One of the best purchases I've made for my own enjoyment, and as a dad, has been my sodastream. For a hundred bucks and some flavourings, I can have club soda day in and day out, and add a little low calorie flavouring whenever I want to zest it up. 

The best part? My kids absolutely love it. I feel like I'm a bartender at a preschool birthday party. The kids get to help turn water into soda, and pour in the mix and watch a volcano of bubbles. 

It costs pennies on the dollar and acts as a treat without the sugar explosion of soft drinks. 

Pitch framing; the method of how catchers “frame” pitches to make them look more like strikes, 

In life, as in baseball, there are plenty of opportunities to turn a negative situation, or a point of view, and frame it more favourably. This art is becoming more and more valuable. The straight facts are readily available to anyone with a smart phone, so this leaves the interpretation of facts as one of the most valuable skills in today's culture. 

Are you trying to refine your ability to the facts in front of you? Every entrepreneur must in order to survive and thrive in today's world. 

I have 29 days left of being in my 20s. Here’s 29 highlights of that great decade.

#1 Royal Roads University - 20-22
I met good friends, started to date, got my first adult job, hosted progressive dinners, kayaking tours, Mt Washington trips, and a masquerade ball.

Few people could get as much out of a University year as I did, even fewer as a student-turned-employee.

#2 European Adventure Age - 22
Nathan and I spent a day snowshoeing around Mt Washington and determined we needed to see the world together. In the end, we bought a Eurail pass and spent two months going to over 20 countries. It alone had memories enough to fill my 20s.

The best part might have been the opportunity to blog about it and save all those memories, thanks to a friend i met at RRU!

#3 Urbantastic - 22-23
Speaking of RRU, after travelling Europe and spending the summer volunteering at summer camp, I joined forces with fellow RRU graduate Heath Johns at set out to start a company. It’s first idea was events baed, then we hit on microvolunteering, ultimately crashing into a quiet abyss.

Thankfully, all was not lost, as we did get national attention (and that of Union Gospel Mission, my soon-to-be employer, then cornerstone client).

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/too-busy-to-volunteer-not-if-youve-got-a-spare-couple-minutes/article4296689/


#5 Fatherhood - 23-29
I think I’ll have some more memories listed here, but it’s worth its own to describe the journey of becoming ‘Papa’. I’ve been learning on the fly, and I appreciate the opportunity that I’ve been given to take care of Matthew and Ellie more and more each day.


#6 Frontier Consulting 24 - 27
It started because I wanted to go back to the Island but didn’t want to leave my job. Frontier started as a desk in my basement suite where I worked Saturday mornings. Over time I added clients (thanks to Don Manning), and the scope of my work started to include others (like Blythe, Derek, Luke, Heath, and Emily). Once Matthew was born I needed an office, and that’s when it all started to get real.

Special thanks to Blythe, Derek, Emily, Don, Luke, Mario, Voislav and Heath for being a core part of my life those years.

#7 Fronter Marketing Co 27 - 29
Things started to change when Zach and Anna joined. My contract with UGM shifted to include more people, and then Sarah and Simone were stuffed into the tiny office at Fernwood (the third office Frontier rented in that block).

When Frontier hit nine bodies, it was time for a decision. Do we stay small, and become an elite fundraising consulting team, or do we go medium and become the best charity fundraising company in Canada?

I’m so glad the shift was made. Now we have Nick, Henry, Amy, Mariam, Sophie, and SarahK added to our ranks.

#8 Hawaii Honeymoon - 26
It took us a couple years, but Jaime and I finally got away from Ellie and made a trip on our own. There were ups and downs, highlighted by a scooter ride around Oahu, lowlighted by a night’s stay in a hostel, but overall it was a wonderful memory.

#9 Back to back to back Jacks (Softball) - 29
There’s nothing like hitting a homerun. I have good memories of it from other years, but this one particularly stood out. It was a fall game, and my first at bat the bases were loaded. HR. Second at bat, bases loaded. HR. Third at bat, two on. HR. Amazing day.

#10 Dodgeball tournies - 28
One hot summer day my rowdy group of dodgeballers played in a one-day summer tournament and it was epic. We were a Disney team; losing right away then working our way to the top of the amateur circuit, ultimately losing to one of the bad-guy teams.

