Leadership Tips & Whiskey Sips | Investing in leaders and toasting to them along the way | Software Engineering executive and bourbon enthusiast | Cheers! 🥃
🥃 Tell me you’re Presbyterian without telling me you’re Presbyterian.
Happy Sunday, y’all.
How are you resting today?
Whiskey: Old Ezra 7yr
Cigar: Plasencia Alma Fuerte
🥃 NSC Tailgate Pick
Going with Knob Creek 12 for the Boys in Gold today.
Gotta be honest, I have a hard time loving Knob, but this is hitting the spot.
Y’all into KC?
🥃 Finally Friday
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What are you toasting with?
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About to go on a date with my lovely wife. Time to pull out the good stuff.
George T. Stagg it is.
Cheers, y'all.
🥃 Been on a little whiskey pause.
Tonight we unpause.
What am I drinking tonight? You pick.
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"But why the pause in the first place?" - one of you, probably.
GREAT QUESTION. GLAD YOU ASKED
→ Went on a work trip; needed to stay sharp
→ Reset my diet; needed to stay
🥃 Following your heart is myopic and lazy.
These days, there's a growing trend towards self-help gospels that champion self-centered success. These mantras advocate for a highly introspective approach, demanding individuals to seek success by looking inward and "follow their
🥃 Been on a little whiskey pause.
Tonight we unpause.
What am I drinking tonight? You pick.
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"But why the pause in the first place?" - one of you, probably.
GREAT QUESTION. GLAD YOU ASKED
→ Went on a work trip; needed to stay sharp
→ Reset my diet; needed to stay
🥃 Friday Ryeday
Trying a new Rye Whiskey at the cigar shop today.
What’re y’all pouring to cap the week?
For me…
Whiskey: Rye and Sons
Cigar: Plasencia Alma Del Fuego
⚠️ I told my wife I'd buy her an iPad if I hit 500 followers before Feb 1.
→ Costs you nothing to follow me.
→ Costs me an iPad.
Do your thing, internet.
🥃 Hello darkness, my old friend.
🫡🫡🫡 Bottle kill.🫡🫡🫡
RIP Parker’s Heritage. You were a mighty fine soldier. You will be missed. And promptly replaced with my backup 😅
Cheers y’all! What whiskey did you just polish off?
🥃700
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Cheers to 700 followers and y'all who've tuned in.
I started this account as an interactive journal to jot down the lessons I've learned in leadership and hopefully engage with a few others along the way.
I stayed for the whiskey.
Stick around for more
🥃 Even a Fool Can Seem Smart w/ This Trick
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"Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent."
- Proverbs 17:27-28
In
🥃 Sunday Dinner
We try to share a meal with friends on Sunday nights.
Lean into community. It’ll pay dividends. Almost like we were created for it.
Tonight we’re night capping with some SiB Baker’s 7yr bourbon.
Cheers y’all. Welcome to the new week.
@newvangelicals
If you think this is grooming, you truly are going to be surprised at the real world.
My guess is that you don't actually, you're just stooping low to find bottom feeder likes and engagement to boost numbers.
Incredibly lame.
🥃 Friday Whiskey
Might be a bottle kill night. 🫡
___
Thankful to have good family friends over sharing a traditional Cuban meal with us and helping me find an excuse to buy another bottle of this.
Whiskey: Barrell Seagrass
Going for 300 followers today. Follow if you like:
→ Seasoned leadership/career advice
→ Laughing at how ridiculous people can be
→ Correcting squishy, soft, BS "wisdom"
→ Whiskey
→ Oxygen
... OR if you just want to promote someone who's not trying to sell you something
🥃 Embrace a Day of Rest
Even the best of the best need to build in a rhythm of rest.
→ It's not a weakness
→ It's a strength.
Take a day of rest.
→ Recharge with your family.
→ Pray and commune.
→ Read and write.
Enjoy your downtime and come back at it with fresh
🥃 What’d you do tonight?
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I had the honor of hosting a fundraising gala for our kids’ school.
Mostly, though, I had the honor of being my wife’s date.
🥃 Finished my Plasencia with a little Weller 12.
Is there a better cigar? This is one of my favorites and these two paired really well.
What’re y’all’s go to’s?
🥃 Tell me you’re Presbyterian without telling me you’re Presbyterian.
Happy Sunday, y’all.
How are you resting today?
Whiskey: Old Ezra 7yr
Cigar: Plasencia Alma Fuerte
🥃 Don't Use Your Boss's Name in Vain
Name dropping is not a leadership tool; It's a cheap shortcut with diminishing returns.
Frankly, using your boss as an excuse is:
→ Lazy leadership.
→ A crutch.
→ Often off-based.
→ Damaging.
I get where this comes from – the need
Going for 300 followers today. Follow if you like:
→ Seasoned leadership/career advice
→ Laughing at how ridiculous people can be
→ Correcting squishy, soft, BS "wisdom"
→ Whiskey
→ Oxygen
... OR if you just want to promote someone who's not trying to sell you something
🥃 Finally Friday: Let's toast!
