Let’s Do The Things That Bring Us LIFE

Last time I did fantasy football, I was using a physical newspaper on Monday mornings to see how everyone did, getting frustrated that sometimes they wouldn’t include the box score for one of the games. 😅

For 30 years, I’ve felt a draw to play fantasy football again — to get together on a draft night, laugh as we choose players, and give each other a hard time.

Each year went by and fall crept up on me, and it was too late to do something. So I settled just to hearing stories of others having fun with it.

But this year, two of my buddies pulled me into their leagues, modified for those of us who are not football experts or willing to spend hours each week optimizing our teams.

We had a small draft gathering at my place, and the next night another draft at Utepils Brewing — both just a handful of good people and a fun time filled with laughter and community.

Speaking Adventures

October reminded me that life is an epic adventure filled with highs and lows, and we have more power than we realize in deciding our experience!

First, I was honored to spend time with county administrators and HR leaders at Ruttger’s Bay Lake Resort, and my appreciation for their work has never been higher. 

Like Olmstead County’s approach to homelessness and Kandiyohi County’s work with broadband, their initiatives are truly courageous and innovative, and have positively impacted their communities in dramatic ways. Dare I say, they had the courage to do The Unright Thing!

The following week was a true adventure of ups and downs:

👉 A great time speaking in Des Moines at the Iowa SHRM Annual Meeting, which included connecting with the wonderful Angela Goble and the team at Midwest Speakers Bureau, Inc.

👉 The following day it was back to Minnesota for the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits annual meeting, where I met some fantastic people with big brains and even bigger hearts.

👉 After those events, I left for Superior, WI to play one of my favorite disc golf courses known as “The Forest” with my two boys and a buddy. We had to quickly scarf down our lunch so I could get home and ready for the wedding I officiated that evening in Otsego, MN. 

👉 And in between all of that, some great meetings with some of my favorite people and dealing with the “downs” of life that just don’t seem to get resolved (namely our dryer) and of course a bit of fun at the dentist…

Lastly, I had the opportunity to spend a few days with Lake County Power. They build relationships with partners to bring clean and affordable energy to those in their huge service area, and then do all of the complex steps to get that power to their clients. After my time with them, I can tell there is passion, commitment, and a lot of laughter as they work.  Thank you to LCP for having me!

Connecting with the Community

My wife’s job and mine are a little different.

My wife has a job I could never do: teaching second graders. For Halloween, she wore roller skates dressed up as “roller Barbie” — another thing I would never dare do.

She is having fun and making an impact. 

My job is different. I research organizations and then share insights through speaking that will help them move the needle. She would not want my job (although I know she could do it). 

I am having fun and making an impact.

Those working for Lake Country Power and the MN Council of Nonprofits have different jobs from my wife and I. As do those working as county administrators and HR leaders.

They are having fun and making an impact. 

Through my travels I continue to learn of the millions of people having a positive impact in our communities. For those of you reading this, may YOU not forget to have fun while you are making an impact.

To follow more of my speaking journey (including the occasional disc golf or dryer update), let’s connect on social media! Follow me on LinkedIn or YouTube, or join the conversation on Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram. I recently launched two new Facebook pages: one for my speaking adventures and one for my officiant business, Awesome Officiant.

I’m curious: What’s the one small, brave step you’re taking this week toward your “fantasy football” — something that makes you feel fully alive? I’d love to hear it.

Here’s to a courageous month,

Maisha ni safari
(Swahili… Life is a Safari)

Sincerely,
Steve Fredlund,

The Courage Advantage™ | Speaker | Author | Humanitarian | Recovering Actuary
651.587.5435 | SteveFredlund.com | LinkedIn | Promo Video | Scheduling Link

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