Author, Investor, Speaker, Mentor
Ever since I hit my 30s, I’ve made it a practice to make younger friends (in a non-creepy way of course). I was glad when people like Ramit Sethi or Ben Casnocha came into my life. (Conversely, I was also glad to meet older friends like my friend Don Yates.) At the time, I was … Continue reading Make Younger Friends
I knew the day would come when I would lose my friend Don. When you become friends with someone who is four decades older, you have to realize that you’ll be saying goodbye sooner rather than later. But it was still a sad moment when I heard from his daughter Sharon that he had passed … Continue reading Remembering my friend Don Yates
The great Eric Barker notes that the #1 negotiation principle that HBS teaches its MBA students is being likeable: http://bit.ly/19qRqeG “Here’s the equation for getting what you want. Cutting to the chase: You want to get more. You want more money, a better offer, a better deal; here are the components of what you need … Continue reading “They Need To Like You”: Friendship & Raising a Series A
It’s amazing how so many of the important elements of our lives are completely unintentional. As my family and I grieve for Kobe, most of the sharpest pangs seem to be hitting us when we least expect it. For example, I know that I’ll be thinking of Kobe during the time that I would take … Continue reading The Power Of The Unintentional
Religion is a controversial topic. Not only do believers and atheists have strong (and opposing) feelings on the subject, but there because it hinges on the question of faith, by definition it is difficult to draw conclusions based on empirical evidence (my favorite mode of thinking). I know two things that are definitely true. The … Continue reading Faith, Community, Friendship, and Imperfection
Bob Herbert’s latest Op-Ed in the New York Times tells the story of two friends, Josh and Luis. After graduating from high school, Luis went into the army (both their dads were career soldiers). A few years later, Josh was diagnosed with testicular cancer, and Luis was constantly on the phone, encouraging him through the … Continue reading The Bond of Brothers
As you know, I love Penelope Trunk for the questions that she raises. The following post originally appeared as a comment on her post about friendship. 1) Religiously email your friends on their birthday. No matter what, you’re guaranteed to bring them a smile and get an update on their life. 2) Any time you … Continue reading Four Simple Life Hacks That Build Friendships