Walt Hampton, J.D.

Creating the Work & Life You LOVE

Stay Curious

by Walt | Sep 18, 2025 | Success | 0 Comments

There is so much rancor in the world right now. So much division. So much anger and hostility.

And it’s not just “out there.” It shows up at work. It shows up in our families. It even shows up at our own dinner tables.

When the temperature rises, it’s easy to retreat. To hunker down in our corners. To surround ourselves with people who see the world exactly as we do. It feels safer that way.

But safer doesn’t always mean better.

One of the things I loved most about law school was that we could disagree—passionately. We could argue cases, precedents, and principles all day long. And then, when classes ended, we could head out together for pizza and beer. The debates didn’t make anyone wrong or bad. We still cared for one another. We still laughed and enjoyed each other’s company.

That experience has stayed with me. It taught me something powerful. Disagreement is not the same as division. Debate is not the same as disdain. We don’t have to demonize the people who see things differently.

Not all of us see the world in the same way. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s better that way. Diversity of thought, of background, of experience—it’s what allows us to grow. It’s what sparks creativity. It’s what keeps us from getting stuck in echo chambers where all we hear is the sound of our own voices bouncing back at us.

But for that growth to happen, we need to choose curiosity.

Curiosity shifts the conversation. It takes us from “You’re wrong” to “Help me understand.” It allows us to ask questions instead of firing back answers. It helps us see the human being across from us, rather than the “enemy” we’ve created in our minds.

Curiosity softens us. It invites connection.

It doesn’t mean we’ll always agree. It doesn’t mean we’ll suddenly see eye-to-eye on politics, or faith, or how best to run a business. But it means we’ll stay open. We’ll stay engaged. And when we do that, we keep alive the possibility of respect—and maybe even relationship.

The world doesn’t need more people retreating into their corners. The world needs people willing to sit at the same table, willing to listen, willing to stay curious.

Because in the end, we’re in this together. We share this world. We share our workplaces, our communities, our families. And we’ll only thrive if we can learn to live together—not as clones of one another, but as fellow travelers who choose to honor the dignity of every person we encounter.

So the next time you find yourself ready to shut down, to turn away, to dig in your heels—pause. Ask a question. Listen to the answer.

Stay curious.

Now More Than Ever

by Walt | Sep 11, 2025 | Success | 2 Comments

Good coaches have coaches. In fact, when I train and certify coaches, I require that the candidate be working with a coach.

For the last eighteen years, I have relied on my own coach. Because like every other human being, I have the capacity to doubt, to falter, to feel overwhelmed, to get down, or to get in my own way. My coach is a wise guide, a mentor, and a mirror.

I cannot imagine not having her in my life. Especially now.

We live in an age of distortion. Every day, it feels harder to know what to trust, who to trust, or where to turn. Technology has given us more data, more opinions, more voices, but it hasn’t given us clarity. Often it feels as if we are surrounded by reflections and distortions, unsure of what is real.

In times like these, a wise guide becomes indispensable. Someone grounded. Someone steady. Someone who can help us navigate the noise, filter the chaos, and keep moving toward what matters most.

There’s an old African proverb: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. The truth is that none of us can see our blind spots by ourselves. None of us succeed entirely on our own.

It’s axiomatic in sports and entertainment. The top athletes have coaches, often several. The great performers rely on mentors, teachers, and directors. People at the very top of their games know that excellence is not a solo pursuit. It’s a product of guidance, feedback, and accountability.

The same is true in business and in life. Yet too often, people think of coaching as a commodity. A quick fix. A short-term solution to a pressing problem. But that misses the point. Coaching at its best is not transactional. It’s transformational.

It is a relationship built on trust. A place where you can tell the truth without judgment. A partnership that grounds you, challenges you, and helps you see a bigger vision for your life and work.

In my own journey, my coach has been that steady presence. A voice of reason when the world felt overwhelming. A mirror when I couldn’t see clearly. A guide who helped me discover deeper strength and new possibilities.

Now more than ever, in a world of uncertainty and noise, we need that kind of relationship. We need wise guides who can help us not just survive, but thrive.

If you’ve ever wondered whether the time might be right for you to have a coach, perhaps this is your moment. A simple conversation can open a door.

Need help? Let’s talk. Email me: [email protected]

When You’re Feeling Weary

by Walt | Sep 4, 2025 | Success | 0 Comments

It feels as if the world is on fire.

Cultural upheaval. Political division. So much anger. So much noise.

