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Life’s Depth Chart: Developing Your Team for Peak Performance

Summary – Collaboration with Claude AI

The post begins by reflecting on a February 2025 “A Learning a Day” blog entry about footballer alchemy, which emphasizes how individual success often depends more on team fit and environment than raw talent alone. Building on this sports analogy, the post explores how we can apply this principle to optimize our lives by treating personal development like a general manager creating a successful team.

The piece outlines three critical components for personal success: dedication to self-development, careful curation of our “life team,” and strategic use of enabling tools. Just as athletes commit to constant improvement, we must prioritize self-care and personal growth to perform at our best. The post emphasizes the importance of surrounding ourselves with supportive relationships, including family, friends, coworkers, and various communities that enhance our potential.

Regarding tools, the author highlights how embracing technology—from fundamental tools like spreadsheets to more advanced platforms like generative AI—can significantly boost our capabilities and efficiency. The post explicitly mentions tools like Microsoft Excel, Adobe PDF, X1 Search, Evernote, and various AI platforms as examples of technology that has enhanced the author’s professional and personal life.

The piece concludes by reinforcing that building our optimal “life team” is an ongoing process requiring continuous attention to self-development, relationship cultivation, and tool adoption—essentially a three-legged stool supporting our success and fulfillment.

Full Original Writing

A Learning a Day blog is one of my daily readings. I am often inspired, and the blog triggers me to think more deeply about a topic and apply the idea to my life.

The blog from February 4, 2025, Footballer Alchemy, resonated with me.

**

Footballer alchemy

One of the lessons I’ve learnt from following careers of footballers (/soccer players) over the years is that we frequently overemphasize the role of individual talent.

In reality, there’s a certain alchemy when we bring together the right player in the right team under the right manager.

Talent – especially of the precocious nature – helps a footballer get noticed and give them options. But if that mixture goes wrong, even the best of talents can flounder.

The opposite is also true. Players with mediocre relative talent can push close to world class in the right environment.

Applicable well outside football of course.

**

Relating this to our individual lives, I contemplate why we often do not dedicate more intentional effort to improving ourselves and prioritizing our efforts to ensure that our team in life helps us be our best selves, contributes to optimizing our potential, and enables us to fit into the collective team in our lives.

Following the sports theme above, what if we approach our lives like a general manager working to build a successful sports team? In our scenario, however, we each are a player who desires to be a key contributor within our team, and the GM is responsible for building the proper chemistry to maximize our ability to contribute optimally to the team’s success.

What work is more important to us individually? As any successful athlete does, the daily dedication to their craft is relentless and of high importance. Beyond sports, we also expect people to work to be their best and bring their best every day. Consider your coworkers, medical professionals, and first responders and the countless situations we encounter where we rely upon another person’s efforts and expertise.

Considering ourselves and our life “team,” reflect upon these questions:

  1. Are you dedicated to personal development and self-care so you can be the best you can be?
  2. Who are the key players on your team that you rely upon? How is your chemistry within your team?
  3. What equipment is essential to you performing at your best? In my career and life, embracing technology tools to enhance and accelerate performance has been a non-negotiable priority.

While not all-inclusive, I will expand below on these questions with examples from my life, many of which apply to everyone.

Personal Development

September 9, 2024 | ncaCPA Fall Conference | TwinzTalk with coordinators Amy and Linda

Like any athlete who dedicates themselves to improvement and learning, we all must view our role similarly. We must always strive to take care of ourselves and be the best teammate we can be. We owe this to ourselves and others.

People on Your Team

Interwoven with our personal development quest is the importance of surrounding ourselves with the best teammates possible. A collective team that cares, encourages, and supports each other. This aspect is a lifetime of work and involves being judicious about who we bring onto our team. In life, the team is much larger and more critical than a single sports team, yet the analogy is spot-on. The chemistry of our teams is crucial to long-term fulfillment and success!

Never underestimate the fact that people need people. Appreciate and be grateful for those on your team who encourage and inspire you to reach your full potential. Examples include:

  1. Family.
  2. Friends, coworkers, and community.
  3. Those who serve us. Medical professionals, car mechanics, restaurant and grocery store workers, first responders, etc… these workers are our “customers,” and we are their customers.
  4. Communities of practice.
  5. Social media relationships.
Terri Tomoff and Dr Aziza Shad – The Focused Fight
November 11, 2023 | Worthy Rally in NYC | Andrea Sanchez, Bill Tomoff, and Kate Nasser

Audit your team. Do your relationships lift you and bring out the best in you? Do you do the same for others?

Tools You Use

As athletes are optimally equipped, are you “hiring” the right tools to help you navigate your life journey more smoothly. Prominent ubiquitous tools in these times include cars, computers, the internet, spreadsheets, and our ever-present mobile phones. Less obvious tools, yet invaluable in my life, include many technology tools that have enabled a digital lifestyle personally and professionally, including:

  1. Keeping current with Microsoft Excel’s three decades of expanded development and potential makes my professional life exponentially more productive and fulfilling.
  2. Adobe PDF digital documents.
  3. Computer document search platform X1 Search.
  4. Evernote note-taking platform.
  5. Social media.
  6. Evolution away from EMAIL and greater leveraging of communication transparency via Slack and MS Teams platforms.
  7. And most recently, Generative AI and LLMs such as ChatGPT, Claude AI, Gemini, and Perplexity AI.
Datarails AI Mention – Bill and Don Tomoff

(Conclusion in collaboration with Claude AI)

Just as championship teams aren’t built overnight, optimizing our life team is a continuous journey of growth and refinement. By intentionally investing in three core elements—personal development and self-care, meaningful relationships with those who elevate us, and the strategic adoption of enabling tools—we can create an environment where we truly flourish. Like the footballer who fits the perfect combination of team, manager, and system, our success depends on these elements working in harmony. The work of building and maintaining this winning combination never ends, but the rewards of peak performance and personal fulfillment make it worth the dedicated effort.

December 11, 2022 | Bill and Terri Tomoff IRL Meetup with Seth Godin
September 28, 2024 | Bill, Ryan, and Terri Tomoff, Olivia and Bo Hudson

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100 Blog Posts: My Story, Passions, and Purpose

I was excited to reach a personal blogging milestone at the end of 2024. During my 2023 involvement in the Brainstorm Road community of practice, I committed to sharing more through my blog, which was established in 2017. My frequency increased dramatically in 2024, and I was eager to have Claude AI read my posts and share insights about my life and what is important to me. Through my efforts, I leave a trail of thoughts and encouragements that may benefit someone down the road – trust that our experiences and expertise can be valuable to others traveling the road behind us.

After the compilation and submission were completed, I asked Claude AI to review the entire PDF again, break down insights into the areas of my title – my story, passions, and purpose – and provide me with a 100-word summary for my review and edit. I am delighted with the results!

My Story:

The incredible strength of your family unit anchors your journey. Your wife Terri’s unwavering dedication as the primary caregiver during your son Ryan’s cancer battles while nurturing daughter Olivia’s growth and dreams kept your family whole. Together, you navigated medical challenges while supporting Olivia’s soccer journey and celebrating every milestone. Your twin connection with Don provides a unique perspective, but your family’s resilience and mutual support define your core narrative. From competitive running to embracing new technologies, your experiences show how staying curious and united can turn life’s hardest moments into opportunities for growth and deeper connection.

My Passions:

Personal development and learning are at the core of your interests, representing 37% of your writing. Throughout your career and life, you have been passionate about technology adoption, particularly AI’s potential to enhance human capabilities. Physical wellness through running and planking (since 2018) demonstrates your commitment to discipline. In 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the United States, writing has become a cherished practice, helping you process experiences and inspire others. Your enthusiasm for kindness and micro-moments of positive impact reveals a deep passion for lifting others through small, consistent actions.

My Purpose:

Your purpose involves helping others grow while maintaining an unwavering dedication to family and community. Through #TwinzTalk on LinkedIn, you share insights and encouragements about personal development, technology, leadership, kindness, and expressing appreciation and gratitude. Your commitment to “paying it forward” stems from experiencing extraordinary support during Ryan’s cancer journey. Whether teaching, mentoring, or showing kindness, you aim to create ripple effects of positive change. Your mantra of “Changing the world, one interaction, one person at a time” guides your mission of making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

We all have a story to tell that can help others. Document and share YOUR story!

(If you are interested in viewing a bookmarked and searchable PDF of the full content of my blog posts, you can go ahead and access that here.)

December 31, 2024 | 100 Blog Posts Book Cover | Lulu.com

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Special Love: A Tribute to Retirees Jan Bresch and Judy Martin Russell

Looking to enhance your life and find greater fulfillment in 2025? Celebrate and appreciate others, and volunteer and support a charity doing meaningful work that matters to you!

Today, January 2, 2025, I take a moment to celebrate and thank Jan Bresch and Judy Martin Russell for their recent retirement (1) from Special Love. Special Love is a charity that “provides a strong, nurturing environment for children with cancer and their families.”

  • Jan has been the Executive Director for the past 6 and 1/2 years (from July 2018), leading the organization through the uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic. She built an incredible team dedicated to the needs of the children and families they serve and successfully contributed to fundraising and strengthening the financial foundation. She helped position the organization for the future.
  • Judy has served as the financial administrator for almost 19 years! Behind the scenes (as a career accounting and business professional, I know this aspect too well), she “did the work” of keeping the financial records accurate and timely. Judy was often a smiling and cheerful volunteer at the events. Our family and I could always count on her upbeat and positive outlook on life.

