As a kid, I was among the generation of ambitiously-minded youth who believed in the spirit of entrepreneurism and the ability to make something substantial out of little or nothing. One of my goals was to amass a huge fortune… in many respects, just to prove that I could. And I had unshakeable faith that I was capable.

When I transitioned out of my career path as a forensic accountant, I made a decision to pursue a more meaningful path. If I told you that I abandoned my dreams of generating wealth, I’d be lying to you and fooling myself.

To get rich [quick] is to take a substantial risk (mostly an investment of time, energy and ingenuity) for a commensurate reward. It is the process of creating something that is generative… that generates more of itself.


In the spirit of entrepreneurism, my aim is to be generative while pursing my dream job.

In his book, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”, Robert Kiyosaki eloquently points out that assets like homes, cars and material objects are often liabilities… they require maintenance, are subject to theft and damage, and the worries associated with these potential losses often consume their owner’s enjoyment of such assets.

In contrast, training, expertise and professional experience are intangible assets that provide leverage without liability or risk of loss. The author’s intent is to encourage us to envision our dream job and seek out the on-the-job training needed to cultivate the necessary expertise to do it ourselves… and to eventually reap the rewards.

Here’s the kicker… that kind of potential wealth is directly related to the chance to live the dream. Regardless of whether its modest or exorbitant wealth, it is wealth generated from pursuing one’s dream vocation. And the reward for that pursuit is really beyond measure.

From my current perspective, this concept of "get rich quick" has shifted into the entrepreneur’s golden ratio… you can take something and multiply it exponentially. As I see it, I could work as an employee and make an honest wage… save my money, invest wisely and perhaps get a modest return of 5-10% on my savings… maybe 20% if I’m lucky. As I realized as a kid, that’s not the path for me.

Instead, I intend to invest in my ingenuity and multiply my investment by 20%, 200%, 2,000% or beyond… there really is no limit. And there wouldn’t be a potential reward (ROI) without a commensurate risk. It’s a risk that I not only think is worth taking, but in many ways… the risk is the reward!

Please push me to my edge... to where I lose confidence, so that I may gain confidence.

Throughout my childhood, my parents often told me that I was not living up to my own potential... specifically in regards to my musical training and academics. Because success came easily for me, I was unmotivated to work any harder than necessary. I wasn't striving to fulfill my own potential, only to achieve a respectable degree of success in comparison to my peers. I played it safe.

However, I had an older brother and friends who pushed me out of my comfort zone, consistently. It brought up all of my insecurities and forced me to face my fears, again and again. As I advanced into adulthood, it became obvious to me that as I grew more confident, I needed a greater push to get me to that edge. The notion of playing it safe no longer appealed to me.

As I look at the world around me, I see too many people who consistently hedge their bets and make pragmatic choices... from day to day decisions to those opportunities that might come around once in a decade.

In contrast, I also meet people who consistently test their limits and go big. And with risk comes commensurate reward. Those people inspire me tremendously. They have become my role models, who by their example, push me positively towards my growing edge.

I dream big. And I've decided to LIVE just as big. Unless I practice... practice playing my edge and getting out of my comfort zone, I won't be prepared to make the big choices that will enable me to LIVE my dreams.

The moral of this story... PLEASE GO BIG! The world is waiting for your immeasurable impact.

"Penetration of our mind is our goal, but in the beginning to set things in motion, there is no substitute for sweat." ~ B.K.S. Iyengar

10 years into my yoga practice, I'm realizing just how close I remain to the beginning... just sweating it out. 

When I consider Mr. Iyengar's personal accomplishments, and by extension, the accomplishments of his students and their students and so on, it is mind boggling. Even today, several generations removed from the original source of these teachings, I remain intimately connected to Mr. Iyengar's immeasurable personal impact on the evolution of Hatha yoga.

In my short career as a yoga teacher, I've reached thousands of students. How many more teachers like myself are out there, sharing the light of yoga? How many more have benefited from this man's contribution to the evolution of yoga in the West?

