Making the Most of Your Home Office

“Home is where the heart is . . .“

– Unknown

If you’re like a lot of people post-pandemic, your place of work has shifted. Maybe you used to commute daily to a corporate office, and now you find yourself working from a desk tucked into a spare room. Or perhaps, like me, you’ve been living this reality for years.

Over the past decade, I’ve moved from coaching on the floor of training facilities and working hands-on with teams, to teaching and mentoring people online. Along the way, my office became my home—and that brought both benefits and challenges.

The Upside

The most obvious perk: no commute. Back when I worked in New York with the Rangers, I once calculated that I spent 36 days a year in my car. Imagine what you could do with that time back!

Working from home also means I can connect with my family more easily. My days flow without the abrupt transitions between “work” and “life.” There’s a certain rhythm to it, and often, that feels good.

The Challenge

But that same rhythm can be slippery. Without the structure of an office—the arrivals, schedules, and meetings that anchor a day—it’s up to me to create the framework. Left unchecked, time slips away like water leaking from a cracked cup, lost forever.

That’s why intentionality matters.

My Secret Weapon: The Porch Office

From April through November, I set up shop on my back porch. The view is all forest and green, with fresh air filling my lungs all day long. It keeps me grounded, energized, and aligned with my work.

And the science backs it up: exposure to natural light supports circadian rhythm, improves sleep, boosts energy, and strengthens immune health. Add fresh air and a daily dose of nature, and it’s a recipe for better well-being.

Don’t have a backyard or porch? No problem. In today’s hyper-connected world, you can take your laptop almost anywhere—parks, street cafés, even a bench by the water. Surround yourself with life and movement, and let the environment fuel your productivity.

Movement Matters

Flexibility is another gift of working from home. I make it a point to walk a kilometer every day, and I often add a bike ride or hike for cardiovascular demand. A resistance workout rounds it all out. These breaks not only recharge my body but sharpen my focus when I return to the desk.

Build Your Framework

Pair movement and environment with a clear, intentional daily agenda—including time for family and friends—and suddenly the clutter of “work” feels lighter. Life opens up.

It’s no wonder so many companies are struggling to bring employees back into corporate offices. For many, the balance and freedom of home simply feels better.

Of course, not everyone thrives in this setup. Some people let the hours slip by, their health suffering as they stay chained to the desk. The opportunity isn’t in just being at home—it’s in how you use the home office.

Bring nature, movement, and intentional structure into your day, and your home office will become something more than a workspace. It will become a place where the heart is.

The Rise of Narcissism: From Parody to Power

“The ends justify the means……..”“

– Niccolò Machiavelli

I recently listened to a podcast with a leading researcher on narcissism. Fascinating stuff. Ironically, I was already arranging a guest on the same topic — another noted researcher here in Canada, who also happens to be the mother of one of my daughter’s school friends.

In psychology, narcissism is part of the normal range of human personality. A measure of self-confidence and self-regard can be healthy, even essential. But when those traits become extreme, persistent, and disruptive to relationships or functioning, they turn maladaptive.

I remember talking with special operator Rich Diviney back on Episode 200 of my podcast when he had just published The Attributes. He explained that some narcissistic tendencies actually serve a purpose. They can bring confidence, belief, and commitment to a task, even when someone is operating beyond their direct experience. Sometimes, you have to act more capable than you feel to accomplish what you’ve never done before.

But climb higher up that spectrum, and things shift. Narcissism becomes an excessive preoccupation with self: inflated self-importance, an endless need for admiration, and difficulty valuing the feelings or needs of others.

The Clinical Picture

According to the DSM-5, Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy, starting in early adulthood and showing up across many areas of life.

Key features include:

• Grandiose sense of self-importance
• Fantasies of unlimited success, power, beauty, or ideal love
• Belief in being “special” and only associating with the elite
• Excessive need for admiration
• Entitlement
• Exploitative relationships
• Lack of empathy
• Envy of others or belief others envy them
• Arrogant, haughty behaviors

A clinical diagnosis requires at least five of these traits to be consistently present.

Why Talk About This Now?

Because over the last 15 years, narcissism hasn’t just become visible — it’s become celebrated.

Once upon a time, we laughed off these types. The “roosters” who strutted with self-congratulation were tolerated at parties but not admired as models. Maybe they even impressed us with their accomplishments, but they weren’t elevated. They were the exception, not the rule.

Now? It’s become acceptable to be the “donkey.” Trampling others, dismissing reputations, publicly deriding opponents — all excused if you “get results.” Make money, pass legislation, build something impressive, or even just convince people you’ve done those things — and suddenly the behavior is justified.

The ends justify the means. Right?

The sad truth: narcissism often wears a charming mask. These individuals can be magnetic, disarming, even inspiring — until they’ve extracted what they want. After that, you’re invisible. Stand up to them? That’s when the claws come out. Retribution isn’t a possibility, it’s a guarantee.

Machiavelli’s Shadow

Why has this become en vogue? Because it works — at least in the short term. Narcissism is intoxicating. It projects power. It attracts those who feel powerless.

It echoes Machiavelli’s The Prince, which advised rulers to appear virtuous while wielding cunning, pragmatism, and manipulation to hold power. Over centuries, “Machiavellian” became shorthand for a style of leadership where the outcome matters more than the morality of the means.

This isn’t new. What’s new is our willingness to applaud it.

We used to parody this behavior. Cartoons like South Park gave us Eric Cartman as a caricature of narcissism — grandiose, manipulative, exploitative, devoid of empathy. We laughed at the absurdity.

Now the parody has become reality.

What Now?

