RESPECT

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about respect. Not the kind that comes from dominance, status, or being the loudest voice in the room, but the kind of respect that inspires you, makes you want to be better, and fuels a deeper fire inside.

Growing up in the mountains, respect was earned in a very specific way. It came from skiing the biggest lines, having the deepest knowledge of the backcountry, or simply showing up every single day, no matter the conditions. The ones who gained respect weren’t always the flashiest. They were the ones who committed, who pushed, who led by example in silence and in grit.

That same idea carries into other parts of life. I see it on the gravel bike. Massive rides, relentless adventures, limits being stretched until they bend into something new. I see it in creators. The photographers, the designers, the artists who put something into the world that didn’t exist before.

And maybe most profoundly, I see it in parents. To me, raising great kids, creating a safe space for your family, teaching life skills that last long after you’re gone, that’s one of the highest forms of respect anyone can earn. It’s showing your kids what it means to be happy, fulfilled, and resilient in a world that doesn’t always make it easy.

Respect also lives in the professional space. What does it take to gain true respect as a leader, a manager, a boss? It’s not about titles or authority. It’s about trust, empathy, vision, and consistency. It’s about inspiring people to want to follow, not forcing them to.

And then there’s the brand builders. The ones who create something meaningful, something that adds to culture instead of just extracting from it. Brands that give back, inspire, and spark new energy into their markets. That kind of work earns respect too.

The older I get, the more the word respect means to me. It’s not about power, position, or dominance. It’s about living in a way that lights a spark in others. It’s about being someone whose presence, whether on a mountain, on a bike, at home, or at work, reminds others of what’s possible.

I’ve always hoped to be someone who earns respect in that way.

Genuinely. Quietly. Consistently.

Because at the end of the day, true respect isn’t demanded. It’s earned.