on Classic Hits 97.7. www.classichits977.com (Hit Listen Live). The program combines insurance education, life experiences, motivational insight, and practical advice designed to help listeners make better decisions for themselves and their families. John proudly resides in Massachusetts with his family and enjoys spending time with his children, grandchildren and his two Golden Doodles Maggie & Morgan.

Travel in Time with Dan: Interview from the Past with Nathan Hale

 Dan’s Interview with Nathan Hale

📍 Location: Nathan Hale Homestead, Coventry, Connecticut

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Dan Blanchard:
Nathan, thank you for joining us—even if it’s from the other side of history. Your homestead is beautiful and solemn. Standing here today, one can almost feel your presence. Let’s jump right in. You were only 21 when you volunteered for a dangerous spy mission. What drove you to say yes when others hesitated?

Nathan Hale:
Thank you, Dan. Though my time was short, my cause was long. I believed deeply in liberty. When General Washington called for a volunteer, I didn’t see it as an act of heroism—I saw it as a duty. I had one life, and I wished to give it meaning beyond myself.

Dan:
Many would say your life did just that. But I have to ask—were you scared?

Nathan Hale:
Of course. True courage is not the absence of fear; it’s moving forward in spite of it. I knew the risks. I was no trained spy—just a schoolteacher turned soldier. But I believed that some causes are worth risking everything for. I was young, yes, but I wanted to stand tall.

Dan:
You certainly did. Your final words—”I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country”—still echo across time. Did you know those words would be remembered?

Nathan Hale:
I didn’t speak them to be remembered. I spoke them because they were true. We all have just one life. My only regret was that I couldn’t do more. If my sacrifice helped ignite the fire of freedom, then it was worth it.

Dan:
It did. But your mission failed in a traditional sense—you were captured within a week. George Washington was devastated, and it changed how he approached intelligence. What do you think of how he pivoted after your execution?

Nathan Hale:
Washington was a true leader. He didn’t just mourn—he learned. My death showed that bravery without preparation can cost dearly. His decision to build the Culper Spy Ring using trained civilians revolutionized American intelligence. If my end helped him begin something smarter and stronger, I can rest easier.

Dan:
That’s powerful. You became a symbol—not just of courage, but also of course correction. What message would you leave to young leaders today?

Nathan Hale:
Never wait for age or permission to make a difference. I was only 21. Leadership isn’t about how many birthdays you’ve had—it’s about what burns inside you. Be bold. Be prepared. And always stand for something greater than yourself.

Dan:
Amen. Nathan, before we close, one more thing: Your homestead today is known not just for its history but also for… well… a few ghost stories. Mind if I ask—do you still wander these halls?

Nathan Hale (with a faint smile):
Let’s just say… a legacy doesn’t end with a breath. Sometimes it lingers, especially when a cause still needs voices. Whether in memory, stone, or story, I’m still here—for those willing to listen.

Dan:
And we’re listening, Nathan. Loud and clear. Thank you for your courage, your sacrifice, and your legacy.

---

🎬 [End of Interview: Dan turns toward the camera]
If Nathan Hale could risk everything for a cause at 21, imagine what we can do—at any age—if we find our “why.” Visit the Nathan Hale Homestead. Stand where he once stood. And then ask yourself: What legacy am I building?

Learn more about Dan: www.GranddaddysSecrets.com

 The Altar Stone: Sometimes the Journey Is 
    More Important Than the Destination

                     By John P. Slosek, Jr. — The Insurance Coach™ 

Every once in a while, I stumble across a story or a part of history that refuses to leave my mind. This past week it was Stonehenge. It truly captivated me. I don’t like this thought process but the process of moving this Altar Stone from Scotland to England was an impossibility. It weighed 6 tons. 
Like millions of others, I've seen photographs of those enormous stones standing silently on the Salisbury Plain in England. But it wasn't the towering stones that captured my attention this time.
It was one stone lying quietly near the center of the monument, the Altar Stone. 
Recent scientific research suggests this single stone originated nearly 500 miles away in what is now northeastern Scotland. Imagine that for just a moment. Thousands of years before engines, railroads, cranes, steel cables, or even the wheel was commonly used in Britain, people somehow transported a six-ton sandstone block across rivers, rugged terrain, and perhaps stretches of open water to reach its final resting place. No one knows exactly how they accomplished it, but somehow, they did. And that's the part that stopped me in my tracks. Not because they moved the stone. But because they believed it was worth moving. The question that has echoed in my mind ever since is wonderfully simple: Why?  

