On many Fridays, gratitude hits me hard. Some weeks more than others. This week, it landed with the weight of a man I’ve never met. His name is Todd Francis, and his courage under fire has sharpened my view on how we choose to live.
Here’s my stance: purpose is not a perk for the comfortable. It’s a path we choose, especially when life hurts. Watching Todd face stage four cancer has reminded me that the best leaders and the best humans don’t wait for perfect conditions. They choose purpose when it costs them something.
Purpose Shows Up Under Pressure
I’ve spent a career helping CEOs grow, turn around, and lead better. I completed my first turnaround at 28 and have led four companies. I’ve watched pressure expose what’s real. Todd’s story does that with gripping clarity.
“Todd Francis’ tenderness, humility, and grit in the midst of his horrific battle with stage four cancer continues to move me.”
Strength isn’t the absence of pain. It’s the choice to point pain toward something larger. Todd’s body is weak, but his spirit rings like a bell. He continues to live on purpose in public, and it’s not performative. It’s steady, simple, and sincere.
“Even though his body is weak, his faith is profoundly strong and his resolve is equally strong.”
That tension matters. It’s not denial. It’s direction. He is not selling silver linings. He’s showing us what resolve looks like when the odds scream otherwise.
What Todd’s Example Teaches Us
People ask me how to lead through hardship. They expect tactics. They often need a mirror. Todd’s life offers one. Not with a formula, but with a posture.
- Choose purpose daily, not someday.
- Speak life without sugarcoating reality.
- Honor limits and still move forward.
- Ask for help and give hope.
- Savor moments; they are not small.
These are simple steps, not easy ones. They are choices anyone can make, whether running a company or just trying to get through Friday with grace.
Faith, Resolve, and a Better Way to Measure Strength
I pray for Todd’s healing. I also learn from his pace. He refuses to let suffering define him, but he also refuses to pretend it’s not there. That’s a rare mix. It tells me strength is more than output. It’s presence. It’s purpose that holds under heat.
Some will roll their eyes. They’ll say this is inspirational fluff, or worse, that it invites toxic positivity. I reject that. Honesty and hope are not enemies. Todd names his pain. He also chooses gratitude. Both can be true in the same breath.
Leaders I coach often feel they must be bulletproof. That lie robs teams of trust. It also robs leaders of peace. Vulnerability paired with resolve builds stronger people and better decisions. Todd models that without a title or a corner office. He models it from a fight he didn’t choose.
Here’s the line that won’t leave me:
“He continues to show us how to live each moment to its fullest.”
That’s not about hustle. It’s about presence. It’s noticing the people near you, the time you have, and the words you speak. It’s choosing joy without denying grief. It’s making your purpose small enough to do today.
My Challenge to You—and to Me
Gratitude is a practice, not a mood. It is a muscle. Todd’s example reminds me to use it daily. We don’t need perfect health, a bigger platform, or a fresh quarter to start.
Here’s a simple way forward. Pick a person who is shaping you for the better and tell them why. If they’re public, like Todd, follow their updates and let their courage sharpen yours. If they’re close, write the note, make the call, say the prayer. Do it today.
I’m grateful for Todd Francis. I’m grateful for the clarity he brings when words feel thin. I’m grateful for the reminder that purpose is a choice, not a slogan.
The work ahead is clear: live on purpose, even when it hurts. Lead with honesty. Choose gratitude. And when you find someone lighting the way, follow their lead—and then pass it on.