Later on Valentine’s Day we played a tourney and won against the reigning team in our league. It was glorious.

#11 Weddings. - 23, 25, 26, 27
I had my wedding, surrounded by friends and family at a park in Kitsilano in March 2009. I remember the day well and was most impacted by a speech my long-time friend Nathan gave.

Later I had the opportunity to speak at his wedding, then Eric’s, then Dan’s. It’s been a joy to participate in such milestone days for those guys. They will be some of the best experiences of my 20s.

#12 Super Bowl tragedy, tragedy then victory - 22,26, 29
I’m a Patriots fan from when Tom Brady first walked on the field. I witnessed glory in my late teens only to see the NY Giants squash dream after dream.

Then the showdown of showdowns happened, and in the final moment Malcolm Butler made the play of the year. Those final moments will live forever.

#13 Celebrating $1 Million revenue - 28
In late April of 2014, Frontier passed $1 Million revenue. In the month following we had a lunch party as a group to celebrate, featuring fake $100 bills and champagne. It was a wonderful celebration and a fun milestone.

#14 Goodbye Grandma - 28
Death isn’t positive, but celebrating life is. My grandma was a big influence in my life, and I absolutely loved seeing all the people in her life gather in one place. She was well loved.

#15 Family Thanksgiving in Alberta - 26
Somewhat related to the above, Thanksgiving is around the same time as my Grandma’s birthday. We did a good job gathering as a family for Thanksgiving, especially so when it was my Grandma’s 80th birthday.

#16 Parksville trips - 25-29
Parksville holds a special place in my, and my kids’, hearts. Our first family trip went horribly (terrible weather, and small space with baby), but since then it’s been one great experience after another. I highly recommend it as a family destination.

#17 Mount Washington Family Trip - 27
It was a birthday trip and the mountain was too warm for skiing. Nonetheless Ellie and little Matthew loved it. Ellie and I made an igloo and a snowman, and we loved the chalet so much. We practically had the mountain to ourselves!

#18 Christina Lake Trips - 24
My best trip to Christina Lake was with a big bunch of camp staffers after the summer ended, but that was when I was 19. The second trip was an epic disappointment (the town is really run down since I was a kid) but it will always be special every time I visit my hometown as a kid.

#19 Canucks games - 22-24
The highlight experience was lower bowl tickets to see the Canucks and the Flames play, but I still remember going to a game in the upper bowl and taking in hockey in Vancouver for the first time. Bonus points to seeing the Flames in Calgary when I was 20 (thanks Uncle Doug!).

#20 Derek and Ben do TO (and other business trips) - 28
Business trips are some of my favourite things. I have memories of steakhouses and float planes, hotels and airbnbs. One that really sticks out to me was flying to Toronto with my friend and colleague Derek.

That trip set in motion so many things I can’t believe it, and I enjoyed his company and the thrill of going about TO so much.

#21 Spring Training in Phoenix - 29
This was a bucket list item for me. I got to see the Cubs play the Giants with a good friend, then watch the Rockies and Diamondbacks play with a new friend. I got to see Old Scottsdale. Hot sun, baseball, warm water. Turns out Phoenix area also has great coffee shops and good food.

Special thanks to Patrick for helping me get home (and bonus points for a great stay in Seattle during an earlier trips a few years back). 

#22 2010 Olympics. - 24
I had the great luck of living in Vancouver during the Olympics. I remember watching the torch go by with Ellie and Jaime. I enjoyed turing the villages with Eric and Nathan. I didn’t go to any events but went to a Gold medal party and watched Sidney Crosby score the winning goal. It was electric.

#23 Trip to Whistler - 24
I’m not great at planning personal events, or dates for that matter, but this one I nailed. We went on a surprise train ride from North Vancouver to Whistler and back. 10/10 day.

#24 Canadians Baseball Volunteering (and ball games) - 23
I don’t have my licence to drive big vans and taxis anymore, but while I did, I used it to volunteer in the best way possible (for me) - driving pro baseball players to and from their homestay and the baseball diamond. Free games, wandering inside the clubhouse. It was amazing.

#25 Birthday parties, Christmas’, and Easters - 23 - 29
I’ll always remember one Easter where we got Ellie to go upstairs and I thumped around the ground floor leaving eggs all over and a basket at the back door.

