Have you ever been to a restaurant with a sushi train? It’s a revolving conveyor belt that snakes through the restaurant loaded with little plates of sushi. Diners choose directly from the sushi-go-round the nibbles that appeal to them. Like at a dim sum restaurant, the plates are color-coded by price. At...
Can This Deal Be Saved? The Art of Asking “What Matters?”
Last week I was talking with a banker about how to save a deal of his that was spiraling out of control. It seemed the Seller had become less and less responsive over the past several weeks and then, suddenly, threw up a wacky deal term out of nowhere that threatened to kill the deal. The entire deal team was left...
Is Money Your Security Blanket?
In many of Charles M. Schulz' Peanuts comic strips, Linus' security blanket is prominently featured. Linus loves his blanket, carries it everywhere, often while sucking his thumb, and is not embarrassed by it. He cannot survive without it and really suffers when it is being washed. However, in...
Being the Best Damned Provider You Can Be – Because Failing Your Family Isn’t An Option
Jeff, who had been a managing director at a boutique investment firm, arrived at Starbucks wearing an expensive suit with a power tie, impressive cuff links and impeccably polished shoes. As he took a seat across from me, his crisp scented aftershave lingered from our handshake. I asked if he had an interview that...
The Courage to Let Go – Dealing with Transition & Navigating the Dreaded “In-Between”
I've been doing a lot of what I call "bridging work" lately. It's the work of navigating in-between the piers as the spans of your life's bridge is built. Letting go of what is familiar while reaching for the not-yet-here new stage of life. Keeping Afloat During Change David has recently completed a sale...