We have all heard the phrase “all things in moderation”. However, it is hard and impractical to achieve greatness living solely by that mantra. That is not to say that it is important to lose balance. The idea of being a “Renaissance person” is actually a great one. Humans can and should strive for excellence…

I’m fortunate that I have a vehicle to share thoughts, impact others and stimulate conversation. I am grateful that so many people read my writing and reach out after. I want to use this platform to showcase how powerful having passion and a sense of purpose are. We had a recent Anthem created and produced…

After reading an excerpt from Brian Moran’s “Twelve Week Year” a NYT bestseller, he asks the reader what the number one factor holding people back from their full potential is? His answer is simple: execution. Effective execution is one of the footprints of the world’s most successful people and companies. If you outperform your competition,…

There is not much that is more satisfying than experiencing success. Turning dreams that you’ve had for years into realities are great accomplishments. You should be proud of your success, own it, and be happy about it. However, you cannot let your success get to your head. Too many people allow their ego to grow…

Life can get hectic during the holidays between meetings, travel, events and get togethers that come with it. For many people, work doesn’t necessarily slow down during the holiday season as companies prep for the upcoming year. In fact, it can become quite busier. However, difficult does not mean impossible. There are a few ways…

An entrepreneur doesn’t need to wait until January 1st to set goals. Resolutions can be powerful motivators for others, but I do not believe in waiting until the changing of the calendar to take action. As someone with many simultaneous goals, I rarely have a New Year’s resolution. It is true that I do feel the refreshment…

One of the most critical skills that you should acquire, in any field, but in the event industry in particular, is the ability to think on your feet. The ability to analyze and respond quickly following unforeseen circumstances, is not necessarily a natural skill, but one that develops as you gain more experience with different…

Feedback is an often overlooked tool that one needs to be truly effective in the workplace. The most successful leaders seek feedback on a consistent basis in order to enhance their performance. Requesting advice or guidance from your peers, whether or not it is offered, is a valuable technique to utilize during any phase of…

Offices are typically seen as the hub of most businesses. However, more and more often we see that companies are beginning to shift away from the more common office style work environment. I myself, have purposely designed Anthem to operate without the need to rely on the daily office environment. Nearly every member of The…

Becoming great means acquiring a great skillset, and improving on any skill takes a consistent and deliberate effort. Improvement is not something that comes easily or without conscious effort. The article, “How Jerry Seinfeld Made His Million” by Daniel DiPiazza perfectly articulates what I have implemented in my own life in order to work towards…

Creative flow is a real thing – and for me personally, it always seems to work. Simple conversation tends to cause my creativity to erupt. If we were to dedicate and focus more time on the creative process, there would be no doubt that everyone’s ideas would flow more freely. As a result, we would…

I am often asked how I accomplish everything I do within a given day, or even within a given week. People question how my days seem as if they are 36 hours long. Without sounding too cliché there is truth to the principles of time management and delegation. I utilize a self-designed system to keep…

To truly make a product revolutionary you must transform your thinking and try to make a product 10x better. When people are trying to improve upon an existing product or service, they often ask “How can I make this 10% better?” It is important to learn the difference in business between a 10% improvement and…

Mistakes are an ambiguous thing. What is considered a mistake? What mistakes are acceptable? How much do you dwell on the mistakes you’ve made? The answers to all of these really are situation dependent, what I say to all of my employees is: to be great you cannot settle for making the mistakes that everyone…

In today’s business world there can be a common debate among individuals starting their careers on how to address people, especially clients, managers or connections with whom you are beginning a new relationship. Do you use their first or last name? The old standard rule is to start with the most formal approach and then…

An entrepreneur doesn’t need to wait until January 1st to set goals. Resolutions can be powerful motivators for others, but I do not believe in waiting until the changing of the calendar to take action. As someone with many simultaneous goals, I rarely have a New Year’s  resolution. It is true that I do feel the refreshment…

In today’s competitive marketplace, self-branding is a key element to help make yourself and your professional experience stand out from others. However, it is easy to take this too far. Self-branding should be the polish upon what is already existing and who you are as an individual. Be true to yourself and allow your personality…

LinkedIn allows employers, colleagues, and peers to learn about who you are as a professional. In turn, it can help you expand your circle and network with others—if executed properly. With LinkedIn becoming a more prominent tool in the professional world, it’s important to know how to utilize the platform as a way to further…

Flexibility is a trait often over looked, but an important one to possess. It allows you to connect with different personalities, adjust quickly to changes, and gain more experience. Being able to bend and adapt easily to a number of personalities and work styles allows you to create relationships with a wide variety of individuals. This in turn, has…

