The River Coaching & Consulting, LLC

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The River Coaching & Consulting, LLC

A's at home and A's at work.

Tony Thelen is the Founder and Principal Executive Coach at The River Coaching and Consulting, LLC., a professional services firm that helps senior executives lead more productive and fulfilling careers & lives.

06/15/2026

Last weekend, I held in my hand an artifact that was more than 1,000 years old.

Someone crafted it. Someone used it. Someone carried it across the landscape we now call home. Their name has been lost to history, but their presence remains.

That experience led me to a question I haven't been able to shake:

What artifacts are we leaving behind?

Not just the physical possessions that fill our homes, but the traces of our lives - the lessons we teach, the people we encourage, the standards we establish, the relationships we nurture, and the opportunities we create for others.

In this week's The River, I explore the idea that legacy is not something we leave at the end of life. It is something we create every day.

What remains because you lived?

The full article is in the comments below.

06/09/2026

Can you believe we're almost halfway through 2026?

Back in January, many of us set goals, made plans, and promised ourselves this would be the year we would finally tackle the things that mattered most.

Before July arrives, take a moment and ask yourself:

"How's it going?"

This week's The River is a simple invitation to pause, reflect, and consider whether you're living the year you hoped to live—or whether a small adjustment now could make all the difference by December.

I've included five reflection questions that may help.

Full article in the comments.

06/02/2026

It's a question worth asking.

Many of us spend our days doing things we can do, while neglecting the things that only we can do. We fill our calendars, answer emails, attend meetings, solve problems, and stay in motion.

But is that really the highest use of our life?

More than 2,000 years ago, Aristotle taught that happiness wasn't found in comfort, wealth, or status. He believed true fulfillment came from continually learning, growing, and becoming the best version of ourselves.

This week's The River explores Aristotle's timeless wisdom and offers five questions to help you reflect on your own journey toward purpose and potential.

The link to the full article is in the comments below.

06/01/2026

Today marks three years since I launched The River.

What started as a dream after retiring from John Deere has become one of the most meaningful chapters of my life.

Over these three years, I've had the opportunity to coach incredible leaders, write hundreds of The River columns, publish books, speak with audiences across the country, and meet people whose stories have inspired me as much as I hope I've inspired them.

I've learned that success isn't measured by titles, awards, or accomplishments. It's measured by people and our relationships. The relationships we build, the lives we touch, and the difference we make for others.

To every coaching client, reader, friend, family member, and supporter who has been part of this journey - - thank you.

You have made these past three years more rewarding than I could have imagined.

Here's to continuing to learn, grow, serve, and help others earn A's at work and A's at home.

With gratitude,
Tony

Life is like a river - sometimes drought, sometimes flood, sometime rapids, sometimes mellow - and we never know what lies around the bend, but The River keeps flowing.

05/26/2026

Most people underestimate how much their life is shaped by what they feed their mind every single day.

The conversations.
The books.
The podcasts.
The news.
The people.
The scrolling.
The self-talk.

Over time, these things quietly become the soundtrack of our life.

If we want to change who we are, where we are, or what we become… we may first need to change what goes into our mind.

This week’s River column explores how the mind becomes either a success mechanism or a failure mechanism — and why intentional inputs matter more than most people realize.

Full article in the comments below.

If this resonates with you, please consider sharing it with someone else who may need it today.

05/19/2026

Most growth doesn’t begin with confidence. It begins with honesty.

This week’s The River column reflects on the powerful moments in life when we finally see ourselves clearly, and how those moments can quietly change everything.

The full article is in the comments below. If it resonates with you, I hope you’ll share it with someone else who may need it today.

05/12/2026

Some people fish. Others… go through a full emotional transformation with a tackle box in hand.

After years of observation (and personal experience), I’ve come to believe there are actually 20 stages of fishing: from weather-checking and strategic dishwasher unloading… all the way to spiritual enlightenment and “just one more cast.”

However this article really isn’t about fishing at all.

It’s about every hobby, passion, and pursuit that quietly restores us — golf, gardening, woodworking, hunting, bowling, boating… whatever helps you reconnect with yourself.

If you’ve ever loved something enough to irrationally think about it during work meetings, this one might feel familiar.

Full article in the comments below.

If it makes you laugh, feel free to share it with someone who’s currently in Stage 13.

05/11/2026

In my executive coaching, I always encourage my clients and groups I speak to to always bet on themselves first, and to encourage them to do so, I designed a poker chip that I give to them. Some carry it around in their pocket, others use it on the golf course, and some leave it in a familiar place at work, at home, or in the car. The important part is that it's a reminder to always look internal first - eat right, exercise, sleep well, and always honor your purpose. These foundational parts of a successful career and fulfilling life bring lots of benefits along with them.

Wherever you are in your journey of life, may you have an abundance of ESPN in your life - Exercise, Sleep, Purpose, and Nutrition.

05/09/2026

Last November I decided to experiment with speaking to a few podcasts and by far the best was Marc Koehler’s “Surfacing Leaders”.

If you are looking for a few nuggets to further your professional development journey, take a moment and tune in to “Surfacing Leaders” wherever you get your podcast from.

05/08/2026

🎓 Graduation season is here.

If you’re looking for a meaningful gift beyond cash or gift cards, I’m offering signed and personalized copies of my two books designed to help graduates succeed both professionally and personally.

📘 Am I Doing This Right?: Foundations for a Successful Career and a Fulfilling Life Written to help graduates navigate career decisions, workplace success, relationships, and building a fulfilling life.
📗 Things We Desire – A reflection on timeless values, helping graduates stay grounded in what truly matters over the long run.

✅ Signed and Personalized to the Graduate
✅ $20 each
✅ FREE shipping (with tracking) to anywhere in North America

To order, send me a direct message or email [email protected]. Both are widely available via Amazon or any book retailer.

Because the best graduation gifts don’t just celebrate achievement - they help prepare someone for what comes next.

Address

West Okoboji, IA
51351

Website

http://www.therivercoach.org/

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