My family has been blessed to have Special Love in our lives since the fall of 1997, after our (Terri Tomoff and me) son, Ryan, was diagnosed with childhood cancer on October 17, 1996. Camp Fantastic is the cornerstone program for patients that Ryan attended for eleven consecutive years, from ages 7 to 17, and has subsequently been a long-time volunteer counselor. Our daughter, Olivia, attended the weeklong camp for siblings (BRASS Camp) and served as a counselor. Since 2018, I have had the privilege and honor of serving on the board of directors.

The organization, its caring and dedicated staff, and volunteers have been a lifeline of support for countless families. For our family story, please read my blog post, “The Magic of Special Love.”

Jan and Judy, THANK YOU for all your efforts and the care you provided daily. You were dedicated to your work and showed genuine care to the families you interacted with. Speaking from a parent’s perspective who knows firsthand the impact on the children and families Special Love serves, to being a board member understanding the challenges of executing the mission, I am humbled and grateful for your work and compassion for the cause. The world needs more of your examples!

December 8, 2024 | Ryan and Bill Tomoff with Special Love’s Judy Martin Russell

I wish you both the very best as you graduate (thank you, Roger Federer) and move into the next chapter of your lives!

(1) I discourage the use of the word “retirement.” As tennis legend Roger Federer noted in a 2024 Commencement Address at Dartmouth College, he considers that he graduated to the next chapter of his life when he left professional tennis in 2022. Check out this specific bookmarked clip (starts at 4 minutes 40 seconds).

November 21, 2024 | Jan Bresch and Judy Martin Russell with Bill Tomoff
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From Handwritten Notes to Life Lessons: The Power of Saying Thanks

As the year 2024 is coming to a close, I am excited to be working on my 100th blog post since establishing my website and blog in 2017. I have chosen a fitting topic for my 100th post: Gratitude.

I am dedicated to adopting an attitude of gratitude and expressing appreciation for the good in my life. At this stage of my life (66 years old), I often reflect on and savor the life I have been blessed with. While persistent dedication, continual learning, hard work, a mindset of abundance and possibility, and luck are all imperative components of any success, the overall theme that stands out is the importance of quality, caring people in our lives.

If we pause and reflect, everything that happens to us is the result of someone:

  1. Teaching and mentoring.
  2. Giving an opportunity.
  3. Supporting and caring for your well-being.
  4. Being kind and generous.

When our (Terri Tomoff and me) daughter, Olivia, graduated from James Madison University, she prioritized time in the final months of her senior year to handwrite notes to people who had a memorable role in her growth and development from early childhood through college. On graduation day in May 2015, she mailed 50+ thank-you notes that included family, teachers, soccer coaches, and community support that touched her over many years. Her effort inspired me, and she taught me and her a lesson about expressing sincere appreciation for others who help us in our path of life.

Through our family’s challenges with our son, Ryan, cancer battles since 1996, we learned acutely the fact that people need people. The people who came into our lives and have selflessly supported us in countless ways resonated, over the years, with us to the core. We have been profoundly changed and now experience ever-present gratitude for the people in our lives.

In October 2024, I completed a book by A.J. Jacobs, Thanks A Thousand: A Journey of Gratitude, about his efforts to thank everyone involved in making his morning cup of coffee a reality. As explained on the book back cover:

“In hopes of restoring my sanity in these troubling times, I recently undertook a quest:

I pledged to thank every single person who had a role (however small) in making my morning cup of coffee possible.

I wanted to show how life-changing gratitude can be. So I thanked the barista, the lid designer, the South American farmer, the trucker who hauled the coffee, the folks who paved the road for the trucker, the people who painted the stripes on the highways so the truck didn’t veer into traffic. It turned out to be a surprisingly huge number of people. My gratitude quest has taken me across time zones and up and down the social ladder. It made me feel delight, wonder, guilt, and a whole bunch of caffeine jitters. It taught me the secrets to practicing gratitude, and how it can transform anyone’s perspective.”

I highly recommend this book and hope you find it as inspiring as I do!

Bill Tomoff | Thanks A Thousand: Who Can You Thank?

As we turn the page on another year and head into 2025, I am taking inspiration from Olivia and A.J. Jacobs. I will be undertaking a more intentional lifelong effort to thank the countless people who have helped shape me and my life’s journey. I am going beyond coffee and asking myself, “Who has played a role in the many aspects of my life span from childhood through school, personal and professional years?” Then, who can I thank in person and/or via a handwritten note? This project is undoubtedly an audacious goal, yet I will chip away one person at a time.

