(Not the) Greatest Of All Time

I found out this week that I am a goat. And not just any kind of goat, but a blue goat. I am not talking like Michael Jordan and the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T). I’m talking actual goat.

I had lunch with my friend Court Creeden this week, who published his new book Blue Goat last week. The book talks about being yourself and the life changing power of breaking away from the masses and living the life you, not anyone else, wants to live. Genius. Amazon. $11.99. Take a peek. So here is what it says about being a blue goat i.e. not being another sheep in the herd. “Goats are naturally curious. They are known to love exploring…They don’t allow their surroundings to dictate their life. They are extremely inquisitive about the world around them…they are okay being around other goats…”

Is anyone curious anymore? About anything and/or everything? And if so, why do so few people act on that curiosity? Let me let you in to my head (and my Google search engine) from this past week. Here goes: What are the logistics of moving to Italy? How many patches (trips) until I completely cover the back of my denim jacket? Which Knicks game should I go to at Madison Square Garden in 2 weeks? Would DL Hughley, my favorite comedian who is in Charlotte next week, have any interest in having lunch with me? Where is next year’s boys golf trip going to be? And how many times would it take on the mountain before I learn how to actually ski? Okay, that’s only scratching the surface, but that gets the point across. The world is as big as you make it, and mine is wide open. Other than the first question above, I’m definitely pursuing the others within the next few weeks and months. I don’t bother myself with petty stuff or stuff I have no interest in. It’s a massive time and energy sap, and there is too much stuff out there that I actually do have interest in. I love adventure and new things and good challenges. And my list is long. Like, really long.

I had dinner with my mom and dad last Wednesday and told them I was planning a cross country road trip next year. They were hyped. I told them I was debating whether to do the Oregon Trail from Oregon to Cape Cod, or the Loneliest Road from San Francisco to the Chesapeake Bay. And seeing how many friends I could stop in and have a meal with along the way. That is how my mind works. Oh, I believe the question that prompted this conversation was “Benj, how was your day?” I could’ve said “fine” or “traffic sucked” or “Trump is an idiot”, but that is an energy drain. Can you feel it? The other response was lively, interesting, and what was actually on my mind. Make your world a little bigger.

As Court and I had lunch, the topic of style did come up briefly. As you can see, he and I are both wearing suits. But I want to make it very clear, we both like to wear suits. It’s not mandatory. It’s sharp. It’s comfortable for me. And it stands out in a sea of everything else. Let me tell you what I wore last week Monday to Friday. Monday, an olive cashmere suit with a purple bandanna as a pocket square. Tuesday, a grey turtleneck sweater. Wednesday, a blue plaid suit. Thursday, a grey cashmere sweater. Friday, a little bit of everything, including a Charlotte Hornets lapel pin (great win by the way!). It’s okay to be different. It’s okay to have your own style. I wore the olive cashmere suit you see in the picture to a client’s office on Monday. Closed an almost $5 million loan. They loved it. Because I was being me, and that’s what people get drawn to. Be yourself, but be the best version of yourself. The most stylish. The most professional. So on. People will either like you or they won’t, but at least they are getting you, not fake you. If they don’t like the real you, sigh, and move on. But if they do…man…hold on! That’s what life is all about.

This week, think about who you are and what you want to do with your life. It can be simple things like deciding which Knicks game to go to or more complex like moving to another continent. But it can also be thinking about how you present yourself and the real relationships that you want to build with people in this world. It’s your life. Be thoughtful about it and then go enjoy!

Have a great week.-Benj