Why devote years of labor? 
Why ask countless people to work together on something none of them might live long enough to see completed? 
Why spend millions of hours accomplishing something that appeared to offer no immediate reward? The research I have done has given me different assessments of work hours it took to build Stonehenge. It is between 20 million and 30 million work hours. Again, in my mind, I ask the question, Why? 

History doesn't give us a clear answer. But perhaps life does.

Too often today we judge everything by immediate results. We want success this month. We want the promotion this year. We want our investments to grow overnight. We want our businesses to flourish quickly. If something requires years of patient effort, many people simply walk away. Yet Stonehenge whispers a different lesson.

Great things rarely happen quickly.

Whether you're building a business, raising a family, restoring your health, repairing a broken relationship, or leaving behind a meaningful legacy, some of life's greatest accomplishments require thousands of small decisions repeated faithfully over time. No single day built Stonehenge. One stone didn't create history. One worker didn't create the monument. One afternoon didn't accomplish the impossible. It happened because ordinary people continued showing up. Again, and again, and again. As I thought about that Altar Stone, I couldn't help but compare it to our own lives. Every one of us carries an "altar stone."
For some, it's a lifelong dream. For others, it's caring for an aging parent. Perhaps it's rebuilding after bankruptcy. Recovering from illness. Starting over after losing a spouse. Building a company from nothing. Helping children become responsible adults. Writing a book. Teaching others. Serving your community. None of these journeys are easy.

All of them require carrying something heavy farther than we ever imagined.  

The people who transported that stone almost certainly faced setbacks. Bad weather. Injuries. Equipment failures. Days when progress measured only a few feet. There must have been moments when someone asked, "Is this really worth it?"  Yet somehow, they continued. And nearly five thousand years later...We're still talking about them. That may be the greatest lesson Stonehenge has to offer. Your legacy is rarely determined by what comes easily. It's determined by what you continue doing after the excitement has worn off. The world celebrates finished monuments. 
History remembers faithful builders. Perhaps the greatest tragedy isn't that our dreams are too big. It's that we often quit too soon.

Stonehenge reminds us that extraordinary achievements are usually nothing more than ordinary perseverance stretched across extraordinary lengths of time. The builders never had social media. They never received applause from millions. There were no newspaper headlines. No television interviews. No awards banquet. There was simply another sunrise....another day of work......another stone to move. 
As I finish writing these thoughts, I find myself returning once again to that simple question. Why? 
Maybe we'll never know exactly why they carried that remarkable stone across hundreds of miles. But perhaps we don't need to.

Because every time we choose patience over impatience...Every time we keep going after disappointment...Every time we continue building something worthwhile that future generations may someday benefit from...We become a little more like those unknown builders. And maybe that's the real monument they left behind. Not the stones. But the reminder that almost anything becomes possible when people unite around a purpose greater than themselves.

"History doesn't remember the people who looked at the stone. It remembers the people who decided it was worth carrying."

                                                  About the Author                                                                 

 John P. Slosek Jr. is the founder of Slosek Insurance Corporation, established in 1984 and still serving clients today. For more than 40 years, John has worked in the insurance industry helping individuals, families, and business owners better understand protection, risk, and financial responsibility. In addition to operating his and his wife’s insurance agency, John has spent over 30 years as a motivational and self-improvement speaker, focusing on common-sense life lessons, personal growth, and real-world decision-making. 

John is also the host of The Insurance Coach® radio show, heard every Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. on Classic Hits 97.7. www.classichits977.com (Hit Listen Live). The program combines insurance education, life experiences, motivational insight, and practical advice designed to help listeners make better decisions for themselves and their families. John proudly resides in Massachusetts with his family and enjoys spending time with his children, grandchildren and his two Golden Doodles Maggie & Morgan.

