Adam Sparks

My son came home from daycare today and DEMANDED “I wanna watch golf”. I’m so proud.

A chance meeting that changed my life... On July 14, I got a message that stopped me in my tracks: It was from a man named Wade Lytal. His 8-year-old daughter, Kellyanne, was one of the 27 little girls who lost their lives in the tragic flooding at Camp Mystic on July 4. "Being a college football coach it is easy to drift away and only focus on my career but the way you explained the real amount of time we have with our kiddos really struck me. It helped me cherish those last few months I had with my daughter. It made a lasting impact on my life." I read it aloud to my wife, our son nearby playing with his toys, and we both immediately began to cry. To have suffered such an unimaginable loss—and yet, to have the grace, presence, and spirit to send a message like that—I knew this man was different. I knew I had to meet him. Last week, I pulled up to a small lunch restaurant in San Antonio and sat in the courtyard. A young man came around the corner and entered the courtyard, a warm smile masking his tired eyes. For an hour, we sat and talked over a simple meal. About his daughter, Kellyanne, a beautiful girl with a heart overflowing with kindness and a bold, courageous spirit. About loss. The struggle. The indescribably painful waves of grief. About faith. The church. The community who had wrapped them in love. About identity. The questions about never being the same again. About accepting that the same is no longer an option. About fatherhood. Being a pillar of strength for his wife and second daughter. Showing up for them as his duty. His responsibility. And most of all, about time. The time he had cherished with Kellyanne. The memories he had created with her. The precious moments. The lack of regrets because he knew he had been present in those last few months. He had really been there. He had really loved her. And she knew that. I got in the car, called my wife, and broke down. All I could think to say was this: He didn’t know it was the last time. But he lived like it was. Writer and philosopher Sam Harris once said, “No matter how many times you do something, there will come a day when you do it for the last time.” There will be a last time your kids want you to read them a bedtime story. A last time you’ll go for a long walk with your sibling. A last time you’ll hug your parents. A last time your friend will call you for support. All of the things we take for granted today are things we’ll wish we could go back and do. There’s a last time for all of it. You won’t know when it’s the last time. But you can live like it is. *** I feel an immense gratitude and privilege that Wade (@CoachLytal) reached out and allowed me to share this story with the world. My hope is that it creates ripples in the way you live... To pause just a little bit longer. To hug just a little bit harder. To live like it's the last time.

@gwoodEDU I see a board of absolute legends. So many great humans and educators.

On the Board - 25 and Counting

The Sandlot - 4th of July night game will always be a classic

RIP to another Chicago staple from the 2010’s. Forever a legendary spot

A life lesson I wish I learned earlier: Every single thing you do today is something that your 90-year-old self will wish they could go back and do. The good old days are happening right now.

One of the best @TheMasters Sundays of all time, incredible day of golf

@L0m3z @toddb23 GOAT

Beloved world class athlete who then turns his niche artistic hobby into a second career. That is the smile of a man who has achieved everything.

@SaveYourSons GPT

@fasc1nate @toddb23

Chicago, Illinois, 1947. Photo by Bill Strum in 1947.

My folks are in town this weekend. I’m downstairs getting a workout in and pause my music to what I think I hear is crying. Instead it’s just my mom, my dad, and my son all laughing/yucking it up. It’s got me thinking: this might be as good as it ever gets. Grateful.

@JamesLucasIT @toddb23

8. Chicago during the 1930s

5. Baltimore, 1946 The white marble steps of Baltimore were once the city's trademark. Homeowners took pride in scrubbing them daily, ensuring they stayed bright. Over time, countless footsteps carved smooth grooves into the stone, marking the passage of generations.

For years, this was my inner dialogue: •I have to wake up at 5 AM. •I have to work out. •I have to go to work. •I have to pack lunches, change diapers, and break up fights. •I have to grind through another long day. Sound familiar? This is the victim mindset. It makes life feel like a series of obligations—things being done to us, rather than choices we make. And when you think like a victim, you live like one. But here’s the shift: •I get to wake up early because my body is strong and capable. •I get to work out because movement is a privilege, not a punishment. •I get to go to work because I’m building something meaningful. •I get to serve my family because love is shown in action. •I get to embrace the hard days because they shape me into the man I want to be. When you shift from I have to → I get to, you stop feeling powerless. You take ownership of your time, your choices, and your life. And that’s where real change begins. So, what’s one thing you GET to do today? Drop it in the comments. Let’s own our time together.

An idea I can’t stop thinking about…

Reasons like this video are why I’m glad tiktok is back. I’m crying 🤣

. @PatrickMahomes latest Instagram reel features “Right Here, Right Now” by Fatboy Slim The same song used in episode 10 of “Last Dance” where the Bulls 3-Peat. As the song begins to play “3 to go” is shown on a whiteboard in the Bulls locker room 👀 (Last Dance Ep. 10, 7:52)

@OurCLEGuardians @toddb23 elite lineup

2025 marks the 30th anniversary of one of the greatest lineups in baseball history

“Work, but don’t forget to live”

@realEstateTrent Could not agree more with you. Paro.io is GREAT for this. I’m biased because they’re another local Chicago company, but a great one for those looking for a resource.

I don't think many real estate operators understand they can outsource their financial reporting, accounts payables and accounts receivables. There are great teams with CPAs at reputable firms that can implement and oversee these functions, setting up superior systems that are much more secure, with better checks and balances. Instead they do it in-house, with archaic systems and processes, for a lot more money. The fractional CFO / Accounting business is booming, and most don't even know it exists.

John Wooden is widely regarded as the best coach of all time. Here are his best insights on leadership, winning, and self-actualisation: