My Walk into the Future allows for numerous adventures I can share with my readers.
Most of these adventures have something to do with travel for races and simply enjoying life.
One of my newer adventures is leveraging the Seaway Drive Bridge as part of my race preparation. I’ve written about this bridge briefly in a few blog articles. There were days when I dreaded seeing or crossing the bridge in my training program. My mindset saw this part of my training as a chore. I decided to flip my mindset in 2025 and embrace the bridge as part of my regular training program. I stopped dreading the bridge and started finding new ways to incorporate it into my race preparation.
Most training plans call for runners to complete hill repeats to prepare for races. There are no hills in Fort Pierce but there are several bridges. I began leveraging the Seaway Drive Bridge to complete my hill repeats last year. The simple view is I would run from the west side of the bridge to the east side. I take a short rest on the east side and then head back west. Up and over, then back again—simple concept. My goal most days is to repeat this process 10 times before I’m done. One time over the bridge is approximately .75 miles. I’m never concerned about time but need to get over and back to complete this workout. I leverage the hill repeats on Sundays because Saturdays are for my long runs.
I also incorporate the Seaway Drive Bridge as part of normal runs between 4 to 6 miles. This is a good way to test my endurance as I start and finish these sessions with bridge incline work. Some of my best run view photos have been taken at the top of this bridge.
The results have been positive. I completed the Nashville Half Marathon this year with minimal leg soreness. I have also been faster with my race times this year. I attribute both outcomes to added hill repeats to my training program. No more days of avoiding the bridge—I’m excited to get my bridge repeats in now and will add more for future training sessions.
What have you been avoiding that may help you move forward? Time to get your hill repeats in!
“Positive anything is better than negative nothing”.
(Elbert Hubbard)
My Walk into the Future provides multiple opportunities for me to network and expand my knowledge base.
I attended Ellucian Live 2025 in Orlando, Florida back in April. My current school is in the process of implementing Banner as our new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) student support system. We’re currently a Workday school and need to modernize the ERP for ease of use for everyone to include students, faculty, staff and administration.
The Ellucian Live event allowed space for us to network and explore available modules for the new system. This was an outstanding way to see how the modules interact and provide a better experience than our current ERP.
My overarching role in the switchover is to identify the modules that will provide us with the best capability for successful implementation. I sat in multiple sessions to hear from experts and other schools on their implementation of best practices. There are a lot of moving parts to successful implementation, and I wanted to ensure we didn’t miss any steps. Fun fact—it’s not my job to run the implementation but my area will be a huge consumer of the completed project.
There were several keynote speakers during the event from diverse backgrounds. There were university and college presidents, actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, the Ellucian CEO and Coach Prime (Deion Sanders). They all had specific messages, but Coach Prime was my favorite speaker.
Coach Prime has a message of positivity and making the world a better place. There are times this message gets lost because folks are not truly listening to what he is saying. He is a true family man and has deep religious beliefs. This is how he lives his life daily.
The Ellucian CEO sat down with Coach Prime to ask him questions during his session. I wish they would have given him a true keynote session and let him deliver his message. He was adept with his responses to her questions but the biggest takeaway I got from him was he never let other people’s issues cause him to have a bad day. He admitted he can and will have a bad moment but does not let that linger and cause a bad day. His message is to focus on the positive in life and shrug off bad moments.
Coach Prime shared, “Don’t drag the bad moments forward and let them mess up a good day” (Ellucian Live 2025).
I remember Coach Prime from his Florida State University and Atlanta Falcons playing days. He had a different nickname back then, Neon Deion. He was flashy, loud and brash—or so we thought. Turns out that was the image of his younger self that does not fit him now. He leverages past experiences to set an example for his children and players.
I love his no bad day message and work to integrate it into my daily endeavors. Bad moments by others will not impact my day or positive outlook.
How can you leverage this principle in your daily life?
“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower”.
(Steve Jobs)
My Walk into the Future is designed to allow me to gain new experiences and share knowledge when needed.
