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November 17, 2023
There is nothing worse than unused potential. The idea that one can do and be so much more yet chooses not to. I’m not saying that everyone has to strive for total optimization like some machine, and you definitely have the right to be exactly who you want to be. But wouldn’t it be so much more fulfilling to see what you really CAN be? To push those limits and see what you can do? Maybe try your hardest and leave it all out there, even just once. By pushing far out of your comfort zone, you might just show […]
November 10, 2023
Are you stressed or depressed? Words that sound so similar but have very different meanings. Or do they? How often have you said, “Man, I am so stressed?” Now think about this for a second: how often have you said, “I feel so depressed.” Or “I am so sad today and don’t know why.” Probably never. Very seldom do we (people in general) sit with our feelings. Instead, we’re always moving on to the next thing or simply saying to ourselves, “I’ll deal with that later.” We may even subconsciously treat an admission that we’re depressed or feeling something as […]
November 3, 2023
When people are not looking or recognizing it, doing what is right is where true interpersonal satisfaction comes in. Growing up in Los Angeles, my grandfather was an immigrant from Russia. He and his three siblings grew up in an orphanage. It’s called Vista del Mar in Culver City and is still there today. His father died on the long journey to the U.S. from Russia. My grandfather’s mother was so poor that she had to make the choice to give up her children – all four of them – just to guarantee their survival. So, she placed all four […]
November 1, 2023
Stock Market Despite regaining ground on the last day of the month, October proved subpar for the equity markets on fears of war in the Middle East, surging bond yields, and shaky earnings from Big Tech. For the month, Wall Street’s three major indices performed as follows: The Dow -1.4% S&P 500 -2.2% Nasdaq -2.8% It was the third-straight losing month for both the Dow and S&P 500, the first three-month negative streak since March 2020. Likewise, the tech-heavy Nasdaq saw its third consecutive losing month. The previous Friday saw the S&P 500 officially enter correction territory, defined as 10% […]
October 27, 2023
“Can I ask what the deciding factor was in selecting us?” I asked. The client, sitting across the desk from me, put his hand to his chin, thinking about it for a moment. “You guys were the only ones that came at us with a unique approach,” he said. “That’s great,” I replied. “But what exactly? Sorry to ask, but I always like knowing what we did or did not do well.” “Sure, no problem. I understand,” he said. “You didn’t make a recommendation or pitch a product. You came to us with questions and a solution, if and only if the results […]
October 20, 2023
I am very uneasy. The world. Our world. I know you probably feel the same way recently. I’m also very uneasy about the things people are saying, what they express, both publicly and privately. In my business, I have always felt most comfortable being uncomfortable. Living in that discomfort to get to a better result. Embracing it. In life, I suppose I have acted somewhat the same way, too. However, the events of the last couple weeks have changed my view on so many things: what is really important and what is not, the response that one should have. To speak […]
October 13, 2023
What is Uber? Of course, the ride app takes its origins from the word in the normal lexicon. And the dictionary defines “uber” as “Denoting an outstanding or supreme example of a particular kind of person or thing.” I think, so far, the company is right on the mark. Do you remember when Uber first came on the scene? Will Farrell was in the commercials, doing what Will Farrell does: fancy car, bling, cool shoes, and rockstar looks, making it all fun and approachable. Uber was JUST a car service then. Or so we thought! Today, Uber has grown to operate in […]
October 6, 2023
“Practice like you’ve never won. Perform like you’ve never lost.” This last week, I had the pleasure of spending time with peers from around the country. It’s always truly amazing to see how different people live and work. There are lots of different ways to do things. All are valid. It’s fascinating for me to see how other highly successful people achieve balance in their lives, starting with how they process and make choices. But in that big room, despite our myriad differences, the one thing that remains the same with all of us is how we practice. Among everyone I […]
October 2, 2023
Stock Market Inflation uncertainty and the specter of an imminent government shutdown drove markets in what turned out to be a shaky September for stocks. For the month, the market’s three major indices performed as follows: The Dow -3.5% S&P 500 -4.9% Nasdaq -5.8% The Nasdaq and S&P posted their worst performing month of the year in September and the worst since December 2022, while the Dow saw its worst month since February. For the quarter (Q3), the three major indices performed as follows: The Dow -2.6% S&P 500 -3.7% Nasdaq -4.1% Jobs and Unemployment According to the […]
September 29, 2023
When I first got started in business it was all about “faking it until you make it.” It was “act as if.” “Don’t worry about debt, just build your business and the rest will take care of itself,” they would all say. It was advice that was hard to ignore and came at me from everywhere. “Kid, you don’t have an expense problem, you have a revenue problem,” Bob said. As I look back on almost 29 years in business, some of that was true. When you’re in growth mode and starting from the bottom, it’s difficult to manufacture confidence and momentum. […]