Honest takes. Real stories. No guru BS.
I get pitched a lot. Partnerships. Startups. The next Facebook. The next Amazon. Always something “game-changing.” Every time, it’s the same setup: “This will totally reinvent the way people ___.” “It’s never been done before.” “It’s going to change the world.” Then—like clockwork—they drop the buzzword: “unicorn.” A billion-dollar exit. Once-in-a-lifetime growth. A story so … Read more
We compare our current mess to someone else’s finished product.You scroll, you watch, you wonder.Why not me?Where’s my win? Mikey has ice cream.Bev got the promotion.Cousin Marcus has the house, the cars, the wife, the kids, the dog. You want the postcard life. You tell yourself:I deserve ice cream too. I deserve the promotion. I … Read more
Let’s have a heart-to-heart about this whole “mindset” thing. We’ve all heard the gurus and influencers preaching about the power of a growth mindset, right? And sure—they’re not wrong. But let’s be honest, has anyone ever changed their mindset because someone told them their thinking was wrong? Mindset shifts don’t come from finger-wagging, motivational posters, … Read more
I didn’t want to share. Not the upside. Not the decision-making. And definitely not the credit. Sometimes you need a partner.Most times, you don’t. That’s not a philosophy. That’s a scar. When I bought my first company, I didn’t bring in an equity partner. Not because someone handed me a check. Not because I hit … Read more
You built it. You wear every hat. You fight every fire. Nothing moves unless you say so. You like to tell people you’re the boss. And that’s exactly why no one wants to buy it. Harsh? Maybe. True? Absolutely. Here’s the thing—buyers aren’t looking to become you. They’re looking to buy an asset: a business … Read more
Everyone wants freedom. The time. The money. The control. The option to say no. Freedom Isn’t Given. Freedom Isn’t Free I spent thirty years chasing it the way they told me to—through degrees, titles, rank, and recognition. I stacked them all. None of it got me there. And I still wasn’t free. The education got … Read more
In 2021, I sold my business. For most people, that’s the dream. The finish line. The big win. The moment the confetti flies and someone walks a pony in to the room just you. The Golden Buzzer. But for me, it didn’t feel like a celebration. It felt like silence. The day after closing, I … Read more