The So What Test: A Framework for Resilient Living and Leading

How a mindset shift became my leadership superpower—and how you can use it to lead and live with purpose, even in chaos.

This issue is personal.
For years, two simple words have followed me through every twist, crisis, and curveball:

So what?

Not as sarcasm.
Not as detachment.
But as power.

🔍 What Is the So What Test?

The So What Test is a mindset reset. A coaching tool. A leadership practice.
It's how I lead teams—and how I survived cancer.

It’s not “get over it.” It’s “what can we do with it?”

This isn't toxic positivity. It's resilient leadership.

Where It Came From:

In my early leadership roles, I thought I had to fix everything fast.
But I’ve learned: the best leaders don’t jump to answers—they ask better questions.

Like:

Then I realized… this didn’t just apply to work.

It applied to everything.

❤️ : So What as a Lifestyle

Here’s what my life has thrown at me:

• Bullied kid growing up gay in Ohio

• Lost my father too young

• Divorced

• Health Issues at 60

• Corporate DEI work cancelled overnight

• 18 years older than the man I love—and about to marry

And yet?

So what.
That’s not denial.

That’s clarity.

That’s ownership.

We all have So What moments.
What matters is what you do next.

💡 Try It This Week

📝 Take a challenge you're facing—big or small.
Now ask:

• So what is this teaching me?

• So what am I still in control of?

• So what’s one action I can take today?

Then take that step. Watch what changes.

📣 SECTION: What’s Coming Next

I’m building The So What Test into a new book, keynote series, and new leadership tools—just for subscribers.

🧠 Coming soon for Fielding Thoughts readers:

✅ The So What Starter Kit (downloadable tool)
✅ Exclusive podcast episode: “My Top So What Moments”
✅ Sneak peek at The So What Test book chapters
✅ Coaching prompts for teams and managers

The So What Test isn’t just a mindset. It’s a manifestation of everything I believe.

It’s Radical Kindness in action—choosing curiosity over control, and compassion over chaos, even when life doesn’t play fair.
It’s Authentic Leadership—refusing to lead from ego, pain, or fear, and instead standing in your truth, even when it’s messy.
And it’s the heartbeat of All Pride, No Ego: owning your story, embracing your identity, and turning lived experience into leadership fuel.

I didn’t survive all of this to stay silent.
I’m here to share the tools. To challenge the narrative.
To say: You’re not broken. You’re building.

So what? So now—let’s lead forward. Together.

If you’ve survived something…
If you’ve felt stuck…
If you’re ready to stop managing problems and start empowering people—

This is your moment.
This is your test.

And you’re ready for it.

👇
Tell me: What’s your “So What” moment?
Email me at [email protected]

or Comment Here —I’ll feature a few in an upcoming issue.