Cast Iron Character

08/30/2026

08/18/2026

"Bigfoot is a word I've come to use for something that's unique. When it comes to people, everyone has uniqueness that makes them a metaphorical Bigfoot. But that's not just a cliche way of saying that all people are unique. They aren't, but they can be.

For a person's uniqueness to amount to anything positive or negative, the person needs to act. They need to do something. And this is where you can catch them Bigfooting. And by "Bigfooting", I mean doing something that reveals either a polished talent - a skill or skill-set others very rarely have - and/or they illustrate unique and meaningful satisfaction over whatever it is they're doing.

When we see someone Bigfooting with skill at something, it's unmistakable. You need only open an app like TikTok or Instagram to find a video that illustrates what I'm describing. The videos are usually mesmerizing. Fantastic sports performances can have the same impact. And seeing things like that can raise your horizon of aspiration. We may think, "I had no idea that was possible." It's like art in motion.

Bigfooting is also when people reveal that something is uniquely meaningful or satisfying to them. An easy example is when someone finds a joke particularly funny for some reason. More difficult examples to spot happen in the course of our everyday lives, and they can happen during some of the most mundane and innocuous moments. But if you pay attention, they're there.

And when you catch those moments, it's magic. Because it's in those moments that people reveal their purest and most authentic selves, and it's always one of a kind and inspiring. They happen anywhere and everywhere, all the time. And if you catch them and point them out to the people experiencing them, they feel seen in a way that touches their soul. That, too, is magic.

That's because Bigfooting is really where we have the chance to actualize the truest and most authentic version of ourselves. And there's nothing more compelling or cool."

07/23/2026

Understanding, and equally as important - believing - certain things is a lynchpin for growth and development in terms of mindset.

1. You must believe in the existence, role, and power of the subconscious. Your life doesn’t unfold the way it does for no reason. You have certain expectations set for yourself. And your subconscious knows them, and means to execute them.

You can learn to set yours higher, or in more productive directions, and your subconscious will execute those, too.

2. You have to believe that hard times have value. Most of all, you have to believe that hard times are where there is the greatest opportunity for growth - whether you see that opportunity or not.

Actualizing that opportunity means being the living embodiment of principle. Knowing what to do isn’t anywhere near as important as the values and principles that guide whatever it is you ultimately do. And doing that when you’d rather panic, for instance, is what will actualize the great opportunities that come your way disguised as hard times.

*note* this presumes, or suggests, or considers the possibility and value of quickly accepting that which is unavoidable. It is NOT to suggest that there is “something to gain from every hard time.” That’s a tough thought when, for example, the hard time has included something horrific, like a school shooting, or the death of a loved one. What it IS to suggest is the value of dealing with reality “as is”, as an absolute value (like the math term), and then go from there, always acting from a foundation of articulable principle oriented to the ethical treatment, respect, and dignity of others.

3. You must accept that changing your mindset from what it is to what you’d prefer will take deliberate and disciplined practice. Like ANYTHING new, it feels awkward at first. The more practice, the more normal it becomes.

4. Accept that goals achieved might differ from goals previously set. That’s OK. Be flexible. Be open-minded. Be willing to adapt and employ versatility. What matters is the mission.

5. Risk, achieve or not, reflect, process thoughtfully, improve, risk again, achieve or not, reflect, process thoughtfully, improve, risk again….