A hug is about as basic as it gets—two people, a pause, and a little warmth - but it’s quietly powerful. When we hug, our bodies release oxytocin, the bonding hormone that tells our nervous system, “You’re safe for a moment.” Cortisol, the stress hormone, drops. Heart rate and blood pressure can ease down. Shoulders relax. For a few seconds, the body steps out of “fight or flight” and back into “you’re okay.”
A single word — “Sir” — sparked a powerful reflection on influence, responsibility, and leadership beyond titles or age.
In this piece, I introduce Sirhood and a simple framework I’m committing to live by: GPPA — Guide, Promote, Protect, Applaud. It’s about showing up for the people in our ecosystem, using our experience to open doors, create space, and celebrate momentum.
Leadership isn’t about status. It’s a daily practice — earned one interaction at a time.
Would love to hear how others think about influence and responsibility at this stage of life.
#Leadership #Mentorship #GPPA #Sirhood #PersonalGrowth
This morning early January 2026 I reflected again on the blog and that day the first week of January while walking out of the coffee shop a young man replied when I addressed him have a nice day and Happy New Year his response was “Thank You Sir” to me instead of Thanks Man or Dude.
Over the holidays I went through something with my own body that flat-out blindsided me, and I feel a responsibility to share it—not as a doctor or a researcher, but as a guy who has spent years running nutraceutical companies and still didn’t see this one coming. For most of my career, I’ve talked about