Mavericks

Seven years ago, I traded term sheets for tropical storms. Cap tables for cyclone preparations. And discovered that profound venture lessons don’t always come from Sand Hill Road—they come from building something real in the wild. When I bought Tavola Villa Fiji, I thought I was escaping the venture world. […]

4:47 AM. No alarm needed. First morning back at Tavola, and the jungle orchestra has already claimed me. Parrotfinches, shrikebills, the Kula’s distinctive call—then that rooster across the valley asserting his dawn dominion. My body knows this symphony. Every cell remembers. I’ve been away too long. In Fijian, “vanua” means

“I’ve been stuck for a year.” Yesterday, a brilliant client shared this with me. She typically pulls in $600K+ annually. This year? Everything’s off. Sound familiar? What worked before suddenly doesn’t. You try different approaches. Nothing shifts. The worry creeps in. Then anxiety. Maybe even despair. Here’s what most people

What if the thing you’re most afraid of is exactly what you need to do? My son figured this out at eighteen. He’s the guy who now walks into any room and instantly finds his tribe. At Tavola, guests gravitate toward him within minutes. He turns networking events into genuine connection

Jaco chose his moment. An afternoon nap under the caretaker’s cottage, then simply… didn’t wake up. So many tears. Seven years old. Seven years at Tavola. Our albino boy with that mesmerizing blue eye. Secret Agent Man. Jaquismo. The Nose. Handsome Boy. Jack buried him on the hillside overlooking the