I connected with the Academic Impressions Senior Product Experience Manager during a Retention conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota last October. I knew of her through work communications but got a better understanding of her role while attending the conference.
She knew of my work at Indian River State College in the Advising and Career Services space but did not know I did leadership consulting on the side. I’m happy to share this fact with anyone willing to sit with me so I can expand my portfolio of clients. Also, I’m proud of my Authentic Leadership work and developing new partnerships is something I strive to achieve.
The Academic Impressions mission is to develop the leaders higher education needs to thrive. My Authentic Leadership research and consulting focuses on higher education, but I expand this focus to include any organization looking to enhance leadership development. I shared my leadership training philosophy with the Academic Impressions staff during the conference, and we spent several days discussing a potential partnership between CW Consulting, LLC. and their organization. The organization has a branded, 5 Paths to Leadership program that is leveraged by higher education institutions to build and grow proactive leadership programs.
I was invited out to Denver for the leadership conference to learn more about the Academic Impressions leadership programs and to see how we may be able to introduce Authentic Leadership into their leadership training portfolio. Yes, I’m always looking for ways to partner and find new ways to expand the reach of Authentic Leadership. 😊
I was able to leverage professional development funding for this trip to enlarge my institution’s partnership with Academic Impressions. A bonus to this partnership was the opportunity to visit Denver again and experience the city after work hours. I’ve been to Denver multiple times and enjoy the culture, sightseeing and crisp mountain air.
The Academic Impression leadership conference consisted of higher education professionals from around the country. Several schools sent their entire leadership teams to this conference to build teamwork and synergy towards developing leadership protocols to enhance their daily operations. It was interesting to hear from others in this space to understand the challenges they face in leadership development. FYI—most schools conduct professional development training out of the Organizational Development (OD) department which is part of Human Resources. Most conference attendees worked out of OD at their respective schools and were in the process of building or revamping their leadership training programs. The Academic Impressions 5 Paths to Leadership program was a major draw for everyone in attendance. I was a bit of an outlier as I was trying to determine if Authentic Leadership could be embedded in this leadership principle and possibly become a leadership facilitator with Academic Impressions.
The 5 Paths for Leadership is based on research within the higher education leadership space and has helped multiple schools get positive results in leadership training. My time in Denver allowed me to learn how this leadership program has helped organizations implement leadership training on their respective campuses. The attendees were able to share leadership challenges and get input from facilitators on ways to move forward with new concepts and ideas based on research.
I enjoyed the one-on-one time with the facilitators and the group exercises to identify future challenges to leadership success (example: the political climate in America, reduction in DEI initiatives, etc.). We spent a good amount of time identifying challenges with a Post It Note session and there were consistencies across the board—it did not matter what part of the country we came from; we all had the same thoughts on future challenges. ☹
I made a lot of new leadership connections during this conference and stay in contact with my colleagues to learn new techniques. I plan to follow-up with the Academic Impressions folks to see how I can incorporate Authentic Leadership into their leadership program. This would be a great compliment to their work and would allow me to expand the Authentic Leadership style into the higher education space. I’m always looking for ways to expand and this partnership will provide me with another platform to share with others.
I will provide an update once the Academic Impressions folks pick me up as a facilitator. 😊
Irie!
Calvin Williams
“The art of communication is the language of leadership”.
“Leadership is the capacity to translate a vision into reality”.
(Warren Bennis)
My Walk into the Future provides outstanding opportunities for me to make a difference in the world.
I rarely turn down a chance to speak to groups to help others move forward in life and help them prepare for career success. A work colleague recently asked me if I would be interested in speaking at the Port St. Lucie High School awards ceremony. I was honored with the request and said yes on the spot. I viewed this as an opportunity to reach back and help a group of young leaders on their journey after high school.
