Florida Agenda

1.What is your favorite virtue?

Believing that the best part of your life is ahead of you and that the best way to have a great life is to always be that person who makes people feel great and know that they are important. It’s amazing how many wonderful relationships are built mutually on this concept of living.

2. What are your favorite qualities in a person?

Never quitting or making excuses when things do not go well. Believing that the “No’s” we are told in life as we pursue our dreams are just the necessary steps to a big “YES,” which equates to our dreams coming true. Thomas Edison failed 2,000 times when he tried to create the light bulb. Then it happened. He said the 2,000 times showed him 2,000 ways the light bulb would not work. It was just a matter of time for him to find the “YES,” and now we have lights!

3. What do you appreciate most in your friends?

When they recognize that I really care for them and about how their lives are going.

4. What is your main fault?

I dream up what I feel is a great idea, and then sometimes leave the follow through process too early in the project to someone who does not have the skills to execute. Consequently I end up having to do what I do not do best: day to day execution, which ultimately hurts project. Today I make sure I have the best team possible in place to execute so ideas can FLOURISH. I believe I have done that with Multimedia Platforms, LLC over the last 60 days and the results are telling me this is true.

5. What is your favorite occupation?

When I played professional tennis all over the world from the time I was 17 until I was 25. Now, trying to build an international LGBT media company is like winning the U.S. Open: I love it!

6. What is your idea of misery?

When I was younger I would feel scared and nervous about my future. Now I feel misery when I feel I am not reaching my true potential, both as a loving partner to Brian [Neal] or in business. I work on doing my best every day to be the best partner in my personal life and the best leader in my businesses.

7. If not yourself, who would you be?

As a tennis player in the 80s, it would have been Jimmy Connors. As a real estate investor in the 90s and 2000s, it would be Donald Trump. As a publisher and media executive, it would be Oprah Winfrey.

8. Who are your favorite authors?

Joel Osteen, Robert Schuller.

9. Who are your heroes in real life?

My mom, who died when I was 18. She started in me in tennis when I was eight. She taught me to always work the hardest, dream the biggest and never quit. My tennis coach, Nick Bollettieri. He convinced me I could do anything I wanted to in life. I believed him then and I still do.

10. What is your present state of mind?

I feel so energized and blessed to have the opportunity to live as the person God put on this earth. Most of my life I battled my sexual orientation. Today I am out and free with an incredible life partner who understands me and loves me for exactly me.

11. What is your personal motto?

HEAD UP AND SHOULDERS BACK.” Having a “gratitude list” that I work on every week has kept me focused on my strengths and my struggles.