Earlier this year, I received an exciting email!
My book, The Intentional Engineer, had won a national award.
That meant a lot. Years of writing, refining, and publishing had led to that moment.
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to officially receive the award at a ceremony. But when my trophy arrived… it was broken.
Here’s what happened, and why the experience ended up meaning more than I expected.
The Moment Everything Cracked—Literally
I had received the award trophy earlier but forgot to pack it for the ceremony. Realizing this mid-flight, I asked my wife to ship it to me.
It showed up the night before the ceremony… in two pieces. Glass shards everywhere. Cracks throughout the trophy.
My initial reaction? Embarrassment. Disappointment. This symbolic object – the one representing years of work – was broken.
But then I realized something important.
A Metaphor for Real Life
The broken trophy became a perfect metaphor.
In life and career:
- Things break.
- Plans fall apart.
- Circumstances shift.
- We get knocked down.
And yet, we’re still here. We can still piece things back together. We can still grow, heal, rebuild, and move forward.
Unlike a trophy, humans aren’t fragile. We’re resilient.
I’ve seen this in so many of my amazing clients:
- One who faced severe workplace trauma and later a cancer diagnosis, now intentionally rebuilding a life he loves with his young family.
- Another who burned out in a leadership role and lost his father, then stepped into a healthier, more aligned role and is delivering more value than ever.
- And so many more!
These moments of brokenness weren’t the end of their stories. They were the beginning of transformation.
The Questions That Matter Most
When life cracks open, we get to ask:
- What can I make out of this?
- How can I grow from this?
- Who can I become on the other side?
- What actually matters to me?
- How can this experience help me bless others?
These questions change people. They shape careers. They help us build lives of meaning.
Powerful questions lead to powerful answers and insights.
Guiding people through these types of questions has become my life’s work.
Be Intentional With Your Life and Career
The broken trophy now means more to me than the pristine version ever could.
It reminds me that purpose is found not in perfection, but in how we respond to the imperfect.
So here’s my invitation:
Be intentional.
Create the life and career you actually want. The world needs an intentional you.
If I can support you, your team, or your organization in that journey, I’d love to connect.
Thanks for being here – and for doing the work to become who you’re meant to be.
Watch more in the video below:
