Nothing beats personal interaction. Nothing beats being together.

Being with other people, live and face to face. Not over the phone or zoom. Phones put away and just real meaningful time together.

This week, I had the pleasure of seeing clients that I had never met in person. They live in Texas.

We flew out and spent five hours together. Uninterrupted. Real, authentic conversation. Talking about all things them. Just listening and learning. Not much of a discussion around the markets or the world.

Just simply being and talking about what is going on with them.

Then, I flew to Chicago for a team outing with the entire One Wealth Management family. We had dinner. We were in the office together, all of us. ‘Collaborating, discussing the things that matter for the firm and for us as people.

The faces, the laughter, the humanity.

Just being together.

You can’t tell me that remote work replaces that. Zoom doesn’t replicate that. AI will never come close, and nor will anything else.

Nothing can replace that human interaction, that real time together.

Now more than ever, it’s so important to be PRESENT in life, .to put away those cell phones and tech and just be.

This moment will not be forever, so we must cherish the time we do have.

We must become better at being with one another and being able to block out all of the distractions.

As we enter the weekend, let’s all make that commitment.

Commit to just one thing: spending time and being truly present with those who mean the most to you and enjoying every minute of it.

After all, we never know when this moment will pass, and you won’t have this opportunity again.

-J.D.