personal

I believe that relationships are the most important part of our lives. I believe in a concept called the law of associations, which says that you tend to become the average of the five people you spend the most time with, in every way: health, habits, outlook, income, creativity, exercise, ambition, etc....

With that in mind let me introduce you to a small sampling of friends and family, business partners and mentors. This page is a constant work in progress, so don't be surprised/offended/etc. at the people here and not here.

You'll also find snippets of personal philosophy, ideas and links sprinkled among the people...

On a partially-related note, you can browse my photos here


michael dad

Dad! For as long as I've known him, my father has been a philosopher, a student of life, a warrior and a friend. After running a seminar business in New York City for a number of years, he has now partnered with his youngest brother (my uncle, Steve) and they are together running one of the most successful sales organizations for Pre-Paid Legal Services, a terrific company marketing legal protection plans.


melanie Momma

My mom is one of the best at the job that ever lived. The mother of five happy, healthy & self-confident kids, she raised us on vegetarian food and lots of love. Mom has taught thousands of people about how to make natural foods a healthy & delicious part of their lives.

  • Mom is the owner-operator of Wildfire Sales, one of the most lauded brokerage firms in the natural products industry. You can find her professional bio on her site.

monica Monica

Monica is my youngest sister, with a full fourteen years between us. The day she was born, a nervous 14-year-old named Luke cut her umbilical cord with nervous hands and a heart full of great wishes for the newborn's life. So far, so good. Monica is superstar kid, with a thoughtful and caring perspective on life. Of late, she's a budding singer-songwriter-guitarist, and rapidly improving volleyball player!



``In between stimulus and response,
there is a small space..."

Victor Frankl


jessica Jessie

Sister Jessica is the oldest of the girls, and a role model for them. She ripped her way through Wesleyan University, and has landed in New York City, helping the members of the AFL-CIO keep their employers honest. We used to call her Messy Jessie when she was growing up, but she's evolved into a mind-bogglingly directed and effective adult. When it comes to social justice, tenacity, activism, and doing what's right, Jessica is an inspiration to all who know her.


An old man who used to sit on a bench at the edge of a town, greeting the tourists and blow-ins as they drove past.

One traveler stopped and asked the old man, "What are the folks like in this town?"

The old man replied, "What were they like in the last town you were in?"

"Oh," came the reply, "they were wonderful, friendly, talkative, welcoming".

"Well," said the old man, "you will be happy to hear that you will find them very much the same here in this town".

The following day, another traveler stopped and asked the old man the same question. "Hey old timer, what are the people like in this town?"

"Well", said the old man "what were they like in the last town you were in?"

"Oh they were unfriendly, not very welcoming, quite rude even, and not at all nice."

"Well," said the old man "I'm afraid you will find them very much the same in this town."


mike da baker Mike Da Baker

My stepfather is known in Long Island's surfing, windsurfing and mountain biking circles as MikeDaBaker, a homage to his previous career as a natural foods baker. A jack-of-all-trades with an adventuresome spirit, this baker has earned a special place in my heart as a great dad to my sisters and wonderful husband to my mom.


daniele Dani

Dani is living proof that a child raised in big, bad New York City can turn out great. My sister is the hippest and coolest yet down-to-earth teenage girl you'll ever meet. Taking after her mom, she's got a flair for dramatics, writing and creativity. She's learning the art of film-making from some of the best at NYU and his currently spending the semester at the university's Florence, Italy campus. Not bad, Dani...


john JMF

I used to work for John at the now defunct Upline. I also used to hang out at his Crozet, Virginia home, brainstorm with him, do laundry in his washing machine, and more. John has been an influential mentor for me, and though we're not in touch frequently these days, he remains a significant influence on my life.

  • John's current project is the GreatestNetworker.community. If you're in network marketing, this is probably something you want to be a part of.
  • John's own personal page on that site is a great way to get to know him.
  • Somewhere along the line, I picked up from John the closest thing I have to a mantra or slogan for my life: “Live With Passion.”

chiara ahnhee Chiara

Our little girl, born September 3rd, 2005!

  • Our first sonogram, at 36 millimeters!

  • Who is she, exactly? Only time will tell. But this I guarantee you. She is loved by a lot of people!

will Will

Will is two years my younger and > two inches my taller. As kids, we were constant companions, playing, fighting and learning. As teenagers, we went out of our way to be different from each other. Now we've rediscovered our core sameness: our deep caring for our family and the world. He's had enough of sunny San Diego, and is packing up with man's best friend Cali. The plan is for a road trip that leads to a new home in Vermont and Will's east coast roots.



jeanhee Jeanhee... who appears in color in real life.

She's unique. She's charming. Beautiful and brilliant. Jeanhee has a great serve, a successful journalism career, and she has my love, devotion and partnership. She also has a website where she blogs this and that now and again.



judy Judy

Thankfully, the wicked stepmother cliché has never applied here. Judy and my dad are no longer together, but we still have a great relationship. Judy is an actress and a playwright. Want to talk accolades? How about four Emmy Awards for writing on As the World Turns, the New Professional Theatre's Playwriting Award for FAST BLOOD, and a 1997 Fellowship from the Manhattan Theatre Club? Somehow I have the feeling that this is just the beginning for a brilliant, caring woman who continues to develop her already impressive creative abilities.



anthony Anthony

Anthony and I worked together at Oxygen for a while, and co-led the ol' corporate volleyball team. The man's generous, sincere, and some mysterious combination of wacky and brilliant that makes him a joy to know. After Oxygen, he picked up and hit the road with his woman ("Liz") and their VW bus ("The Badunkadunk"). Their voyage may not have been foretold by the ancient books, but it's damn well chronicled. Check out Travelin' Van. And for the latest, hit slapnose.



“To laugh often and much,
to win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children,
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends,
to appreciate beauty,
to find the best in others,
to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch...
to know even one life has breathed easier
because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded!”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (or maybe not)


isabella Isabella

Isabella is off on her college adventure at Wesleyan, adjusting to life on her own with her usual a heady mix of curiosity, humor, and tenaciousness. She's an athlete and a scholar, a writer and a reader and a lover of knowledge, and an incredibly wonderful little sister!


melissa Melissa

Melissa says she's my Asian sister. I'm not quite sure how that's possible, but I do know that if I could have another sister, she'd be my first choice. Activist, writer, lawyer, traveler, kung-fu ass-kicker, Melissa's been an amazing friend for over a decade now.

  • Currently: Recent graduate of Georgetown Law.
  • One of Melissa's many projects is writing on politics for Asian Avenue.
  • A Thoreau quote Melissa shared with me one day long ago: “Friends—they are kind to each other's hopes, they cherish each other's dreams.”