Why does everything we do have to be productive?

We track our steps. Set reading goals. Fill our travel itineraries. Turn hobbies into side hustles. Even relaxation can become something we're supposed to optimize.

But what if enjoyment is enough?

In this episode of Notes from the Window Seat, I start with a simple walk with my dog Lucy—one that sometimes doesn't even make it out of the front yard—and I explore our tendency to measure experiences by what they accomplish.

From giving yourself permission to spend an afternoon lost in a novel to stumbling into an unplanned local festival in the Azores, this episode is about leaving room for things that don't have an outcome, a purpose, or a place on the agenda.

Because a life filled with productive days isn't necessarily the same thing as a life filled with good days.

In this episode:

• Why Lucy and Marty have very different definitions of a successful walk
• When hobbies become another form of work
• Giving yourself permission to enjoy something without guilt
• Why a good travel itinerary needs some empty space
• The difference between wasting your life and wasting a little time
• A different question to ask at the end of the day

Not everything worthwhile has to get you somewhere.

Sometimes doing something simply because you enjoy it...is enough.

Learn more about the window seat here: Notes From The Window Seat

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What are you looking for as you move through your day?

On a beach I've walked for years, I rarely pick up shells anymore. But I'm always looking for sea glass—those tiny pieces of white, green, and occasionally blue glass that have been softened by years in the surf.

Finding one feels a little like discovering treasure. But I've realized the real gift may not be finding the sea glass at all.

It's the looking.

In this episode of Notes from the Window Seat, I'm taking you along on one of my walks before sunrise to explore anticipation, attention, familiarity, and the small things that can still delight us.

Because sometimes the treasure isn't what you find.

It's having something worth looking for.

Learn more about the window seat here: Notes From The Window Seat

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Why awe, wonder, and a little perspective can make life feel bigger. 

When was the last time you stood somewhere that made you realize just how small you are?

Not insignificant. Not unimportant. Just small.

In this episode of Notes from the Window Seat, 

I travel from the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu to the vast landscape of the Azores and the quiet of a freshly covered ski slope to explore three very different kinds of awe.

Machu Picchu made me feel small in time.

The Azores made me feel small in space.

And a quiet mountain covered in fresh snow made me feel small in the silence.

Along the way, I explore why those moments matter—and why feeling small can sometimes make life feel much bigger.

Because awe doesn't necessarily make our problems disappear.

Awe widens the frame.

And sometimes, that's exactly the perspective we need.

Sometimes the world needs to make us feel small so we can remember how big life really is.

A Question for You

When was the last time you stood somewhere that made you realize just how small you are?

Want to learn more about what we do: Notes From The Window Seat

Learn more about the window seat here: Notes From The Window Seat

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What Have You Stopped Noticing?

The longer we're around something, the less we tend to see it. The neighborhood we drive through every day. The people we've known for years. Even the sunrise we've promised ourselves we'll stop to watch "someday."

In this episode of Notes from the Window Seat, I explore why familiarity makes remarkable things feel ordinary—and how curiosity helps us rediscover the wonder hiding in everyday life.

From early morning beach walks to traveling through unfamiliar countries, you'll discover why becoming a beginner again may be one of the healthiest things we can do.

In This Episode

•  Why our brains naturally stop noticing familiar things 
•  The hidden danger of "The Expert Trap" 
•  How travel makes us curious again 
•  The "Tourist Effect" and how to experience your hometown differently 
•  Why curiosity strengthens relationships 
•  A simple challenge to help you see the ordinary in extraordinary ways 

Window Seat Challenge

This week, visit a place you know well and pretend you've never been there before.

As you walk, ask yourself:

•  What am I overlooking? 
•  If this were my first visit, what would surprise me? 

You may not discover a new place. But you just might discover a new perspective.

 "The world rarely becomes less interesting.  We simply become less curious." 

Learn more about what we do here: Notes From The Window Seat

Learn more about the window seat here: Notes From The Window Seat

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Why is the window seat the best seat on the plane?

Most people would say it's because of the view.

But what if it's something much deeper?

In this episode of Notes from the Window Seat, I explore why I always chose the window seat—and how that simple choice has become a philosophy for travel, photography, business, and everyday life.

Along the way you'll discover three lessons the window seat teaches us:

• Perspective – Sometimes we need distance before we can truly see.
• Anticipation – The journey begins long before we arrive.
• Attention – The best moments belong to those who slow down long enough to notice them.

Whether you're planning your next adventure, leading a business, or simply trying to be more present, this episode is an invitation to become an observer instead of simply a passenger.

In This Episode

• Why I always choose the window seat
• The beauty of watching a sunrise over a new country
• Why anticipation is part of every meaningful journey
• The surprising lesson hidden in the middle seat
• How photography teaches patience

"The best seat on the plane isn't about the view. It's about becoming an observer instead of simply a passenger."

The best views rarely belong to the people in the biggest hurry.

