Hey Reader, Here's Why I'm Writing This

Join me for thoughts on life, work, and faith as we journey along together.

There’s a line in the movie, Shadowlands: “We read to know we’re not alone.” I also think we write to know we’re not alone.

I’ve been writing on things I believe in for most of my life.

It goes back to the sixth grade, when we had to write an editorial for the town newspaper contest. While my classmates wrote about their sunny vacations and family pets and favorite celebrities, I wrote about something entirely different. Instead of beaches or boy bands, my subject came to mind as soon as the assignment was given and I felt I had no other choice—the life of the unborn.

(What ten year-old thinks about that?)

Well, my essay wasn’t pretty or popular, and it didn’t win, but it did stir something inside of me for the power of words. I have appreciated the practice of writing ever since. Whether writing for the classroom, family and friends, business, or the public square, I have loved putting words on the page.

When you do that, you create something that didn’t exist before:

• you teach something useful

• you connect with readers

• you inspire new ideas

• you entertain.

In HeinzSight, I hope to do this for you by writing about life, work, and faith as I see it. We could all be reminded that we’re not alone.

About HeinzSight

HeinzSight publishes weekly and is no cost to you. My goal is to make the posts helpful, engaging, relatable, and practical.

• If they’re not helpful, what’s the use?

• If they’re not engaging, why keep reading?

• If they’re not relatable, where’s the connection?

• If they’re not practical, what’s the takeaway?

You’re giving them your attention, so they should be good. Whether you come along for the life stuff, work stuff, faith stuff, or a combination, let’s do this together.

Some of my best posts are:

About Me

I live with my family in central Virginia, where I lead human resources for a top 100 automotive retail group. Before that, I ran my own speaking and consulting business and before that, I worked in sales, marketing, and HR for our family software business. I saw successes and failures. I grew the most from the latter.

I’m learning to be content doing the ordinary things like being a faithful husband, father, and friend, and working a job without audiences, applause, or clever calls-to-action. I think the world would be better if we got better at being ordinary and faithful in the essentials and didn’t try so hard to be exceptional.

I enjoy helping people learn how they’re wired so they can make intentional decisions. I’m a Gallup-Certified Strengths coach and use the Highlands assessment as well.

In the workplace, I like to focus on employee engagement, building strengths-based teams, coaching, and leadership development. I host a podcast about employee development for our company. I speak about 30 times a year on these topics.

The writers whose styles I admire are Joan Didion, Mark Buchanan, Anne Lamott, Michael Reeves, and Mark Richard. I’ve published two books, one that helps people find their best ways of praying, and one that is a kid’s devotional book on Christ.

I serve on the ministry team of Trinity Fellows, a leadership program that helps post-college grads to think and explore vocation from a Christian perspective. I also serve on the national board of Proclaim HOPE!

I like to buy books and sometimes read them.

Although I’ve listed these things about me, the most important is that I’ve been saved and made new by Christ. To talk about this or things I’ve written or how to work together or anything else, feel free to contact me.