Ultimately, yoga is the practice of taking ownership of my seat and being comfortable in my own skin; the practice of embracing my talents and discovering my limitations; the practice of cultivating the courage to follow my heart and the discipline to carve out that path.

As I see it, the greatest homage that I can pay to the source of these teachings, to all of my teachers, is to continue to sweat. Reciprocally, it's the same price I pay to serve my students.

When I begin to work with a new principle or lesson, I have found it helpful to apply that AIM to everything I do over the course of a week.

The timeframe gives it focus and yields potency. The scope is purposefully broad to observe the effects of applying the lesson to various situations. Since the common denominator in every situation is always me, I get to experience more of myself in relationship to the lesson from those various perspectives.

My motto for this week: good day, bad day, same day. Everyday counts.

I'm a chronic procrastinator. In the absence of a parent, teacher or boss breathing down my neck, I have to motivate myself to work to my capacity. To apply the lesson of the week, it is my aim to do what I can do tomorrow, today; and in so doing, reverse the cycle of procrastination.

Beyond the scope of "work", this concept adds tremendous value to everyday when everyday counts.

In my last year of college, I took on a challenge to live the next year of my life as though it was my last. I resolved to make that year count. During that following year, I moved to Hawaii, learned to surf, started practicing yoga and took advantage of every opportunity to challenge myself. In that window of a year, I acquired a taste for seizing the moment and living life to capacity.

When everyday counts, the days that count add up... into weeks, months, years, decades; into a lifetime that counts.

So what's your motto?

When I began my yoga practice, it was easy to see progress in terms of poses. I was humbled by the poses and embraced the challenge. For example, it took me a solid three months before I could touch my toes with my legs straight. That was a big moment.

The Ashtanga series was my first considerable investment in a yoga practice. It was physically demanding and the learning curve was steep. The achievement of poses became benchmarks as an affirmation of my progress.

After a year of dedicated practice, I hit a plateau. I didn’t see the same degree of evolution in my poses. Instead, they seemed better or worse depending on my state of mind. The rough days were amongst the most valuable in my personal development, as they forged tenacity into my practice.

All the while, the core of my practice was getting stronger and I began to appreciate the transformative effect of the practice on my state of mind.

A decade later, I’m still practicing the same poses. My physical practice hasn’t changed nearly as much as my awareness within the practice. I have a clear vision of what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. That clarity lends itself to all other aspects of my life and that's where I discover the real value of practice.

So here’s the moral of the story: Put effort into practice, and progress is a sure thing.

Word of the day: Compare

I'm getting reacquainted with an old friend from college, and we've been sharing how life has unfolded for each of us. As I listen to his extraordinary tales, I am captivated by his achievements and the confidence he has cultivated in himself. At the same time, I find myself comparing his success to my own and doubting whether I've used my time wisely.

I have made deliberate choices to get to where I am now, and it's been a tremendously rewarding journey. Each choice has helped me to cultivate a strong vision and clear values. No doubt, I've used the world around me as a consistent reference point. But ultimately, I'm driven by desire that is born from my own inner vision... something that has developed in stages through my cumulative life experience.

In much of the literature that I read about leadership, there is a consistent theme of identifying one's core values and navigating the ever-changing landscape of opportunity in relationship to those values.

Growth is truly relative, and each of us has to find our own way from one peak to the next. And while we walk our path alone, it doesn't have to be lonely. We will inevitably look around us to gather perspective, recalibrate our steps and refine our vision.

So while success can be measured in many terms, success is always relative to you. And the best form of comparison is you against you. I strive for my own personal best in everything that I do, and remain committed to giving 100% to my current endeavors... even while gazing at the next peak!

Here's a link to a poem called "The Man in the Glass" that had a strong influence on me during my formative years.

One of the first and only poems I've ever published, inspired by a visit to New Orleans for a reunion with two of my best friends...

