About A Brighter Day.Life
Leadership and business coaching from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado — helping people and companies grow through simple, rock-solid principles.
Executive Program LeaderMaxwell Leadership
Certified Team
50+
years leading teams across America’s grocery industry
Who we are
We help leaders strengthen interactions with others through careful practice and meaningful understanding — improving themselves and the lives of those around them.
Founder & CEO
Steve is the CEO and Founder of A Brighter Day.Life. With nearly five decades in retail grocery — including President & COO roles at two grocery chains — he has helped shape some of the industry’s most innovative brands.
A certified Executive Speaker & Coach with the Maxwell Leadership Team, an NGA-endorsed leadership coach and a featured contributor to The Shelby Report, Steve guides businesses and individuals toward growth and excellence.
Away from work, Steve and his wife Melanie enjoy the Colorado outdoors with their daughter Taylor — four-wheeling, trout fishing and photography — and travel often to see their two sons, daughters-in-law and six grandchildren.
Brands Steve helped shape
Sunflower
Farmers Markets
Sprouts
Farmers Markets
United
Supermarkets of Oklahoma
Rouses
Markets
A Brighter Day
Coach, author & speaker
Executive Program Leader on the Certified Team: coach, teacher, trainer and speaker.
Leadership coach endorsed by the National Grocers Association.
Featured contributor on leadership and culture.
Member of the RSA America advisory board.
What guides us
Simple to understand. Challenging to live out. Transformative when a whole team commits to them.
Own your work and show up for the people who rely on you.
Kindness is how trust is earned and teams stay together.
Communicate early so problems get solved faster.
Stick to the facts and keep emotions in proportion.
In everything you do, you represent the brand.
See how each rule plays out at work and at home.
2nd & 3rd generation authors
Steve’s sons apply The 5 Rules in their own careers and write their own leadership lessons — and his grandson Dax is the third generation living them.
Three generations · one set of rules
Jared, Travis & Dax Black
Enterprise Sales Executive · ECRS
Raised in the grocery business in western Oklahoma, Jared started at 15 sacking groceries and has built his career in grocery retail technology — today as an Enterprise Sales Executive with ECRS.
General Manager · Automobile Executive
Sixteen-plus years in the car business across Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa — growing every business he has been part of and leaving a positive wake with everyone he has worked with.
Diesel mechanic · Western Equipment
A hard-working young man raised in west Texas, now a full-time diesel mechanic at Western Equipment in Altus, Oklahoma — the third generation living The 5 Rules.
Let's talk
Book a no-pressure call with Steve to talk through your goals — coaching, a workshop, a keynote or bulk copies of the book.
2nd generation Steve’s son
2nd generation author · Steve’s son
General Manager · Automobile Executive
“If you concentrate on making everyone around you successful, then you never have to worry about your own success. It’ll be there.”
Travis is a General Manager and automobile executive with more than sixteen years in the car business, starting out in Oklahoma, moving to Kansas and then Iowa. He has been instrumental in growing each business along the way — and at every step, he has left a positive wake with everyone he has worked with.
He started in online sales, then served as sales manager, used car sales manager, store manager and general manager, and has even owned his own business. He knows it’s all about people: team building is the most important element of creating an environment where people succeed. Anyone can be a boss; it takes someone special to be a leader.
His coaching style comes from a lifetime of sports. As he says, “When the coach starts to ignore you, you need to pay attention — he no longer believes you are coachable.” Travis has always worked to stay coachable.
Travis is the proud dad of four girls — Avayah, Addie, Amelia and Annabella. He gets outdoors every chance he can, and he’s an avid golfer and fisherman.
Travis on The 5 Rules
“Two words describe it perfectly… GAME CHANGER!”
When my dad introduced his 5 rules to me halfway through my career, I loved the concept for all the intangibles that we seek in our business. More importantly, it gave a measurement for which we could lead, coach, and guide from.
I have implemented these rules to some of the most successful teams. Not only have they impacted our business to help achieve results not seen before, but yielded the highest teammate satisfaction along with growth that was exceptionally high for all who were involved. The rules, as successful as they have been for my business, are as successfully transferable to your personal life. Two words describe it perfectly… GAME CHANGER!
2nd generation Steve’s son
2nd generation author · Steve’s son
Enterprise Sales Executive · ECRS
“My passion is technology in the grocery retail industry, and my purpose is serving others.”
Born into and raised in the retail grocery business in western Oklahoma, Jared is no stranger to hard work, dedication and serving others. In 1996, at the age of 15, he began his career sacking groceries and went on to serve in nearly every position at the store level.
In 2001, as an Assistant Store Manager, he joined the Technology department at United Supermarkets, where he found his enthusiasm for technology in the grocery business. He later became IT Manager and then Director of Technology for Buy for Less, a 14-store chain in Oklahoma City, driving innovation and maintaining all critical infrastructure.
In 2014 Jared joined Truno Retail Technology Solutions in Lubbock, Texas, where he built and led the back-office department before moving into sales as Vice President, Solution Sales. Today he is an Enterprise Sales Executive with ECRS, guiding retailers through consultative discovery, clear goals and streamlined processes.
Jared and his wife Beth live in Texas with their two boys, Dax and Brody. His favorite things: time with family, watching the boys play baseball or show livestock, golf and fishing.
Jared on The 5 Rules
“The 5 Rules are a simple breakdown for success in a complicated world.”
Living out these principles in our family has been a game changer! Built on a lifetime of experience, I’m proud to say my dad has created a living legacy for his family – something to pass down for generations. Simple, yet extremely challenging at times, these 5 rules help me become a better husband, father, son, and friend. Personal growth is a journey – and whether at home or in a professional environment, one can make it ‘A Brighter Day’ for those around you by living out these 5 rules. I challenge you to take an introspective look as you make the 5 Rules part of your daily life!
3rd generation Steve’s grandson · Jared’s son
3rd generation author · Steve’s grandson · Jared’s son
Diesel mechanic · Western Equipment
“An unwavering work ethic, a passion for agriculture and a commitment to excellence.”
Dax is a dynamic, hard-working young man with an admirable array of skills and passions. Born in central Oklahoma and raised in west Texas, he has a deep connection with the land and a real appreciation for the agricultural way of life.
Today Dax works full-time as a diesel mechanic at Western Equipment in Altus, Oklahoma.
Growing up, he worked summers as a farm hand — his biggest job was running a combine during wheat harvest — and he has a deep passion for raising and showing pigs, where he honed his showmanship and consistently produced top-quality livestock.
With his work ethic, passion for agriculture and commitment to excellence, Dax is the next generation of The 5 Rules — Do your job, lived out in the shop, the wheat fields and the show ring.
