Top 25 Shows of 2018

The latter part of 2017 brought the most major change to my life in a super compacted period of time. Some highlights: Marital separation leading to divorce, moving my office & staff after 8 years at the previous location, a new building including sizable construction project, the Thomas Fire, the Montecito debris flow, a stunted 2018 economic start, and a promise.

A promise to self to be true to my callings. A major truth of mine: music is one of my spiritual gateways, and the band Phish is my ultimate church. 2018 was a year to behold. My business partner Sean and made a decision to see as much Phish as possible, along with other amazing music to fill in the gaps. We hugely succeeded!

Together we experienced Phish 23 times in 2018 (would’ve been 26 had Curveball not been canceled), their bassist Mike Gordon twice, and their guitarist Trey Anastasio solo acoustic, along with a couple Phish cover bands. I saw live music more than 90 nights throughout 2018.

Creating a top 25 shows of 2018 list is a symbol of my transitional winning year. The year I reclaimed so much, and made a decision to here-forth live my life as I want and need. No excuses.

A HUGE SHOUTOUT TO MY PHAMILY (L to R): SCOTTY, SEAN-0, KINGER, JOHN-BOY, KZ, JT (me), SAMPSON

A HUGE SHOUTOUT TO MY PHAMILY (L to R): SCOTTY, SEAN-0, KINGER, JOHN-BOY, KZ, JT (me), SAMPSON

TOP 25 SHOWS OF 2018

  1. Beatles Love - August 29, 2018 @ The Mirage, Las Vegas

  2. Phish - October 31, 2018 @ MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas

  3. Phish - September 2, 2018 @ Dick’s Sporting Goods Arena, CO

  4. Phish - December 31, 2018 @ Madison Square Garden, NYC

  5. David Byrne - August 24, 2018 @ Santa Barbara Bowl, SB

  6. Jack Johnson - March 18, 2018 @ Santa Barbara Bowl, SB

  7. Phish - December 29, 2018 @ Madison Square Garden, NYC

  8. Mike Gordon - February 27, 2018 @ The Teragram Ballroom, LA

  9. Neil Young & The Promise of the Real - June 21, 2018 @ Lobero Theatre, SB

  10. Dead and Company - July 7, 2018 @ Dodgers Stadium, LA

  11. A Perfect Circle - April 17, 2018 @ The Arlington Theatre, SB

  12. Which One’s Pink? - April 21, 2018 @ SOhO, SB

  13. Portugal the Man - April 21, 2018 @ Santa Barbara Bowl, SB

  14. Phish - November 2, 2018 @ MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas

  15. Pink Talking Fish - December 30, 2018 @ Gramercy Theatre, NYC

  16. LCD Soundsystem - May 3, 2018 @ Santa Barbara Bowl, SB

  17. Bon Iver - August 8, 2018 @ Santa Barbara Bowl, SB

  18. Phish - November 1, 2018 @ MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas

  19. Phish - August 31, 2018 @ Dick’s Sporting Goods Arena, CO

  20. Trey Anastasio - December 5, 2018 @ Granada Theatre, SB

  21. Oingo Boingo Dance Party - October 13, 2018 @ The Canyon, Agoura Hills

  22. ALO - May 4, 2018 @ SOhO, SB

  23. Alt-J - April 16, 2018 @ Santa Barbara Bowl, SB

  24. Zach Gill - August 13, 2018 @ THE SANDBOX, SB

  25. Jim Gaffigan - October 6, 2018 @ Santa Barbara Bowl, SB

Here’s to much more live music in 2019! Already I’ve got a trip planned to see Phish in Mexico at end of February, and more summer dates to confirm soon…

UCSB Humanities and Fine Arts Video

I am honored that the Humanities and Fine Arts division at UCSB selected me as a talking head in their promotional video.

Humanities and Fine Arts: Follow your passion, explore your interests

“The division of Humanities and Fine Arts at UC Santa Barbara offers diverse degree programs that let students pursue their passions. Graduates go on to successful and gratifying careers.”
— UC Santa Barbara HFA

Field Manual 6-22 Leader Development

The US Army's "Field Manual 6-22 Leader Development" is quite the comprehensive document outlining the core traits that officers, commanders and other high ranking personnel of the military must posses to fulfill their jobs.  This document's basis combines psychological research, psychiatric theory and experience from military service people.

Thankfully, Prudence L. Gourguechon has summarized the field manual into 5 key traits of a true leader as follows:

  • Trust

  • Discipline and self-control

  • Judgement and critical thinking

  • Self-awareness

  • Empathy

Recently in a meeting with other CEOs, we ran an exercise discussing how we had succeeded in these 5 areas over the past year, and how we will improve in these 5 areas moving forward.  The process enabled as objective-as-possible reflection to occur in the room, requiring honest feedback from our peers.  After a healthy group discussions, we summarized our future behavior with 3 key adjectives, projecting how we will grow in our business and personal lives.  These are not necessarily traits that we fully possess, although some members of the group arguably do.  For me, I aspire to be even more of all three.

I arrived at Focused, Patient, and Decisive.  When considering this trio as a backbone to my decision making process, I found deeper insight in the combination of words than each on its own.  For example, when listening to a staff dispute, I must first focus on the situation, clearing away the rest of the work day's clutter.  Next, I patiently listen to each party, taking in all data points before arriving at a conclusion.  Lastly, with a decisive hand, I make the decision, and ensure action is taken by all parties.

Give it a try.  What are your 3 adjectives, and how can you implement them in your personal and business lives? 

And if you'd like some light bathroom reading, enjoy the 282 page PDF below.

Alumni Spotlight: Jacob Tell

What an honor that UCSB's College of Letters and Science division highlighted me in their newsletter with the intention of inspiring the current student body!

I cherish my UCSB days, as my time at the university certainly helped shape me into the leader I am today.