There is not much that is more satisfying than experiencing success. Turning dreams that you’ve had for years into realities are great accomplishments. You should be proud of your success, own it, and be happy about it. However, you cannot let your success get to your head. Too many people allow their ego to grow…

How did one business survive six—what should have been—fatal obstacles in the span of less than 30 months? Some unfortunate and unexpected complications can easily put those set up for success out of business. The Charles River Bistro and The Anthem Group’s success on the Esplanade is proof that with perseverance, adaptability and the right…

Two minds are better than one Collaborative leadership is always something I have found extreme  value in and have implemented in every aspect of The Anthem Group. I  am honored to be accepting the Leading the Way award this week at the  UMass Center of Collaborative Leadership luncheon and to be recognized  for my leadership…

It is okay to seek revenge in the business world – but it’s important to go about it the right way. You’re success is key to any revenge, and more than anything it is imperative to maintain your dignity and integrity while achieving this success. Regardless of a person’s background, in the end it’s all…

Your love for winning should always be greater than your hatred for losing. Others often tell me that they hate to lose more than they like to win, and I am afraid that this is the wrong approach. Hating to lose is natural and it is a feeling that any competitive individual should feel while…

The moment an innovator ceases to innovate, they let their competition, naysayers and their own personal doubts win. They lose a piece of themselves – personally and professionally. Being an innovator is not easy. Not only does it take immense motivation and strong will, but it comes with a range of challenges. Obstacles will often…

This morning a colleague and a former professor shared two articles with me – one from the New York Times and one from the Washington Post. Last night, I received two “must reads” in my inbox as well. Despite my busy schedule, I took a minute to read each story. Whenever someone sends me an…

Feel fortunate for the simple things – even a meeting.  I woke up this morning with a busy day ahead of me – I had multiple meetings, events to attend and phone calls to make. As thoughts of the busy day that would ensue hit me, I realized how fortunate I was – and am…

An entrepreneur doesn’t need to wait until January 1st to set goals. Resolutions can be powerful motivators for others, but I do not believe in waiting until the changing of the calendar to take action. As someone with many simultaneous goals, I rarely have a New Year’s  resolution. It is true that I do feel the refreshment…

As an entrepreneur, I cannot reiterate enough how important it is to keep focus. At the year-end, we reflect on our past, learn from our falls and pick ourselves up for success in the future. Here are 10 motivational quotes from some of my favorite entrepreneurs that truly inspire me. Find one that resonates with…

Email correspondence can make or break a good interview. Career seekers often focus on resumes and cover letters, but emails are  just as important of a part of the interview process. Emails are constant in the workforce and there is a formula behind writing them that must be consistently well-executed by employees. An on-point resume and a well-written…

We all have heard the cliché that it is easier to give up, but those who quit are not likely to advance. In some cases, clichés are very true. It is necessary to persevere and continue to take steps forward, no matter your goal. Nothing of major consequence comes about without challenge. There are times in business when…

Most anyone that knows me, knows that I have an affinity for Scott Weiland, the former front man for Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver and contributor to some of the greatest music created. My connection with Scott is both personal and professional – last night, a great musician, artist and friend to scores of people…

Winning without maintaining your standards of ethics is not the way to build long-term business success. It is simply not in anyone’s best interest. When things do not go as planned, it can be difficult to stay on the course and do things the right way. Rather than look for the fastest fix or short…

Anthem loves to give back to the community. While Anthem continues to have strong relationships with a variety of tremendous community groups and organizations, one of our favorite ways to reach a broad audience is through activation of public space. Transforming public space via activation has a prodigious impact on the community at-large. Underutilized space…

As an entrepreneur, having the opportunity to showcase your company’s diverse skills and services is incredibly rewarding. It makes you think about where you began and the twists and turns it took to get to where your company is currently. This season, Anthem has been involved in many high profile events, and our spirit is at an all time…

Successful companies treat their team members like family. In late October, the Anthem team traveled to Portland, Maine, to coordinate all event logistics for Northern New England’s premier food and wine festival, Harvest on Harbor. While months of planning went into Harvest on the Harbor, executing the festival itself involved living out of multiple hotel…

Large-scale events and large-scale thinking bring a variety of good to  a community, city and overall region. It is not easy to set the stage,  but those who do, pave the way for others with equally big ideas. Since its creation, Boston Calling has been one of the most talked about productions in Boston for a reason. Boston…

The larger the scope of your ideas, initiatives and concepts, the larger the resulting consequences may be, leading to greater opposition.  Some people may not fully understand your vision, may have competing ideas that conflict with yours or simple are resistant to change – even when it is positive. This is why it is critical…

