An Ordinary Morning That Changed Everything
On the morning of March 13, 2023, I sat on the floor of my bedroom, back against the wall, legs crossed, palms open. It was quiet—uncomfortably quiet.
I wasn’t sure what I was doing, only that something inside me needed to change.
I had written a single sentence in my journal:
“I’m committed to changing my life to become a better husband, father, and business owner.”
That eight-line journal entry became the seed of a transformation that would touch every area of my life—my marriage, my family, my health, my business, and ultimately, my purpose.
It also became the foundation of my new book, A Year to Change Your Life, launching November 11, 2025, on Amazon.
The Truth Behind the Title
At that time, I was outwardly successful. My law firm was growing. My name was on the door.
But behind the scenes, I was exhausted—physically, mentally, spiritually.
Most mornings started with regret from the night before.
Evenings were a blur of networking events and “just one drink” meetings.
Nights and weekends were for catching up on work I couldn’t finish during the week.
I told myself this was what success looked like: hustle now, happiness later.
But deep down, I knew something was broken.
The more I achieved, the emptier I felt. I was chasing success but losing myself.
Everything shifted when I attended a coaching workshop on March 10, 2023.
That weekend forced me to confront the question I’d been avoiding: What do I really want my life to look like?
I didn’t walk away with all the answers—but I did walk away with a decision.
I was done living by default. I was going to live by design.
The Rise and Transform Framework
Real transformation doesn’t happen overnight—it happens through structure, consistency, and clarity of purpose.
Through my own yearlong journey, I developed what I now call the Rise and Transform Framework: a roadmap for personal and professional change that anyone can follow.
It’s built around two powerful phases—Rise and Transform—each made up of actionable steps designed to move you from intention to execution.
1. RISE
The Rise phase is where you build the foundation. You wake up—literally and figuratively—and create the systems that help you show up as your best self every day.
It begins before first light, anchored in a strong morning routine that changed everything for me.
This is where you rise—where discipline meets intention and momentum starts to build.
2. TRANSFORM
Once you’ve risen, transformation begins. This phase is about alignment—turning those small daily actions into lasting change.
You start to:
- Trust the process and let go of perfection.
- Refine your habits and systems to fit the life you’re building.
- Align your purpose with your actions—living with clarity and conviction.
- Sustain your progress through accountability and community.
- Master your mindset, realizing that growth is a lifelong pursuit.
This is the phase where change becomes identity—where you no longer have to think about being your best self because you’ve become it.
The Rise and Transform Framework is more than a morning routine; it’s a philosophy for living.
It’s how I built a new foundation for my family, my health, my leadership, and my faith—one that continues to guide me every single day.
The Ripple Effect
When I changed my mornings, my days changed.
When my days changed, my life changed.
I stopped numbing myself with distractions and started showing up—at home, at work, and for myself.
My wife and I began training together.
My kids started watching, curious about why Dad was up before the sun.
At work, I became a different kind of leader.
Instead of chasing growth for growth’s sake, I started building a culture focused on purpose, health, and accountability.
Our firm, Keller Swan, grew faster than ever—but with balance and clarity that had been missing before.
Why I Wrote A Year to Change Your Life
People often ask, “Why this book?”
Because I know what it feels like to have everything you thought you wanted—and still feel lost.
Because I know transformation isn’t reserved for rock bottoms or midlife crises.
Because I’ve seen what happens when one person decides to stop drifting and start leading their own life.
I didn’t want to write another motivational book filled with clichés.
I wanted to write something real—a roadmap built from experience, humility, and hope.
It’s proof that no matter where you are, you can begin again.
What Readers Will Discover
Inside A Year to Change Your Life, you’ll find more than my story—you’ll find a framework for your own transformation.
You’ll learn how to:
- Design a morning routine that sets the tone for everything that follows.
- Build habits that last longer than your motivation.
- Reconnect with your “why” so you never lose sight of what truly matters.
- Balance ambition with alignment—pursuing success without sacrificing your soul.
- Create daily systems that move you toward your goals in health, relationships, and purpose.
Because reading about change is easy—living it is where the magic happens.
