nice to be here tonight I wanted to share my life pivot with you back in
share my life pivot with you back in
share my life pivot with you back in 1993
1993
1993 when I was 29 years old I quit my job as
when I was 29 years old I quit my job as
when I was 29 years old I quit my job as a crime busting federal prosecutor in
a crime busting federal prosecutor in
a crime busting federal prosecutor in New York City packed my bags and I moved
New York City packed my bags and I moved
New York City packed my bags and I moved 3,000 miles away to sunny Los Angeles
3,000 miles away to sunny Los Angeles
3,000 miles away to sunny Los Angeles California to try to make it as a
California to try to make it as a
California to try to make it as a Hollywood talent agent I basically
Hollywood talent agent I basically
Hollywood talent agent I basically traded in my Justice Department badge to
traded in my Justice Department badge to
traded in my Justice Department badge to try to become a real life Ari Gold and
try to become a real life Ari Gold and
try to become a real life Ari Gold and enact my own real life entourage that
enact my own real life entourage that
enact my own real life entourage that was my life pivot and I think it’s it’s
was my life pivot and I think it’s it’s
was my life pivot and I think it’s it’s instructive to think about the word
instructive to think about the word
instructive to think about the word pivot in connection with what I did with
pivot in connection with what I did with
pivot in connection with what I did with my life and when you think about pivot
my life and when you think about pivot
my life and when you think about pivot and basketball somebody plants their
and basketball somebody plants their
and basketball somebody plants their front foot and turns and changes
front foot and turns and changes
front foot and turns and changes direction and gives themselves a chance
direction and gives themselves a chance
direction and gives themselves a chance to change the entire complexion of a
to change the entire complexion of a
to change the entire complexion of a game if you think about pivot and
game if you think about pivot and
game if you think about pivot and business startups use the word pivot to
business startups use the word pivot to
business startups use the word pivot to talk about a change in direction or a
talk about a change in direction or a
talk about a change in direction or a change in focus for their business they
change in focus for their business they
change in focus for their business they may have originally been focused on one
may have originally been focused on one
may have originally been focused on one concept and based on what they learn
concept and based on what they learn
concept and based on what they learn change direction to focus on something
change direction to focus on something
change direction to focus on something else Instagram Twitter some of the
else Instagram Twitter some of the
else Instagram Twitter some of the biggest successes in business succeeded
biggest successes in business succeeded
biggest successes in business succeeded after pivoting now my pivot may not have
after pivoting now my pivot may not have
after pivoting now my pivot may not have led to success on a scale of Twitter or
led to success on a scale of Twitter or
led to success on a scale of Twitter or Instagram but it certainly led to a
Instagram but it certainly led to a
Instagram but it certainly led to a fulfilling life for me and I thought it
fulfilling life for me and I thought it
fulfilling life for me and I thought it would be instructive to share with you
would be instructive to share with you
would be instructive to share with you my story and some of the lessons that I
my story and some of the lessons that I
my story and some of the lessons that I learned along the way from the time I
learned along the way from the time I
learned along the way from the time I was a kid I always thought I wanted to
was a kid I always thought I wanted to
was a kid I always thought I wanted to be a lawyer and and to me law seemed
be a lawyer and and to me law seemed
be a lawyer and and to me law seemed glamorous fancy suits beautiful offices
glamorous fancy suits beautiful offices
glamorous fancy suits beautiful offices advising people on important matters
advising people on important matters
advising people on important matters it was glamorous to me it was romantic
it was glamorous to me it was romantic
it was glamorous to me it was romantic to me my grandfather had been a lawyer I
to me my grandfather had been a lawyer I
to me my grandfather had been a lawyer I looked up to him that was a path I
looked up to him that was a path I
looked up to him that was a path I wanted to take and I also found that
wanted to take and I also found that
wanted to take and I also found that when people asked me what I wanted to be
when people asked me what I wanted to be
when people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I told them I wanted
when I grew up and I told them I wanted
when I grew up and I told them I wanted to be a lawyer that was met with
to be a lawyer that was met with
to be a lawyer that was met with acceptance and approval and and that who
acceptance and approval and and that who
acceptance and approval and and that who doesn’t want to be accepted and who
doesn’t want to be accepted and who
doesn’t want to be accepted and who doesn’t want the approval and we’re all
doesn’t want the approval and we’re all
doesn’t want the approval and we’re all raised to get the approval of our
raised to get the approval of our
raised to get the approval of our parents and our teachers school
parents and our teachers school
parents and our teachers school administrators code
administrators code
administrators code his bosses we’re all taught to sort of
his bosses we’re all taught to sort of
his bosses we’re all taught to sort of seek approval of others and so it was a
seek approval of others and so it was a
seek approval of others and so it was a very sort of natural extension of my own
very sort of natural extension of my own
very sort of natural extension of my own interests and my own sense of myself at
interests and my own sense of myself at
interests and my own sense of myself at that time to pursue that path so I did
that time to pursue that path so I did
that time to pursue that path so I did well in high school and I got into a
well in high school and I got into a
well in high school and I got into a good college and when I got to college I
good college and when I got to college I
good college and when I got to college I took the liberal arts equivalent of
took the liberal arts equivalent of
took the liberal arts equivalent of pre-law English classes history classes
pre-law English classes history classes
pre-law English classes history classes philosophy classes political science
philosophy classes political science
philosophy classes political science classes I did well took the LSAT I
classes I did well took the LSAT I
classes I did well took the LSAT I studied hard for it I nearly got a
studied hard for it I nearly got a
studied hard for it I nearly got a perfect score on the exam had great
perfect score on the exam had great
perfect score on the exam had great grades was Phi Beta Kappa had that high
grades was Phi Beta Kappa had that high
grades was Phi Beta Kappa had that high score on the LSAT I applied to all the
score on the LSAT I applied to all the
score on the LSAT I applied to all the top law schools I got into every single
top law schools I got into every single
top law schools I got into every single one of them Harvard Yale Stanford I went
one of them Harvard Yale Stanford I went
one of them Harvard Yale Stanford I went up going to Harvard Law School again
up going to Harvard Law School again
up going to Harvard Law School again right on my path everybody thought they
right on my path everybody thought they
right on my path everybody thought they knew me and knew what I was about and
knew me and knew what I was about and
knew me and knew what I was about and knew where I was headed and I and I
knew where I was headed and I and I
knew where I was headed and I and I thought so too and I got to law school
thought so too and I got to law school
thought so too and I got to law school and I was interested in law enforcement
and I was interested in law enforcement
and I was interested in law enforcement and trials and I did a trial advocacy
and trials and I did a trial advocacy
and trials and I did a trial advocacy workshop that I enjoyed and I I did an
workshop that I enjoyed and I I did an
workshop that I enjoyed and I I did an internship in the Cambridge DA’s office
internship in the Cambridge DA’s office
internship in the Cambridge DA’s office which was a lot of fun and I decided I
which was a lot of fun and I decided I
which was a lot of fun and I decided I wanted to be a prosecutor when I got out
wanted to be a prosecutor when I got out
wanted to be a prosecutor when I got out of law school and so I did a little bit
of law school and so I did a little bit
of law school and so I did a little bit of research and found out that the way
of research and found out that the way
of research and found out that the way to do that was to clerk for a federal
to do that was to clerk for a federal
to do that was to clerk for a federal judge if you could and then get some
judge if you could and then get some
judge if you could and then get some litigation experience potentially and
litigation experience potentially and
litigation experience potentially and then apply to one of the top prosecutors
then apply to one of the top prosecutors
then apply to one of the top prosecutors offices and hopefully get a job i short
offices and hopefully get a job i short
offices and hopefully get a job i short cutted that a little bit i clerked for a
cutted that a little bit i clerked for a
cutted that a little bit i clerked for a federal judge i applied out of my
federal judge i applied out of my
federal judge i applied out of my clerkship to the United States
clerkship to the United States
clerkship to the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern
Attorney’s Office in the Southern
Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York which is the
District of New York which is the
District of New York which is the federal prosecutors office in Manhattan
federal prosecutors office in Manhattan
federal prosecutors office in Manhattan and I was lucky enough to be accepted
and I was lucky enough to be accepted
and I was lucky enough to be accepted and 24 years old right out of my
and 24 years old right out of my
and 24 years old right out of my clerkship I was the youngest person they
clerkship I was the youngest person they
clerkship I was the youngest person they accepted in the office was very unusual
accepted in the office was very unusual
accepted in the office was very unusual to accept somebody who didn’t have law
to accept somebody who didn’t have law
to accept somebody who didn’t have law firm experience for those of you that
firm experience for those of you that
firm experience for those of you that aren’t familiar with it the United
aren’t familiar with it the United
aren’t familiar with it the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern
States Attorney’s Office in the Southern
States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York is the premier law
District of New York is the premier law
District of New York is the premier law enforcement organization in the country
enforcement organization in the country
enforcement organization in the country it is the elite of the elite four
it is the elite of the elite four
it is the elite of the elite four prosecutors it’s the most prestigious
prosecutors it’s the most prestigious
prosecutors it’s the most prestigious job you can get in law enforcement as a
job you can get in law enforcement as a
job you can get in law enforcement as a lawyer and so I was extremely proud to
lawyer and so I was extremely proud to
lawyer and so I was extremely proud to get that job and I really really enjoyed
get that job and I really really enjoyed
get that job and I really really enjoyed that job in many respects except for the
that job in many respects except for the
that job in many respects except for the law part got into that job love meeting
law part got into that job love meeting
law part got into that job love meeting the FBI agents and the DEA agents and
the FBI agents and the DEA agents and
the FBI agents and the DEA agents and looking over evidence
looking over evidence
looking over evidence interrogating you know criminals and and
interrogating you know criminals and and
interrogating you know criminals and and giving opening statements to juries but
giving opening statements to juries but
giving opening statements to juries but when it came to doing the real meat and
when it came to doing the real meat and
when it came to doing the real meat and potatoes of the law sitting in a law
potatoes of the law sitting in a law
potatoes of the law sitting in a law library late at night researching cases
library late at night researching cases
library late at night researching cases writing memoranda to reply to Fourth
writing memoranda to reply to Fourth
writing memoranda to reply to Fourth Amendment
Amendment
Amendment you know challenges from defense lawyers
you know challenges from defense lawyers
you know challenges from defense lawyers all the sort of real legal stuff my eyes
all the sort of real legal stuff my eyes
all the sort of real legal stuff my eyes glaze over didn’t love legal writing
glaze over didn’t love legal writing
glaze over didn’t love legal writing didn’t love legal research didn’t love
didn’t love legal research didn’t love
didn’t love legal research didn’t love what really was required to be a
what really was required to be a
what really was required to be a terrific lawyer and so I really started
terrific lawyer and so I really started
terrific lawyer and so I really started to think after several years in the job
to think after several years in the job
to think after several years in the job even though it was prestigious even
even though it was prestigious even
even though it was prestigious even though when I went to cocktail parties
though when I went to cocktail parties
though when I went to cocktail parties and people said what do you do for a
and people said what do you do for a
