My wife has taken this incredible journey—not just toward independence, because she has always been a very independent woman. It’s more than that. It’s about her desire to achieve more, to create, to succeed on her own terms. It’s about that internal scream we all chase—the moment you can finally say, “Yes, I did it. Yes, look at that.” And I know how that feels. Taking nothing and making it something. Breathing life into an idea, putting in the hours, pushing through the doubts, and then seeing it stand there, real. That’s what she’s done, and I commend her, support her.
I’ve seen her do it before with her furniture business. She poured herself into it—painting each piece with skill and perfection, transforming furniture with her hands and her eye for detail. She took pieces most people would overlook and turned them into something beautiful, something people wanted in their homes. It was amazing to watch, and it showed me just how much drive, creativity, and grit she had. And now, it’s just another level. She’s taken that same fire and moved it into something even bigger, and watching her step into this new season fills my heart with pride.
This is really a question for her to answer. Maybe some of what I carry—my energy, my drive, the things bouncing around in my head and in my world—has found its way to her. She’s my wife, and just like with our kids, my hope is never to script their path but to encourage them to find their own. We all need to discover our own way—it’s not meant for anyone else to design. But if, along the journey, they can pick up a few breadcrumbs I’ve left behind, and I get the privilege of watching them grow, that’s the greatest gift I could ever ask for.
What I do know is that I try to spread a little pixie dust around, create that spark, and push for more. I enjoy educating, teaching, and showing the way when I can. I do my best to steer people clear of pitfalls, to prevent disasters before they happen, and to guide them toward safer ground. I’m built that way because I’ve taken enough hits and carried enough pain over the decades. At some point, I had to step back, reorganize myself, and set a course where the future could be bright. I love seeing people succeed, watching them grow, seeing them smile. I like to balance the scales wherever I can. And I say this humbly—I’m not conceited. It’s simply who I am.
Success in anything doesn’t come alone. There’s always teamwork—learning from each other, growing together, being as one, even though we both have our own endeavors. And yes, there’s the grind in private, the quiet hours where nobody’s watching, because that’s what it takes to reach the top. Only then can you bring it to the public, share it with the world, and let it inspire others. Interestingly enough, our endeavors are rolling off one another, and it’s powerful. She even inspired me to get back to writing my book. I didn’t even know what the title was going to be until recently—and here it is: Truth in the Trenches. Meanwhile, my wife just published her first book yesterday, Cookies & Cakes, now available for pre-order on Amazon. Okay, okay, I know I’m doing a bit of a pitch here, but that’s not what this is about.
What this is really about is balance. Men and women are built differently by design, and when we understand that, it becomes power instead of conflict. Men rise with challenge—it’s our fuel. Put an obstacle in front of us, raise the stakes, test our will, and that’s when we find out what we’re made of. That’s how we’re wired. Women rise with love, with emotion, with connection, with an ability to carry the weight of the world while still pouring out strength and compassion.
I’ve always described it like this: women are the ocean—this massive, powerful force, unpredictable at times, steady at others, but always alive, always moving, always carrying. Men are the boats, with our oars in hand, pushing forward. The boat is useless without the water beneath it, but the ocean without a boat has no direction. Together, they complete the picture. The woman carries the storms, the waves, the depth. The man answers by rowing through it, setting the course, rising with the challenge. Each one depends on the other.
And let’s not forget—no one rows alone. We all need coaches, mentors, and experts in their fields to guide us, to challenge us, to show us angles we can’t see ourselves. Even the strongest man with the biggest oars benefits from someone on the shoreline pointing out the rocks ahead. Even the ocean gains from the wisdom of those who’ve sailed it before. That combination—man rising with challenge, woman rising with love, and wise guidance along the way—is what truly moves us forward.
Watching her do her thing fills my heart. I know it’s a lot of work, but that’s what it takes—pushing through frustrations, dealing with people who test your patience, fighting with apps that won’t work right, carrying the weight of costs and money, and still showing up when it feels easier to quit. There are days you want to throw in the towel because you’ve taken too many punches. I’ve been there. I’ve taken plenty of them. I’ve felt kicked down, but I also knew one thing—I wasn’t going to let anything or anyone stand in my way.
And that’s what makes this journey—especially what we’re doing right now—so remarkable. Building tiny home communities for the people (solving a real problem), writing books, creating apparel lines that speak loud and bold, saying “hey, this is where I am from”—all of it is meaningful. But what makes it incredible isn’t just the projects themselves. It’s having your someone by your side, shoulder to shoulder, seeing it all through to fruition. And when you add the support from our kids and family, it completes the picture.
And just a final mention -This is not just about husband and wives and men and women. It’s about rising against challenges and living life, not just existing.
Together, we endure. Together, we build. Together, we win.
Till tomorrow.
-Michael
Get your perk, and contribute to the journey -Truth in The Trenches will be hitting the stores soon so help me bring this story to the world. Find out more HERE
Love to Bake and Cook?… Pre-Order Cookies & Cakes TODAY -Right HERE