It’s easy to feel burned out, stressed out, stretched too thin. To feel worn down and overwhelmed.

In times like these, it’s more important than ever to have practices that ground us. That bring us back to center. That help us recreate and renew.

For me, three practices have been essential. They’re not complicated. They’re not fancy. But they’ve carried me for decades.

The first is meditation. A simple Vipassana practice. Sitting still. Following the breath. Watching the thoughts arise and fall away. Again and again. This practice has been my anchor for more than forty years. It keeps me steady in the midst of chaos.

The second is journaling. Every morning, pen to page. Free flow. No censor. No editing. Just allowing whatever wants to come. Thoughts. Feelings. Ideas. Dreams. Frustrations. Hopes. It’s a practice that clears the clutter and makes space for clarity.

The third is movement outdoors. Getting outside. Moving in my body. Walking in the woods. Running mountain trails. Scrambling along high ridges. Nature heals. The body knows. When I move out there, I come back in here renewed.

These are my practices. Yours might be different. Maybe it’s prayer. Maybe it’s yoga. Maybe it’s cooking, or painting, or listening to music. Maybe it’s time with your kids. Or sitting with your dog.

The form doesn’t matter. What matters is that you find what works for you. And then you do it. Regularly. Consistently. Especially when you’re feeling weary.

We can’t control the storms around us. But we can tend to the ground beneath us. We can nurture practices that hold us steady. That keep us resilient. That remind us of who we are and what really matters.

So, when the noise of the world gets too loud, ask yourself: What practice brings me back? What practice restores me? And then—do that.

Need help? Let’s talk. Email me: [email protected]

The End Is Near

by Walt | Aug 28, 2025 | Success | 0 Comments

The end is near.

Maybe the beginning too.

Summer is winding down. Labor Day weekend already.

Kids are heading back to school. And most of us will fall back into our same old routines.

For the kids, it’s new beginnings. Fresh notebooks. Blank pages. Clean slates.

For too many of us, it’s back to the same ol’ same ol’. The endless meetings. The deadlines. The hamster wheel.

But what if this season could be different?

What if September wasn’t just the start of another lap in the rat race… but a fresh start for you?

What if you finally began the thing you’ve been putting off? The business. The project. The book. The pivot you’ve been thinking about for months. Maybe even years.

What if you stopped waiting until January? Or “someday.”

Here’s the truth: you still have four full months left in this year. That’s one-third of a year. That’s a lot of time. Enough time to make real progress. Enough time to move the needle in a meaningful way.

The question is, will you let the time slip by? Or will you take action now?

Every year people wait until the calendar turns. They set big resolutions. They tell themselves, this year will be different. And then… it isn’t. Because nothing changes unless you change it.

You don’t need a new year. You need a new decision.

What if this September was your January?

What if you ended 2025 not with regret, but with momentum? With something built. Something started. Something you’re proud of.

The end is near. But it doesn’t have to be the end of your dreams. It can be the beginning of the next chapter.

If you’re ready, let’s talk. I help people like you create businesses and lives that excite them. Don’t wait. Don’t drift back into the same old patterns.

Email me: [email protected]. Let’s make this your new beginning.

Your Most Important List

by Walt | Aug 21, 2025 | Success | 2 Comments

Most productivity advice is about adding more. More hacks; more apps; more tricks to squeeze another drop out of an already overstuffed day.

But the real secret of time mastery isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing less. And that begins with a Stop Doing List.

Your Stop Doing List is the antidote to overload. It’s the intentional practice of cutting away the tasks, obligations, and distractions that drain your time and energy.

Think about it. Every yes you give is a no to something else. A yes to another low-value meeting might mean a no to dinner with your family. A yes to answering email at 11 p.m. is a no to sleep. Without a filter, your time is consumed by things that don’t matter—until you no longer have time for the things that do.

That’s where the Stop Doing List comes in. It’s not about shirking responsibility. It’s about clarity and choice. What no longer serves you? What could be delegated, automated, or simply ignored?

Start small. Look at your calendar and cross out one commitment that doesn’t align with your values or goals. Then, look at your daily routine. What’s one thing you’re doing out of habit—not because it actually matters?

The practice builds over time. Each “stop” creates more room for what’s meaningful. More time for the work you love. More energy for the people who matter. More space for rest, creativity, and freedom.

The truth is, you don’t need more time. You need fewer things stealing it.

So instead of making another to-do list today, make a Stop Doing List. Protect your time. Reclaim your energy. And live your life on your own terms.

Need help? Let’s talk. Email me: [email protected]