I grew up one of five boys in Saratoga County, New York. I was always involved in sports, and although my grades were good in school, my focus was cross country, wrestling and track, and baseball in the summers. Since there were five of us in the family, we usually had enough players for informal games of football or baseball, or neighborhood pickup games of basketball.
When I began my college career at Union College, I squandered my talent by getting involved in partying and alcohol. I was lucky to make the varsity cross-country team, and I excelled in the first season, but was kicked off the track team during winter as a result of my weight gain and lack of adequate training.
Luckily, Union had a rugby team, and I spent spring and fall from there on playing rugby in the position of fullback. Being a fullback on the rugby team taught me a lot: that I could take abuse, but also that I could be in charge of the game from my position. Rugby is a very cerebral game, and I made every effort to learn the game as well as I could. Our teams were good, and we competed at a regional and national level.
In my senior year, I took an internship. Because I didn’t have a car, my manger would pick me up every Wednesday and bring me to the office to do busy work. By the time graduation rolled around, I hit the ground running, and my internship turned into a full-time job. It may be that I had never received a better opportunity, or that I’m simply loyal; the fact of the matter is, I’ve never left.
I’ve had some of the most rewarding, enduring relationships in my workplace and among my clientele. It’s where I’ve met some of the most fascinating people in the world, and that is how this podcast got its title. The stories of the people I interview are extraordinary. For better or worse, I think everyone’s life is extraordinary. When someone takes the time to tell me their story, and I take the time to listen, we give each other a great gift.