Protect against losses you cannot recover from
I would rather miss a profit than take a loss that could put everything else at risk. I avoid betting everything on one investment and do not borrow simply to increase a possible return.
Philosophy
What experience taught me
I don’t tell people how to live. I explain the decisions I made, what they cost, and what I learned when the result was different from what I expected.
Follow politics because it changes business
I’ve followed politics my entire life because one government decision can close a market, change the economics of an investment, or wipe out a company.
Start with the size of the market
Before I consider a business idea, I want to know how large the market is, who will pay, and whether the company can grow. A good product in a small market still has a low ceiling.
Choose people you can rely on
Talent matters, but a business cannot depend on someone who fails to keep commitments. I need people who do what they promised and speak up early when something changes.
Protect your reputation
In the 1990s, some deals were done on trust. People were willing to send money before formal paperwork because I had built a reputation for keeping my word.
Let customers see the price before they buy
The idea for Tripment Health came after a hospital billed me more than $18,000 for an MRI scan that would have cost only a few hundred dollars elsewhere. I wanted patients to compare prices before agreeing to treatment.
“I don’t teach people how to live. I share what I’ve lived through.”
Contact
Interview, media, and speaking requests
If you’d like to invite me to an interview, podcast, or event, send a message with the subject, format, and proposed date.