After college,
I wanted to be an investment banker but didn't have the grades or interview skills. I started in a middle office role supporting traders. I then became a credit analyst underwriting loans for wealthy clients. Although not as prestigious as investment banking, I learned a lot from talented people. I applied to be a CIO of asset management but didn't get the job. However, I reapplied and emphasized my strong work ethic. I was hired in 2009 to guide J.P. Morgan's richest clients through the financial crisis, working 7 days a week. After a few grueling years, I picked stocks for a J.P. Morgan fund. Realizing pay wasn't tied to performance, I left for a hedge fund that failed shortly after I arrived.
Then I pivoted,
to advising hedge funds, starting with self storage. Although successful, the business model wasn't scalable. I built a tech platform to map storage facilities and sold it as Radius Plus. I co-founded a real estate private equity firm, DXD Capital, and have raised $150 million to build storage facilities.
After 20 years,
with many failures and pivots along the way. I still don't have significant liquidity and live modestly.
My goal is to help others find success faster by learning from my mistakes.