From a very early age, I was pretty good at learning just about anything -- academics, art, music, sports, nature, cooking, technology, whatever.  I really enjoyed learning and exploring.  I found out after a little while, however, that I was getting quite distracted by two big things -- sounds and emotions. 

I was fascinated by sound, and I easily let my attention be captivated by sounds in my environment -- bird songs, materials bumping into each other, people's voices, music of any kind -- and I felt compelled to replay it over and over in my mind and even mimic it all. 

I would also often get lost in emotional vortexes, either in my own or in those of others.  I spent inordinate amounts of time contemplating the source and nature of emotions, and I was entranced by any strong emotional displays, from joy and humor to anger and depression.  With those strong distractions, you can bet I had a difficult time in school.  I tried to isolate myself so I could concentrate and learn, but the pull of interesting sounds and the suction of emotional vortexes vexed me all through college.

Fortunately, I was born into a 'learning' family.  My father was a teacher at UC Berkeley and then went into biochemical physics, while my mother went from social work to nursing and massage therapy.  My two brothers and I absorbed and fostered our family's culture of continual learning and betterment.  The norm was that each of us was continually learning some new skill, developing some new talent, researching something, experimenting.

I always wanted to learn better, and I wondered why some people really struggled with attention and concentration (like me) and some people didn't.  What was the seemingly magical, arbitrary difference?  And how does learning even happen?  I developed a fascination with how learning occurs in the brain and mind and body and even spirit.  In my studies and research in cognitive science and psychology for over 30 years, I not only honed my own abilities, but also amassed a rich toolbox of powerful, universal techniques for anyone to use in focusing, increasing awareness, and learning.  

Even while exploring many creative avenues -- landscaping, audio engineering, fundraising, acting, photography, building renovation -- I continued my study of meta-physics, the study of what is just beyond the physical realm and senses.  I have now spent most of my career in the teacher's seat, leading classrooms of all ages and backgrounds to self-betterment and self-exploration. My students learn and practice techniques in point-focus, peripheral-focus, concentration, memory, listening, meditation, breathing, visualization, emotional composure, and intuition.  Much of my time is now devoted to one-on-one coaching and speaking to private and campus groups.

Here's my philosophy of education:  how to calm the mind, relax the body, focus and hold the attention, and then how to release the attention is the most important skillset anyone can ever learn.

I have been speaking publicly and teaching awesome ancient techniques for more than 27 years. I have also appeared on midwestern radio and television shows, which included a long-running bi-weekly radio show in Springfield, MO.

Now, I bring a unique perspective to the table.  I was a higher education student myself for 30 years.  Really!  Undergrad, graduate, post-graduate... that's a LOT of classes, papers and tests! 

After contributing to writing four books, my newest book, Ancient Mind Skills for Students, is in the works, as is an awesome online course for training focus and concentration.

My exceptional wife, Christine, has endured my storytelling for 21 years now (27 years if you count dating time). We have two highly-creative, awesome daughters, Alexandra and Vivienna, and we all live in Springfield, Missouri. In my free time, I enjoy renovating houses, gardening, fostering cats, traveling, and telling sometimes wild-but-true stories of ancient history.

My credentials

D.M., (Doctorate of Metaphysics), School of Metaphysics, Springfield, MO.  2011.  (Cognitive Sciences) Dissertation: The Metaphysics of Sound in Healing Applications

M.Div., (Master of Divinity), School of Metaphysics, Springfield, MO.  2005.  (Comparative Religious & Spiritual Studies)

M.B.A., Butler University, Indianapolis, IN. 1995.  (Emphasis in Non-profit Management)

Jordan College of the Arts, Indianapolis, IN. 1988-1992.  (Applied Music, Recording Technology)

B.S., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. 1987.  (Biological Sciences, minor in Communication Arts)