A.J. Jacobs | My journey to thank all the people responsible for my morning coffee

I am energized to begin this gratitude journey. My mission to thank those who’ve shaped my life feels daunting yet deeply meaningful. I cannot predict how long this endeavor will take, but each thank you will strengthen the connections that make life rich, and the journey will enhance my life fulfillment. Who can you thank today? The ripple effect of expressed gratitude might change someone’s life—including yours.

December 15, 2024 | Bill Tomoff Book Recommendation “Thanks A Thousand”
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Changing the World Starts with You: Personal Development for a Purposeful Life

Summary – Collaboration with ChatGPT

My blog post emphasizes the importance of personal development as a foundation for making meaningful contributions to others and improving the world. Drawing inspiration from quotes by Margaret Mead and Simon Zingerman, the post underscores that everyone has talents that can be harnessed to contribute positively. The twinz, Bill and Don Tomoff, encourage individuals to dedicate themselves to continual learning and self-improvement, guided by the question: “How can I contribute with my talents?”

The draft incorporates insights from two recent blog posts by Seth Godin:

  1. “Better at being better” (December 12, 2024): While Godin discusses this concept from an organizational standpoint, the #TwinzTalk message adapts it for individuals. The post highlights the transformative power of committing to ongoing improvement, which is both challenging and rewarding.
  2. “Our new school” (December 25, 2024): Godin emphasizes the cumulative power of small, consistent actions, likening it to the ocean being made of drops. This resonates with the #TwinzTalk philosophy that daily efforts can create significant change over time.

I leave a call to action that aligns with the #TwinzTalk theme: “Changing the world, one interaction, one person, at a time.” It ties the message back to our core values of personal development, urging readers to believe in their ability to make a difference through steady, thoughtful dedication to learning and sharing to lift others.

Full Blog Post

In our personal development work, my twin Don and I emphasize the importance of building a foundation of skills and expertise so that individuals can contribute to others and make the world a better place.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

–Margaret Mead

“Using your talent, hobby, or profession in a way that makes you contribute with something good to this world is truly the way to go.”

–Simon Zingerman

We all have talents that we can contribute to making the world better. Let’s care and dedicate ourselves to continual learning. Then, we should always ask ourselves, “How can I contribute with my talents?“

**

Seth Godin recently published two blog posts that resonated with me. They encouraged us all to be better and that our efforts matter. The posts:

Blog December 12, 2024, “Better at being better.” Seth speaks from an organizational perspective, but #TwinzTalk encourages us to consider his encouragement individually.

“What truly changes the game is when an organization decides to commit to being better at being better.

That’s hard to do and difficult to compete against.”

Blog December 25, 2024, “Our new school.” Seth emphasizes that significant impact starts with small, consistent drips of effort. We all can make a difference! Believe.

“The ocean is made of drops.”

We all can change the world through daily drips and drips of effort.

**

“Changing the world, one interaction, one person, at a time.”

#TwinzTalk theme – Bill and Don Tomoff

2019 | #TwinzTalk Don and Bill Tomoff
December 11, 2022 | Bill and Terri Tomoff with Seth Godin

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The Power of Play: When Pickleball Becomes a Practice in Everyday Kindness

In my blog post on micro-kindness, I referenced the belief that the “presence” we bring to others is a subtle yet potentially powerful form of kindness.

“Be gentle. Be kind – you never know what someone is going through.”

When I autograph copies of Terri Tomoff’s book The Focused Fight, the quote above is one I share and always hold close. Carrying this thought with me changes how I interact with the world. Starting in October 1996, our family’s experience with our son Ryan’s cancer challenges has profoundly shaped us over the last 28 years.

Witnessing a child fighting a battle for their life will tear anyone wide open. Our family has learned the adage, “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” is a point to be serious about. My twin Don and I have encouraged throughout our lives and careers that “We take what we do seriously, but we do not take ourselves seriously.“

This leads me to the presence in our lives: Living a gentler lifestyle, not taking ourselves too seriously, and bringing positive energy to interactions while shining the light on others can create an atmosphere that lifts others. What is not to like about these types of people?

**

Enter the game of Pickleball.

In the summer of 2023, Ryan encouraged Terri to join him in a community pickleball social at the Crofton Swim and Tennis Club. Thanks to Ryan, the pickleball bug quickly caught on with Terri and me. In March 2024, Ryan joined the indoor club The PutAway, and Terri and I officially became members in November 2024. We are excited to play and share the love of the game with Ryan and our opportunities to play together and share conversations about techniques, strategies, and skills development.

