Living Life All In
I shouldn’t be here… alive, much less where I am in life.
People are who they are, I believe, because of (or in spite of) their circumstances and environment. As I share my story, I think you’ll find I’m a little of both. I’d like to think I’ve overcome the worst and ugliest of what I knew growing up and what I saw as a young adult and in my early professional career. I’m also self-aware enough in this chapter of my life to be honest with myself, and now with all of you, about the demons I still battle, the scars inside, and the ways it all shapes how I approach life and people.
Having known both the ugliest and the most beautiful in life, I’ve come to know exactly what I will and won’t accept, what I do and don’t want, and what is and isn’t worth having in my life.
No question there will always be some bad with the good, but there are lines we all have to draw of what we expect, or are willing to tolerate, from others and ourselves. I’ve had to find peace with the worst of it, what was done by others and what I did myself. Every day is another step on the path of growth and to honor my commitment to living a life worthy of the gift.
35yrs ago I was a kid most were betting against. I wasn’t a kid getting into serious trouble, but it would be fair to say I had a troubled life. At 15, I was living on my own in a studio apartment, in not the nicest part of town, wondering if I could afford to go fancy and eat mac & cheese this week or if I was sticking with ramen noodles again. Despite the odds, and all those betting against me, I was determined (and stubborn) and graduated from high school a year early.
On my journey through life, I’ve danced with death more than once, the first time from things I signed up to do for my country, and this latest time from an incurable disease I have to live with but have found a way to live with and thrive despite what some told me would be a new reality that would affect my overall quality of life.
I’ve seen unspeakable things that would give most people nightmares. In doing my job, I’ve done things most would never understand. I’ve danced on both sides of moral lines on the playing field of business, in geopolitics, and when fighting for survival.
I’ve also seen true beauty, things that border on miracles and I’ve reveled in successes beyond imagination. And through it all, I’ve learned to slow down to enjoy the simple beauty of the perfect wave and sunrises that no painting or photo could ever capture.
I’ve served my country and my community. I’ve created and led multiple businesses in a variety of sectors and I now advise business, community and government leaders across the U.S. on some of the most complex challenges they face.
I have worked hard and I have sacrificed, and today I am proud (yet still somewhat surprised) at how everything in life has fallen into place. I have a million+ dollar home in the Rocky Mountains, a second home in Florida, and I spend significant time each year in Hawai’i, the place where my soul is most at peace.
More than any of those material things though, I have a wife and life partner I never dreamed I could find or deserve and two amazing kids who make me want to work every day to be a better man. I have clients across the country who truly inspire me as they work to make their communities, their state, our country and our planet a better place. I have a tight-knit group of friends whose friendship humbles me and makes my life richer every day.
But as you can probably imagine, the path from there to here was not a straight line or an easy one. It’s not something I’d wish on anybody, but it’s also not something I’d trade for anything.
Which brings me to why I am here today. At the core of my personal journey has to figure out my purpose, what drives me and what I’m meant to do. At the top of that list is helping others to take full control of their own lives, to maximize their potential on every front and to spend each day living life life all in.
Today, I truly believe that we all have two lives.
The second begins when we realize we only have one.
I also believe that to thrive in one aspect of life requires a solid foundation in what I’ve come to embrace as the four domains of a happy, successful and meaningful life:
Relationships with family and friends;
Professional success and quality of work;
Physical fitness, nutrition and wellbeing; and
Personal growth and development.
I believe that any time one of these pillars is ignored, all of the others will eventually suffer. But when you come alive in one pillar, it will drive progress in all.
I believe that any time one of these domains is ignored, all of the others will eventually suffer. But when you come alive in one pillar, it will drive progress in all.
In my work as an executive coach and as a negotiator and strategist, I find myself leaning a lot on the pillars of that code. As I’ve shared pieces of it with a few friends or clients, I’ve been asked about sharing those ideas more publicly. I don’t think the pillars or guiding principles mean much without being able to dig into the why or what behind them, so instead of just printing or posting a bunch of one-liners, I want to dig deep and help others take action.
I want to welcome you to Living Life All In and invite you to join me and a community of professionals who are working every day to master each of these pillars and in doing so, to break through barriers – real or perceived – in every aspect of their lives.
In these posts, we’ll cover a lot of ground and I’ll share a lot about my beliefs, the guiding principles that shape me and my approach to living life all in.
