The journal
Field notes on creating value, leading people, owning the numbers, and building a company that does not become your whole identity.
At dinner the other night we were discussing why people read the Bible. The most popular answer was “to learn more about God” and I think this is probably a common response among many people. For me I read the Bible daily as a habit and to hear from God. Most
Read essay →I believe there are laws that govern the universe. I cannot jump on top of a building no matter how hard I try or how much I may emotionally feel like I should be given the right to. There is a something called gravity that overrides both my talent and emotion
Read essay →*** Guest on Business as Mission (BAM) Canada *** What makes someone an entrepreneur? Is it a lengthy resume, a heavy academic record, a successful business? Or does being an entrepreneur mean something else entirely... Dylan Gallagher, Founder of OndeWork, ha
Read essay →If you've been grinding through your business without a clear goal in mind—just hoping this year turns out better than the last—you’re not alone. Many entrepreneurs find themselves working into the void, waking up every day to tackle tasks without stepping bac
Read essay →If you've ever built a business—especially in the trades—you know this feeling: the crushing pressure of systems that don’t scale, people who mean well but fall short, and the quiet, gnawing question in the back of your mind: Is this even worth it? This week,
Read essay →If Canada were a business, you’d fire half the company. That’s not hyperbole — that’s what the June Statistics Canada wage and productivity report suggests to any owner who’s paying attention. Productivity is down. Wages are flat or dropping. And the highest-p
Read essay →You can’t serve two masters. Not in life. Not in faith. And definitely not in business. That’s the lens I’m looking through in this episode. Because after a lifetime of being buried in debt — personally and professionally — I’ve started to understand what it&n
Read essay →If you're watching the U.S. government right now, you’ll notice one thing: they have absolutely no intention of reducing their debt. And honestly? That’s not irrational. Because they know what most business owners forget: You can’t cut your way to profit
Read essay →Canada isn’t just limping—it’s crying for help . And I’ve decided to try and help it. A little. While still making moves to the U.S. and Spain. Let me explain. I’ve started thinking about Canada, the U.S., and Spain as people . It’s easier to frame
Read essay →What if Canada wasn’t a country... but a business? I’m not talking about the flag-waving, maple-syrup identity stuff. I’m talking raw economics, productivity, incentives, investment decisions —and how utterly broken they are. Today, I figured it out: Can
Read essay →This week was chaos—but the good kind. We moved bookkeeping back to Canada, wrangled a credit card disaster that a “banking upgrade” caused, reconciled our accounts, and worked on E-2 visa plans for the U.S. and digital nomad documentation for Spain. But what’
Read essay →Each Saturday, I take a step back from the daily grind—revenue, meetings, code, strategy—and ask a more important question: What is my highest and best use? This isn’t a productivity hack. It’s not a leadership tactic. It’s the reason I started doc
Read essay →It’s the end of another week—and a meaningful one. On paper, things are going great: We’re onboarding a new finance lead from Mexico Our investment in a grassroots labor company is taking shape I’ve been invited to help a local school board navigate a real est
Read essay →Something interesting is happening. I’ve been recording these episodes to document my journey—building a U.S. business, navigating Canadian exit logistics, and prepping for a family move to Spain to pursue a meaningful life project. Faith was always part of th
Read essay →Today was a turning point. Not because something broke—but because something is finally starting to bend the way it should. It started with a simple Zoom call. A Spanish lawyer named José—funny, kind, confident—walked me through the Digital Nomad Visa process.
Read essay →Today I took another step toward spending more time outside of Canada. It’s not a full exit—but it is a full decision. I connected with a lawyer in Spain through a mutual friend to begin the process of applying for a Digital Nomad Visa . If it works out,
Read essay →It’s Saturday. Time for my weekly wrap-up on this wild journey: 👉 Trying to start a business in the U.S. 👉 Preparing to spend months in Spain 👉 Untangling what’s left of our Canadian life We leave on September 2. Our home’s already spoken for—loaned to a yo
Read essay →Today’s episode hits different. I wasn’t planning on talking about politics again. I’ve said what I’ve needed to say. I’ve made peace with the fact that Canada isn’t what it used to be. But this week’s budget announcement—or lack thereof—forced my hand. Mark C
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