A Different Way of Thinking About Wellness

Over the past year, I've made some significant career changes, but more importantly, I've become much clearer about my work.

One of those changes has been joining the Maple Grove Fire Department. It has been an incredible experience, and it has reinforced something I've believed for a long time:

People don't change because they receive more information. They change because someone walks alongside them. They thrive when they are supported. This is my team and my community and I couldn’t be prouder to support and be supported here.

This has really brought me back to my roots.

About the same time, I also started Via Forte (Path of Strength) as a return to the work that started my career and has always been my calling: supporting people toward healthier, more intentional lives.

Early in my career, I trained individuals and teams, built corporate wellness programs and worked with organizations to create healthier workplaces. More recently, I’ve worked with leaders to align their organizations to mission and vision. I'm grateful for all of these experiences and the many people who have trusted me along the way.

Looking back, though, I've realized something important.

Organizations matter because they bring people together. But real change doesn't happen because an announcement is made, or committee meets or an initiative is launched.

Real change begins when one person decides to live differently, and has someone willing to walk alongside them. And that's my work.

What guides my work…

·         Lasting change comes through relationships, not just information.

·         Strength is built one conversation, one habit, and one decision at a time.

·         People are more than their job title.

·         The goal isn't simply greater productivity, it's helping people build healthier, more meaningful lives.

That's the heart of Via Forte.

I've spent enough years, in enough roles, working with enough organizations to know that healthier people often become more engaged, resilient, and productive. Those outcomes matter. They're just not the reason I do this work. My goal isn't to help people produce more. It's to help them live better. When that happens, organizations benefit too. But that's the byproduct, not the purpose.

I'll always believe organizations become healthier when their people become healthier. But the organization isn't the mission. The person is. That's why Via Forte started with individual clients, working on individual goals. And, we can partner with an employer, a community organization, a first responder team, or work one-on-one with someone who's ready to build a healthier, stronger, more intentional life.

The setting can change. But the mission doesn't.

If we worked together years ago, I'd love to reconnect and share what I'm building.

And if this philosophy reminds you of someone, an organization looking to support its people, or an individual who's ready to make meaningful changes in their life, I would appreciate an introduction.

I'm excited about this chapter, and even more excited about the people I'll get to walk alongside as we find their path.

Thanks for your partnership and support!

Joe