Before you rush to the next thing, pause for just a moment. Look out your own window. You might discover that the moment you were racing toward has already begun.

Learn more about the window seat here: Notes From The Window Seat

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Welcome to the first episode of Notes from the Window Seat.

In this special episode, Marty shares the story behind the podcast's new name and the journey that inspired it. What began as conversations about business and leadership has grown into something broader—a place to explore travel, leadership, curiosity, and the everyday moments that quietly change the way we see the world and ourselves.

From a spontaneous trip to England nearly forty years ago to adventures in Antarctica, Africa, and beyond, Marty reflects on how saying "yes" to one unexpected opportunity sparked a lifelong love of discovery.

Because Notes from the Window Seat isn't just about travel.

It's about perspective.

Grab a cup of coffee, pull up a chair by the window, and join us for the beginning of a new chapter.

In This Episode

• Why the podcast has a new name
• The trip that changed everything
• How curiosity shaped a lifetime of travel
• Why the best journeys teach us to see differently
• What you can expect from future episodes

 There's always a seat waiting for you by the window. New episodes every Monday. 

Learn more about the window seat here: Notes From The Window Seat

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Most business leaders have a dashboard.

Revenue.
 Profit.
 Labor costs.
 Sales.
 KPIs.

Those numbers matter—but what if they're only telling part of the story?

In this episode, I'll challenge a common leadership assumption: that measuring more numbers automatically leads to better results. Instead, you'll discover why many of the most important drivers of business success never appear on a financial report.

Learn the three areas every leader should be measuring if they want to build a stronger culture, develop better people, create loyal customers, and achieve sustainable business growth.

In this episode you'll learn:

•  Why financial metrics are lagging indicators 
•  The difference between measuring outcomes and measuring behaviors 
•  Four measurements every successful leader should be tracking 
•  How your measurements shape your company culture 
•  Questions to evaluate whether you're focusing on what truly matters 

The Three Leadership Measurements

• People Growth

• Customer Experience

• Leadership Consistency

This Week's Leadership Challenge

Review your business dashboard and ask yourself:

"If someone looked only at what I'm measuring, what would they conclude matters most in my business?"

You may discover you've been measuring success...

instead of measuring what creates success.

Learn more about the window seat here: Notes From The Window Seat

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Every business owner has stories they tell themselves.

"No one wants to pay my prices." "I can't find good employees." "Marketing doesn't work." "I'm too small to compete."

But what if those aren't facts? What if they're simply stories that have been repeated so often, they've become accepted as truth?

In this episode we explore how our assumptions shape the decisions we make—and introduces the concept of confirmation bias, the psychological tendency to seek evidence that supports what we already believe while ignoring evidence that challenges it.

You'll learn how questioning your own assumptions can unlock better leadership, stronger decision-making, and new opportunities for growth.

Sometimes changing your business starts by changing your perspective.

In This Episode You'll Learn

Reflection Questions:

What story have I accepted as fact without questioning it? What evidence supports that belief? What evidence might I be ignoring? If the opposite were true, what would I expect to see? What would change if I approached this challenge with curiosity instead of certainty?

The stories you believe become the decisions you make. Change the story, and you may change the future of your business.

CONNECT & LEARN MORE

LFT Consulting.com

Get my book: https://a.co/d/08uClt2L

Learn more about the window seat here: Notes From The Window Seat

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Every leader knows they need to have difficult conversations. The problem isn't knowing what to say. The problem is waiting so long to say it.

In this episode, we explore why good leaders often avoid honest performance conversations, how assumptions slowly replace curiosity, and why employees are sometimes written off before they've ever been given a real opportunity to succeed.

You'll learn why clarity is one of the greatest acts of leadership and how avoiding uncomfortable conversations can damage trust, morale, and performance for everyone involved.

In This Episode:

Coach while you're still curious—not after you've become frustrated.  Great leaders address problems early, before resentment has a chance to grow.

Reflection Question - Who on your team have you already fired in your mind... before you've coached them well enough to succeed?

CONNECT & LEARN MORE

LFT Consulting.com

Get my book: https://a.co/d/08uClt2L

Learn more about the window seat here: Notes From The Window Seat

Follow us on Instagram @windowseat2a

Most business owners and executives think taking time off is the challenge.

It's not.

The real question is whether you've built a business that allows you to step away without everything grinding to a halt.

In this episode, we explore why vacation is one of the greatest leadership tests you'll ever take.

If the thought of being unavailable for a week fills you with anxiety, this conversation isn't really about vacation—it's about trust, delegation, leadership, and the systems you've built.

You'll also discover why disconnecting from work isn't enough. To truly recharge, you have to slow down enough to experience the moments you've worked so hard to create.

In this episode we talk about: 

Did you build your business to create a better life…or have you built a business that keeps you from living it?

If that question makes you a little uncomfortable, then it's one episode you really need to listen too. 

Learn more about the window seat here: Notes From The Window Seat

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