Walking thru streets of the French quarter,
I'm reminded of who walked by my side
the first time I took this walk.

I reflect on the value of friends... what a gift.

I remember the line from 'Into the Wild',
"Happiness only real when shared."

I might spend a lifetime looking for the one
to share these precious moments.

Yet I have never felt the longing for friendship,
because friendship has always been by my side.

And for that, I would trade a hundred lovers,
and a thousand good times.

About a year and a half ago, I wrote the following phrase on my inspiration board: Simplify your life so you can live from a place of unconditional love.

Several months later, it got shortened: Simplify your life.

At this point, I had been running a yoga studio in NYC for over 4 years. I had taken ownership interest in the business and was committed to its success. It had become an all-consuming endeavor. But that was about to change.

This phrase came to me as I was reflecting back onto my first steps into yoga. I remembered what it felt like to be surrounded by people inspired by purpose, purpose connected to the heart. It was such a refreshing change from my former career in public accounting. I felt so open, so deeply connected to myself and to my work.

When I moved back to NYC, I remember thinking to myself... you are about to embark on a familiar path; one motivated by financial success, driven by competition and ultimately self-limiting. Whatever happens, don't forget what it feels like to be open, to serve for a purpose, to act with generosity of spirit.

I had all but forgotten. This phrase became my reminder. I started to apply its wisdom to my life. I brought more heart into my work and began treating my employees the way I treated my students. I dedicated more time to teaching and delegated my administrative duties. Eventually, I transitioned out of my administrative role completely and became a silent partner in the business.

Today, that phrase continues to add value to my life and
wisdom to my choices. However, I've boiled it down...
now it just reads:

Audacious: Demonstrate a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks

I chose this word deliberately as I was planning my last class. It inspires me to be impactful. If I ask my students to put extraordinary effort into their practice, I've got to be willing to model the way.

I could have recycled an old class plan and picked a theme that worked well before. That would have been playing it safe. But I know from my own experience that "playing it safe" only begets more of the same. It makes me less likely to be bold and to reach just beyond my confidence [comfort] zone.

I've seen this same pattern when I want to introduce myself to a stranger... if I hesitate, it gets harder to pierce the boundary. In contrast, the more willing I am to put myself out there, the easier it gets to make new connections.

This simple analogy applies to situations in which we are confronted by self-imposed limitations. The more willing we are to seize the moment, face our insecurities and take a leap, the more courage we gain to be bolder in the face of uncertainty.

The juncture at which we lose confidence is where we gain confidence. This fascinating paradox inspires one to embrace living on the edge of confidence... where we are sure to experience real growth, real progress. Go step towards that edge... and you'll see that it requires a healthy dose of audacity.

I received news about a good friend who just got his first big break on a popular TV show with huge exposure. He's been steadily investing in an acting / modeling career, and his reality bubble is about to burst. It got me thinking about my own experience with big opportunities, such as a television appearances and gigs with high-profile clients. These extraordinary opportunities gave me the chance to take a giant leap.

What motivates people to take the giant leap?  Surfing has taught me a precious lesson in this regard. On days when the waves are really big, I fear for my life. Paddling out, I face one giant wave after another, crashing 20 feet in front of me like a two-story building crumbling into foam. I dive underwater, hold onto my board for dear life and wait desperately for my next breath.

If I can hang in there, the waves will eventually switch off just long enough for me to catch my breath and paddle beyond the break. From outside the break, I get to watch these graceful beasts rising out of the ocean, a rainbow-colored spray blowing off their peaks... it's indescribable beauty. My whole body surges with the anticipation of riding one of these monsters.

It took me years to build up the stamina and experience to navigate strong currents and big waves. The same is true with my career. I spent years in disciplined training before I landed some of my biggest career opportunities.

My motto: Preparation yields payoff. It's the small steps that prepare us to take that giant leap and taste the extraordinary.