Leading with: Agency

Leading Through Choice: The Power of Agency and Resolve

On August 26, 2025, I rang the bell at Emory Health to signify the end of 37 radiation treatments. It was a milestone that marked the end of my second bout with prostate cancer. In those moments, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the tremendous support of my family and friends. I truly could not have gotten through that journey in one piece without that community and the many resources available to me.

And yet, while I was celebrating the joy of finishing radiation, I was not ready to share the news that I had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease just one week earlier.

Unbeknownst to me, my wife had been noticing concerning symptoms for months. She and my eldest daughter eventually put their heads together and strongly urged me to get a referral to see a neurologist who specialized in Parkinson’s. Their intuition was the catalyst for everything that followed, and I am so thankful for their persistence in getting me into treatment so quickly. At my first clinical visit in February, the doctor noted clear symptoms but was not ready to make an official diagnosis. She asked me to return in August. After a second assessment, she spoke those painful words: My diagnosis is that you do have Parkinson’s Disease.

I am not always the most emotional person, but that moment hit me hard and I started to cry. My neurologist simply put her hand on my shoulder and was just present with me in my emotion. Even in that moment of pain, I felt a deep appreciation for her empathy and support. I spent a day or two feeling sorry for myself, but I quickly realized that staying in that grief would only give the disease more power over me.

Perhaps it was a subconscious spark from the teachings of Viktor Frankl, but I felt a pull toward the idea that while I could not control my circumstances, I could absolutely choose my response. Wanting to reclaim my agency and lean into that freedom, I decided the only real course of action was to take on Parkinson’s with absolute conviction and determination.

I immersed myself in research and consulted experts. I read stacks of books from dear friends and signed up for Occupational, Speech, and Physical Therapy. I became a student of my own health, committing to a medical plan, integrating recommended medications, and dropping significant weight to give my body its best fighting chance. I told my trainer, Jess, about the diagnosis and she immediately began weaving specific movements into our sessions to support my fight.

Two books particularly changed my outlook. The Brain’s Way of Healing by Dr. Norman Doidge introduced me to John Pepper, who has managed his condition for over 40 years through intense walking. Then I read a funny book called To Beat Parkinson’s You Must Stand on Your Head by Wojciech Wasilewski. The title is a metaphor: to fight this disease, you have to turn your life around and choose daily action over stagnation.

I even rewrote my personal mission statement to include the choice I face every single day: Wallow or Win.

Since August 19, I have chosen to win every day. That winning looks like high intensity interval training on my bike or rower. It is the boxing bag Claudia bought me and the energy to travel or fully show up for my grandchildren. It is the magnificent support from Jess, the fantastic therapists at Emory, my spiritual coach Lorell, and the encouragement from my friends and clients. Most of all, it is the extraordinary love and encouragement from my family and especially from Claudia.

Three weeks ago, I had a follow up appointment. After an extensive assessment, my neurologist looked at me and shared: You are doing amazing; there is no physical evidence that you have Parkinson’s.

I was elated and filled with gratitude. I am not naive enough to believe I have conquered this forever. However, for now, the visible symptoms I exhibited months ago have disappeared. The shuffling feet, the soft speech, the stooping, and the lack of any normal swing in my arms are gone.

The Ending

I have learned that while we cannot always choose our diagnosis, we can choose our response. That looks different for everyone. I am deeply aware that my journey has been bolstered by incredible resources, a dedicated medical team, and a family that could step in when I could not see the way forward. Not everyone has that same village or the same starting line.

But regardless of our circumstances or the complexities we face, I believe there is a quiet power in deciding not to let a difficult moment have the final say. We might not be able to change the facts of our situation, but we can try to find one small way to move forward within them.

A thought for you today: We all face that daily choice: Wallow or Win. I am aware that our resources and complexities are all so different, and some days, winning feels harder than others. Sometimes winning is a high intensity workout; other days, it is simply deciding to show up for the people we love despite the weight we are carrying.

If you are facing a challenge right now, I invite you to join me in that choice. Identify one area where you have been feeling stagnant and take one manageable step that feels right for your life. You do not have to solve the whole problem today. Just choose one small way to reclaim your momentum and move toward the version of yourself that wins. What does winning look like for you today?