Travel in Time with Dan: Interview from the Past with CT Governor Jonathan Trumbull

 The Heartbeat of the Revolution: A Sit-Down with Governor Jonathan Trumbull

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Historical Guest:

Governor Jonathan Trumbull
The only Colonial Governor to side with George Washington—and a leader who transformed Lebanon Green into a launchpad for liberty.

---

✍️ Blog Post Interview

Intro by Dan:
Welcome back to another powerful stop on our Travel in Time journey. Today, I stood on the windswept Lebanon Green, Connecticut’s own “Heartbeat of the Revolution.” I closed my eyes and imagined the clatter of horses, the murmurs of military strategy, and the weight of decisions that would shape a nation. Then, through the magic of history and imagination, I sat down with none other than Governor Jonathan Trumbull. The man whose sense of purpose helped shift the tides of revolution.

---

The Interview

Dan: Governor Trumbull, thank you for joining me. You’re remembered as the only Colonial Governor to support the Patriot cause. What made you take such a bold—and dangerous—stand?

Governor Trumbull:
Young man, I did not see it as bold. I saw it as right. The Crown’s hand had grown heavy. The people of Connecticut—good people—were straining under unfair taxes and the muzzle of tyranny. When others hesitated, I remembered our covenant with liberty. My conscience left me no choice but to stand with General Washington… even if it meant standing alone.

---

Dan: You turned this very green into a nerve center of the Revolution. What was Lebanon Green like back then?

Governor Trumbull:
Alive, sir. It pulsed with purpose. The War Office was always buzzing—dispatches arriving, horses being fed, French officers drawing maps with American hands. General Washington himself stood here. Supplies left this green and reached Valley Forge. Plans whispered under candlelight became bold moves on battlefields. This wasn’t just a pretty pasture… it was the spine of our resistance.

---

Dan: What leadership lesson do you hope modern people take from this place?

Governor Trumbull:
Purpose moves people. That’s what I’ve always said. Not titles. Not wealth. Purpose. When a man—or a nation—knows its “why,” it can weather any storm. I knew our cause was just. That conviction lit the path forward, even when the night was dark and the outcome uncertain.

---

Dan: Today’s youth face their own battles. Some say they don’t see leaders worth following. What would you say to them?

Governor Trumbull:
Then be the leader worth following. Waiting for perfect conditions or popular approval is a recipe for regret. Gather your facts, root your decisions in principle, and take action. Remember—the mightiest empire in the world thought we couldn’t win. But preparation… faith… and unity carried us through.

---

Dan: Was there ever a moment you doubted?

Governor Trumbull:
Many. Especially when friends—governors, merchants, even clergy—chose comfort over courage. But I also remembered Benjamin Franklin’s son, who stayed loyal to the Crown. That wound never healed between them. I resolved that I would not be a man my children would look upon with shame. I chose conviction over convenience.

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Dan: Some people might say Lebanon Green is just grass and old buildings now. Why should we still care?

Governor Trumbull:
Because these stones still speak. These fields remember. The choices made here gave birth to a nation. If we forget that, we risk losing the very freedoms they secured. Visit the green, son. Stand in silence. Listen long enough, and you’ll hear the echo of resolve.

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✨ Final Reflection (by Dan):

As I stepped away from Lebanon Green, the wind tugged gently at my coat. I could almost hear the sound of drums, the scuffle of boots, and the rustle of handwritten plans carried by candlelight. Governor Trumbull reminded me that leadership isn’t always about being loud or liked—it’s about being ready. About doing the work before the moment calls your name.

So next time you visit this quiet New England town, know this: you’re not just walking through grass. You’re walking through purpose.

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Historical Bio: Governor Jonathan Trumbull

• Born: October 12, 1710 – Lebanon, CT

• Died: August 17, 1785 – Lebanon, CT

• Role: Governor of Connecticut Colony (1769–1776), then State of Connecticut (1776–1784)

• Distinction: The only colonial governor to support the American Revolution

• Legacy: Close advisor to George Washington; turned Lebanon Green into the epicenter of supply, strategy, and spirit

Learn more about Dan: www.GranddaddysSecrets.com

Calm First, Perform Better: Turning Workplace Overwhelm into Strategic Focus

By Mary-Anne Schelb
Bringing Calm to the Chaos

Some workdays begin before we ever reach our desk.

