Last week, after 41 years working together,  Jim Watkins and I  closed our last deal. We closed our first deal together in 1984. In 2020, I wrote a tribute to Jim and the true mentor he has been (you can read it here).   Today, I’m reflecting on both that first deal, this last deal, and […]
Firsts—Lasts—and the Journey Read More »
Failure is success in progress.” – Albert Einstein.  Let’s get into it—if you want real success, you’re going to have to fail. Probably a lot. In Part 2 of our Ten on One series, my partner Andrew Cheney finishes his conversation with longtime friend Michael Kosta. They go even deeper into what it really takes to chase your dream—and yes,
The Benefits of Failure Read More »
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” — Helen Keller.  One of the greatest gifts in life? Watching the people around you grow. In last week’s Ten on One, my Coppola Cheney partner Andrew Cheney interviewed his longtime friend Michael Kosta—a former tennis player turned comedian and now author. What stood out most
The Joy of Long-Term Relationships Read More »
Calmness isn’t something I was born with— however, I have been working on becoming calmer….for a long long time. Ha.  I have found that the most grounded people don’t waste energy on things that drain them. They stay focused, control what they can, and let the rest go. I’m working on this myself every day. Want
Ways to be Calmer Read More »
In this second part of our series on Aging, Mary and I dove into a fairly new word: healthspan. Healthspan refers to the years you live feeling strong, capable, and connected, and it matters far more than just hitting a high number. As the article below states, “The pursuit of longevity should not come at
Part 2 – Aging: Healthspan Read More »
 The saying, “age is just a number” is starting to seem more and more true as I get older.  Mary Henk, who works on my team, and I are in our early 60s. We have both noticed an interesting trend: some people our age look and feel decades younger, while others appear much older. Is it
Growth means change—and real personal growth requires us to let go of parts of our old selves. The habits, routines, or identities that once served us can oftentimes start holding us back. I learned this from my coach, Dan Sullivan, who taught me that Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt = Growth.  Moving forward is never easy, but
Just Keep Growing! Read More »
Learning never stops—at least not if we want to stay in the game and keep crushing our Fantastic Life. Research shows that when older adults tackle new skills, their memory and attention sharpen, and the progress keeps building even after the classes end. Here’s what stands out: — Learning Fuels Growth: New challenges drive focus and motivation,
I ran long distances for a long time before I finally retired from running. But I didn’t stop moving.  For the last 15-20 years I have been setting and executing an annual goal of spending at least 30 nights a year backpacking and sleeping on the ground. This is my way of getting out of
Running Advice from 90 year old’s Read More »
When I was working 70+ hours a week, I was a lousy friend and sibling. Life comes at you hard and when you are raising 4 kids, running a business, and trying to live a Fantastic Life….it gets busy AND hard. I found myself defaulting to quick, superficial exchanges instead of engaging in meaningful conversations with
Friendship Snacks Read More »
