Welcome to SmartsMatter

“Democracy is the process by which people choose the man who’ll get the blame.” – Bertrand Russell I’ve been an entrepreneur most of my life, ever since I

Imagine a world-renowned violinist staging an impromptu concert in a bustling DC train station. It sounds like the setup for a movie, right?   Well, this actually

“Trade expectations for appreciation and your world changes instantly.” – Tony Robbins The other day my son asked, “Would you dine at a restaurant that got

“Life is short. Break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly. Laugh uncontrollably and never regret anything that makes you smile…” – Juvy Ann

I was almost 17, working as a water ski instructor at a boys and girls’ camp on Walloon Lake in Michigan. One memorable ‘first time’ event

In the winter of ’81, as Cincinnati lay cloaked in frost and the promise of Christmas warmed our hearts, I dreamt of a jet-black Huffy

I’ve written often about my father, Chubby. His blend of hard work and street savvy enabled him to build one of Cincinnati’s most successful and respected

Over more than 20 years of friendship, our shared adventures were peppered with his trademark gestures of kindness. Wherever we went together, he made friends. On

In the roaring heart of the 1920s, amidst the cacophony of a burgeoning city, Samuel, a savvy saloon owner, stood at the precipice of a transformative

In the ever-evolving landscape of global business, where startups rise and fall in a frenzy of new ideation, there exists a rare breed of companies that

A few months after Jim and his roommate moved into their new apartment, he invited his mother over for dinner. When Mom arrived she was

“Every homeowner in America should rejoice. Aussie- style real estate is on the way.” – Greg Hague Back when Uber displaced the taxi model many

The lawsuit was filed back in 2019 on behalf of 500,000 Missouri plaintiffs claiming almost $2 billion in damages. They alleged that they paid thousands

COMMUNICATION CONTROL   Close your eyes and come back in time with me. It’s 1974. Bell bottom jeans are your statement in fashion. Float-like-a-butterfly, sting-like-a-bee Muhammad

It was a beautiful Memorial Day in 2018. Teresa and I decided to meet for lunch at Rancho Mañana golf club. I was excited to

In the vast landscape of entrepreneurial success stories, there exists a humble yet powerful artifact—the bar napkin sketch.   I know you know the kind –

While having lunch with a friend last week, I asked how his short-term rental business was going. The story he told was of a double-edged

I am excited to announce that Teresa and I have a new baby. His name is Wyatt, and he’s now ten weeks old. Okay, I admit

The snake was in serious peril, frantically (but futilely) struggling to squiggle out of a boiling hot sand trap at Seven Canyons in Sedona. Greg stopped,

“Value is more expensive than price.” – Toba Beta  Ferrari’s stock valuation is roughly the same as GM’s – each around $30 billion. Yet Ferrari sells