
My Father's Regret and the True Meaning of Wealth
The doctor’s words hung in the air, quiet but heavy. “I’m going to give you a few minutes to say your goodbyes. When you’re ready, I’ll come back in the room and turn off the ventilator.”

The doctor’s words hung in the air, quiet but heavy. “I’m going to give you a few minutes to say your goodbyes. When you’re ready, I’ll come back in the room and turn off the ventilator.”

There’s a single question that has saved me from more financial loss, wasted time, and squandered resources than any other piece of advice. It’s a question I learned the hard way, through a long list of failures and setbacks. Most people avoid asking it because it feels deeply uncomfortable, but ignoring it puts you in a dangerous position, like an ostrich with its head in the sand.

Most of us, especially busy professionals, have our priorities completely mixed up. We chase goals, build careers, and pour energy into a hundred different things, all while neglecting the one thing that makes it all possible. It’s a lesson Warren Buffett explained perfectly to a group of college students in Omaha.

For most of my childhood, I was quietly terrified that my dad was going to die. When I was younger than ten, my siblings and I stumbled upon his secret: he was a smoker. He had probably hidden his miniature cigars from us so we wouldn’t pick up the habit ourselves, but once the cat was out of the bag, he started smoking in front of us.

There’s a powerful concept that shapes your entire life, yet most of us never think about it: your self-story. It’s the internal narrative you write about who you are, and it quietly determines your success. The good news is, you hold the pen. You can write a better story for yourself—one that helps you achieve your biggest ambitions.

There’s a simple but powerful psychological tool you can use to motivate yourself or someone else to build a habit or stick to a goal. It’s a technique that has been used in everything from presidential politics to personal fitness, and it all comes down to one simple shift: asking instead of telling.

I was fourteen, standing on a stage, and I was pretty sure my entire life was about to end. The auditorium lights felt blinding, and the silence from the crowd—a mix of students, parents, and teachers—was deafening. My job was simple: give a few closing remarks at the school awards night. But as I stood there, script shaking in my sweaty hands, my mind went completely blank.

When you’re thinking about buying a business, knowing what you’re looking for is everything. Making the wrong choice can be a disaster for your finances and your reputation. If you’re just getting started, it’s a good idea to explore different business models and industries to see what clicks with you.

Nothing kills the high of an acquisition offer quite like due diligence. It’s a long, draining, and often nerve-wracking process. After celebrating the big offer, it can feel like a sudden shock to the system. Having been through two acquisitions myself, I can tell you that while it's definitely a grind, there’s a way to get through it without losing your mind. And that’s what I want to walk you through.