and people said what do you do for a living and I said I’m a federal
living and I said I’m a federal
living and I said I’m a federal prosecutor and people would be like wow
prosecutor and people would be like wow
prosecutor and people would be like wow and it feels great to have the wow
and it feels great to have the wow
and it feels great to have the wow factor in your job you know again it’s a
factor in your job you know again it’s a
factor in your job you know again it’s a point of pride in it and it makes you
point of pride in it and it makes you
point of pride in it and it makes you feel accepted and approved and and it
feel accepted and approved and and it
feel accepted and approved and and it gives you a certain status and so I was
gives you a certain status and so I was
gives you a certain status and so I was feeding off of that and maybe feeding
feeding off of that and maybe feeding
feeding off of that and maybe feeding off with getting the G ride on the
off with getting the G ride on the
off with getting the G ride on the weekends which was the government car
weekends which was the government car
weekends which was the government car that you could take all around the city
that you could take all around the city
that you could take all around the city and never get parking tickets a few
and never get parking tickets a few
and never get parking tickets a few perks of the job the badge you get into
perks of the job the badge you get into
perks of the job the badge you get into any nightclub you wanted you know they
any nightclub you wanted you know they
any nightclub you wanted you know they put you right to the front of the line I
put you right to the front of the line I
put you right to the front of the line I mean I wasn’t my mid-20s I still you
mean I wasn’t my mid-20s I still you
mean I wasn’t my mid-20s I still you know had certain kid-like tendencies I
know had certain kid-like tendencies I
know had certain kid-like tendencies I liked to go out at night here and there
liked to go out at night here and there
liked to go out at night here and there tear it up but um but I can admit that
tear it up but um but I can admit that
tear it up but um but I can admit that now I think the statute of limitations
now I think the statute of limitations
now I think the statute of limitations is long long pass but because I wasn’t
is long long pass but because I wasn’t
is long long pass but because I wasn’t really satisfied with a key aspect of my
really satisfied with a key aspect of my
really satisfied with a key aspect of my job and also because I knew that the
job and also because I knew that the
job and also because I knew that the next stage for me in my career was
next stage for me in my career was
next stage for me in my career was supposed to be to go to one of these big
supposed to be to go to one of these big
supposed to be to go to one of these big private law firms make a bunch of money
private law firms make a bunch of money
private law firms make a bunch of money maybe defend criminals advise
maybe defend criminals advise
maybe defend criminals advise corporations and put to use all of these
corporations and put to use all of these
corporations and put to use all of these legal skills that supposedly I had
legal skills that supposedly I had
legal skills that supposedly I had developed at the US Attorney’s Office
developed at the US Attorney’s Office
developed at the US Attorney’s Office because I didn’t want to do that and
because I didn’t want to do that and
because I didn’t want to do that and actually didn’t think I was very good at
actually didn’t think I was very good at
actually didn’t think I was very good at that and I was surrounded by people by
that and I was surrounded by people by
that and I was surrounded by people by the way who were excellent at it you
the way who were excellent at it you
the way who were excellent at it you know I was honest enough with myself in
know I was honest enough with myself in
know I was honest enough with myself in analyzing and assessing my skills and my
analyzing and assessing my skills and my
analyzing and assessing my skills and my capacity to see that there were other
capacity to see that there were other
capacity to see that there were other people that were better at this than I
people that were better at this than I
people that were better at this than I was and if I would get into you know the
was and if I would get into you know the
was and if I would get into you know the law business with them after the US
law business with them after the US
law business with them after the US Attorney’s Office they were going to eat
Attorney’s Office they were going to eat
Attorney’s Office they were going to eat my lunch because these are these are
my lunch because these are these are
my lunch because these are these are folks that like sitting in a law library
folks that like sitting in a law library
folks that like sitting in a law library at 2:00 in the morning reading some case
at 2:00 in the morning reading some case
at 2:00 in the morning reading some case from the Seventh Circuit Court of
from the Seventh Circuit Court of
from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals it might apply to a case in the
Appeals it might apply to a case in the
Appeals it might apply to a case in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals that
Second Circuit Court of Appeals that
Second Circuit Court of Appeals that might allow them to get some evidence
might allow them to get some evidence
might allow them to get some evidence into a trial that they otherwise
into a trial that they otherwise
into a trial that they otherwise wouldn’t get they lived and breathed to
wouldn’t get they lived and breathed to
wouldn’t get they lived and breathed to solve that puzzle at the same time that
solve that puzzle at the same time that
solve that puzzle at the same time that I was starting to take a nap you know so
I was starting to take a nap you know so
I was starting to take a nap you know so so it led me to start to reflect on what
so it led me to start to reflect on what
so it led me to start to reflect on what else I might do it opened my mind to a
else I might do it opened my mind to a
else I might do it opened my mind to a whole range of possibilities one of the
whole range of possibilities one of the
whole range of possibilities one of the things that I thought about was the fact
things that I thought about was the fact
things that I thought about was the fact that I’d always loved watching TV going
that I’d always loved watching TV going
that I’d always loved watching TV going to the movies
to the movies
to the movies reading books listening to music playing
reading books listening to music playing
reading books listening to music playing and watching sports which started my
and watching sports which started my
and watching sports which started my mind thinking about whether there was
mind thinking about whether there was
mind thinking about whether there was something possible for me in the
something possible for me in the
something possible for me in the entertainment business and so I started
entertainment business and so I started
entertainment business and so I started to reach out to my own network of
to reach out to my own network of
