Category / Business Development / Everyday Life

Over the “Christmas Break” I had an insightful conversation with my 9 year old daughter about devaluation. It started simply about a penny. Yes, that little copper coin so dissed for only being one cent. The conversation centered around kids at my daughter’s school saying that pennies are worthless. As we counted (and rolled) the…

It was two days after I was asked to present on legacy to the Arizona Suns Charities 88 annual review event that I sat in the car with my dad. I’ve presented on legacy to non-profits and small business groups over the past three years and held a strong belief in what legacy meant to…

If you know me, you know I’m all about building a legacy. Not for self respect or for ego. No, I’m for building a legacy that gives others opportunities greater than I had. I reflect regularly on what I want to leave behind for others. My greatest hero, my dad, taught me that whenever you…

In business it’s rare to discuss character. It’s not tangible. It holds no cash value. It plays no part in budgetary meetings. It’s not bantered around at board meetings when discussing clients and suppliers. It’s not sexy like “scaling” the business. It’s not looked for in job interviews. It’s just not there – anymore. Character…

Every business has cycles. Since I have been in the business world (from way back in 1995), I’ve seen numerous cycles run through numerous industries. The industry I was heavily involved in, real estate, took a major hit in 2006 – 2007 with the real estate meltdown. Like many, I was involved in the dot-com…

Early on in my career as an entrepreneur one of my mentors, the epitome of the lone wolf entrepreneur, told me something that has stuck with me the past 20 years – “partnerships are like a marriage…without the benefits of good sex.” I think I’ve made every partnership mistake in the book and yes, partnerships…

Just the other day I had someone ask if I had a vision board. It got me thinking – wow, have we really cycled back around to late 70’s early 80’s motivational tactics? Don’t get me wrong, I get the power of a vision board; but, is it really powerful without knowing your “why?” I’ll…

As a Dad who works from home, I sometimes have the opportunity of my seven year old daughter, Faith, being at home while I am working. The other day she made an observation that hit me deep “Dad, you don’t smile as much when you’re working.” It got me thinking that evening – what would business be…

There Frank Lopo and I were at Einsteins over a bagel and orange juice having a fantastic business philosophy conversation when we reached a topic many entrepreneurs find difficult to discuss. Both Frank and I agreed, it’s one of the hardest pills to swallow as a business owner – letting go to move on We discussed…