Maybe the morning started with traffic that refused to move, a text from home that needed an answer, a meeting reminder that popped up earlier than expected, and a mental list already running in the background before the first sip of coffee.

Then you open your inbox.

Twelve unread emails. Three marked urgent. A client is waiting for a response. A coworker needs clarification. A deadline has shifted. Someone stops by your office with “just a quick question,” and before you have had a chance to settle into the day, everything feels equally important.

That is often when workplace overwhelm begins.

Not because we are incapable.

Not because we are unorganized.

Not because we cannot handle responsibility.

But because our nervous system starts treating every request, every notification, every deadline, and every interruption as if they all require the same level of immediate attention.

When everything feels urgent, it becomes harder to know what actually matters most.

Overwhelm Makes Everything Look Equal

One of the challenges with overwhelm is that it flattens perspective.

A small task can feel as heavy as a major decision. An email can feel as loud as a crisis. A conversation that could wait until later may feel like it needs to be handled immediately.

When we are operating from stress, the brain often looks for relief instead of strategy. We may answer the easiest email first just to feel productive. We may jump from task to task without finishing anything. We may react to whoever is loudest or most immediate, even if that person or task is not connected to the most important outcome of the day.

This is why calm matters in professional settings.

Calm does not remove the workload.

Calm helps us see the workload differently.

It gives us enough internal steadiness to pause, assess, and choose the next right action instead of being pulled into every demand at once.

The Difference Between Busy and Focused

Many professionals are very busy.

Fewer feel truly focused.

Busy responds to everything.

Focused responds to what matters first.

Busy says, “I have to get all of this done right now.”

Focused asks, “What needs my attention first so I can move the day forward?”

That one question can shift the entire tone of the day.

Strategic focus does not mean ignoring responsibility. It means recognizing that not everything deserves the same energy at the same time.

When we calm first, we are better able to separate true priorities from noise. We can make better decisions, communicate more clearly, and use our energy with more intention.

The Calm Priority Reset

Here is a simple tool you can use when the day starts to feel scattered or overloaded.

First, pause before diving in.

Place both feet on the floor. Let your shoulders soften. Take one slow breath in and one longer breath out.

Then look around and name five things you can see. Notice four things you can feel. Listen for three things you can hear. Notice two things you can smell. Finally, notice one thing you can taste, or simply take one more slow breath and return to the present moment.

This quick sensory reset helps bring your attention out of the mental spiral and back into your body.

Now take out a piece of paper and write down everything pulling for your attention.

Do not organize it yet.

Just get it out of your head.

Once it is written down, ask yourself:

What is truly urgent?
What is important but not immediate?
What can wait?
What can be delegated, delayed, or simplified?
What one action would help me regain traction?

Then choose one next step.

Not ten.

One.

Send the email. Make the call. Prepare for the meeting. Clarify the decision. Complete the task that moves the day forward.

The goal is not to do everything at once.

The goal is to return to a state where you can think clearly enough to do the right thing next.

Calm Creates Better Performance

We often think performance is about pushing harder, moving faster, or doing more.

But sometimes better performance begins by doing less for a moment.

Less reacting.

Less spiraling.

Less jumping from one demand to the next.

When we give ourselves even a brief pause, we create room for better thinking. We stop letting the loudest thing become the most important thing. We begin choosing our actions instead of being carried away by urgency.

That is where calm becomes practical.

It is not separate from productivity.

It supports productivity.

It helps us lead better, communicate better, decide better, and perform better because we are no longer trying to create results from a state of internal chaos.

Work will always have deadlines, interruptions, pressure, and unexpected moments.

But we do not have to meet every moment from a scattered place.

We can pause.

We can reset.

We can choose one grounded next step.

Calm first.

Then focus.

Then perform better.

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About the Author

Mary-Anne Schelb is a Life Coach, Holistic Lifestyle Consultant, Holistic Health Practitioner, and founder of Intentional Calm. Through her work, Mary-Anne helps busy professionals calm the chaos, reduce stress, and move forward with more clarity, steadiness, and intention.

