The Poop Trail: Why Every Successful Life Starts Messy Hardcover – March 20, 2026

You don't need a degree, a perfect plan, or anyone's permission to change your life. You just need to take the next step — even if it stinks.Most self-help books are written by people who make change sound easy. Wake up at 5 AM. Manifest your destiny. Hustle harder. Be fearless.But that's not how it actually works. Not for the person stuck in the same job for a decade with no promotion in sight. Not for the person carrying student loan debt from a path they didn't finish. Not for the person who knows they're capable of more but can't seem to close the distance between knowing it and doing it.The Poop Trail is the brutally honest, no-BS guide to starting over when starting over feels impossible. Written by someone who spent over ten years in the same healthcare IT position — no degree, no lateral movement, no clear path forward — this book doesn't pretend that growth is glamorous. It tells you the truth: every meaningful life starts messy.Inside, you'll discover:• Why discomfort is not a warning sign — it's a mile marker• The simple 15-minute daily rule that builds more momentum than any morning routine ever could• How to stop drifting back to comfort when nobody is watching and nobody is clapping• A framework for choosing at the fork when every option feels risky and standing still feels safe• Why no degree, limited skills, and unfinished paths might be your greatest proof of resilienceEach chapter includes Trail Work — practical exercises to move you from reading about change to actually making it.If you've been waiting to feel ready, this book will show you why readiness is a myth. If you've been told to be realistic, this book will show you why realistic is just another word for afraid.The trail always starts messy. That's how you know it's real. Start walking. Read more