Hey there! Welcome to my virtual home. — Vitals Born & raised in New York. I’ve lived in Los Angeles for the past six years. Started career at an investment bank: A time I’d like to forget. Ditched the suit to build a profitable dot.com in 1999. Built a boutique digital agency from $1MM to $20MM in 4 years. …

A deep-dive into my process with examples — For me, everything is about that first line and where it takes you. Some writers are driven by plot, the delicate arrangement of chess pieces, while others are drawn in by a character and the ability to go on a meandering journey where there are no guides or roadmaps, just…

Hopping on a “quick call” is my Dante’s Seventh Circle of Hell. — Watch me stifle a yawn as Jack Torrence, Michael Meyers, and Jason Voorhies wield sharp objects with the intent of filleting me. Witness me fall into a blissful slumber in the Amityville House while blood rains down the walls. I’ve no problem falling prey to a videotape that kills me…

This will be my last personal essay online — When he first came into my life, I was suspicious. Who was this man with the Irish brogue and gameshow smile fixing me boxed macaroni and cheese? Who was this man who claimed he was my pal, my friend — let’s ride in the Jeep with the windows rolled down…

You are not Jesus out here saving. — First off, #notallcoaches, so breathe it out. However, the reality is that coaching is an unregulated industry. While I rally against the actions of many marketing peers, at least their work is regulated by the FTC. There are consequences for unsubstantiated claims. There are rules one must abide by (though…

Because it’s about more than mean girls at work. — Four years ago, I had a very public and very humiliating meltdown. Fueled by a mix of depressants, Ativan, and Sancerre (pro-tip: do not do this), I proceeded to go on a public, tear-filled rant on Twitter and Instagram. It was so bad I don’t even remember what I said…

Time’s the one thing we can’t buy or retrieve. — “You had the kind of childhood most don’t recover from and…” “And?” I think about the hour commute I make every two weeks and wonder if we can do this over video. My therapist seems to think that won’t work because I’m better at hiding my emotions with physical distance…

The long and winding relationship with the man I call my father — We are our terrific photographs. We are a life in sepia. We are two people who should’ve never been family, yet here we are. Decades past, practicing our remember whens, and it often hurts because I remember all the beautiful good, the mess, the wreck, and the tears in between…

A short story about a serial killer facing dementia, the daughter of one of her victims bent on revenge, and mothers who don’t know when to stop. — Kitty had dementia — she was sure of it. But how could you tell? Could you feel your brain shrink and millions of neurons packing their bags before their departure? Dementia was the rude houseguest because here you were, flashing vacancy signs for all your organs to take up residence…