She is the creator of the Intentional Calm Method™, a practical framework that blends holistic wellness, nervous-system support, mindfulness, energy work, journaling, and intentional living tools to help people return to center and make clearer, more grounded decisions. She is also the author of the forthcoming book, Calming the Chaos: The Intentional Calm Method™.

In addition to her holistic wellness practice, Mary-Anne is an educator, speaker, and workshop facilitator. Her signature message is simple: calm is not a luxury — it is a lifeline.

Learn more at Intentional Calm.

Have You Ever Thought About Becoming a Conference Speaker?

Every year, thousands of conferences, conventions, association meetings, trade shows, and corporate events hire speakers to educate, inspire, motivate, and entertain their audiences. Many of those speakers earn more from a single presentation than some professionals earn in a week. Others use speaking as a way to build their business, promote their books, attract clients, increase their visibility, and establish themselves as recognized experts in their field.

Get the book TODAY!

What surprises many people is that most conference speakers did not start their careers on a stage. They started exactly where you may be right now. Sitting in the audience. Watching someone else speak. Wondering what it would be like to stand at the front of the room.

I know because that's how my journey began.

Over time, I moved from attendee to presenter, from presenter to breakout speaker, and eventually to keynote speaker. Along the way, I learned that conference speaking is not nearly as mysterious as most people think.

The funny thing is that after many events where I was a conference speaker... people walked up to the

stage when I was done and asked me the same question, city after city... "I want to do what you're doing, speaking on what I'm passionate about from the stage." That's how this book was born.

Conference planners are constantly searching for knowledgeable, reliable, audience-focused speakers who can deliver exceptional presentations and make their events successful. The good news is that those opportunities are available in virtually every industry and area of expertise.

Whether you're a consultant, coach, entrepreneur, trainer, author, business owner, educator, healthcare professional, or subject-matter expert, there are conferences looking for speakers who can provide value to their audiences.

My NEW book will show you how to find those opportunities, position yourself as a speaker, submit winning proposals, build relationships with conference planners, and deliver presentations that lead to repeat invitations.

You'll learn the differences between breakout sessions, showcase presentations, workshops, and keynote speeches. More importantly, you'll discover the professional habits and speaker behaviors that separate average presenters from the speakers conference planners invite back year after year.

This is not a book about theory. It is a practical roadmap based on real-world experience in the conference industry. This is not a book about theory. It is a practical roadmap based on real-world experience in the conference industry. 

If you've ever imagined yourself speaking at conferences, this book will show you exactly how to get there. Pick up your paperback or Kindle copy today—and if you prefer listening while you drive or exercise, the Audible edition is expected by July 5, 2026. 

Piya Wiconi — A New Beginning  

By John P. Slosek, Jr. — The Insurance Coach™

There are certain words in life that seem to carry far more meaning than their simple translation. One such phrase comes from the Lakota people, one of the great nations within the Sioux family. The phrase is Piya Wiconi, which translates to "New Life" or "A New Beginning."

But it goes much deeper than merely starting over.

In the Lakota tradition, the concept isn't about erasing yesterday. It isn't pretending mistakes never happened. It isn't denying loss, disappointment, or pain. Instead, Piya Wiconi means honoring where you've been while choosing to walk forward differently.

It means life is sacred, and because life itself is sacred, every sunrise gives us another opportunity. Another chance. Another beginning.

Most of us have experienced moments when life forced us into our own version of Piya Wiconi.

Perhaps it came after the loss of someone we loved. Maybe it was after a divorce or the end of a toxic relationship. Maybe it came after financial hardship, illness, addiction, failure, or simply realizing that the life we were living no longer reflected the person we wanted to become.

We've all had moments when we stood in front of the mirror and had to face the one person who would never lie to us.

Ourselves! I challenge you at some point to face yourself in the mirror. “The Mirror of Truth” and ask yourself the following questions.

Am I living by my core values in life?

If you were given one year to live, how would your life change in the next 365 days?

What is one truth about yourself that you are afraid to admit, and it is limiting your life?

If you were given a magic wand and it would allow you to change one thing from your past, what would it be?

There are many other self-absorbing questions we could ask ourselves. The answers our outcomes to these questions will create change if needed or just point your life compass in better direction. I hope you take this challenge on. I look at it as a life opportunity for change.