#26 Las Vegas - 29
While what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, I can say the trip was absolutely worth it and full of wonderful memories.

#27 Water parks - 25 - 29
Oak Bay has a great waterpark for kids of all ages, and Langford has an even better one. It’s easy taking kids to the park (I used my big bike to take them there most days) and it’s so easy to watch them there. In the future I look forward to going to the REAL waterparks with them.

#28 Blue Jays first postseason since 1993 - 29
​I left my eight year old self in Toronto that fateful day that Jose Bautista launched a home run into the left field seats of Rogers Centre. Real Sports Bar, friends, strangers. It will be etched in my sports memories as the tops for some time I think.

#29 Portland - 27
Sitting down in a brewery in Vancouver I fell in love with the white utility stools they had. Zach told me they were in Portland, and so we went. The trip included hip hotel, hipper coffee, and country cooked dinner. It also included a mad dash on the ferry with stools in our arms. The best of road trips. 

There's lots that I'm forgetting, but that's why I want to spend more of my 30s reflecting on memories like this. 

Starting this week I'll be blogging 6 days a week and taking the day completely off to be more present with my kids. Blogging is a great exercise but today is often the hardest day. 

And, I want to take this morning and this blog post to pray for the world. 
 

A milestone approaches for me in 30 days - I turn 30. I view it with a sense of foreboding and challenge that I think is rare among 20 somethings. The reason, I’ve had no idea what I want to accomplish in that decade!

When I was 20 I got my degree and set about kicking ass and taking names. During that decade I began and ended a marriage, had two kids, earned an accounting  designation, and bought a house. Following graduation I worked at a University, travelled Europe for two months, co-founded Urbantastic, worked at a major charity, worked at a bank, founded Frontier, and help start other new companies.

No family dog or cottage (though with Airbnb why would you need to now right?) but otherwise feel that most life milestones you could achieve in your 30s, and perhaps 40s I’ve somehow packed into my 20s.

And yet, during my 20s I constantly stressed, and too often put off joy. I haven’t read as much as I’d like, or pursued as many hobbies as other people in my life.

So then what of my 30s, what then? What goals? Here’s a few:

Improve my memory of experiences with anticipation and reflection    
This is an idea for an upcoming blog post, but the idea is that I don’t have a great experiential memory (especially compared to my skill for remembering facts). My attempted solution is to spend more time anticipating upcoming events and lots more time after reflecting on them.

Enjoy ages 7-16 and 3-12 of my kids’ lives
Related to the above, I want to make the most of the ten years ahead with my kids. Even writings down those years, wow what a decade this will be! I want to capture it, savour it, and help them make the most of it.

Save up for an emergency fund - aka peace of mind
I’ve been constantly stressed about finances since...2008. Starting a family, buying a home too quickly, and starting a business have a habit of creating rocky finances. I would like financial fears to disappear and an emergency fund would do just that.

Work <20 hours per week
A danger every entrepreneur has, especially those who built their business by working 6 days a week, as I did in 2011-2012, is filling the open time with more work. I started to go down that path at times this year, but I feel like a hard limit around work hours is best to achieve the other goals laid out.

Give priority to my physical and spiritual health
Fitness and meditation are two elements of my life that have been largely overlooked. No more sir.

I’ve been enjoying team sports, but I’ve also done poorly at quiet meditative time, to doctor’s appointment, stretching, and healthy eating. I want to be fitter at 39 than I am at 29.

More water and winter
Higher on my regret list is not spending enough time playing in the snow and on the beach (with or without kids). I struggled to spend the time or money on outdoor rec, an area that truly has my heart. As it so happens this will be a great venue to experience my kids growing up, improve my physical health, and fill my time of reflection and anticipation.

Build my life bucket list and get started on it
Life in my 20s has been productive and practical. I haven’t really spent much time thinking outside the lines to experiences in my ‘bucket list’. Now it’s time to sit down and figure that out and get down to business. Ages 30-70 go by faster than 0-29 so it’s time to bucket down.  

That’s what I have so far, and I’ll continue to reflect and refine. Tomorrow I’ll reflect some more on the days remaining until the milestone.

Maybes on my list:
Produce a Podcast. Write an e-book. Theological education. Become a financial advisor. Become an Airbnb host (and fix the property beside me). ​