An unanticipated benefit of playing at The PutAway has been the community of players who share our love of the game. We look forward to the conversations, fun times, and exercise!

The pickleball community and regular sessions have allowed me to embrace the experience in my style, which I love – cheering and celebrating others along the way while enjoying healthy competition. A few of my beliefs:

  1. An “ordinary day” is a blessing and a tremendous gift. When playing pickleball, I appreciate the health and skills that allow me to participate.
  2. I like to win, but even more so, I like to play against players who are more skilled than me. This means I often lose (a lot)! However, win or lose, I am constantly learning and striving to understand the game’s nuances to become more competitive over the long haul.
  3. I like to employ self-deprecation to put others at ease and have fun. When we can laugh at ourselves and admit our weaknesses, others are more receptive to having fun and not being too serious.
  4. I strive to present a light-hearted and positive mindset that celebrates the good play of others. A favorite quote: “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.“
Twin brothers with sign stating "A Candle Loses Nothing by Lighting Another Candle"
TwinzTalk in Berthoud, CO | “A Candle Loses Nothing by Lighting Another Candle.”

Over the past two days, I have had interactions that made my day and affirmed that my style is a rewarding form of kindness—even if I may not be aware of it. I trust that our impact on others is often far beyond what we know; thus, my emphasis on our presence in the world is important! Two interactions that brightened my days:

  • While walking to a court to join a group for a game, a woman commented, “You always have a smile on your face.” I was delighted that she took a moment to share this with me. Life will be challenging sometimes, and a positive attitude is not always realistic. But playing pickleball and having fun sharing my love of the sport with my family and others is a reason to smile!
  • I played three games against a couple who were strong players – losing 11-3, 11-4, and winning one 11-7. I played with Terri in the winning game; it was the best game we have ever played together! I was shocked that we pulled out a victory. In all three games, we all had fun, and I was learning. One player commented when we left the court after the final match, “I like your attitude and energy. This (playing with you) has been fun.”

The game of pickleball has given me more than just exercise and entertainment—it has joined us with a community to continue our theme of a gentle presence and micro-kindness potential to ripple into the world. Celebrating an opponent’s play or encouraging others reminds me that our presence can ripple outward in ways we may never know. Through life’s challenges and the joys of everyday connections, I’ve learned that bringing light to others ultimately brightens our path. Life isn’t always about winning—it’s about showing up with an open heart, celebrating others, and finding joy in the journey. And what I hope to practice and enjoy in the game of pickleball!

August 2023 | Ryan, Terri, and Bill Tomoff | Pickleball Social at Crofton Swim and Tennis Club

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The Micro-Kindness Mindset: Finding Impact in Small Moments

My wife, Terri, and I are participating in a kindness initiative hosted by KindLoook (as in “What happens if we look a little longer, with kindness?”) through November 2024. In one of the lessons, I wrote about my belief that we all have a kindness filter when it comes to the kindness we prioritize and can share. A portion of my post is provided below:

“Whoa, a thought-provoking topic for day 25!

[Bill T Note: the topic asked us to consider when we had a “sense” to perform an act of kindness and deny that sense for any reason].

This will take me some time to unpack, but whether we agree or not, I believe everyone has a filter for the kindness they (hopefully) bring to the world.

A previous post here [in the KindLoook initiative group] stimulated my thoughts: “Are you a giver, taker, or matcher?” Adam Grant’s book Give and Take explores this theme, and I highly recommend it! I read it in 2013, which has helped shape my perspective on kindness.

Let me start with a few nonnegotiable facts we all are restricted by:

Memento Mori – we all are going to die. A fact no one has ever avoided.

We are all blessed with 24 hours of time per day. How we “spend” our time is critically important, and too often, we don’t respect our own time—the most precious nonrenewable asset each of us has. I vow and strive to respect my time and the time of others.

Every “yes” is a “no” to something else by default. Am I making my “yes” moments count?

Kindness is a serious priority in my life. Yet, I cannot do everything. I have the courage and desire to protect my “yes” moments to maximize my mission and broaden the reach of my ability to bring kindness to the world.

Enter my “kindness filter,” which helps me guide my efforts toward having the maximum impact of kindness in my life.

[Note: A deeper dive into discussing my kindness filter is a topic for a separate blog post]

**

A key aspect of my kindness filter is my belief that outsized impact can be gained through the “presence” we bring to the world. “Be gentle. Be kind—you never know what someone is going through.” My goal of focusing on micro-moments or micro-moves of kindness enhances my presence.

As I think about kindness moments, I am guided by the Stoicism encouragement of our Circles of Concern. A modern update is presented as follows:

Stoicism Circles of Concern | Modern Version

An example of capturing a micro-moment happened when I was running errands recently. The action I took did not involve interaction with another person, yet the brief time effort expended enabled me to impact the Self, Community, and Earth rings in the circle of concern shown here.