This was also a chance for me to work on new speaking material in case I’m asked to speak at graduation ceremonies in the future. I’m always preparing for something. There are times I should ask more questions before accepting these speaking gigs but more on that later. 😀
My role as explained to me was to speak for 5 – 7 minutes and provide inspirational words to the award recipients and other attendees. I was not familiar with PSL High School or the students there so I decided to focus on how they can implement a formula for success. My plan was to use the success formula I was gifted while in the Air Force that I leverage daily.
— Be where you’re supposed to be, doing what you’re supposed to be doing, when you’re supposed to be doing it.
I’ve leverage this success formula for years and it’s helped me progress in my professional and personal life. My goal was to let students know it does not matter where you come from or how you start. Success is available to everyone if they have a goal and grit to strive towards it.
I started with a little background on myself where I shared with the students my lack of success when I first started my educational journey. I attended Lake City Community College right after high school, but I was not successful. I shared that I’m probably the only person they will meet with a Ph. D. who flunked out of community college. This allowed them to see failure can be a part of a successful life and professional journey.
My words were well received by the students, parents, staff and school administrators. I felt good about my message and how I delivered it.
So, why should I have asked better questions prior to the speaking engagement? Great question Lynn! 😊
Well, it turns out the high school principal was out unexpectedly, and they needed someone to fill in handing out awards and taking pictures with over 250 award recipients. Yes, I was elected to fill in for the principal and shake hands with each student that crossed the stage. I joke that it was a chore, but it was an amazing experience to greet the young people who got positive things accomplished during their time at PSL High School.
The highlight for me was when a student with Down Syndrome won the most popular award and he hugged me when he came on stage. He was so excited, and his fellow students were thrilled for him. He danced off stage after receiving his award and there were smiles on the face of everyone in attendance.
My friend, Alisa, attended the event with me for support and ended up taking pictures for me to capture the great moments with the students. We joked that she was my publicist, and several presenters asked her to take their pictures as well since they thought she did this for a living. She enjoyed interacting with the audience and it was a great sport taking pictures for complete strangers. 😊
This was a great experience for me and allowed me to spread Authentic Leadership to a new generation.
Irie!
Calvin Williams
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way”.
My Walk into the Future in Nashville, Tennessee (NashVegas) provided me with new adventures this year! I normally stick to my tried-and-true venues but wanted to explore a bit more this year.
The Stage
I know this is one of my regular stops when in Nashville, but I always like to stop in. This is my favorite live music venue in Nashville because of the actual stage and the way the music carries throughout the venue. The view of the band is never obstructed, and the sound system provides a great acoustic backdrop for the crowd. There’s not much of a dance floor, but you occasionally will see a few folks out dancing to the music.
Category 10 (new)
This was my first time visiting Category 10. This venue transitioned from the Wildhorse Saloon and now features Luke Combs and his musical endeavors. The Wildhorse Saloon is a place I loved visiting for the great music, large dance floor and line dancing. Luke Combs and his team did a great job renovating this venue and turned Category 10 into a destination in Nashville.
The main dance hall is huge and has three levels. The stage and dance area are the largest in the Broadway area and the crowds continue to flock here. I was able to get in some line dancing before and after the half marathon and enjoyed every minute of it.
Bon Jovi (new)
Jon Bon Jovi has the newest bar on lower Broadway. I walked by the venue several times before deciding to go in. I thought it would only be a rock venue but there were country tunes coming out on the day I walked in. This was a huge venue with multiple levels of music to include a rooftop bar. It was a nice spot and I’m sure I will visit again on my return to Nashville.
Jelly Roll (new)
I’m not sure how new this spot is because I’ve walked by this location on lower Broadway multiple times but never ventured in. It has multiple levels, but it is not a huge venue. It has a great sound stage and angles to watch the bands play. I’m not sure how often I will visit this spot, but it was a nice change of pace from my normal Honky Tonk adventures.
Morgan Wallen (new)
Morgan Wallen’s bar is called THIS BAR after one of his songs. It’s not on Broadway but you can see it from Jason Aldean’s rooftop bar. I’m not a huge Wallen fan but there was a stream of folks going in and out, so I decided to join the crowd. The rooftop bar had great views of the Nashville skyline and an outstanding sound stage. The beer was cold, and the crowd was ready to have a good time. I decided to stick around for multiple beers and vibe with the band.
Jason Aldean’s
This is my favorite rooftop bar in Nashville! It’s right in the middle of Broadway and offers views up and down Broadway. The crowds on the rooftop are mellow and kicked back on sofas or high back chairs. The best bands play on the rooftop and the dance floor is always packed. This is a great place to watch people and listen to outstanding musicians. I highly recommend this spot if you are heading to NashVegas!
Well, that’s my Nashville report on places I visited on my most recent trip.
Which venue are you going to visit? 😊
Irie!
Calvin Williams
“Nashville, where the music flows like sweet tea”.
“I love Nashville. It seems like everywhere you walk; there’s great music coming out of every wall”.
(Imelda May)
My Walk into the Future brought me back to one of my favorite cities, Nashville, Tennessee (NashVegas)! 😊
I always look forward to my yearly pilgrimage to the Music City for the half marathon, live music and great food. Nashville is my city!
I added bridge repeats to my training program this year to help me battle the Nashville hills. This additional training got me ready, like my old training routes in Tallahassee, Florida. I never imagined how the hill training in Tallahassee prepared me for the half marathon distance. Yes, I need more hill training in my life!
The 2025 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon was a battle. This was not because of the distance or the hills. I put in extra work to get me mentally and physically ready to rock the half marathon (pun intended). The battle on race day was because of the unseasonably high humidity. April temperatures in Nashville rarely get past the mid-60s but our race day started with temperatures in this range and the humidity hung in the air. Again, the race temperature at the start was fine but the humidity was my primary worry. Yes, I train in Florida, but the humidity has not been high so far in this training cycle.
The race is well organized and there are aid stations about every 1.5 miles on the course. I made a mental and strategic plan to get extra fluids at the aid stations to keep myself hydrated throughout the race.
I stayed in a new hotel this year. The Marriott Courtyard West End which was one block over from my normal hotel. I got a great rate which included parking and breakfast and allowed me faster access to the great restaurants in the West End of Nashville. I got an early morning flight from Orlando to Nashville so I could hit the race EXPO when it opened and then head over to Broadway for food, beer and music.
Getting through the EXPO was a breeze! The Rock N Roll folks know how to throw a race party. I got my bib, t-shirt and Rock N Roll carry bag and made my way to visit the vendors in the Music City Convention Center. I didn’t really need anything but always get some food samples and explore clothing options. I found a funky headband that matched my projected race outfit and tried out some recovery boots—this is always a highlight if there are no long lines. No, Lauren, I did not buy the high price recovery boots. 😊
I left the EXPO and walked one block over to Broadway to take in the sights and hear great music. My first stop was Rippy’s Honkytonk for food, beer and live music. Rippy’s is a popular spot and has great BBQ. This is not my typical meal before a race, but the pull pork is outstanding, and I doubled up on the French fries as part of my carb loading process. I left Rippy’s and made my way to my favorite spot, The Stage. I love this spot because of the stage configuration and the quality bands that play here. This is my go-to spot in Nashville.
I left The Stage and made my way down to 2nd Ave to check out Luke Comb’s new spot, Category 10. This is where the old Wildhorse Saloon was located, and I was anxious to see what they did to the place. The inside of the venue has been upgraded with new floors, light show and sound system. They also provide line dancing lessons throughout the day. Yes, Maria, I like line dancing when I’m in Nashville. 😊
I didn’t want to stay on my feet too much with a half marathon coming up, so I made my way to the Westend of Nashville and checked into my hotel. I made a point to get to bed early so I could tackle the Nashville hills in the morning.
My hotel was only 1 mile away from the race start line, so I walked down Broadway as a warmup. I was assigned Corral #6 this year which put me close to the elite runners. I’m not saying I am elite, but I could see them from where I was standing. 😊 I got a nice warmup by walking to the start line and stretched well before getting into the corral. Getting extra hydration on the course was going to be a needed resource due to the humidity.
The Rock N Roll series uses rolling starts to ensure runners are safe at the start line. They release corrals every two minutes, so I didn’t have to wait long to get my start down Broadway. The first portion of the course on Broadway is downhill before we make a right on 4th Ave and then begin the climb back up towards Music Row.
My first mile was run in 9:20 which felt pretty good considering runners experience the first major hill climb within the first half mile of the race. My pace stayed consistent throughout the race with Mile 11 being my slowest at 10:34. I stuck to my race plan and got fluids at each aid station and made a point to pour water on the back of my head to avoid overheating—this really works. 😊
I finished Mile 13 with a pace of 10:12 and crossed the Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon at 2:12:45 which was 8 minutes faster than 2024 even with the heat and humidity. Unfun fact—there were several racers who needed medical attention on the course. This is the only race where I’ve seen runners receiving medical attention. I’m hoping these runners have speedy recoveries and can get back to running soon.
The race after party was epic again this year with food trucks, free beer and a concert. I stayed around a little longer this year to soak in the atmosphere and celebrate a hard-fought race. I am already looking forward to my return to the 2026 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon.
What are you looking forward to?
FYI–part 2 will cover my time on Broadway! 😊
Irie!
Calvin Williams
“The half marathon is not a race against others; it’s a race against our own doubts”.
The Walk into the Future blog is ready to give a guest content creator shoutout to my friend Melissa Forges. My first run at a topic suggested by Melissa was Make Every Second Count back in April. She gave me a total of three topics to generate content and I’m ready to give topic #2 a run: Going Alone with EmpowerMEnt.
We had a great chat while I drove over for the 2025 Town of Celebration Half Marathon. I promised her I would put effort into bringing her topics to life. There are days when I don’t know if I can pull off some of my articles, but I gladly take on this challenge Melissa! 😊
Our discussion centered around the concept of ME in empowerment. This play on the word was done on purpose to highlight that it is okay to do things for yourself. We spend a lot of time taking care of the needs of others and forget to take care of ME (you) sometimes.
When was the last time you took a walk on the beach by yourself? It’s okay, I’ll wait for you to think of that time. 😊
EmpowerMEnt allows you to see it’s okay to do things for yourself without feeling guilt. We spend so much time doing things for others and this becomes embedded in our psyche, and it becomes the norm. Please know that I’m not saying drop everything and forget the folks in your life.
Really, I’m saying the opposite. The time you spend by yourself to recharge CAN allow you to come back to your normal routines energized. Yes, taking time for yourself can help you recharge.
Sitting on the beach is one of my favorite activities. I just need my beach towel, a good book and beer to entertain myself for hours. A quick nap is always a possibility when I’m getting ME time on the beach. I’m able to get a lot of uninterrupted thinking time when I’m on the beach too. This is a place and mindset that allows me to generate content for the Walk into the Future blog. Yes, I jot down ideas to come back to for blog article development.
Running is another opportunity for empowerMEnt in my world. I write about my running tourism experiences in this blog format but running allows me to clear my mind daily. I’m able to get lost in my run and this provides a different level of comfort and relaxation for me. I’m empowered to tackle running distances and races to continue my personal development. I’ve thought about joining run clubs but can’t bring myself to do it since this would eliminate the solitude I desire when I’m out for a run. Yes, there are thousands of people who run half and full marathons, but I don’t engage with them until the finish line with beers in my hand. Running may be the best place for me to gain empowerMEnt.
Researching and generating content for the Walk into the Future blog is my happy place. I love getting immersed in the writing process as I develop new projects. I have to avoid writing too late in the evenings because I find myself up past my bedtime trying to complete an article. The Walk into the Future blog is my major empowerMEnt flex where I get to discover new things about myself while writing.
Well Melissa, this is article #2!
How do you leverage empowerMEnt in your daily life?
Irie!
Calvin Williams
“One can be instructed in society; one is inspired only by solitude”.
Walk Into the Future 