Whatever You Do, Think Long Term

Richard's my mom's boyfriend - a term that still sounds a little odd to me 17 years after my dad died, but I better get used to it. I can't get rid of the guy. And I'm glad my mom's found someone who makes her happy. Even if he is a curmudgeon.

Richard was born in Harlem, NY and raised in Washington Heights. His family was poor - his father ran an unsuccessful business waxing floors with two other guys in factories in New Jersey. From the age of six, Richard worked. His first job was selling Liberty Magazines for five cents out of a pouch thrown over his shoulder. He then delivered kosher meat for a butcher, worked in a dry cleaning business, and did various other odd jobs until he went to the University of Miami, where his family moved for his father's next venture - an unsuccessful men's store on Miami Beach. Richard worked there through college.

After getting a business degree, he became a CPA. He worked for a few years before starting his own firm which - unlike his father's businesses - became very successful in Miami. Although financially he did very well, he grew bored with accounting and soon got himself involved in more intellectually stimulating business pursuits. He got into the banking business and then, after working continuously from the age of six, he retired at 54.

Richard's a very singularly-focused man. And, it wasn't until after retirement where he was really able to flourish in other areas of his life. His wife, Rosie taught him about art, music, and theater. He became an avid collecter of art, as well as a patron of the theater and concert halls, all facilitated by his wife.

Although he has a beautiful house in Aspen, he spends most of his time in Manhattan or Miami. And, when he's not there, he's traveling the globe with my mom. He's the kind of guy who says what he thinks and makes no apologies for having said it. I love that there's nothing fake about him, though his bluntness can offend the more sensitive. He's extremely smart, with a great head for business, yet has been completely supportive of my creative pursuits. In fact, when I went to him for some business advice he told me to forget investing in business at this point. He said I should stick with what I'm doing and was confident that it had a good chance of bringing me a lot of success - "It's a no brainer." His advice often comes unsolicited, though it would be wise to listen to him. And if I ever look uncertain about what he's just told me, he'll smile proudly and say, "I gave you some pretty good advice." Who can argue with that?

Richard's advice to everyone:



Richard's advice to me: