I think you would notice that I am all about soaking up the experiences. I can still remember one evening on Jamaica, sitting on the beach outside a bar, listening to Bob Marley, drinking a beer, watching a flock of pelicans diving in the water after fish. I love experiences like that and try to […]

I believe in establishing trust foremost. And that you cannot establish trust if you’re always going in trying to be the victor. It need not be about winning. How do we work with this person? What’s the right language to deal with the situation? What common ground exists?

I can share an example from an experience today actually. An hour ago I was meeting with a guy who wants to be selected as the architect on a hotel project I am working on. And a few days prior he had on his dime flown down to LA to attend one of our planning […]

People have given me a Blackberry and all kinds of electronic devices over the years but I have always written everything down in school notebooks. I jot down key words in my notebooks and later I can find a previous note and recall entire conversations. This has benefited me a great deal when I needed […]

Think before you act. Ever since I was a teenager, I developed this habit of editing what I am about to say a millisecond before I say it. It saves me a lot of time by minimizing the instances of saying something ineffective, inappropriate or stupid.

I write in a journal consistently. I use it primarily for work but then I start thinking about my life and I’ll write two pages about my personal life. With this alone time, I think about what I ought to be doing and those thoughts often lead to action.

I have a double shot of espresso about an hour after lunch every day. It kicks things into a gear after the lull of lunch and it helps me be creative. I’ll split my days and use my afternoons to work on my design bench or to solve business issues. That shot of espresso makes […]

I always talk on the phone with a headset whether at home or the office. I can usually get lightweight tasks done at the same time, like filing on my computer.

One of the most important habits of mine is that I carry a small notepad and digital recorder with me at all times. The notepad allows me to write down thoughts and map out ideas as they come up. The recorder allows me to speak out my thoughts and ideas if I am not able […]

Ever since I was 13, I would have objectives. And since my 20’s, I have always had a formal five year plan; writing out what I want to be and what I want to do. I can tell you now looking back that this has been a huge factor in what I have accomplished in […]

Over the years, I have developed email lists of people that can help me in different spheres of my life. I have developed email lists of individuals involved in various business and personal interests of mine. You don’t need to be a CEO to build and cultivate these types of networks, but you do need […]

I’m always planning, making notes, using time in between meetings and calls to get things done. I have a small black notebook that I fits into my pocket. I carry it with me everywhere. I am constantly jotting down thoughts, adding tasks for myself, knocking things off the list. When I’m traveling, I’m constantly reading, […]

I start my day with mediation. I usually do one of three things or a combination. I have morning prayer which I do every day, maybe reading from one of those books of wisdom that gives you a quote for the day and meditate on that quote. And then I process what do I have […]

I ask for things and I think I’m pretty clear in the way that I ask. I say please and I say thank you. If I really want it, I just keep asking for it. I can be proactive but hopefully, not overly aggressive! I was more passive in college because I wanted to be […]

I don’t get up at same time every day. I get up roughly two and a half hours before I need to start my day. Once it starts, I can’t control it. So if I have to catch a plane at 10am, I’ll be up 2.5 hours before I need to leave at the airport. […]

The first thing they would notice is that I am tenacious as hell. When I am focused on a goal, I am very determined and I don’t take “no” easily. I can fall down, get up, learn from the experience. Also, I’m secure enough with myself to unabashedly admit what I don’t know and to […]