The Voice of Reason (and Growth)

I talk a lot about mindset. I’ve read Peak, Mindset, and a shelf’s worth of other books on growth thinking. I’ve built workshops around it, coached companies through it, and taught it to my students back when I was in the classroom. Growth mindset isn’t just a buzzword to me—it’s a core belief. Or so I thought.

Today, I got called out. Not by a client or a mentor, but by my 12-year-old son. Also known as D-Max—my business partner in D-Max Merch and the mastermind behind a lot of the fun stuff we’ve been doing lately.

We’re planning a Badge vs. Badge charity softball game between our local police and fire departments to raise money for Brewer Little League. We’ve rallied some amazing sponsors to help us host this thing for free, and the vibe is already shaping up to be something special.

While we were working on decorations, I hesitated on one particular item—it was $22. Not crazy expensive, but I said something along the lines of, “Maybe we don’t need that.”

Without skipping a beat, my son looked at me and said,“Mom, it’s $22—the sponsors gave us money to make this event awesome.”

Oof. That hit.

Did I seriously just think that small? The same person who teaches people to think big and not play it safe? I realized in that moment that my fixed mindset had snuck in the back door, dressed up as frugality or practicality or whatever excuse I had on hand.

We ordered the $22 item. (It’s going to look amazing, by the way.)

And more importantly, we had a conversation about it.

We talked about what it means to invest in an experience—not just spend money. We talked about trusting the process, honoring the generosity of our sponsors, and not being afraid to go all-in on something meaningful. It wasn’t just a lesson for him. It was a powerful reminder for me.”

And sometimes, your system needs a little tune-up—and a nudge from someone brave enough to speak up.

So come join us for Badge vs. Badge—an epic community day full of fun, competition, and purpose.You’ll see the decoration that made me stop and reflect.More importantly, you’ll see what happens when we lean into the growth mindset—even if sometimes it takes a 12-year-old to lead the way.

Hope to see you there.