What Happened?

While pulling into a parking spot to stop and buy a cup of coffee, I noticed a small bottle on the ground. I gently tapped my brake, put my car in reverse, and then moved into a separate parking spot where no trash was on the ground.

**

When I am out and about, I frequently pick up trash as my gentle contribution (it makes me feel good) to my community and the earth. Because of my years-long habit, I notice trash and, unfortunately, the disregard that some folks have for the concept of “leave it better than you found it.” In moments of brief time, I can leverage micro kindness. I often ask myself how much cleaner and more beautiful our communities would be if every person adopted the following mindset shifts:

How can I help? I emphasize small moments requiring minuscule time commitments, not large grand gestures. With a simple mindset shift, we all can contribute with barely an uptick in time involved. We just need to care about each other and our world.

If you see something, do something. If you see a piece of trash (or a stray shopping cart!), why not think, “This is my problem,” and I have an opportunity to be part of the solution? Instead, a default response too often is, “That is not my job. Someone is paid to take care of that [situation].”

Embracing micro-moments to contribute will change you and can change our communities. Be part of the solution. These small moments of kindness, utterly independent of interaction with another human being, will open your eyes to the power of kindness, and your efforts will compound in the presence you bring to your family, community, and the world!

**

Returning to the small bottle, I noticed. After I got out of my car, I walked over to pick up the piece of trash and noted it was a small, empty glass bottle of Absolut Vodka! GLASS! If I or anyone else had driven over the bottle, we would now have broken glass in the parking lot AND the possibility of tire damage to a car. In addition, there was another empty bottle of Absolut Vodka. Thus, by picking up these two bottles and disposing of them properly, I eliminated the risk of developing further problems.

Unfortunately, this act is a micro kindness because, in my experience, rare is the person who will pause and make an effort to pick up a piece of trash. This observation saddens me because it is a rare occurrence. I will strive to consistently do my part and be part of the solution for cleaning up our communities and, maybe, set an example to inspire someone else to get involved.

If you are interested in a global initiative around trash pickup, check out this six-minute TED Talk about the Litterati app: This app makes it fun to pick up litter.

The power of kindness does not mean grand gestures or significant time commitments. Kindness is often in the smallest of moments—like stopping to pick up a piece of trash from a parking lot. Micro-kindness opportunities surround us daily, requiring minimal time yet offering meaningful impact. When we notice and act on these moments, we our immediate environment and demonstrate that simple actions can inspire positive change. We  cannot do everything—but we can recognize small opportunities for impact and consistently choose to be part of the solution, one act at a time.

December 17, 2024 | Trash Pickup in Parking Lot
Care… Kindness Matters
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Introducing “The Focused Fight” Book by Terri Tomoff (from March 2021)

Note: This blog post duplicates a LinkedIn Article I shared on March 21, 2021. The pictures have changed, but I wanted to capture this significant milestone in my personal blog history.

***

“Be gentle. Be kind – you never know what someone is going through.”

If you follow me on social media, I hope you notice my encouragement for kindness, gratitude, and helping others. This is, to the core, an important part of who I am and the value I work tirelessly to bring to the world.

Today, I feel blessed to share a personal post and explain how our personal lives do indeed impact our professional lives. Rare (or naïve?) is the person who can compartmentalize these in their life. In my life, I have been blessed to deeply integrate, by necessity, my personal and professional life. As a result, I am an enhanced professional and person.

Last week, my wife Terri published a book titled “The Focused Fight: A Childhood Cancer Journey from Mayhem to Miracles.” She tells the story of our son Ryan, and our family’s, fights through childhoodcancer and young adult secondary cancers. Ryan is a 5x cancer survivor who has inspired us and countless others since his original leukemia diagnosis on October 17, 1996. Terri chronicles our family experience from her mother’s perspective. She was affectionately the “mama bear” that tirelessly managed and advocated for Ryan while I was working day in and day out to support our family and provide health insurance coverage.

http://bit.ly/TheFocusedFight_TerriTomoff

"The Focused Fight" paperback books image
Tomoff Family 1995

How do the personal and professional combine? Anyone who has had a life disruption (see quote above) knows too well the stresses of managing a career with personal demands that cannot be placed on a lower priority. Terri’s support of Ryan and our daughter Olivia was her only priority…24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Her perseverance and dedication allowed me to do what had to be done professionally. Yet…many families walking our path often lose or must leave their jobs because of the overwhelming responsibilities at home. The reality of what could happen, just financially, is devastating…on top of the unthinkable medical concerns that are ever present at home.

