There was a time when walking into a corner store felt like opening a time capsule. Rows of glass bottles lined the cooler, some you’d never heard of, others that became permanent fixtures in your childhood memories. You didn’t think about caffeine content or sugar grams back then. You just grabbed what looked good, popped … More The Fizz That Faded: A Tribute to the Sodas That Shaped Our Lives
For those who grew up in the 1970s and 80s, television was fearless. Shows tackled hard issues, made jokes that today would spark outrage, and reflected a society that hadn’t yet been neutered by hypersensitivity. Today, people break down over “offensive” words, demand safe spaces, and label comedy as hate speech. What happened to us? … More The Death of Toughness: How We Became the Softest Generation
We’ve all carried them, the words that sit heavy on the heart but never make it past our lips: “I like you.” “I think you’re amazing.” “I wish you knew how much I care.” Why do we keep them locked inside? Fear. Fear of rejection, fear of awkwardness, fear of vulnerability. For some, it’s shyness. … More The Words We Never Say
Time has a way of slipping through our fingers. We enjoy experiences, thinking they’ll always be there, and then one day we look back and realize those moments have quietly become memories. That realization is sobering, but it also reminds us of something powerful: each moment we live today is already shaping the story we’ll … More Cherishing the Moment Before It Becomes a Memory
I never set out to build a “brand.” I didn’t wake up one day and decide, “You know what, I think I’ll become a personal development coach, write a few books, and try to help people transform their lives.” Honestly, I was just trying to survive. Trying to find meaning in the mess. Trying to … More You Already Have a Brand, You Just Haven’t Claimed It Yet
I still remember something a co-worker told me years ago. It wasn’t a life-changing lecture or an award-winning performance. It was just… a sentence. “You lead without trying.” I don’t even remember what I had done that day to earn those words. But I remember how they were said. Quietly. Sincerely. Unscripted. And for whatever … More The Compliment They Carried for Years
Years ago, I read a book called The 17 Second Miracle by Jason Wright. It’s not a long book. But its message has a lifetime of weight. The core idea is this: you can change someone’s life in just seventeen seconds. That might not sound like much, especially in a world that praises hustle, platform, … More The 17-Second Miracle : Why the Little Things Still Matter
How Ads, Phones, and Predictive Tech Have Redefined Free Will (and Maybe How to Trick It) “I never searched for that.”“I only mentioned it in a phone call.”“Now it’s showing up in my ads.” If you’ve said this, congratulations, you’re officially living in the world of surveillance capitalism, where predictive algorithms know you better than … More If They’re Listening, Let’s Make It Count
I’ve been told I have an intimidating presence.My “special friend” used to say it all the time. I get it. I’m built strong. I carry myself with confidence. I walk like a guy who can handle himself, because I can. I’ve been through storms that would break most people. I’ve worked jobs where I had … More The Strength Behind My Softness: Confessions of a Protector
It’s the middle of summer, and while most people are planning beach trips and BBQs, I’ve found myself pulled into something a little less expected—Hallmark Christmas movies. Yeah, I know. Those “too perfect to be real” love stories that critics love to roll their eyes at. The kind where the snow always falls just right, … More Why I Still Believe in Hallmark Love: A Christmas in July Reflection
Troy P Zehnder 