Last week, I attended a leadership summit in Colorado Springs—and let me tell you, there’s something electric about being in a room with 50 entrepreneurs. It doesn’t take a big-name speaker or flashy event to spark inspiration when you’re surrounded by that much creativity and ambition. Just being in that environment gave me a dozen ideas I was ready to bring back to Eclipse Creative.

That said, we did have an incredible speaker—Dr. Abdul-Malik Muhammed, a dynamic voice on real change and building meaningful culture. You can check out his work at www.imara-culture.org or www.drmalikspeaks.com.

Over two days, we dove into topics around culture, leadership, and transformation—not just in theory, but in real, tangible ways. His message challenged us to reflect on how we build, how we lead, and how we show up for the people around us. It was the kind of experience that stays with you—and pushes you to raise the bar.

The Power of the Room

As powerful as Dr. Malik’s message was, I’ll be honest—the biggest impact came from the people sitting beside me. There’s just something about sharing space with fellow entrepreneurs. It resets your perspective. It reminds you that even when your day-to-day feels a bit chaotic, you’re not alone in the hustle.

I’ve always believed that who you surround yourself with matters, and this summit reinforced that. Being around others who are constantly pushing themselves—who are honest about their wins and their struggles—fuels something in me. It makes me want to be better than yesterday. And then better again tomorrow.

Personal Growth, Too

Of course, the summit wasn’t just about business growth. It gave me something even more valuable: time with my daughter.

Our event was in Colorado Springs, and I flew in and out of Denver, which gave me the chance to grab dinner with my daughter, Sophia—who now goes by Phia—and her boyfriend DJ. We laughed, caught up, and just enjoyed being in the same place at the same time. Watching her grow into her own is one of the greatest joys of my life, and this little midweek dinner reminded me how important it is to make time for those moments.

Business is busy. Life is busier. Right now, I’m in a whirlwind—traveling for EO, helping grow the Central region, supporting our team at Eclipse, onboarding new acquisitions, and trying to be present wherever I am. But that dinner reminded me that growth isn’t just about business metrics—it’s about relationships, connection, and showing up for the people you love.

A Season of Growth

So I’m calling it now: this next chapter of Creative Sparks is going to be all about growth. Growth as a company. Growth as a leader. Growth as a dad, a friend, a teammate, and a human.

We’re in a season of learning, building, and stretching. And I’m here for it.