That’s the question. If narcissism and Machiavellian tactics are rewarded in culture, politics, and business, how do we respond? Do we keep celebrating charm without conscience? Or do we start calling it out for what it is?

Because if the parody becomes the truth, the joke’s on us.

Who Cares Wins

“Only one team is happy at the end of the year.“

– Mike Shanahan

I recently finished watching another season of The Quarterback on Netflix.

Why share this?

Because after two seasons following the journeys of five NFL quarterbacks (Kirk Cousins was featured in both), I was reminded yet again that success doesn’t happen by accident.

And more importantly—it’s not just about winning or stacking achievements. It’s about showing up, putting in the reps, and enjoying the process of growth.

What really struck me was how, inside these high-performance environments we so often admire, character is the real currency. The men who thrive are the ones who hold themselves to a higher standard—not just on the field, but in the way they treat people.

It was there in the way Joe Burrow could laugh and chat with referees, treating them with respect instead of disdain. It was in Kirk Cousins, coming home after learning he would no longer be the starting quarterback for the Falcons—an enormous blow for any veteran—and still finding the grace to play football with his young sons in the rec room. It was in Jared Goff, walking quietly through the woods with his wife, reflecting on what they’ve accomplished together.

You could see it in the way all of them showed genuine gratitude to their offensive linemen—not because it’s expected, but because they truly mean it. 

It was there when Cousins returned to Minnesota, embraced former teammates and coaches, and reconnected with old friends, even after a loss. Or when Marcus Mariota, deep in the uncertainty of a career transition, strolled along a beach with his wife and baby, stopping to talk with a few women passing by. Or watching Patrick Mahomes treat everyone—teammates, coaches, staff—with steady kindness and class.

Different men. Different styles of play. Different paths to the top. Joe Burrow didn’t even have a great arm in high school. Jared Goff was drafted by the Rams, traded to the Lions, and chose to make the best of it, helping build belief in a long-struggling franchise. Some are master passers, others great decision-makers, others phenomenal athletes. All of them have some mix of these skills—or they wouldn’t be starting quarterbacks in the NFL.

But the common thread? Character. How you carry yourself. How you treat your family. How you embrace your friends. You can be a warrior and a leader, fight for every yard, and still be kind. There’s no need to belittle, berate, or boast. Let your work do the talking, and your character do the walking.

I think about Jared Goff, walking up the tunnel after losing a home playoff game, giving a lineman a pat on the back and saying, “Appreciate you, man,” only to hear, “I’m so sorry” in return. Or that same Goff, holding his wife’s hand during their baby’s ultrasound, talking about fatherhood and the new purpose it would bring.

I think about Kirk Cousins recalling something Mike Shanahan told him in his rookie year: “Only one team is happy at the end of the year.” In a sport where only one quarterback gets to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, failure is far more common than ultimate victory. And yet, Cousins, Goff, and the rest keep showing up, learning, exploring what’s possible, and staying grateful for the opportunity to do what they love in front of the fans who love them.

That’s what this show left me with—success is imperfect, unpredictable, and often hard to measure. But if you keep your character intact, treat people with respect, and live in gratitude, you’ve already won.

So I’ll leave you with this: How are you staying true to a character of kindness and consideration?

Preparation, Opportunity, and the “Coincidence” Myth

“Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.“

– Oprah Winfrey

One theme that comes up over and over again when I interview high achievers on the podcast is how often major shifts in their careers and lives seem to happen by coincidence.

They’ll tell me stories about working away in their field, when one day they’re in a coffee shop line, at a networking event, or just running errands—and they strike up a casual conversation. That chat leads to a new connection, and that connection leads to a new opportunity.

The guest on this week’s episode is a perfect example. Her job at a hospital was being cut due to budget issues. She mentioned it to a friend while standing in line at a store. Moments later, that friend shared a lead—and just like that, a new role fell into her lap.

Coincidence?

If it happened only once or twice, maybe. But I hear variations of this story all the time. What’s even more interesting is how rarely my guests describe feeling panic or despair. Instead, they speak about these moments as natural redirections—doors opening exactly when they needed to.

Why does this happen?

I think it comes back to something I first heard Oprah Winfrey say: “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.”

I love that line because it reminds us that “lucky breaks” aren’t random. They show up because we’ve done the work to be ready when the moment arrives.

That’s why I tell people I mentor that building and maintaining a strong circle of influence is essential. If no one knows who you are, what you do, or how well you do it, they can’t possibly think of you when the right opportunity comes along.

My first NHL job is a perfect example. It only happened because I had built a relationship with the head therapist of the Montreal Canadiens. When the Assistant GM of the New York Islanders mentioned they were looking for someone, that therapist spoke up—and my name was on the table. Without that connection, that entire chapter of my life never would have happened.

Here’s the thing: expanding your circle of influence isn’t about self-promotion—it’s about genuine connection. That means being curious, asking questions, listening well, and sharing just enough of yourself that people get a sense of who you are and how you think.

Too often these days, conversations feel one-sided. I’ve walked away from chats where I know a lot about the other person, but they know almost nothing about me. I make a point of weaving in short stories so they leave with a feel for who I am. Conversation is a two-way street, and you never know which one might open the door to something big.

And here’s an easy way to start nurturing your network: send a quick message to one person a day. Just one. Over a year, that’s 360 touchpoints. That’s 360 people who will remember you the next time an opportunity comes their way.

Because here’s the truth—people rarely get work simply because they left a résumé on a desk. Even if that gets them in the door, the decision usually comes down to who they know—or who knows them.

So the next time you catch yourself wondering why someone else got the call instead of you, remember: in the background of that opportunity was preparation, visibility, and connection.

Are you prepared?

Something to think about.