Here's to all the leaders, whisk(e)y lovers, entrepreneurs, go-getters, and legacy builders.
What's in your glass?
Tonight I'm pouring Balvenie Sherry Cask, 15yr Single Barrel.
It has dried fruits and marshmallow on the nose, oak and toasted
🥃 Thursday
Whiskey and a cigar with some of my guys at a local shop.
Cheers y’all. Hope your week is going well.
Whiskey: Travelers (on special)
Cigars: Patina Oro de Nicaragua
🥃 Weekend capstone with some of the guys.
Find yourself good friends to keep you grounded, debate, and constantly point you back to virtue and truth.
Whiskey: Smoke Wagon UCUF
Cigar: Casa Fernandez Aganorsa Leaf Connecticut
🥃 "I feel like" is not good enough.
In leadership, it's essential to root your decisions in objective reality rather than merely relying on relative thinking. As executives and leaders, we are tasked with making decisions that not only affect us but also have far-reaching
🥃 Finally Friday. What are you pouring tonight?
"PiggyBack" off this post to show us what you're toasting with. (I'll show myself out)
I've got a barrel pick from Highball that I picked up when visiting Phoenix. This 6 year rye from
@WhistlePigRye
is 112 proof, but doesn't
🥃 Asserting your value at work isn't just good, it's essential. Don’t be shy about your achievements. Actively seek feedback and opportunities to showcase how your skills are moving the mission forward.
The ditch: Don't be a self-righteous jerk. Promoting your work
🥃 800
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Thanks y'all! That was quicker than I expected.
I appreciate y'all following along and the conversations I've been able to have so far.
Whether you're here to grow as a leader and/or drink the good stuff, keep leaning in. Much more to come!
Cheers!
🥃 Whiskey Wednesday. Join me for a toast!
Cheers to the leaders, aspiring and seasoned! What are you drinking?
Today I'm going pouring: Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered
The "snow storm" here in Nashville still has me cold. This bourbon has me transported to the desert, where SW
🥃 Tailgate Time
Went with a very tailgate appropriate whiskey this time around.
What’s your tailgate whiskey of choice?
—-
Whiskey: Benchmark SiB (young buffalo trace)
@NashvilleSC
@BuffaloTrace
🥃 Prioritizing Others, Prioritizes Yourself
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Prioritizing others over yourself is not just virtuous — though it's not less than that — it's strategic.
Leadership Trap: "Self-prioritization is the pathway to success and fulfillment."
❕It's not. ❕
I understand the
🥃Don't be a chronological snob.
Just because it's old doesn't mean it's bad. C.S. Lewis calls this "chronological snobbery".
Want to be a successful leader? Don't try to reinvent the wisdom of old.
🥃 Cheers! What are you drinking tonight?
We're about to experience our first snow of the season here in Nashville, so I'm pouring something to warm me up. If this doesn't help, the extra hair it'll grow on my chest certainly will.
I give you, Olk Kirk Single Barrel.
Clocking
🥃Tenure Isn’t a Trophy: Longevity in a company doesn’t automatically equate to value.
It’s a myth that time equals impact. True value comes from the tangible contributions you make, not the amount of holiday parties you've attended.
Are your contributions growing with your
Whiskey Wednesday
🥃 What are you toasting with?
🎉 What are you toasting to?
Today I'm toasting with an atypical Balvenie pour: The Week of Peat 14yr.
This Speyside gets a week of peated malt added to the process, delivering a deeper, more rounded experience. Notes of
🥃🧃 As your kids head back to school after the holidays, remember that **leadership starts at home** and your little ones are learning from you. What a noble opportunity to nurture the next generation of leaders!
While packing lunches, cast a vision for their day!
#parenting
🥃☕️ Cheers to Monday Morning!
Don't let your week get ahead of you.
→ Get the blood (and coffee) flowing
→ Think broadly about your priorities for the week
→ Think deeply about the top priorities
→ Make an action plan
→ Cast a weekly vision for your family and team (in
🥃 Tuck in your shirt.
When casual attire and relaxed work environments are increasingly prevalent, a provocative question emerges: Are these Lululemon pants accentuating my best qualities?
Trivial? Might seem so in our world where 'comfort' and 'individuality' are highly
What are five topics you can talk about for 30 minutes with zero prep?
1. Software Engineering
2. Organizational leadership
3. Whisk(e)y
4. Smoking meats
5. Parenting
Your turn.
What are five topics you can talk about for 30 minutes with zero prep?
1. Psychology/counseling [ugh]
2. Western civ since 1500 AD
3. Medicine
4. Town planning
5. how Protestant theology formed the most desirable nations
🥃 8yr old took our picture at dinner. (sippy cup for authenticity.)
Vacations with the family- and the memories they make- are worth everything.
Loving our time in Miami, with mi cubana and our kiddos.
🥃 Nobody Likes a Know-It-All
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...You might have been the valedictorian...
...You might have gotten credentialed...
...You might have traveled the world...
Do yourself a favor... shut your mouth and listen.
Humble yourself by acknowledging that this world was created with
What do you think?
Does this tweet format...
Get better engagement?
OR! is it...
→ a cheap trick?
