my old notebooks
my story
I have always preferred to write in moleskin notebooks: one for the personal journal, one for work notes, one for whatever i'm trying to write that isn't either of those. and in my line of work, there is always one i pick up at a conference or an offsite; at this point i have dozens of them at my house.
there is something comforting and lasting about putting it on paper — it's slower than typing, and it doesn't disappear when the laptop gets wiped.
every so often i pull an old one off the shelf and remember back to a job i don't have anymore, a stage of life i barely recognize, what i was working on that month, what i was worried about, what i couldn't wait to get to. it's part reflection and part altar — stones stacked up so that later i can look back and remember what i came through. (joshua 4)
this site is me going back through those notebooks and typing it up while it still means something -- leadership, health, money, family, and a few things i'm still figuring out. my goal is to be transparent but i often didn't get it right, but i always learned from the experience.
the short version of my journey: i've spent 20+ years in finance working at some of the biggest tech companies in the world (Apple, Google, and Facebook). i then worked a few start-ups in the cfo seat, and settled into my current role at a software company.
but the work i'm proudest of doesn't really show up on a resume. important things first -- i'm a dad of two boys, and i view the skills i've accumulated as a calling and a way for me to help those i'm most passionate to help -- small businesses (the back bone of our economy), non-profits (particularly in the unhoused community space), and anyone just trying to do a bit better every day - especially if they are a leader of others. leadership is a special role that requires a lot of investment to get right.
my main goal of his site is to be vulnerable. i was a closed-off kid who grew into a finance robot, and i've spent the last decade learning how to be an actual person at work and at home. the worries change. the handwriting doesn't. and the guy in the oldest notebook on my shelf would be genuinely relieved to know how it turned out.
if any of it saves you a year, take it. it cost me more than that.
leadership, health, money, family, and a few things i'm still figuring out.
leadership
set a vision and example, and remember that caring is job number 1
money
know the basics and focus on quality of life.
mental resilience
build high EQ and avoid burnout
strong relationships
building deep, resilient connections at home and in community.
no frameworks. no 7-step systems. no thought leadership. just what happened, what it cost, and what i'd do differently. if you've ever walked out of a meeting quietly wondering whether you're the problem — same. pull up a chair.