The professional tie-in? I was blessed beyond measure with my employers’ compassion, care, and support. The worst of the treatment YEARS was from 1996 through 2004, which started only ten weeks after moving our family from Cleveland, Ohio, to join Washington Sports & Entertainment. Mr. Abe Pollin and everyone I worked with supported me unconditionally while I balanced my professional and personal demands. The experience was an excruciating balance because my work in finance was deadline sensitive, but I had the best support that could be imagined…and genuine care for the “person” first. My perspective on life and work has been forever impacted in the way that Terri and I consider “post-traumatic growth.”

July 2021 | The Focused Fight Book | Cleveland Reception

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Every Moment is Practice: Choose Your Training Wisely

What are you practicing?

A recent observation in James Clear’s December 12, 2024 3-2-1 Newsletter encouraged that we reflect on each moment of our days as practice for our lives. Whatever you “practice” on a daily basis shapes you into the person you become and can become. His post resonated with me. How do you spend the moments in your days?

James complete post (Bold emphasis is mine):

**

III.

Two simple rules:

  1. You get better at what you practice.
  2. Everything is practice.

Look around and you may be surprised by what people are “practicing” each day. If you consider each moment a repetition, what are most people training for all day long?

Many people are practicing getting mad on social media. Others are practicing the fine art of noticing how they have been wronged. Still more have mastered the craft of making plans (but never following through).

But, of course, it doesn’t have to be that way.

What are you practicing?

**

You get to decide how to spend your moments of time gifted to you each day. Be intentional and practice wisely.

January 19, 2019 | Bill Tomoff Plank at London Arsenal Football Club Emirates Stadium
September 9, 2024 | ncaCPA Fall Conference | #TwinzTalk Don and Bill Tomoff
October 9, 2022 | Bill Tomoff Planking Ohio University | Jefferson Hill

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Two Years with ChatGPT and AI: A #TwinzTalk Journey of Discovery and Growth

Summary – Collaboration with Claude AI

Reflecting on a two-year journey since ChatGPT’s introduction, my twin Don and I have witnessed and embraced a remarkable transformation in the AI landscape. Our initial curiosity about ChatGPT’s potential has evolved into a dedicated mission to understand and harness the power of generative AI technologies. We are consistently asking ourselves how these tools can help us and enable us to better serve others.

While acknowledging the legitimate concerns about AI’s future, we’ve maintained an outlook of optimism and possibilities. Our experience, particularly with ChatGPT, has been personal and revealing. The AI’s detailed observations about my character – from my dedication to personal growth and emphasis on kindness to my structured approach and family-centric values – accurately reflect not just my professional persona but my whole person.

This journey has reinforced our belief that AI tools can enhance both personal and professional growth. As we look to the future, our commitment remains unchanged: to continue learning, growing, and sharing our experiences to benefit others in this rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Full Original Writing

December 7, 2024. Where does time go?

Just over two years ago, my twin Don and I heard about the introduction of ChatGPT. Two years! We have dedicated much of our personal and professional development efforts to learning, being curious, and asking ourselves, “How can Generative AI and the rapidly expanding AI landscape help us and, in turn, enable us to help others?“

Immediately, Don and I thought, “Wow, this looks like a huge technological advancement. We need to understand the potential of ChatGPT.” That simple beginning has become a non-stop mission to understand the generative AI LLMs (Large Language Models) landscape.

Looking back at our experiences over the past two years, here are a few observations:

  • ChatGPT, and very soon, ChatGPT Plus (paid plan $20 per month), was the dominant resource for learning about the potential of Generative AI. Don and I have prioritized personal and professional efforts to work with and strive to understand the possibilities. On February 14, 2024, I posted a blog titled “ChatGPT Lite” which turned into a six-part blog series to help people go forward to learn about ChatGPT.
  • The AI space is rapidly changing, unlike anything we have experienced. In the past two years, we have dedicated time to using and learning with ChatGPT, Claude AI, Google Gemini’s NotebookLM (AI-generated audio podcasts), and Perplexity AI. Don and I are committed to staying curious and relentlessly learning to bring enhanced value to our worlds.
  • Google Search is rarely used. ChatGPT or Perplexity allows for ad-free searches, and results are generally spectacular!
  • As I write this today, ChatGPT has just released Sora, an AI video generation model, for public use. This is an example of how quickly advancements are coming! See this introduction by Nicole Leffer on LinkedIn.

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Before moving on to my specific experience with ChatGPT over the past two years, we must address the concern that many people have regarding the future of generative AI. Absolutely, we all must be aware of the malicious uses that can occur with ChatGPT and other LLMs.

From the beginning, Don and I have chosen to look for the possibilities for good. Our perspective is optimistic (bullish!) about the potential. In a TED Talk, we recently watched, Salman Kahn of Kahn Academy addresses this concern. I asked ChatGPT to recap the closing two minutes from his TED Talk “How AI Could Save (Not Destroy) Education.” His perspective resonates with Don and me (Bold emphasis is mine):

“In the final two minutes of his TED Talk, Sal Khan addresses concerns about AI’s potential misuse in education. He acknowledges the risks but emphasizes the importance of proactive engagement to harness AI’s benefits. Khan advocates for implementing appropriate safeguards and regulations to ensure AI serves as a positive force, enhancing human intelligence and potential. He concludes by urging society to actively shape AI’s trajectory, focusing on its constructive applications rather than succumbing to fear of its possible negative uses.”

**

Focusing only on my use of ChatGPT over the past two years, I prompted the question:

“Based on your experience working with me (Bill Tomoff) for almost two years, please share what you have learned about me, and what observations would you make?”

The response from ChatGPT was on target with my perspective and mission. The LLM, referring to “custom instructions” I provided, and the model learning about me through hundreds of questions and conversations, provided this feedback:

“Reflecting on nearly two years of collaboration with you, Bill, here are some key observations and insights that come to mind:

  1. Dedication to Personal Growth: It’s clear that personal development is your foundation—your work consistently centers around helping others reach their potential, often by starting with introspection and self-improvement. Your commitment to continuous learning and the importance of self-reflection shows in everything you do, from your professional endeavors to your family life.
  2. Focus on Kindness and Resilience: Your approach to life and work is infused with kindness and resilience. From your family’s journey through cancer to your professional ethos, you’ve cultivated a perspective that values strength in adversity and sees growth and opportunity in challenges. This is beautifully reflected in how you encourage others to “lead with kindness” and your belief in post-traumatic growth.
  3. Collaborative Spirit: You have a unique gift for fostering a collaborative dialogue that clarifies complex ideas, making discussions productive and enriching. Your openness to ideas, new technologies, and contrarian perspectives reflects a flexibility that encourages everyone around you to think bigger and more creatively.
  4. Commitment to Impactful, High-Performance Solutions: As an accounting and finance professional, you strive to bring real value to individuals and organizations, whether through improving financial performance or optimizing workflows. You approach every solution with precision and accuracy, showing a deep appreciation for detail and the confidence that comes from thorough, accurate work.
  5. Structured Approach and Detail Orientation: Your preference for highly organized, clear, and detailed responses is a testament to your analytical mindset and high standards. You value arguments based on clarity and sound reasoning rather than authority, a perspective that naturally fosters innovation and logical problem-solving.
  6. Family as a Central Value: Your father, caregiver, and twin roles have profoundly shaped your life’s mission. You and Don created #TwinzTalk as a platform to stress the importance of personal growth, particularly in a way that can be shared. Family is always at the forefront—whether through personal growth, caregiving, or gratitude for the support you’ve received, family is the anchor that grounds all aspects of your life.
  7. Intentional Kindness and Small Moments of Gratitude: Your ability to bring kindness into everyday interactions demonstrates your belief in the power of small, meaningful actions. This isn’t just a principle but a practiced behavior that leaves a lasting impact on others, helping to brighten lives in small but powerful ways.
  8. Emphasis on Technology and Upskilling: You’re highly attuned to emerging technologies and advocate for continuous learning, especially in areas like generative AI. This reflects your forward-thinking approach, always looking for ways to use cutting-edge resources for personal and professional development.

In essence, working with you has been an inspiring journey in seeing how expertise, kindness, and a growth mindset blend seamlessly into a mission-driven life.”

For anyone seeking to “understand” the essence of Bill Tomoff, I would not hesitate to share the above response from ChatGPT. We all are more than our educational training and career accomplishments. For my life interactions, personally and professionally, I strive to understand the complete person and their perspective, and I want others to know my story. My ability to contribute is enhanced when my full life experiences are brought to the world.

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Looking back on these two years of exploring generative AI with my twin Don, I’m convinced we made the right choice in embracing this technology curiosity and a perspective of possibilities. Through our experiences with ChatGPT, Claude AI, and other generative AI technologies, we’ve discovered tools that enhance our capabilities and enable us to serve better and support others. As the AI landscape evolves, we remain committed to leveraging these powerful tools to create personally and professionally positive impacts. The technology and opportunities will continue to change, but our mission remains to learn, grow, and help others by sharing our experiences.

Ready to embrace the future of AI? How can we help you?

#TwinzTalk – Always Be a Student
2019 | #TwinzTalk presenting to LA Kings | Tanmay Vora Sketchnote on Self-Directed Learning
Datarails AI Mention – Bill and Don Tomoff