When I was 28-years-old, I came to the conclusion that I needed help with the business I co-owned… and I also needed help with other things in my life. My business debt-load was burgeoning because of poor decisions and my spirit was withering because of porn. I’ll explain both in a second; bear with me as I provide some initial back-fill.

I knew I needed someone to help me. Later, I found out that I needed a coach.

Background

Oddly enough, when I was younger, I’d been a success in almost everything I’d attempted. I grew up with some wonderful siblings, who were also friends. For a while we lived in Europe as kids, returned to the States and each of us accomplished whatever we set our minds on in school and at work. We made good grades and we made good money. In my case, I was an honor student, a letterman in sports, president of my class from junior high through each year of high school and then president of my class at West Point. I held jobs and made money. But there was a part of me that was simply a wild man, someone who was selfish because it felt good; and yet, I still attracted people to join me on my selfish adventures. On the outside I charmed people; on the inside I was like the character about whom Bob Seger sang in “Still the Same”:

(This may not be what you’re dealing with. You may currently be hitting your targets every time. Keep reading and you be the judge.)

In my case, I “aimed high”, but ultimately my aim was off.

I needed someone on the outside looking in, looking at everything in and around my life and able to see what I was missing. I needed help course-correcting myself. At the time I didn’t phrase it this way but, I needed a business/personal coach.

Need of a coach

Enter, Mr. Peter Gozdeck. He was a former U.S. Treasury official who gave up his career and joined a non-profit organization, now named Cru. He, his wife Barbara, my wife Susan and I met and began a friendship. We were two “odd couples!” Peter and I had only a handful of things in common. We both loved God, loved business and loved our families. Though we both knew how to make money, I didn’t know how to keep it. He did.

Ten years my senior, he, an East Coast guy with an attitude anchored in his traditional conservative Polish heritage. I, a Southern California transplant with an attitude of “nothing stands in my way.” Nonetheless, we met and I knew Peter had something for me.

The first question wasn’t about money

When we met to discuss the financial hole that I’d dug for myself, Peter came to the meeting to talk spreadsheets and financial plans. However, something caused him to pause – after I’d told him of my journey. He just looked at me, leaned over the table and asked me this question: “Porn has you in a vice-grip, doesn’t it?”

(Again, this may not be your problem. Maybe booze, or food, or gossip or something else is attached to the inside of your character – and you HATE that it’s there. I get it. Just hang on.)

Peter and Barb also met with Susan and me at our home one night and gave us stories of their own journey – some were near-miraculous. I blurted out, “Why don’t WE have stories like those?” Peter leaned into the table and peered into my eyes and asked “Do you want to?” I said “Yes.”

My affirmative answer to Peter Gozdeck’s question opened a window of transparency in both areas of my life. It was at that very moment that he agreed to meet with me on a regular basis and coach me through my jungle of misplaced priorities, waste, financial loss and shame. In time, I found myself free of porn and debt. It was really quite amazing.

Our identity was reshaped because Peter and Barb took time with us. Peter wanted to see me gain freedom as a businessman and as a husband and father. Peter once struggled with his own issues, and was helped by his coach, Bill Iverson. Bill provided simple solutions to Peter regarding life and faith. Peter gained confidence from Bill as a coach – all the while keeping his financial edge sharp. Peter shared this confidence with me. We met regularly. In time, I moved to Idaho.

Forty years later, Peter and Barb are still our friends and we continue to seek their guidance.

Arriving in Boise in 1991, I shared this confidence with Michael Boerner, a young leader in the church and business community. Within a year, Michael and I helped grow/expand the men’s ministry (Promise Keepers) of University of Colorado’s Head Football Coach Bill McCartney. In the last four decades, I have coached many business leaders and continue to coach men and women today regarding their businesses and their lives.

Coaching coaches multiplies impact:

• Bill Iverson coached Peter Gozdeck
• Peter coached Dennis Mansfield
• Dennis coached Michael Boerner
• And on and on it has gone

What happened was an organic growth of accountability.

Accountability

Peter set up a matrix of three solid areas for accountability.

1. We met regularly in the mornings to talk about what had worked on in the previous days or week. We set aside a short period of time. We dealt with financial commitments, accounts payable, extending credit to vendors, etc. He also asked me if I had viewed porn since we had last met. (That last question became less painful to answer as I started avoiding “traps” that had so easily entangled me. My new normal became NOT being enticed to see that stuff. It was quite amazing.)
2. I started paying off debt. Before Dave Ramsey was on the map, Peter Gozdeck was there helping me by using techniques and methods to pay off vendors, pay down debt and NOT go further into debt. This was a years-long process, but we kept moving forward. Peter helped me, cajoled me, admonished me and encouraged me. He coached me as if I was preparing for an Olympic marathon – because in a sense, I was. It had taken a long time for me to get into debt and it would take a relatively long time to extract myself from it. Success became our partner as we drove forward and debt moved into our rearview mirror.
3. Susan and I started our annual planning sessions, where we’d take a small number of days and go away with our accounts payable, our debts, and our plans for travel and raising the kids. Peter provided templates to help us graph where we were and where we wanted to be. No interruptions. No children. No anger. No frustration. Just the facts – and we found a hope that was new to us. Year after year. This year was our 41st year of planning as a couple. What a difference it has made.

