About Me
I’m Mike — a relationship coach who helps people grow healthier relationships by starting with themselves.
In 2018, despite experiencing success in my work and feeling deeply grateful for my family and life, I couldn’t shake the sense that something was missing. I wasn’t unhappy — but I felt stuck. Like I had gone as far as I could go with the tools I had.
That’s when a friend asked me a simple question:
“Mike, have you ever heard of the Enneagram?”
I hadn’t. And I was skeptical.
What I discovered surprised me.
Unlike other personality tools I’d encountered over the years, the Enneagram didn’t just describe how I show up — it helped me understand why. It revealed patterns beneath the surface that were quietly shaping how I interpreted myself, reacted to others, and navigated conflict, stress, and success.
It was like realizing I’d been living on autopilot — and finally being given a dashboard.
That insight didn’t just change how I understood myself. It changed my marriage, my parenting, my leadership, and the way I help others grow. As someone whose entire career has focused on helping people navigate the relationships that matter most, I saw immediately how powerful this kind of self-awareness could be — especially when paired with practical tools and compassion.
My wife and I dove into this work together, often laughing at how clearly our patterns showed up at home and at work. Before long, friends, family members, and colleagues were asking for help making sense of their own wiring and relational dynamics. That journey eventually led me to pursue formal training and certification as an Enneagram coach.
What I’ve learned — and what shapes all of my work today — is this:
The most overlooked relationship in our lives is the one we have with ourselves.
And when that relationship grows healthier, everything else begins to follow.
Through coaching, the podcast, and my writing, I help people gain clarity, reduce reactivity, and show up in their relationships with greater understanding, freedom, and intention — without pressure, politics, or judgment.
My Purpose Today
My purpose is simple:
to help people grow healthier relationships by understanding themselves more clearly.
I’ve spent years walking with people who are thoughtful, capable, and deeply human — and who still find themselves stuck in familiar patterns they don’t fully understand. Often, what they’re missing isn’t effort or information, but clarity.
That insight shapes everything I create.
A mentor once told me:
“Think deeply, but speak simply.
Focus on what matters most, not what divides.”
That’s the approach I take.
When I work with people who come from faith backgrounds, I’m comfortable engaging spiritual questions with care and depth — shaped by more than two decades of walking with people through faith, doubt, and real life.
But most of the people I serve aren’t looking for religious language — they’re looking for practical wisdom, emotional clarity, and tools that actually help in real life.
So I meet people where they are.
I focus on self-awareness, relational health, and growth that feels grounded and human — without pressure, politics, or judgment.
For some, that journey eventually includes faith.
For others, it doesn’t.
My role isn’t to decide that — it’s to create a safe, honest space for growth, and to help people move forward with greater understanding, freedom, and intention.
I married my high-school sweetheart, Tanya, 26+ years ago. We’ve been happily married for about 24 of those years — the first two being a masterclass in how not to be married. We had some growing up to do. Today, Tanya is the Chief of Staff at a Christian non-profit and my partner in every adventure.
We have four incredible kids, ages 17 to 25, and we’re grateful they still love spending time with us. Either we’re fun… or they’re amazing actors. Either way, we're grateful.
My Family
Our 25th anniversary vow renewal in Hawaii — proof that with patience, grace, and a little hard work, marriage gets better every year
How I’m Wired
A few helpful snapshots of how I’m built:
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Personality-wise, I’m one of those people who sits right on the line between introvert and extrovert. In the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator system (a simple personality-wiring framework I find helpful), I technically test as an ENFP — but my introversion and extroversion scores are tied, and in real life I resonate more with INFP wiring.
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I’m reflective, creative, values-driven, and energized by meaningful conversations. In other words: I recharge in quiet spaces but come alive when the connection is real. It’s a fun mix that lets me connect easily with people while still needing pockets of quiet to recharge and stay grounded.
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If you’re into the Enneagram, you might be wondering what type I am.
I share that story — and why it matters — inside my free Relationship Clarity Guide.
(It surprised me when I first discovered it.)
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In the Working Genius model, I’m an Inventor + Enablement, which means I naturally generate fresh ideas and love supporting people as they begin putting those ideas into practice.
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I’m a certified iEQ9 Enneagram coach, trained to help individuals, couples, and teams understand themselves and one another with clarity and compassion.
Put simply:
I care about noticing what others often miss, communicating with warmth and clarity, and helping people take meaningful steps toward growth.
A Few Fun Things About Me
Life isn’t all seriousness — here are some things that bring me joy:
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Hardcore Survivor fan (still applying… still waiting for Jeff Probst to call)
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CrossFit enthusiast who loves the community as much as the workouts
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Former pitcher scouted by an MLB club at age 16 (lifelong Blue Jays fan)
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Worship leader since high school and occasional pub musician doing covers of Coldplay, John Mayer, U2, Tom Petty, Ed Sheeran, and more
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Pixar movies make me tear up every single time
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Huge fan of classic comedies like Monty Python, Dumb and Dumber, Tommy Boy, Elf, and Talladega Nights
What You Can Expect From My Work
Whether you’re listening to the podcast, reading my upcoming book, or joining me for coaching, here’s what you can expect:
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A safe, honest, judgment-free space
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Real-life help for real-life problems
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Practical tools for your relationships, emotions, and spiritual life
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Encouragement that doesn’t feel preachy
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Faith conversations that meet you where you are
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Insight shaped by empathy, humility, and lived experience
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A voice that cares more about making a difference than making a point
My hope is simple:
That you’ll feel seen, supported, and encouraged in ways that help you grow — in your relationship with yourself and with others.
And if questions about faith or meaning are part of your journey, there’s space for that too.
If that sounds like the path you’re on, I’d be honoured to walk with you.