to reach out to my own network of friends and colleagues I knew the son of
friends and colleagues I knew the son of
friends and colleagues I knew the son of one movie producer in New York I had a
one movie producer in New York I had a
one movie producer in New York I had a buddy from college who was a writer out
buddy from college who was a writer out
buddy from college who was a writer out in Hollywood writing screenplays and TV
in Hollywood writing screenplays and TV
in Hollywood writing screenplays and TV shows so I reached out to some of these
shows so I reached out to some of these
shows so I reached out to some of these contacts for advice and my friend from
contacts for advice and my friend from
contacts for advice and my friend from college introduced me to his agent I
college introduced me to his agent I
college introduced me to his agent I took a week’s vacation I flew out to LA
took a week’s vacation I flew out to LA
took a week’s vacation I flew out to LA stayed on my buddy’s couch and and met
stayed on my buddy’s couch and and met
stayed on my buddy’s couch and and met with his agent and when his agent
with his agent and when his agent
with his agent and when his agent described what he did it was like a
described what he did it was like a
described what he did it was like a light bulb went off in my head and it
light bulb went off in my head and it
light bulb went off in my head and it just felt like a great fit for me he
just felt like a great fit for me he
just felt like a great fit for me he talked about spotting talent reading
talked about spotting talent reading
talked about spotting talent reading scripts putting projects together
scripts putting projects together
scripts putting projects together advising clients on how to navigate
advising clients on how to navigate
advising clients on how to navigate their careers through Hollywood you know
their careers through Hollywood you know
their careers through Hollywood you know he talked about how entrepreneurial it
he talked about how entrepreneurial it
he talked about how entrepreneurial it was how much freedom he had in making
was how much freedom he had in making
was how much freedom he had in making decisions all the surprises that
decisions all the surprises that
decisions all the surprises that happened along the way how creative it
happened along the way how creative it
happened along the way how creative it was how it was also very much a business
was how it was also very much a business
was how it was also very much a business job because he also made the deals for
job because he also made the deals for
job because he also made the deals for his clients once his clients got the
his clients once his clients got the
his clients once his clients got the jobs and and all of that to me sounded
jobs and and all of that to me sounded
jobs and and all of that to me sounded amazing and I said to him in that
amazing and I said to him in that
amazing and I said to him in that meeting wow that sounds like something
meeting wow that sounds like something
meeting wow that sounds like something I’d really like and he said well we’ll
I’d really like and he said well we’ll
I’d really like and he said well we’ll hire you and I said well if you hire me
hire you and I said well if you hire me
hire you and I said well if you hire me I’ll take the job and so I came back
I’ll take the job and so I came back
I’ll take the job and so I came back from that trip in January or December of
from that trip in January or December of
from that trip in January or December of 1992
1992
1992 January of 1993 and I resigned from the
January of 1993 and I resigned from the
January of 1993 and I resigned from the US Attorney’s Office and decided I would
US Attorney’s Office and decided I would
US Attorney’s Office and decided I would move out to LA now that decision was not
move out to LA now that decision was not
move out to LA now that decision was not met with the level of support or
met with the level of support or
met with the level of support or acceptance or approval or enthusiasm
acceptance or approval or enthusiasm
acceptance or approval or enthusiasm that my decision to go to Harvard Law
that my decision to go to Harvard Law
that my decision to go to Harvard Law School
School
School or clerked for judge Connor or go to the
or clerked for judge Connor or go to the
or clerked for judge Connor or go to the US Attorney’s Office have been met with
US Attorney’s Office have been met with
US Attorney’s Office have been met with people thought it was crazy
people thought it was crazy
people thought it was crazy and it made people really uncomfortable
and it made people really uncomfortable
and it made people really uncomfortable because it challenged their
because it challenged their
because it challenged their understanding of me it challenged in
understanding of me it challenged in
understanding of me it challenged in some instances their understanding of
some instances their understanding of
some instances their understanding of themselves because with my colleagues in
themselves because with my colleagues in
themselves because with my colleagues in the US
the US
the US office here was this guy who had done
office here was this guy who had done
office here was this guy who had done the exact same things that they had done
the exact same things that they had done
the exact same things that they had done and then on the same path they had been
and then on the same path they had been
and then on the same path they had been on who was essentially rejecting that
on who was essentially rejecting that
on who was essentially rejecting that path which called into question their
path which called into question their
path which called into question their own decisions that they’d made for
own decisions that they’d made for
own decisions that they’d made for themselves which for some people is a
themselves which for some people is a
themselves which for some people is a very threatening thing and so in
very threatening thing and so in
very threatening thing and so in thinking about the the theme of defying
thinking about the the theme of defying
thinking about the the theme of defying people’s expectations this was a
people’s expectations this was a
people’s expectations this was a critical moment in my life where in
critical moment in my life where in
critical moment in my life where in order to do what I thought I wanted to
order to do what I thought I wanted to
order to do what I thought I wanted to do and needed to do to be fulfilled
do and needed to do to be fulfilled
do and needed to do to be fulfilled I had to withstand the scrutiny and the
I had to withstand the scrutiny and the
I had to withstand the scrutiny and the negative judgment of others which
negative judgment of others which
negative judgment of others which luckily for me I had no problem doing
luckily for me I had no problem doing
luckily for me I had no problem doing even if it was at times uncomfortable
even if it was at times uncomfortable
even if it was at times uncomfortable and also forced me to take them even
and also forced me to take them even
and also forced me to take them even harder look at my own choices and so I
harder look at my own choices and so I
harder look at my own choices and so I wound up moving out to California I had
wound up moving out to California I had
wound up moving out to California I had been working in the government you know
been working in the government you know
been working in the government you know for five years I had no money I borrowed
for five years I had no money I borrowed
for five years I had no money I borrowed $10,000 from my best friend who was
$10,000 from my best friend who was
$10,000 from my best friend who was working on Wall Street making a fortune
working on Wall Street making a fortune
working on Wall Street making a fortune and told him I he knew where to find me
and told him I he knew where to find me
and told him I he knew where to find me I pay him back I promise and I failed as
I pay him back I promise and I failed as
I pay him back I promise and I failed as a as a Hollywood agent I could always go
a as a Hollywood agent I could always go
a as a Hollywood agent I could always go back to practicing law so you know he’d
back to practicing law so you know he’d
back to practicing law so you know he’d get his money back no matter what and he
get his money back no matter what and he
get his money back no matter what and he was a good friend and and you know was
was a good friend and and you know was
was a good friend and and you know was loyal to me and loaned me the money and
loyal to me and loaned me the money and
loyal to me and loaned me the money and yes I did pay him back and and offered
yes I did pay him back and and offered
yes I did pay him back and and offered interest he wouldn’t take it I bought
interest he wouldn’t take it I bought
interest he wouldn’t take it I bought him a watch which he still has never
him a watch which he still has never
him a watch which he still has never worn because he doesn’t wear watches but
worn because he doesn’t wear watches but
worn because he doesn’t wear watches but it sits in his dresser it’s a good
it sits in his dresser it’s a good
it sits in his dresser it’s a good memento and and so I I moved out to Los
memento and and so I I moved out to Los
memento and and so I I moved out to Los Angeles and and to cut to the sort of
Angeles and and to cut to the sort of
Angeles and and to cut to the sort of end of the story which for me has a very
end of the story which for me has a very
end of the story which for me has a very happy ending I wound up having some
happy ending I wound up having some
happy ending I wound up having some early lucky breaks as an agent at this
early lucky breaks as an agent at this
early lucky breaks as an agent at this agency which was called Broder Kurland
agency which was called Broder Kurland
agency which was called Broder Kurland Webb after I became a partner with the
Webb after I became a partner with the
Webb after I became a partner with the founding partners after five years and
founding partners after five years and
founding partners after five years and ultimately it was renamed Broder Webb
ultimately it was renamed Broder Webb
ultimately it was renamed Broder Webb shervin’s Silverman we grew and built
shervin’s Silverman we grew and built
shervin’s Silverman we grew and built that agency over the next nine years and
that agency over the next nine years and
that agency over the next nine years and wound up selling it and a very lucrative
wound up selling it and a very lucrative
wound up selling it and a very lucrative deal to a private equity firm in 2006 I
deal to a private equity firm in 2006 I
deal to a private equity firm in 2006 I then transitioned over to ICM partners
then transitioned over to ICM partners
then transitioned over to ICM partners which at the time was called ICM I
which at the time was called ICM I
which at the time was called ICM I became the head of worldwide television
became the head of worldwide television
became the head of worldwide television then four years ago I and a buyout group
then four years ago I and a buyout group
then four years ago I and a buyout group bought the company back from private
bought the company back from private
bought the company back from private equity I’m one of the founding partners
equity I’m one of the founding partners
equity I’m one of the founding partners now of what it has been renamed ICM
now of what it has been renamed ICM
now of what it has been renamed ICM partners which is one of the four
partners which is one of the four
partners which is one of the four largest and most important talent
largest and most important talent
largest and most important talent agencies in the world with offices in
agencies in the world with offices in
agencies in the world with offices in Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Los Angeles New York and London so for me there is
New York and London so for me there is
New York and London so for me there is definitely a happy ending to the story
definitely a happy ending to the story
definitely a happy ending to the story but I also wanted to share some of the
but I also wanted to share some of the
but I also wanted to share some of the lessons that I learned along the way the
lessons that I learned along the way the
lessons that I learned along the way the first was to be honest and insightful
first was to be honest and insightful
first was to be honest and insightful about yourself I think it takes a
about yourself I think it takes a
about yourself I think it takes a certain level of discipline to look at
certain level of discipline to look at
certain level of discipline to look at yourself and admit to yourself what
yourself and admit to yourself what
yourself and admit to yourself what you’re not good at so also to admit to
you’re not good at so also to admit to
you’re not good at so also to admit to yourself what you don’t want to do even
yourself what you don’t want to do even
yourself what you don’t want to do even if the people around you
if the people around you
if the people around you have have fit you into a neat little box
have have fit you into a neat little box
have have fit you into a neat little box and maybe even in your own mind you’ve
and maybe even in your own mind you’ve
and maybe even in your own mind you’ve put yourself in that box which which has
put yourself in that box which which has
put yourself in that box which which has been comfortable on some level but you
been comfortable on some level but you
been comfortable on some level but you really have to sort of if you’re going
really have to sort of if you’re going
really have to sort of if you’re going to take that step to fulfillment take a
to take that step to fulfillment take a
to take that step to fulfillment take a good hard look at yourself and really
good hard look at yourself and really
good hard look at yourself and really know yourself and admit to yourself kind
know yourself and admit to yourself kind
know yourself and admit to yourself kind of where you’re at the second piece of
of where you’re at the second piece of
of where you’re at the second piece of advice is to be willing to explore and
advice is to be willing to explore and
advice is to be willing to explore and dream again when you’re in that box and
dream again when you’re in that box and