It's from all these experiences that I coach people today.

For the sake of THIS newsletter, allow me to share with you JUST A FEW of the key bullet points from this year’s annual planning session.

(Again, these details may NOT be applicable to everyone, but they may be key to the ones who need help.)

Here’s a truncated summary for your perusal. It’s written from my personal view as a man of faith, so keep that in mind:

Planning Weekend 2025

Mar 9th -12th, 2025
Dennis and Susan Mansfield
Pismo Beach, CA

Life Goals

Daily Standards

• Pray and read the Bible
• Be thankful
• Live as if today is the last day of our lives (my recent open-heart surgery has made me aware of this possibility)

Family

• One-on-one time with grandkids
• Take each grandchild on his/her own 10 to 12-year-old trip
• Create intentional annual family reunions with our kids and grandkids
• Pray regularly for our kids’ marriages

Influence

Susan to influence in the following ways:

1. “Fit and Fall Proof” volunteer exercise leader, once a week
2. Help friends and family as they have specific needs
3. Bible study and ladies prayer group once monthly
4. Edit the Newsletters 2x per month

Den to influence in the following ways:

1. Men’s Bible study 2x per month
2. USMA West Point ‘78 Prayer Group once per month by Zoom
3. Publish this Newsletters 2x per month
4. Author time:
   1. Make eBooks of my first two books of the trilogy (now available to all new Newsletter Kit subscribers, see the bottom of this email)
      1. To Trust in What We Cannot See
      2. Empires of Dirt
      3. Research (and outline) Book 3 of my Trilogy and write it in 2025

5. Halt production of my podcast, “Just around the Corner with Dennis Mansfield”. Instead, prepare brief, short form editions of encouraging video or audio-spots for social media.

Home improvements:

• Replace four windows 2025
• Roof replacement 2025
• Plan for new counter tops 2026

Physical/Health

• Continue whole foods plant-based eating for our heart health
• Bike regularly, Spring through Fall
• Stretching exercises, five times per week
• Walk every day
• Maintain lower **cholesterol levels and low blood pressure

Financial—Den

• Coach clients, so they become coaches to their employees
• Schedule coaching appointments, afternoons-4 days per week
• Tithe and give donations

Travel

• Attend CampusBytheSea.org summer 2025 family camp
• Regular organic visits with kids and grandkids
• 10 to 12-year-old trip with each grandchild
• Footsteps of Paul cruise
• Cross country train trip
• Visit Alaska

ThinkLong

• Know our grand-children really well – help prepare them for the future
• Have an intentional and positive spiritual influence on people

Summary of Accountability

Choose to take time out - At our recent planning time, in Pismo Beach, CA, we were guests of Peter and Barb Gozdeck. We spent time with these incredible folks, discussing the deeper things of life and family. We discussed health concerns – given my recent open-heart surgery – and looked at financial things in both of our families’ lives.

Choose to enjoy your life today - We also had dinners out, spent hours laughing and enjoying open-air fire-pits. Walked on the beach and drove to Morro Bay to enjoy a terrific dinner!! Susan and Barb walked around the Morro Bay Rock (a HUGE thing!) and returned for some continued discussion about life, God and plans for the future.

Consider this for your life:

• No matter your age, find a person in whom you have great trust to Coach you – ask them to mentor you. You know what’s bothering you. I shared with you my two areas that had me “under the thumb”. I am now a free man because Peter helped me then(and still does help me now in others areas, as I grow older)
• Get rid of that thing in your life that’s causing you so many emotional problems – deal with the reality of how it’s been kicking your tail. Once you find a coach to help you push hard into the nature of your problems. In some cases, consult a doctor, if need be. Just DO NOT let that weight on your shoulder grow heavier and heavier.
• Start an annual Planning Time – Don’t worry about perfection. Just set aside time, go find a place where you won’t be interrupted, turn off your phones, texts and emails and use our brief template above for you to jot down bullet points. Be messy, use second and third drafts. Have fun while together. Laugh. Be real. Then, when the time is over, construct your final summary of your plan. On a regular basis review your plan throughout the year and make your decisions accordingly.
• Set a date for an annual planning weekend (click here to access the free template).
• Do it.

More later,
Den

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Den's Latest & Greatest

• Our eBooks are available to all new Newsletter Kit subscribers here:
  • ​To Trust in What We Cannot See - $5.99 for a limited time
  • ​Empires of Dirt - $7.00 for a limited time

• Let others know how this Newsletter is impacting you in YOUR life. Are you struggling with things in your own life that a coach could help you with? Let me know.
• If you are not yet a person of faith, consider looking into it. All I can tell you (from Susan’s and my journey) is that truth never fears investigation. She and I searched together and our lives are so much better off for it today. (Just some food for thought.) CRU has a good way to investigate it here.
• If you prefer actual books, I will send free copies to the first 10 people who email me with their mailing address. My only request is that you go on social media and let people know about the books!! Spread the word about the ebooks from the links above.

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