→ overplayed?
→ clickbait?
While you're here... might as well hit the follow...
(I'll show myself out)
🥃 The idea that bosses are indifferent is a myth.
How do I know this? I am a boss. I have a boss. I've had bosses. While they can't fulfill every personal wish, many genuinely care about their teams. It's important to understand that most leaders also have to juggle numerous
🥃 It's OK to Laugh
Humor in leadership is often underestimated and misused. It's either avoided or abused.
I get it; "we're serious people trying to do serious things" and "we don't have time for fluff and play."
However, used well, humor can reprogram perceptions, reframe
🥃 Whiskey Wednesday
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What's in your glass and who are you toasting to?
(Comment below with some new friends' accounts).
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This round I'm pouring Garrison Brothers, Balmorhea. This 115 proof is Texan, through 'n through.
Earning it's nickname "Bourbon Candy", this double
🥃 Make a Fashion Statement: The way you dress isn't just about fashion; it's a statement of your professional intent. A thoughtful appearance goes beyond first impressions (though it's not less than that); it's a daily reaffirmation of your commitment to excellence.
🥃 Cheers to the end of a restful weekend.
How did you recharge this weekend and what are you capping it with?
Mine was full of...
→ Family traditions (Donut Saturdays are a thing here)
→ Coffeeshops (with my youngest two)
→ Dinners 3 nights in a row with good friends and
🥃 You're at Work, Not a Yoga Class
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Clothes are more than mere fabric...
→ They're silent communicators. Your "fit" speaks for you before you say a word.
It's not about sticking to outdated dress codes...
→ It's about knowing how clothes speak in professional settings.
🥃 Tuck in your shirt.
When casual attire and relaxed work environments are increasingly prevalent, a provocative question emerges: Are these Lululemon pants accentuating my best qualities?
Trivial? Might seem so in our world where 'comfort' and 'individuality' are highly
🥃 Entitlement is Your Enemy
The longer you’re with a company, the easier it is to feel entitled to success and recognition.
→ This entitlement is a trap.
→ Success is earned daily, not tenure based.
CTA: Challenge yourself constantly. Look for new ways to contribute and
🥃 Quit with the 24/7 grinding BS
There's a deceptive notion that glorifies perpetual hustle. It's time we debunk this myth: ceaseless grinding doesn't equate to effective leadership. Instead, it's a fast track to burnout, both for you and your team. Pivot from the glorified
🍺 Finally Friday
What’s in your glass tonight?
Starting with a barrel aged Russian imperial form Living Waters Brewing.
Fear not, whiskey enthusiasts… this was aged in Buffalo Trace AND Eagle Rare barrels.
Fear not, coffee enthusiasts… this was finished with coffee from
🥃 Strategy: Beyond Buzzwords and Ambition
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Strategy is NOT:
→ Ambition
→ Vision
→ Meticulous planning
→ Motivational posters
Thinking about it this way (☝️) robs it of it's primary purpose.
Strategy is fundamentally about pinpointing the pivotal challenges to the
🥃 Replace yourself.
I've always maintained that a key success metric for a leader is to make their job obsolete. This doesn't mean leaders should work themselves out of a job. Instead, they should develop their team to the extent that team members can confidently assume
🥃 Making time for my son's soccer practice
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I can't think of a higher priority tonight.
I'll sign out of work, play hype music for him, encourage his play, stay after and run drills, then we'll sing all the way home.
This is 2x/week and there are only rare, predefined
🥃 Roll Up Your Sleeves, Bossy-Pants
Stop assigning work that you're unwilling to do yourself. If it's important enough to delegate, it's important enough for you to do.
Yes. Delegation is an essential of effective leadership. Delegating tasks empowers your team, fosters
🥃 Whiskey Wednesday
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Cheers, executives! Here's to crossing the week's mid-mark.
Today, we're enjoying a fresh crack and neck pour of the Weller Full Proof, Store Pick (from a local shop here in Nashville).
The nose offers hints of caramel-drizzled pound cake. The palate,
🥃 Objective Reality vs. Relative Thinking
Should be obvious, but... relative thinking does not equate to objective reality.
Success and truth cannot be created or fully realized in isolation. We live in a world interwoven with the lives, thoughts, and actions of billions of
🥃 Your Sarcasm is Unhelpful: You're Not Being Witty
Sarcasm is humor that's not only cheap, easy, and lazy but also often detrimental, coming at someone's or something's expense. Sarcasm tends to be dismissive, overly opinionated, and usually naive.
It's a sign of an
🥃 Your Naivety is Showing
Many professionals, especially emerging leaders, fall into the trap of believing they have the "obvious answers", leading them to question executive decisions without fully grasping the complexity of these choices.
Naive and Simpleminded-
It's easy
🥃 Rethink the Hustle. Leadership isn't about grinding 24/7. It's a myth that needs busting. True leadership thrives on balance, not burnout.
How do you find rest?
🥃 MVP
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Most Viable Product doesn’t need to mean most pretty.
Fight the urge to demand perfection (from your team or yourself).
Get something to market that is testable before you sink cost into a dead end.