dream again when you’re in that box and you’re on that narrow path there’s a
you’re on that narrow path there’s a
you’re on that narrow path there’s a tendency to have blinders on it’s really
tendency to have blinders on it’s really
tendency to have blinders on it’s really important to realize it’s a big world
important to realize it’s a big world
important to realize it’s a big world out there it’s more accessible now than
out there it’s more accessible now than
out there it’s more accessible now than ever before with the internet and other
ever before with the internet and other
ever before with the internet and other tools of discovery you can know more
tools of discovery you can know more
tools of discovery you can know more about more things and really really
about more things and really really
about more things and really really embrace the possibilities in in more
embrace the possibilities in in more
embrace the possibilities in in more concrete ways now than ever before and
concrete ways now than ever before and
concrete ways now than ever before and so I think you know exploring and
so I think you know exploring and
so I think you know exploring and dreaming is a big part of it now being
dreaming is a big part of it now being
dreaming is a big part of it now being stubborn and ignoring others doubts is
stubborn and ignoring others doubts is
stubborn and ignoring others doubts is another big part of it
another big part of it
another big part of it people like to judge you and people
people like to judge you and people
people like to judge you and people judge you based on a whole range of
judge you based on a whole range of
judge you based on a whole range of criteria that they have nothing at all
criteria that they have nothing at all
criteria that they have nothing at all to do with what’s good for you or what
to do with what’s good for you or what
to do with what’s good for you or what you want to do for yourself but it’s
you want to do for yourself but it’s
you want to do for yourself but it’s still really really tough to withstand
still really really tough to withstand
still really really tough to withstand the scrutiny the negative scrutiny of
the scrutiny the negative scrutiny of
the scrutiny the negative scrutiny of others that’s something that I think you
others that’s something that I think you
others that’s something that I think you know takes the strength of character it
know takes the strength of character it
know takes the strength of character it takes inherent self-esteem as opposed to
takes inherent self-esteem as opposed to
takes inherent self-esteem as opposed to borrowed self-esteem you’re not
borrowed self-esteem you’re not
borrowed self-esteem you’re not borrowing it from the approval of others
borrowing it from the approval of others
borrowing it from the approval of others you’re really looking inside and saying
you’re really looking inside and saying
you’re really looking inside and saying Who am I you know I trust myself I like
Who am I you know I trust myself I like
Who am I you know I trust myself I like myself I believe in myself I’m going to
myself I believe in myself I’m going to
myself I believe in myself I’m going to pursue what I want to do I’m not relying
pursue what I want to do I’m not relying
pursue what I want to do I’m not relying on what others think of me that’s huge
on what others think of me that’s huge
on what others think of me that’s huge another big part of it is being humble
another big part of it is being humble
another big part of it is being humble you know when I got out to LA from New
you know when I got out to LA from New
you know when I got out to LA from New York nobody cared that I went to Harvard
York nobody cared that I went to Harvard
York nobody cared that I went to Harvard Law School and graduated with honors
Law School and graduated with honors
Law School and graduated with honors nobody cared that I went to Amherst
nobody cared that I went to Amherst
nobody cared that I went to Amherst College and graduated Phi Beta Kappa
College and graduated Phi Beta Kappa
College and graduated Phi Beta Kappa nobody cared that I was the youngest
nobody cared that I was the youngest
nobody cared that I was the youngest prosecutor hired in the US Attorney’s
prosecutor hired in the US Attorney’s
prosecutor hired in the US Attorney’s Office nobody cared that I never
Office nobody cared that I never
Office nobody cared that I never lost a case all those things which I was
lost a case all those things which I was
lost a case all those things which I was extremely proud of and in New York legal
extremely proud of and in New York legal
extremely proud of and in New York legal circles were a big deal to people nobody
circles were a big deal to people nobody
circles were a big deal to people nobody in Hollywood cared about that
in Hollywood cared about that
in Hollywood cared about that it took some humility for me to realize
it took some humility for me to realize
it took some humility for me to realize that in the in the Hollywood community
that in the in the Hollywood community
that in the in the Hollywood community there were a whole other set of things
there were a whole other set of things
there were a whole other set of things that you could do and achieve that would
that you could do and achieve that would
that you could do and achieve that would gain you the respect of your peers but I
gain you the respect of your peers but I
gain you the respect of your peers but I hadn’t achieved any of those yet and so
hadn’t achieved any of those yet and so
hadn’t achieved any of those yet and so I had to really start over again and
I had to really start over again and
I had to really start over again and sort of throw away all of those things
sort of throw away all of those things
sort of throw away all of those things that I thought had made me me on some
that I thought had made me me on some
that I thought had made me me on some level and really you know eat some
level and really you know eat some
level and really you know eat some humble pie and stand and start to build
humble pie and stand and start to build
humble pie and stand and start to build rebuild myself as a professional in the
rebuild myself as a professional in the
rebuild myself as a professional in the Hollywood community to attain people’s
Hollywood community to attain people’s
Hollywood community to attain people’s respect and in doing that that humility
respect and in doing that that humility
respect and in doing that that humility led me to think about well how you know
led me to think about well how you know
led me to think about well how you know how do I do that taking concrete
how do I do that taking concrete
how do I do that taking concrete practical steps was a big part of it who
practical steps was a big part of it who
practical steps was a big part of it who do I call who do I ask for help not
do I call who do I ask for help not
do I call who do I ask for help not being too proud to ask for help putting
being too proud to ask for help putting
being too proud to ask for help putting my ego aside making new friends finding
my ego aside making new friends finding
my ego aside making new friends finding mentors you know one of my partners to
mentors you know one of my partners to
