September 15, 2023
Don’t do business with your friends! We often hear that, posing as sound advice. “A client will become a friend quicker than a friend will become a client.” Or “Don’t mix business and friendship.” It’s been repeated so much, it’s almost ingrained as truth. Almost. But I say, why not? Many of my best friends are clients, and many of my clients have become good friends. Why is it that we should shy away from doing business and having a social relationship with those in our lives? Why are we trying to compartmentalize, or even insulate ourselves? To me, there is no one who will look out […]
September 8, 2023
When is water no longer wet? When does sweet lose its taste? When do happiness and joy no longer feel like the best feelings one could ever have? Loss can take a lot of that away. Loss can rob us of all of life’s meaning and pleasure, those feelings that are so critical to who we are and the smiles we have on our faces. It is so easy to look across the street and say, “They have it so much better than me,” or “No one REALLY understands what I am dealing with.” But, in reality, none of us […]
September 1, 2023
Work hard? For what? Exercise hard? For what? Eat right and take care of yourself? For what? That “for what” is what we have to all solve for in life. Imagine training for a marathon but not knowing that the distance was 26.2 miles. You would have no way to train for the race, no way to check in on your progress. A goal without a reason – the “for what” – becomes meaningless. We must OWN the goal. We must own who we want to become and, more importantly, know why. Ultimately, that goal (and that for what) must be for […]
August 25, 2023
In the movie The Natural, at the opening of the film, Roy Hobbs’ father looks at him and says, “You have a gift, a talent. But that’s not enough.” Unfortunately, the young Hobbs, preternaturally gifted at baseball, has to learn that lesson on his own, as a crazed fan shoots him while he’s on the way to a tryout with the Chicago Cubs. In the iconic film, it takes Hobbs, played by Robert Redford, a full 16 years before he can come back to baseball from the injury, this time with less natural talent but far more perspective and appreciation […]
August 18, 2023
Last week, I went to a Dodgers game with my son. It was Orel Hershiser Appreciation Night, and the legendary pitcher was being admitted into the Dodgers’ Hall of Fame. For those who don’t know, Orel was a fresh-faced rookie when the Dodgers called him up to the majors in 1983. During his time in LA, Hershiser excelled, becoming a three-time All-Star and winning the Cy Young award. And then, there was ‘88, a fairytale playoff run that cemented his reputation as a baseball immortal. Anyways, at the game last week, a host of Dodgers greats from the past were […]
August 11, 2023
Years ago, a very dear friend and mentor said to me, “Kid, the most successful people I know are the angriest. And you are the angriest person I have ever met.” On face value, I took that as a compliment, as being told you’re successful usually is. But it’s what he said next that still sticks with me to this day. “But you will never reach your true potential until you solve for that,” he went on. You will never reach your true potential until you solve for that. It completely rattled me at the time, opening my eyes to the […]
August 4, 2023
“Thank you,” Andre said. “For what?” I said. “For calling me out and holding me accountable,” he replied, putting his hand on my shoulder and looking at me with a knowing smile. “You are a true friend.” My client and dear friend, Andre, is a chef. He’s one of the best, thriving professionally with endless accolades. But he was struggling personally, his weight ballooning. He was out of control. One night, while at a charity event, I saw him eating and drinking with abandon. Now, to keep it in perspective, he had quit smoking a year earlier. Andre blamed his weight gain […]
July 28, 2023
Always try to put yourself and those around you in a position to win. Recently, one of my wife’s friends asked me while the kids were swimming in her pool, “Now what is it that you do again?” “I work with a small select group of individuals and business owners with regard to their financial affairs,” I replied. The conversation continued and I explained who we were and our methodology.. This particular family was with UBS and not happy with their service. So, with no “sales” material or “selling,” this family asked me if I could work with them. “Why […]
July 21, 2023
I am simply amazed by what we can learn from our kids. As a father, I am VERY protective of my kids. I know you may be, too. But when it comes to my son, I have been even more protective, especially with the move and a lot of what he has been dealing with. We had some friends over the other day. One of their boys, Tim, used to be a close friend of my sons until an incident occurred a couple of years ago. I then “banished” that boy from his friendship circle and wouldn’t allow my son to […]
July 14, 2023
The year was 1990. I had my first job when I was only 13, working at a Baskin Robbins in Los Angeles. The ice cream shop was close to my house so I would ride my single-speed black Schwinn bicycle to work every day. I loved it; the feeling of independence, the feeling of making my own money, being my own man. There is just no other feeling like that. Maybe you can relate? One evening, my boss decided to let me close the shop. I remember it like yesterday; the privilege of being able to be the last person there, counting […]