And perhaps, on that day, you might quietly say:  "Today's the day." Not next year. Not after the bills are paid. Not when circumstances are perfect. Not when fear goes away. Today.

Because that's what Piya Wiconi is about. The Native people didn't wait for January 1st to create a new year. They understood that every sunrise carried a quiet message:

"You get another shot." Think about how many people are carrying yesterday on their shoulders. Regrets. Bad decisions. Missed opportunities. Broken dreams. Words they wish they could take back. Financial mistakes. Relationships that didn't work. Disappointments that still haunt them.
Many people walk into a brand-new day already defeated because they're still dragging yesterday behind them. But what if we looked at today through a different lens?

What if this morning was your Piya Wiconi?

What if today was the day you decided to start managing your finances better?

What if today was the day you finally made peace with someone? I personally have a regret that will haunt me for the rest of my days. When I started first grade a met a boy named David. We became friends for over 30 years. Around 2002, he and I got into a severe disagreement and over the next 23 years, we never spoke again. In 2025, my best friend reached out and said “John, lets reconnect with David.” I said absolutely! We were going to get together in few weeks for dinner, however, that never happened. He died of a massive heart attack the week before we were set to meet. My Dad would always tell me, “Be The Bigger Person Johnny”! Be the one to mend the fence of disagreement or argument because if you wait too long that fence may never look the same once it is fixed. In this case, I didn’t listen...

Over 23 years, one quick phone call to say, David let’s meet up for a coffee and settle this. I question myself constantly. What was I waiting for…the perfect moment…which never showed up. 

What if today was the day you stopped waiting for those perfect moments and starting mending fences that need to be? Because new beginnings aren't always dramatic. Sometimes they're simply a decision. Sometimes they’re one phone call to be made. The guts to apologize first. One walk around the block. One prayer. One page read. One bad habit broken. One good habit started. It comes down to one choice. And eventually, those small choices become a new life.

I've learned something over the years. Life rarely gives us a clean slate. But it does give us fresh pages. And maybe that's enough. The past can teach us, but it doesn't have to imprison us. Failures can educate us, but they don't have to define us. Pain can shape us, but it doesn't have to own us. Because every sunrise whispers the same message: Piya Wiconi. New life. New beginning. And perhaps the greatest truth of all is this:

No matter how difficult yesterday may have been, God, life, and the gift of another morning have given you something precious today. A chance to live anew.

And maybe, just maybe—

Today is your Piya Wiconi.

                                                 About the Author                                                                 

 John P. Slosek Jr. is the founder of Slosek Insurance Corporation, established in 1984 and still serving clients today. For more than 40 years, John has worked in the insurance industry helping individuals, families, and business owners better understand protection, risk, and financial responsibility. In addition to operating his and his wife’s insurance agency, John has spent over 30 years as a motivational and self-improvement speaker, focusing on common-sense life lessons, personal growth, and real-world decision-making. 

John is also the host of The Insurance Coach® radio show, heard every Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. on Classic Hits 97.7. www.classichits977.com (Hit Listen Live). The program combines insurance education, life experiences, motivational insight, and practical advice designed to help listeners make better decisions for themselves and their families. John proudly resides in Massachusetts with his family and enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Could You Share One Piece of Business Wisdom Each Month?

Over the years, Movers & Shakers has grown into a community of business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, speakers, authors, and leaders who enjoy learning from one another.

Today, the blog reaches between 15,000 and 25,000 readers each month, and we're looking to expand our team of contributors.

Our goal is simple:

31 contributors. One article per month.

That's it.

No weekly deadlines.

No long-term commitments.

Just one practical article each month sharing a lesson, tip, strategy, experience, or piece of wisdom that could help other business people succeed.

Your article doesn't need to be lengthy or complicated. In fact, some of the most valuable articles are the simplest.

Topics might include:

✅ Leadership

✅ Sales

✅ Marketing

✅ Networking

✅ Customer Service

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 The Ever-Changing Speed of Our Ever-Changing

World: How Can We Find Calm Clarity?