mentors you know one of my partners to this day Chris Silberman was the first
this day Chris Silberman was the first
this day Chris Silberman was the first friend I made we’ve been working
friend I made we’ve been working
friend I made we’ve been working together now for 24 years and he really
together now for 24 years and he really
together now for 24 years and he really gave me a crash course and how the
gave me a crash course and how the
gave me a crash course and how the entertainment business worked because
entertainment business worked because
entertainment business worked because he’d grown up in Los Angeles and he’d
he’d grown up in Los Angeles and he’d
he’d grown up in Los Angeles and he’d been in the mailroom in a major agency
been in the mailroom in a major agency
been in the mailroom in a major agency and he lived and breathed the
and he lived and breathed the
and he lived and breathed the entertainment business his whole life so
entertainment business his whole life so
entertainment business his whole life so he was able to help educate me and
he was able to help educate me and
he was able to help educate me and Elliott Webb my first boss and later my
Elliott Webb my first boss and later my
Elliott Webb my first boss and later my partner was really my mentor I watched
partner was really my mentor I watched
partner was really my mentor I watched what he did I saw how he signed clients
what he did I saw how he signed clients
what he did I saw how he signed clients how he managed clients careers how he
how he managed clients careers how he
how he managed clients careers how he packaged television shows and I pulled
packaged television shows and I pulled
packaged television shows and I pulled from that and figured it out for myself
from that and figured it out for myself
from that and figured it out for myself with his help with Chris’s help and the
with his help with Chris’s help and the
with his help with Chris’s help and the help of a lot of others but again it
help of a lot of others but again it
help of a lot of others but again it took some humility to realize I didn’t
took some humility to realize I didn’t
took some humility to realize I didn’t know anything and I wasn’t gonna figure
know anything and I wasn’t gonna figure
know anything and I wasn’t gonna figure it out on my own
it out on my own
it out on my own you know takes a village that that
you know takes a village that that
you know takes a village that that cliche is true and I found my village
cliche is true and I found my village
cliche is true and I found my village and that really helped me work hard and
and that really helped me work hard and
and that really helped me work hard and I put that in all caps because the one
I put that in all caps because the one
I put that in all caps because the one thing I knew about myself forgetting
thing I knew about myself forgetting
thing I knew about myself forgetting everything else was that I had capacity
everything else was that I had capacity
everything else was that I had capacity for hard work I could outwork anybody in
for hard work I could outwork anybody in
for hard work I could outwork anybody in my mind and I was willing to and I
my mind and I was willing to and I
my mind and I was willing to and I remember back to moving out here I got
remember back to moving out here I got
remember back to moving out here I got an extra legal job on the weekends from
an extra legal job on the weekends from
an extra legal job on the weekends from a law firm so I could make a little bit
a law firm so I could make a little bit
a law firm so I could make a little bit extra money to help pay my rent but that
extra money to help pay my rent but that
extra money to help pay my rent but that didn’t stop me from filling duffel bags
didn’t stop me from filling duffel bags
didn’t stop me from filling duffel bags with scripts and driving I was living at
with scripts and driving I was living at
with scripts and driving I was living at the time in West Hollywood
the time in West Hollywood
the time in West Hollywood we drive down to Manhattan Beach and
we drive down to Manhattan Beach and
we drive down to Manhattan Beach and plant myself in a cheap beach chair and
plant myself in a cheap beach chair and
plant myself in a cheap beach chair and just read script after script after
just read script after script after
just read script after script after script and I kept a journal and I take
script and I kept a journal and I take
script and I kept a journal and I take notes in that journal and I would you
notes in that journal and I would you
notes in that journal and I would you know literally just immerse myself in
know literally just immerse myself in
know literally just immerse myself in sort of all things Hollywood I had books
sort of all things Hollywood I had books
sort of all things Hollywood I had books I had magazine articles you know there
I had magazine articles you know there
I had magazine articles you know there was no internet back then I don’t want
was no internet back then I don’t want
was no internet back then I don’t want to date myself but what can I tell you
to date myself but what can I tell you
to date myself but what can I tell you so I didn’t have the easy tools of just
so I didn’t have the easy tools of just
so I didn’t have the easy tools of just you know hitting hitting Google and you
you know hitting hitting Google and you
you know hitting hitting Google and you know and pressing enter I had to really
know and pressing enter I had to really
know and pressing enter I had to really sort of you know compile things but I
sort of you know compile things but I
sort of you know compile things but I did and I and I put my social life on
did and I and I put my social life on
did and I and I put my social life on hold for the most part no more G ride no
hold for the most part no more G ride no
hold for the most part no more G ride no more badge
more badge
more badge no more clubbing at night you know and I
no more clubbing at night you know and I
no more clubbing at night you know and I sort of refocus myself and committed to
sort of refocus myself and committed to
sort of refocus myself and committed to working hard and these these last three
working hard and these these last three
working hard and these these last three I think are a little bit less concrete
I think are a little bit less concrete
I think are a little bit less concrete but also really really important
but also really really important
but also really really important enjoying the learning I’ve always loved
enjoying the learning I’ve always loved
enjoying the learning I’ve always loved to learn I think that’s a part of why
to learn I think that’s a part of why
to learn I think that’s a part of why I’ve always loved to read because I just
I’ve always loved to read because I just
I’ve always loved to read because I just love finding out about stuff and how to
love finding out about stuff and how to
love finding out about stuff and how to stuff work and getting to know new
stuff work and getting to know new
stuff work and getting to know new people learning about new places and new
people learning about new places and new
people learning about new places and new things and just that whole process of
