When I was young and starting out in tech sales and marketing, I chased what I thought was the dream. Big houses. Fast cars. Status symbols that looked like success. The truth is, those things filled the driveway but not the soul.

Through it all, I always had a Ford truck, a functional piece of my childhood that never left me. Unlike the other shiny things, it wasn’t about status. It was about grounding.

By 45, after 17 years of marriage, we separated then divorced. We had been chasing everything except each other. At 46, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer. The next four years became a blur of courtrooms, chemo, radiation, and bitterness. I was determined to fight, but at the time I didn’t even know what I was fighting for.

And then, life surprised me. I met an extraordinary French woman who had built her life in North Texas. As birthdays and holidays rolled by, she would gently remind me: “Experiences, not presents.”

For the last 10 years, that’s been our guiding mantra. We’ve worked hard, but we’ve also played. We’ve chosen modesty with material things so that we could open ourselves up to experiences. A condo on the west end of Galveston Island that became our refuge during COVID and beyond. Trips with family. Adventures that don’t sit in the garage, but live in our memories.

The Lesson

This is where Time Bandit comes in. At its core, it’s about aligning your Hierarchy of Values (the things that truly matter) with how you spend your time and energy. When your values lean toward experiences, family, health, and growth, you can finally filter out the noise of chasing things that fade.

Three Practices for a Life That Lasts

Over time, I’ve also found three simple practices that make longevity and quality of life more than just words:

1. Movement – Stay active every day. It doesn’t have to be a marathon—walk, swim, ride a bike, even yard work counts. Movement keeps the body young and the mind clear.
2. Meditation – Carve out quiet space to breathe, reflect, or pray. It’s how you reset, manage stress, and find gratitude. A calm mind gives you the resilience to enjoy the experiences that matter.
3. Moderation – Whether it’s food, drink, or even work, excess steals tomorrow’s energy. Moderation gives you balance, health, and the ability to keep going for the long haul.

Why It Matters Now

I’m happy to walk people through this process, because I’ve lived the alternative. Trust me, you don’t want the 20s, 30s, and certainly not the early 40s I had. Reduce your mortgage. Pick a modest drive. And get on with the experiences that will outlast any possession.

It’s about the memories you create, the health you sustain, and the life you actually live.

I walk through designing your values and habits to support them in this digital bundle. It includes self paced learning, AI Coach, Mobile App and if you live in the US or Canada a signed Time Bandit book. Start today with defining your Hiearchy of Values here.