In early March of 2024, I had the opportunity to attend a family office event in Beverly Hills, California. There, I met a number of investors, capital raisers, fund managers, and service providers to high-net-worth individuals, ultra-high-net-worth individuals, and even family offices. https://familyoffices.com/
Through that experience, I got to hear Kevin Harrington speak. Kevin Harrington is one of the original sharks from Shark Tank and one of the founders of “As Seen on TV.” It was incredibly inspiring to hear him speak, as he provided great insights about entrepreneurship and leadership. His energy was also infectious—especially impressive for someone in their late 60s. He is definitely someone to admire in many aspects. After he spoke, I saw him and Brandon T. Adams in the lobby, where I struck up a small conversation with Brandon about the type of events he likes to host and how he and Kevin make money.
Ultimately, after briefly speaking with Brandon, he invited me to an investor dinner later that night, where they were going to share more about the consumer packaged goods fund they were wrapping up. We had a wonderful dinner, followed by a great presentation that highlighted the opportunities for Kevin and his team to continue bringing incredible products to market for people to enjoy.
As the night progressed, I ended up speaking with Kevin's son, who invited me to a cigar bar later that evening. I went and spent more time with Kevin, Brandon, and a few others, getting to know them better. I was able to connect with Brandon and ultimately developed a small relationship with him. The cigar bar owner was very nice—I even took a photo with him.
Three or four months later, I was invited to be part of a co-authored book with Kevin Harrington and his team. Since the book was all about entrepreneurship, I was thrilled to share my story and continue to be around and work with Kevin. This leads us to the event in Tampa, where I invited my parents to share in this joyous moment with me. Growing up, my mom and I often watched shows like Shark Tank, curious about the inventions, businesses, and opportunities that were presented. My mom, for a short period of time, ended up doing Mary Kay and was very business-minded, even though her main career was in education. She worked as a principal, assistant principal, and held various other roles in the school system.
It’s amazing to see full-circle moments come to life. I’m of the belief that we’re often unable to predict these moments. I could never have imagined that I would meet Kevin and his team, and then, six months later, write a book with him that is now published. I also never imagined my parents would have the opportunity to meet Kevin Harrington in person, just like we used to watch on TV.
I’m very excited about the chapter I was able to write and the insights I was able to share. They reflect the lessons I’ve learned—from being a startup co-founder to working in commercial real estate, starting several companies, and now launching my own brand. The biggest takeaway from all of this is the power of starting. That’s how you stand out—by taking the first step and seeing where it takes you.
Just as I never knew my parents would meet Kevin Harrington, or that I would write a book with him, I started down a path that put me in the right rooms, opened opportunities, and led to conversations that ultimately came full circle.
I want to focus more on starting than strategizing. What will you start today?