Written By: Lisa A. Barrett, M.S., LPC, ATR, Author, Speaker, Coach, Artist

Blog #2: June 21, 2026

Our world today is all about speed. There are many positive aspects to living in such a fast-paced

society. Information is available at our fingertips, helping us make decisions quickly—from finding the

best route to our destination to locating the nearest gas station or restaurant. We can seek answers to

almost anything by simply asking artificial intelligence. We can respond to emails, text messages, social

media posts, Zoom calls, FaceTime conversations, and online chats within seconds.

How wonderful it all is—or is it?

Consequently, our tolerance for waiting has diminished dramatically. Research indicates that in digital

environments, half of users abandon content after only ten seconds of waiting. In a culture of

immediacy, waiting has become uncomfortable, uncertainty often feels intolerable, and our nervous

systems increasingly operate in states of urgency.

Researchers have concluded that impatience is not simply a personality trait. Rather, it is an emotional

response triggered by perceived inefficiency and a loss of control. A 2025 study from the University of

California, Riverside, involving approximately 1,200 participants, found that people become impatient

when delays are perceived as:

• Unfair

• Unreasonable

• Unnecessary

• Unpredictable

Patience vs. Impatience

Impatience is our reaction when things do not go as planned. The internet is delayed, traffic comes to a

standstill, our order takes longer than expected, a meeting runs late, or something we assumed would be

easy suddenly requires a learning curve. These situations are often interpreted as unfair, unreasonable,

unnecessary, or unpredictable. Impatience then becomes the emotional state that accompanies these

perceptions. Unfortunately, the same impatience often keeps us recycling similar feelings in different 

situations and at different times. You cannot solve a problem from the mindset that created the problem.

Patience, on the other hand, is the ability to remain calm, regulated, and intentional. Perhaps the

question is no longer, "How fast is the world moving?" but rather, "How do we find Calm Clarity within

its ever-changing speed?"

In my book, How to Live an Empowered Life: Easy and Practical Daily Tools, I coined the phrase the

Neutral Zone®, which is where Calm Clarity® begins. The Neutral Zone® is neither good nor bad,

it simply is. By definition, neutral means impartial, balanced, and unbiased. When we learn to access 

this state, we create space between ourselves and our emotional reactions. This allows us to respond 

with greater wisdom, clarity, and empowerment. An important truth about shifting into your Neutral Zone® 

is that it contains no emotionality; therefore, it cannot be argued with.

One simple tool from the Neutral Zone® that can be applied to our fast-paced world is the use of 

non-emotional statements. One of my favorites, which I discuss in my book, is: "Isn't that interesting?"

Then gently ask yourself:

• Can I do anything about this?

• Am I able to find a solution right now?

• Can I seek assistance?

• Can I take a short break and revisit this later?

• Is it really an emergency if I do not respond immediately?

• How important is it to me to be upset?

• Do I have any control over this situation?

Let's also briefly discuss the reality of multitasking in our fast-paced world.

Research suggests that people now sustain attention on a task for only about forty seconds before

shifting their focus. Each time we switch tasks, the brain experiences a disconnect and requires

additional time to fully refocus on the original task. This can decrease performance, efficiency, and

effectiveness. 

Imagine the implications of dividing forty seconds of attention among two or three tasks simultaneously.

Is it any wonder that stress levels continue to rise and increasingly affect our nervous systems?

Now imagine if more people operated from a place of Calm Clarity®. In this state, we are often more

focused, productive, and capable of experiencing a greater sense of accomplishment and ease.

How might that change our relationships, careers, communication, leadership, and overall well-being?

"The world may continue to accelerate, but our ability to pause, tolerate uncertainty, and intentionally

respond rather than react may be one of the most essential professional and personal skills of our time.

"I am available for coaching and speaking engagements focused on empowerment, Calm Clarity®,

emotional regulation, communication, and personal and professional growth.

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@CalmClarity-LisaBarrett

Website:

https://www.touchedbyart.net/

Email:

touchedbyart@yahoo.com

References

American Psychological Association. (2024). Why attention is hard to sustain. Monitor on Psychology.

University of California, Riverside. (2025). Stripping the virtue from patience: Understanding why

people become impatient.

Medical Xpress. (2025). Survey identifies stress, sleep deprivation, and digital overload as major

contributors to declining attention spans.