Two weeks ago, I was working with a remarkable legacy family in Canada. The patriarch—a brilliant, successful man now 75—looked at me, frustration in his voice, and said:
“I don’t have 15 or 20 years for my children to figure this out. We need to accelerate the process.”
I have never—not once—met someone who has done something truly astounding, who has shaken the world in the best of ways, touched hearts, or created lasting significance, who did not first walk through the fire of deep personal challenge.
One of the questions I keep getting lately is this:
“Rich, what blogs or podcasts do you follow? Who do you trust?”
This past week, I met with several of the wealthiest billionaire families in the world in New York City. What I witnessed left me stunned. Some of the models these families have put in place are toxic, dangerous, and extreme.
This past week, I was in New York City presenting at several large family office events. I have always found NYC to be one of the loneliest, most difficult, lowest-conscious cities on the planet. Ten million people running around—yet so many seem isolated, anxious, disconnected. It is a city overflowing with financial resources, but severely lacking in true wealth.
Most of us carry a voice inside that whispers criticism and shame. It says things to us we would never allow others to say to our children, to our friends, or to those we love. That voice, the harsh inner critic, is not truth. It’s old programming, fear-based noise, and unresolved pain; it causes more damage than we realize.
We all need a place to escape to, a sanctuary from the relentless noise, the constant notifications, the never-ending demands. Our world moves faster than ever before, and it’s taking a toll. The pressure, the stress, the acceleration keeps our limbic system in overdrive, trapping us in a state of hypervigilance.
In recent months, I’ve found myself deeply re-engaged in mentoring young entrepreneurs, supporting the rising generation, and speaking at universities. It has been incredibly fulfilling—a chance to share hard-won lessons and help shape the path of those just starting their journeys.
In our family, the mantra “Hard Easy vs. Easy Hard” has been a guiding principle for my sons and for many people who have spent time in our home. This simple phrase encapsulates a profound life lesson: the choices we make today profoundly impact our tomorrow.
Have you ever felt stuck in an endless loop, going round and round, up and down, agonizing over a decision? I sure have. In fact, just this past week, I’ve been wrestling with my next big thought leadership focus. After pouring my heart into BlindSighted, I gave myself a brief sabbatical, and now… what’s next?
