In 2010, I decided that the firm where I worked, where I’d started and spent my entire career, was no longer a fit. It was a decision I did not take lightly. I also had NO idea what to do about it or where I wanted to go. But what I did know was: I was not afraid of a fight. I wanted to work hard. Feeling like I was growing was important. Entrepreneurship was definitely for me. I believed in myself, And also believed in teamwork and partnerships. Deep down, I knew I could do more and be more. […]

“You’re leaving me?” “Just for a little while, buddy. We’ll hang out more at the house later today, I promise.” My son said that to me earlier this week while we were all on vacation. For whatever reason, it’s stuck with me. He saw my leaving the park for a little while with a buddy as “leaving him.” It shouldn’t be a big deal, right? But his words, the tone of his voice, keep echoing with me. What choices am I making today that are impacting the way he feels? How about the way he feels about our relationship? Is there anything […]

This week, I had to travel and decided to fly using Jet Suite X (JSX). If you haven’t heard of it, Jet Suite X is a small commercial airline that flies out of a limited number of private airports. My particular flight was taking off from Phoenix and landing in Burbank. It was my first time flying JSX, and I found it to be quite a departure from the typical air travel grind. With Jet Suite X, I could arrive just 15 minutes before the flight. There were no long TSA lines or mobs of frustrated people. We boarded the plane right from […]

A prospective client called me the day before we were set to meet. “Looking forward to seeing you Wednesday,” he said. “But I am not signing anything now – just looking to learn more.” No problem, I respect the honesty and there’s no rush at all for me. He and I sat down at a nice local restaurant and talked about his planning, his situation, and what was most important to him. We got to know each other well and had a great conversation about his financial future but also about life, family, kids, and the lot. Soon, he asked […]

What’s the difference between loyalty and blind loyalty? I’ve given this topic a lot of thought lately. We all value loyalty: in friends, teammates, coworkers, and certainly in relationships. But at what point do we hold loyalty above all else? Is there a point where our allegiances become unhealthy, the price we have to pay just not worth it? First off, what is loyalty? (Because the word may mean different things to different people.) According to Dictionary.com, the definition of ‘loyalty’ is: “The state or quality of being loyal; faithfulness to commitments or obligations.” Or “An example or instance of […]

In the year 2000, the New York Yankees did something remarkable: they won the World Series. Out of 30 teams in baseball, through the grind of a 162-game regular season and another 16 games over three rounds in the playoffs, they came out as champions. What made it even more amazing when they recorded the final out of the World Series (against their crosstown Subway Series rivals, the Mets, no less) is that it was their third World Series win in three years: a Three-Peat! Now, it isn’t easy to win. In fact, the Yankees only won 87 regular season […]

“Honestly, I would have given it only a 20% chance that Andy would have any interest at all,” my prospective client, Todd, said. “But you sure did pique his interest.” Todd was the Chairman, CEO, and President of a publicly traded newsgroup. He was 65 years young, successful, wealthy, and generous. He also understood that one person couldn’t possibly know everything these days, nor could his advisors. “He and I have worked together for 40 years,” Todd went on, speaking of his financial gatekeeper, Andy. “Andy is our family’s CPA, attorney, our consigliere. He knows where every dollar of our family’s […]

It was 2001. I was 24 years old, made half-a-million dollars the year before and business was getting better and better. Most people would say that I was a success by some standard. Although I’d tried to stay in school, it wasn’t for me. I just wasn’t a student even though I’d tried mightily, spending 1995 through 2000 in school. I was working while I was a student, of course, and working hard at both. I remember getting a call from my Grandmother, “Hey honey, how are things?” “Pretty good,” I replied. “Super busy with everything and trying to keep up.” “Your […]

“Jenny called me and said she loved you,” my client wrote to me. He’d emailed just to give me feedback after referring me a potential new client. “She said you were great and exactly what she was looking for.” There’s no better way to end the day than with an email with that news. I typed my reply, “Well, I hope she decides to become a client.” I sent my email. Within moments, I received one back from my client that simply said, “She will.” This very dear client connected me with a celebrity in New York. She’s a household name […]

The definition of ‘success’ is so different for different people. For one person, a banner year in sales would be a reason to quit the industry for others. The owner of a budding $ 10 million company may feel far more successful than the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar firm who just saw their stock falter. A personal best at the gym or on a cycle ride may look way different for you than it does for someone else. And personal fulfillment Since the entire notion of success is so subjective and personal, how can we even measure it? How do […]