I Used to be Somebody

02/12/2025

Our company Pickleball Media now after 5 years is OFFICIAL. We're selling MERCH!

Yes, imagine waking up one morning and having a cup of coffee with my mug on your mug? Dream come true? Super high quality "I Used to be Somebody" t-shirt, hats and mug. The perfect gift for the old and young geezers in your life!

https://pickleball-media-shop.fourthwall.com/

24/10/2025

KEY TO BIZ SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IS BEING A MENTOR AND MENTEE

I've spent a couple of decades mentoring people. Not professionally or in any formal way but it's been one of the most satisfying things I've done professionally.

I just thought about my early days in college because I had lunch with my college professor Bob Vogel in Oxford, Ohio (Miami University). Dr. Vogel was my communications prof in the late '70's. He was the first person who professional sparked my interest in what would later be a 40+ career in marketing. Remarkably, we've stayed in touch all these years. Even though I live in California.

What a thrill it was for me to spend a two hour lunch with him after all these years. He's I believe 83 and he's still so sharp, funny and so full of life. And he still give great advice!

19/10/2025

Everyone has their 15 minutes of fame. Ours came this weekend. Diana and I were quoted at the end of this New York Times article.

When retirees relocate, they think life will be cheaper, easier, sunnier — only to find some big disappointments. Here’s how to minimize mistakes.

14/08/2025

We've Got Your Bagels Here / Second Act???

I'm mad as hell and I can't take it anymore! We all have at least one childhood food memory. Mine is eating delicious bagels as kid growing up on the east side of Cleveland. They were crunchy with the perfect chew. Glossy crust. Great toppings. Freshly made. Real bagels that just weren't preheated from some frozen form. Boiled and baked the right way. As a kid, these "real bagels" were everywhere. And now in 2025 with all the incredible technology and supplies we have available, you can't get a god damn decent bagel in the Sacramento region where I live.

Now I understand that for many of you, it's hard to imagine this is an important thing. But I'm guessing there is something in your childhood breakfast memory that you miss as well. Cinnamon toast, maybe? I'm just curious, what it is for you?

I'm going to do something about this in my (un)retirement. But let me fully vent first. Thank you!

History of my Bagel Rage: Growing up we had real bakeries everywhere -- Italian, Jews, Russian, German, Greek, you name it. In my opinion the downfall of civilization was when your local supermarket put in their own bakery. That stuff at the supermarket bakery is crap. But, it's soooo convenient. And the great bakeries went away!

Since I can't get good bagels in Sacramento, I'm at a total loss. Believe me, I've also tried shipping bagels via the Internet (!) from places far and away! Not the same.

So I am still not totally bagel-happy! I've decided that I'm going to start making my own bagels. And I might as well share it with the world right now, and I'll get a Cottage Food Operation permit and start selling my Carl's Real Bagels.

Are you ready to be my first customer? In (un)retirement you don't have to save the world. Just think about something you've always wanted to do, something you have a passion for, something new, something that makes you wake up excited every day. Start small scale and see where it goes!

19/07/2025

STOP TALKING START DOING!

We all do it. We talk about all the things we want to do. Volunteering, start a new business, write that book, exotic travel. You name it. And we don't do it. My unsolicited advice. DO IT! And STOP TALKING ABOUT IT.

We don't know what the future holds for us. We don't know what future health concerns may arise or other weird circumstances. But you do know what is going on right NOW. So start DOING!

I will give you a personal example. I love documentary movies. Even as a kid I was hooked on docs. I watch them all the time and have said forever that "I want to produce my own documentary some day." Well, I'm going to do it. (NOTE: sometimes it helps to say something publicly.)

My movie is I Used to be Somebody, The Movie. It will bring to life my podcast where I'm going to focus on some of my past podcast guests and their amazing stories and second acts. It will inspire people to the amazing possibilities there are post-career.

16/05/2025

We had such a great time on our I USED TO BE SOMEBODY TOUR to PORTUGAL.

The Douro Valley is one of the most beautiful places in the world. We didn't even let a nation wide electricity black out affect us. I asked the tour guides, "what does your manual say to do in a black out?" Apparently, "DRINK MORE WINE".

The Cooking Class was a big hit. And the lunch we made was delicious. All the food was so good. I love at the end of the meal to thank the cooks. They usually were these sweet older ladies.

Can't wait until next year's trip to Croatia.
https://pickleballmediahq.com/tour/croatia

26/03/2025

I Used to be Somebody World Tour: 2026 CROATIA

I'm so excited that my wife Diana and I will be taking our audience to CROATIA (April 26 - May 3 2026). We've had so many friends that are world travelers that absolutely love Croatia. We'd love to have you join us. https://pickleballmediahq.com/tour/croatia

In addition to the beauty of the country, food, the people and culture you will part of our (Un)Retirement discussion groups. We help people create their ideal Second Act.

Since just announcing the tour we've already sold 10 of the 20 spaces. Let me know if you're interested!

17/03/2025

50+ Communities -- Pro or Con?

I've always been pretty negative about living in a 50+ community. I'm not sure exactly sure why. I think to me it meant that I'm officially old. Why would I want to be surrounded by a bunch of old people?

I think the first time I ever heard about an "active" 50+ community was way back in the 1990's, when negative headlines about The Villages in Florida came out. It was about all these old people running around having STDs. They drove around in golf carts everywhere. And they had political shouting matches with each other. I remember late night comedians having a great time at these people's expense.

The fact of the matter is that I personally have visited some friends in an active adult community for a grand total of one time. They seemed really happy with their community. Most recently, a good friend of mine invited me to play pickleball at his brand new 50+ community that just opened. It was incredibly nice! The club house was like like being in a fancy club or spa. The pickleball courts were amazing. My friend told me there's a fun activity on the calendar almost every night. The average age so far for this new community is early 60's. Huh! Half the people living there still work. Every person I met was friendly. There was a real sense of community there.

I checked with my financial advisor, who has a lot of clients in these communities and he said that in general, the properties are a good value. Plus his clients really like living in them. So I wonder why I've been so negative? Did I feel superior because I don't need everything provided for me? I have had my eyes opened and my opinion is now totally turned around. Today's 50+ communities have come a long way since Del Webb started building in the 50's.

I'm not sure if I'll ever live in one of these communities or not. But I learned not to be so judgemental about it all.

What are you thoughts about 50+ communities?