To accomplish any big dream involves taking risks, courage, time and investment.Leaders are entrepreneurial minded and understand that there is more to be created than what exists. They want to, and will strive to go above and beyond “the norm” or bring average properties and projects to a level of greatness.Leaders must be able to…

It is no doubt that The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway has been teeming with life every summer weekday evening lately. Through my observation, young and excited professionals, families, residents and visitors alike do not only stroll through this park, but they fully engage with the space. The Greenway is a model for all urban parks…

For a vision to succeed you not only need a solid framework and foundation to build upon, but every detail to fill in this vision must be methodically considered and properly executed. It’s the details that are critical to the success of the project as they are what bring quality, vibrancy and power to a property. While…

Feel fortunate for the simple things – even a meeting   I woke up this morning with a busy day ahead of me – I had multiple meetings, events to attend and phone calls to make. As thoughts of the busy day that would ensue hit me, I realized how fortunate I was – and…

While you’re taught to dance like nobody is watching, it is important to remember that you’re always representing something greater than yourself.It is important to be truthful and to be yourself as it helps you build relationships and establish credibility – in and out of the working world. You must be self-aware and mindful because…

Business advice usually focuses on great mentorship, collaborative leadership and surrounding oneself with the right team. While I wholeheartedly believe in these points and the importance of all of these elements within business, there is always one specific individual who is critical to success – the right-hand, wingman. Batman has Robin, Ben has Jerry, and…

We constantly hear how collaborative leadership and teamwork is critical to a vibrant professional environment. We hear stories of great employers taking care of their own, and we also hear the opposite – there are far too many workers fighting for basic rights and needs. There are a lot of clichés when it comes to…

I know what it’s like to be a small business, surviving day to day while simultaneously planning how to scale. Whether small or large, it’s important to treat every job or client the same – doing the best job and taking pride in what you do, no matter who the client is, leads to greater…

When life presents opportunities, explore them while you can. I recently learned that a dear friend was diagnosed with cancer. While this was unexpected, when does someone ever expect that? He has been a good friend for nearly twenty years – since middle school. While such news is frightening to anyone at any age, we…

One should strive for greatness – don’t let others define your expectations. How many times have you heard people say “there’s always someone better than you”, or “what makes you think you can do this?” There are dozens of quotes that all amount to the same thing – someone is always better, temper your thoughts,…

 It seems that being gifted and talented would make for an easier life, allowing one to choose from a variety of opportunities – ones that are often times more lucrative. While talent can lead one to a corporate job that pays a six-figure annual salary, this person might be happier working outdoors or as an…

When it comes to making large, influential and impactful decisions, the entrepreneur doesn’t always have the luxury of time.  One of the greatest leadership challenges is making sound, carefully thought out decisions in the appropriate time frame afforded – whether it be a day, a week, or even five minutes. Part of this balance is…

Job or career – your talents should lead you to the right decision Talent enables individuals to choose their own paths, as it opens up many avenues. While this is an advantageous position to be in, it is not straightforward and it can be daunting. It is complicated and takes thoughtful decision-making when faced with planning…

There are many characteristics that an entrepreneur needs to possess, and while many of them sound like a cliché, they are largely true. Starting a new business takes passion, vision, and tenacity.  An entrepreneur must wear many hats, while at the same time providing leadership to align others with the same purpose in good times…

While Beer Fridays and a Ping-Pong table in the office lounge is nice, Anthem delves deeper. Anthem’s progressive company nature is supported by a virtual workplace structure with incredible flexibility, which enables us to motivate our employees with what drives them – we learn what makes our employees tick and try to deliver it. The…

Creativity is a tool for success, and inspiration is all around for those of us whom are driven to find it. By nature and necessity, I am constantly thinking of new ways to propel Anthem into the future. Entrepreneurs must be able to see the potential in every moment to find inspiration if they wish…

All entrepreneurs are faced with challenges daily – large and small. However, the biggest ongoing challenge is enabling others to understand, share and align with your vision.Ironically, the largest impediment to human achievement is most often other humans. This holds true for the greatest of mankind’s accomplishments right down to the foundations of our routine business activity. One of the…

An entrepreneur doesn’t need to wait until January 1st to set goals. Believe it or not, I rarely, if ever have a New Year’s resolution. While I believe they can be powerful motivators for others – I don’t believe in the changing of the calendar to take action. It is true, I do feel the…

Although the season of giving may have passed, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give year round. My friend Andre, a fellow entrepreneur and an impressive young mind, reached out to me after discovering an article about The Anthem Group and myself. Although he was still in high school when he first connected with me, I saw…