We’ll explore styles of leadership, trends in society and the moral codes we each choose to live by and that make up the social contracts of decent communities and civilized societies.
I’ll dig into what I’ve come to believe are some of the most important characteristics, habits and traits for happiness and success both personally and professionally. Behind a lot of those are some lessons I’ve learned – usually the hard way. We’ll cover topics from different leadership styles at home, in your community and at work to the importance of taking ownership for your life and decisions, of putting in the work instead of looking for shortcuts and of simple things like taking pride in your work and keeping your word. We’ll also get into more on the personal journey and growth side of life like knowing your why, living with purpose, making time for the people and things that matter and truly embracing the gift we all get every morning we wake up to another day.
Life has been a pretty wild ride so far which has meant I’ve had the opportunity to meet some incredible people whose stories, perspectives and expertise I’m looking forward to sharing through interviews on the Living All In Podcast. Guests will range from Hollywood hit-makers, Silicon Valley legends and world caliber athletes to top-selling authors, entrepreneurs and some of best known and the completely unknown warriors and silent heroes who have undertaken tasks or lives most can’t even comprehend to preserve a way of life many take for granted. We’ll also talk with the everyday heroes like teachers, community leaders and others across the country and the world who are out there making a difference.
I truly hope that through the tools and resources I share in this blog, on the website, and on the podcast, that you will find something you can draw on and use to take action in your own life. From little morsels or thoughts that make you think a little differently about how you interact with people or take on your daily tasks – to big ideas for how to turn around relationships, careers or to plot new chapters in life.This truly is about trying to give back to a world that has given me so much. If I can help one person jump-start their own path or overcome an obstacle they’re up against by sharing the things I’ve learned the hard way, or by simply sharing my take on things, that is the win for me.
And if you’re considering executive or leadership coaching, I would be honored to help you take those first steps and to be your partner on the journey. The “all-in” expectation of our coaching programs isn’t for everyone, but for those ready to do the hard work it takes to make transformative change in their own life, their family or the organizations they lead, I’ve seen first-hand what is possible. If you’re just arriving at the conclusion that you want to make some fundamental changes but wondering if or why you should work with a coach, I can assure you that many of the most successful people in life and in business enlist a coach or a mentor (or several!) to give them the tools they need and to keep themselves accountable. I’ll share more about the coaches I’m fortunate to have supporting me in a future post.
My commitment to you, if you’re willing to put in the hard work, is to help you identify and embrace your “why”, your purpose, and to help you create a roadmap and a plan of action that will help you not only succeed, but to thrive and teach you what it takes to Live Life All In!
So as you go about your day and think about what it means for you to Live Life All In, I encourage you to do a little self-assessment: Are you living the kind of life that is satisfying today, that is setting you up for the life you want in 1, 2, 5 or even 10 years? Are you thriving in your job or are you thinking about a career shift, maybe taking a risk and working toward something you’ve always dreamt of doing but haven’t had the courage to do yet? Check in on your family life, how is your relationship with your spouse, your kids and even your friends? Are you prioritizing the things that matter and are you doing it with absolute intention?
If you check in with yourself on your priorities and find that you could use some help aligning your life to what matters, reach out to me directly through our website or any of the social media channels. Let’s explore together whether we’re a good fit and if it makes sense for you to get involved with us @LivingLifeAllIn. In addition to one-on-one coaching, you’ll have an opportunity to join an exclusive community of professionals, each who are working every day to break through barriers and achieve extraordinary outcomes in every aspect of life.
Until next time… Live with purpose, live with intention and Live Life All In!
About Berrick Abramson:
Berrick Abramson is a business owner, executive coach and a strategist for business and government leaders across the U.S.. Berrick has served his country and community in and out of uniform and is a successful entrepreneur who created businesses in multiple sectors and helped shape, fund and grow dozens more. He has served as a consultant, negotiator and strategist advising senior government and business leaders across the country on some of the most complex issues they face. Driven by a commitment to help those willing to do the work accomplish what others say is impossible, he has mentored dozens of entrepreneurs, transitioning veterans, senior government and business leaders.
If you’re on social media, give the show a follow: @LivingAllIn on instagram and Living Life All In podcast on Facebook. You can also follow Berrick directly: @BerrickAbramson on Instagram and Facebook.