Eric Decker

One of the biggest mistakes we can make is tying our identity to one thing.

One job. One hobby. One title. One relationship. One accomplishment.

It might feel safe.

But it isn’t.

When your entire identity rests on one thing, you become fragile.

Lose the job…

Who are you?

Get injured and can’t play your sport anymore…

Who are you?

Your kids grow up and move out…

Who are you?

A relationship ends…

Who are you?

Life changes.

It always does.

That’s why it’s dangerous to build your identity around something that can be taken away.

Become a well-rounded human instead.

Learn new skills. Pick up new hobbies. Read books. Lift weights. Run. Build something. Teach. Volunteer. Learn an instrument. Write. Travel.

Become curious. Become adaptable.

The funny thing is, the more dimensions your life has, the stronger each one becomes.

You’re no longer just a lifter.

You’re also a father. A friend. A craftsman. A teacher. An entrepreneur. A student. A creator.

If one chapter changes, the whole book doesn’t end.

You simply turn the page.

That’s freedom.

Guiding Principle

Don’t be a one-trick pony.

Something to Ponder

Have you become a bit one-dimensional? Why not try something new, build a new skill, and create new opportunities for yourself?

See You In the Arena

This week is just about over. Next week is just about here. Let’s keep building.

Brick by brick.

Comparison gets a bad reputation.

Most of the time, for good reason.

It can steal joy.

It can convince us that what we have isn’t enough.

This week, though, comparison did something unexpected.

I toured a beautiful old house.

It was huge.

Tall ceilings. Tons of rooms. Character everywhere. The kind of house that makes you stop and think, “Wow.”

But something funny happened on the way home.

I found myself appreciating my apartment even more.

It’s not perfect.

It’s not the quietest. Storage is…creative. Extra bedrooms would be nice. I’d love a garage someday.

But then I started thinking about everything my apartment is.

It’s where I write. It’s where I build websites. It’s where I sometimes train. It’s where my kids eat, sleep, and watch TV. It’s where ideas turn into projects. It’s where Brickwall grew. It’s where I’ve laughed, struggled, learned, and started building a better life.

It’s home.

(Not to mention I don’t have to worry about fixing things, mowing the lawn, foundation problems, moisture problems, and spending every weekend at Home Depot. 🤣)

Sometimes we’re so focused on the next thing that we forget to enjoy the thing we’re standing in.

The bigger house. The better job. The nicer car. The dream garage.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting those things.

In fact, I hope you keep chasing them.

Just don’t make the mistake of believing your life begins when you finally arrive.

Life is already happening.

Your apartment. Your first house. Your tiny office. Your beat-up car. Your budget gym.

These aren’t just places you’re passing through.

They’re chapters.

And someday, you’ll probably look back on them with more fondness than you expect.

Keep dreaming. Keep building.

But don’t forget to appreciate what you’ve already built.

Guiding Principle

Appreciate what you got, but keep striving for more.

Something to Ponder

Has your head been off in the clouds, thinking about what you don’t have?

Why don’t you come back down for a minute, look around, and appreciate all the good that’s already around you?

See You In the Arena

This week is just about over. Next week is just about here. Let’s keep building.

Brick by brick.

When I was younger, I thought being a father meant having all the answers.

Knowing exactly what to say. Exactly what to do. Always being strong. Always being right. Always having a plan.

Then I became a dad.

And I learned something different.

Fatherhood isn’t about perfection.

It’s about presence.

It’s showing up when you’re tired. Showing up when you’re stressed. Showing up when life didn’t go according to plan. Showing up anyway.

My dad showed up.

I show up.

And you show up.

The funny thing about being a father is that the most important moments aren’t usually the ones you expect.

They aren’t the big events. They aren’t the cool trips. They aren’t the picture-perfect holidays.

They’re the ordinary moments.

The rides to school. The trips to the park. The bedtime stories. The walks. The dinners. The bad jokes. The random conversations that turn into life lessons.

Those moments don’t seem important at the time.

Until one day you realize they were everything.

I think a lot of fathers carry a quiet burden.

The feeling that we should be doing more. Providing more. Being more.

But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:

Your kids don’t need a perfect father.

They need their father.

The one who shows up. The one who listens. The one who keeps trying. The one who loves them. The one who is there.

Life doesn’t always turn out the way we imagined. Sometimes the picture in our head never becomes reality.

But love isn’t measured by how closely life follows the script.

Love is measured by what we do with the pages we were given.

So today, if you’re a father, give yourself a little credit.

The fact that you worry about being a good dad is evidence that you’re trying to be one.

Keep showing up. Keep teaching. Keep listening. Keep loving.

The years move fast.

The moments matter.

And when your kids look back, they’re not going to care their dad wasn’t perfect.

They’re going to care that their dad was there.

Trying.

Happy Father’s Day.

Guiding Principle

Showing up, even imperfectly, matters.

Something to Ponder

Do you beat yourself up over not being the perfect dad? Why? Why not take some time to think about all the good things you do, and all the times you’ve shown up?

See You In the Arena

This week is just about over. Next week is just about here. Let’s keep building.

Brick by brick.

Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about the future.

My kids. Work. Entrepreneurship. Money. Relationships.

The problem with looking too far ahead is that eventually it becomes overwhelming.

Because there are too many unknowns. Too many variables. Too many things outside of your control.

And when that happens, it’s easy to freeze.

Easy to overthink. Easy to convince yourself that you need a perfect plan before you move forward.

But that’s not how things get built.

A wall isn’t built all at once. A house isn’t built all at once. A life isn’t built all at once.

It’s built one brick at a time.

One workout. One conversation. One job application. One client outreach. One good decision. One day.

That’s it.

This is Sunday Sendoff #52. Fifty-two consecutive weeks in the books. One full year is just around the corner.

That may sound like a lot, but it was accomplished the same way everything worthwhile is accomplished: one week at a time. Brick by brick.

You don’t need all the answers right now. You don’t need to know exactly where you’ll be a year from now.

You just need to lay the next brick.

Then do it again tomorrow.

And the day after that.

Eventually, you look back and realize you’ve built something pretty incredible.

Guiding Principle

When the future feels overwhelming, focus on the next brick.

Something to Ponder

What’s the next brick in your life right now? Not one way off in the future…the one right ahead of you?

See You In the Arena

This week is just about over. Next week is just about here. Let’s keep building.

Brick by brick.