Still Pedaling

One of my favorite cities — one I’ve visited many times — is Amsterdam. And not for the reasons most people might assume. Beyond the Netherlands’ liberal outlook on consumption, it’s their attitude toward the environment, human rights, inclusion, and simple living that puts Amsterdam at the top of my list. The city’s bicycle culture is enormous. Every morning, no matter the weather, you’ll see hundreds of commuters riding to work or the train station.

When I first graduated from chiropractic college, I imagined opening a home-based office — not one I would live in, but a converted house that felt welcoming and healing. I liked the idea of being the neighborhood chiropractor, maybe even riding my bike to work on nice days. Those ideas shifted quickly when the only available options in the city I chose were either strip malls or professional campuses. I went with the latter and ended up driving 33 miles to work for almost 20 years. Still, I never gave up the dream of living close enough to walk or bike to my office.

This past April, that dream finally became reality. We moved out of our second location after seven years and into a new office in Fort Lauderdale, just 2.6 miles from my home. The weather in April is perfect, and I’ve enjoyed many bike rides since we settled in.

Nothing was lost on me during that first ride to the new office. No, I wasn’t pedaling over cobblestone streets lined with centuries-old buildings, but the journey was no less enjoyable. I passed joggers, dog walkers, and people sipping coffee at sidewalk cafés. Our new office sits about 50 yards from the New River and a bike and walking path that stretches for miles. To be honest, I don’t think I could ask for a more enjoyable way to get to work.

My so-called dream only took 27 years to come to fruition.

The decision to close our treatment center and pivot to a virtual practice model didn’t come easily.  Since November, my team and I have deliberated, designed models, and weighed outcomes from every angle. But sometimes, you just have to take a leap of faith and trust your gut. Our intention is simple: to build the most efficient provider network for injured federal employees. If necessity is the mother of invention, then intention, planning, and hard work are the secret sauce to success. Truthfully, we are still in the early stages of this transition, and not everything has gone according to plan. And that’s okay. If everything always worked out the way we expected, we wouldn’t be able to savor the victories that come from pushing through defeat.

My first trip to Amsterdam was in 2002. So, choosing a place to stay for my first trip overseas was a bit challenging. The internet was still in its infancy, and honestly, I probably didn’t know how to search for things back then like I do today. So, I stayed at The Amsterdam Hilton, a hotel famously referenced by John Lennon in the song “The Ballad of John and Yoko.”  It describes a time when he and Yoko Ono staged a “bed-in” protest against the Vietnam War, staying in bed for an extended period to promote peace. As I look back on my journey — from fledgling chiropractor to CEO of ONE-FED — I can honestly say I’ve kept my eye on the ball and never wavered from my purpose: providing care for those in need. And to be honest, there were plenty of moments that I could have thrown in the towel. Keep this in mind when you find yourself wavering from your dreams and aspirations. Just remember, some dreams may just take a bit longer than you planned.

• Clarify the Dream
  → Know exactly what you want and why you want it. Vagueness kills momentum.
• Map the First Steps
  → You don’t need the whole journey mapped — just the next two or three moves.
• Anchor to Purpose, Not Outcomes
  → Tie your dream to a deeper reason (service, growth, impact) — not just a “win.”
• Build Discipline Over Motivation
  → Motivation fades. Discipline — even small, daily habits — keeps you moving forward.
• Expect to Stumble — Then Try Again
  → If at first you don’t succeed, adjust, reset, and keep trying.
• Surround Yourself with Energy
  → Stay close to people, places, and ideas that feed your fire, not your doubts.
• Revisit and Adjust
  → Dreams evolve. Check in often: Are your daily actions still aligned with your bigger vision?
• Celebrate the Small Wins
  → Success stacks slowly. Recognize the small victories — they create momentum.

There is nothing more noble than the pursuit of endeavors that benefit other people. We lost the Pope this past week, and it’s in that spirit that I dedicate this blog to him and his message of love and peace. Have a great week, everyone. And if you feel so inclined, please feel free to comment or message me if you’d like to further discuss these thoughts.