Laugh You Fool!

And Share Your Laughter (and Learning) With Me!

Author

Sterling Long
July 12, 2025

Last week I was laying in a foam pit, watching my daughter toss a rubber ball in the air and narrate her own adventure. Time slowed. My phone wasn’t anywhere near my person. My wife was kneeling off to the side of the pit watching us. Calm washed over me.

You know, the calm that seeps into your muscles and bones. Where your body feels so relaxed you don’t even want to move.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you’re missing out.

Twenty-four hours later my wife and I cracked open a new game called Splitfiction. Picture flying farting pigs, cyber ninjas battling robo cops hell-bent on collecting parking ticket fees, and two adults laughing so hard we almost cried.

In that laughter I felt something click: THIS is why I BUILD.

I am here to prepare the world for my children and to prepare my children for the world. Real presence turns that mission from slogan to a real change in my living.

The insight hit hard: If I want my kids to believe a fulfilling life is possible, I have to model it now… not "someday" when the business finally feels “finished”.

My Mini-Framework: STATE → PRESENCE → SHARE

  1. Manage your STATE
    • Feed your body. Move, breathe (important), HYDRATE THAT BODY.
    • Prepare your mind. Decide how you want to feel before you receive the day (Mitch Whiting talked about this recently).

If you’re in a crabby state then people don’t like you.
You don’t like you.
Stop it.

  1. Decide to be PRESENT
    • Engage on purpose. Put the device away during the moments that matter (ideally, leave it at the door).
    • Let PLAY trump productivity. LAUGHTER resets the nervous system faster than any app.

My daughter knows when I’m present.
And she’s not even 2.
Your kids KNOW.

  1. SHARE your stories and learning
    • Turn lived moments into stories that teach (for you and your kids!).
    • Wrap your expertise into books, emails, or talks so others can WIN from your learnings.

Building up your stories that you can share is one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself.
It’s connected me more with my past.
And rewired my brain for gratitude.

Most of the world still believes you must choose: Hustle now or enjoy later. That lie drains purpose driven businesses of their power.

And it is a lie.

Choose different. Govern your state. Step into presence. Then hit record, hit publish, hit send. Your story will expand your impact AND remind you why the work matters.

And if you’re interested in turning your knowledge and stories into a BOOK you can share with your kids (and my kids) and your beautiful people, I’d like to interview you on your challenges around writing and publishing a book!

Had a session with a client yesterday where we:

  1. Built an AI that could write like her

  2. Answered the four core questions we needed to write a good book

  3. Created an entire outline!

In just ONE hour!! It was AWESOME!

Your friend,
Sterling Long!