Today I took a pretty bold step even by my standards. After a gentle prodding from a former coworker, and after having had a series of insufferable bosses/VPs/CEOs, I acted on the best advice I’ve gotten in some time: be your own boss.
Without going into the details of the business itself, what gave me pause was how simple it was to get things off the ground. To that end, I’m in debt to a few people. They might not get thanked enough, but I figure this would be a proper venue for a public thanks. If you know or knew any of these guys, you might appreciate what follows…and thank them.
Marty Dennehy: Berklee College of Music
As a alumnus of Berklee’s Music Business and Management program, two of Marty’s classes were required: Taxation and Accounting. These were the single most important, most useful, and most significant classes Berklee could offer me. While it’s great to learn the Phrygian mode, knowing how to start a business, what was deductible, and how to track it all (Get a pencil! Get a notebook!), Marty explained it all. I walked out of his classes with a shrewder, smarter, and completely useful understanding of basic taxation and accounting principles. Without exaggeration, I use something I learned in his classes every day.
Ricky Berger: Right Hook Solutions
First things first, Ricky is insane. Fortunately for him, and for me, it’s the good/brilliant kind of insane. Ricky was the guy who told me to be my own boss. He also gave me the kernel of an idea that morphed into what I’m doing now. Along with being a skilled litigator, mindblowing guitarist, and connoisseur of all things Harley, he’s the guy you want on your side. I’m so glad to have him on mine!
Jennifer Doctor: Forrester Research
Jen’s known me for roughly half my life. Maybe longer. I’m fairly certain that she’s the single smartest person I know. She’s also more outspoken than I am which is saying A LOT. But when your observations and intuitions are dead on, and you’ve got the brains to back up the brag, then you better be outspoken. If I’m successful in my latest (or any really any) endeavor, she deserves a good chunk of the credit.
Darrell Martinie: The Cosmic Muffin
A long time ago, when the Internet was in its infancy, local folks hiding behind random screenames would talk to each other online. Today’s AIM was yesterday’s chic, and an extremely small percentage of people were online. I had been offered an internship at a radio station, but due to hiring changes (my potential boss got fired!) the internship was rescinded. Talking to an online confidante, he said that he could probably help me out. I had no idea how, who, or why he’d bother. We were just random chat partners, completely platonic, virtually anonymous, and definitely owed no favors to each other. Days later, I got an offer to intern on the morning show at WZLX. Little did I know this random online guy was in fact the Cosmic Muffin, one of the funniest, kindest, most generous guys I got to meet. He also drank the cheapest jug of wine I’d ever come across. A great guy, and someone I owe most of my career to.
Charles Laquidara: Host, The Big Mattress
So Darrel got me in the door, but in reality Charles was my first boss at my first “real” job. You know, the job that doesn’t require ringing a cash register or getting people coffee. Well, actually I did get quite a few people coffee. And in the rare event that Charles asks, I can still (10 years later) remember exactly how he likes his prepared. Anyway, the lesson learned here was one of support and loyalty. On my very first day, Charles pulled me aside and said “no matter what, you work for me. If there’s a problem, you come to me. I’ll help you any way I can, and I expect the same from my team.” The reality was that he did just that multiple times. While there were occasions where we argued like cats and dogs (loudly and publicly!), I never doubted his integrity. The guy not only launched my career, and provided the basis for EVERYTHING I’ve done since, but he even co-signed the lease on my first apartment. My working relationship with Charles didn’t end as well as it could of. In retrospect, you look back and realize you could’ve/should’ve/would’ve done things differently. Years after working with him, people who see my resume still ask what the experience was like.