things and just that whole process of
things and just that whole process of learning has always been an essential
learning has always been an essential
learning has always been an essential part of me and and and by moving out to
part of me and and and by moving out to
part of me and and and by moving out to California and trying to make it in
California and trying to make it in
California and trying to make it in Hollywood as opposed to being in law
Hollywood as opposed to being in law
Hollywood as opposed to being in law enforcement it set up this entire new
enforcement it set up this entire new
enforcement it set up this entire new world for me to learn similarly there
world for me to learn similarly there
world for me to learn similarly there are no guarantees about how things turn
are no guarantees about how things turn
are no guarantees about how things turn out you know in my case everything
out you know in my case everything
out you know in my case everything turned out great I wound up succeeding
turned out great I wound up succeeding
turned out great I wound up succeeding as an agent finding great clients
as an agent finding great clients
as an agent finding great clients packaging hit television shows making a
packaging hit television shows making a
packaging hit television shows making a bunch of money building and selling a
bunch of money building and selling a
bunch of money building and selling a company buying another company I’ve had
company buying another company I’ve had
company buying another company I’ve had all this success but I could just as
all this success but I could just as
all this success but I could just as easily have failed there wasn’t there
easily have failed there wasn’t there
easily have failed there wasn’t there was no way of knowing at the beginning
was no way of knowing at the beginning
was no way of knowing at the beginning how the end would turn out and not
how the end would turn out and not
how the end would turn out and not everybody has the same tolerance for
everybody has the same tolerance for
everybody has the same tolerance for risk and uncertainty I discovered along
risk and uncertainty I discovered along
risk and uncertainty I discovered along the way that I did and I’m really
the way that I did and I’m really
the way that I did and I’m really thankful for that and it’s something I
thankful for that and it’s something I
thankful for that and it’s something I would share with everybody here which is
would share with everybody here which is
would share with everybody here which is it’s a big part of going back to the be
it’s a big part of going back to the be
it’s a big part of going back to the be honest and insightful about yourself how
honest and insightful about yourself how
honest and insightful about yourself how much tolerance do you have for risk and
much tolerance do you have for risk and
much tolerance do you have for risk and uncertainty I think the more you have
uncertainty I think the more you have
uncertainty I think the more you have the more you can sort of get to that
the more you can sort of get to that
the more you can sort of get to that last part which is make it all an
last part which is make it all an
last part which is make it all an adventure have that adventure make your
adventure have that adventure make your
adventure have that adventure make your career an adventure make your life an
career an adventure make your life an
career an adventure make your life an adventure one of the things I’ll leave
adventure one of the things I’ll leave
adventure one of the things I’ll leave you all with at the end here is I call
you all with at the end here is I call
you all with at the end here is I call this my life pivot as opposed to my
this my life pivot as opposed to my
this my life pivot as opposed to my career pivot because although it was a
career pivot because although it was a
career pivot because although it was a career too
career too
career too that led me to move from New York to Los
that led me to move from New York to Los
that led me to move from New York to Los Angeles even though I still think of
Angeles even though I still think of
Angeles even though I still think of myself as a New Yorker in many ways but
myself as a New Yorker in many ways but
myself as a New Yorker in many ways but now I’ve been in Los Angeles 24 years
now I’ve been in Los Angeles 24 years
now I’ve been in Los Angeles 24 years that choice transformed my life it
that choice transformed my life it
that choice transformed my life it wasn’t you know defying everybody’s
wasn’t you know defying everybody’s
wasn’t you know defying everybody’s expectations about who I was not just
expectations about who I was not just
expectations about who I was not just this East Coast establishment lawyer but
this East Coast establishment lawyer but
this East Coast establishment lawyer but something very different you know a
something very different you know a
something very different you know a Hollywood agent transformed me entirely
Hollywood agent transformed me entirely
Hollywood agent transformed me entirely it’s how I met my wife it’s it’s how I
it’s how I met my wife it’s it’s how I
it’s how I met my wife it’s it’s how I discovered that I fell in love with
discovered that I fell in love with
discovered that I fell in love with Hawaii and spent a lot of time in Hawaii
Hawaii and spent a lot of time in Hawaii
Hawaii and spent a lot of time in Hawaii it’s how I started playing golf in
it’s how I started playing golf in
it’s how I started playing golf in tennis you know I grew up playing ice
tennis you know I grew up playing ice
tennis you know I grew up playing ice hockey in boxing and doing martial arts
hockey in boxing and doing martial arts
hockey in boxing and doing martial arts all of a sudden I’m playing golf and
all of a sudden I’m playing golf and
all of a sudden I’m playing golf and tennis it gave me an understanding of a
tennis it gave me an understanding of a
tennis it gave me an understanding of a community in Los Angeles that I never
community in Los Angeles that I never
community in Los Angeles that I never knew or expect that I would know when I
knew or expect that I would know when I
knew or expect that I would know when I was living in New York I got involved in
was living in New York I got involved in
was living in New York I got involved in charitable endeavors I was involved in
charitable endeavors I was involved in
charitable endeavors I was involved in an amazing charity that built libraries
an amazing charity that built libraries
an amazing charity that built libraries and public elementary schools and
and public elementary schools and
and public elementary schools and trained volunteer readers and I’ve got
trained volunteer readers and I’ve got
trained volunteer readers and I’ve got trained as a volunteer reader and I got
trained as a volunteer reader and I got
trained as a volunteer reader and I got to read in an LA Unified district public
to read in an LA Unified district public
to read in an LA Unified district public elementary school for ten years every
elementary school for ten years every
elementary school for ten years every Friday with fourth and fifth graders
Friday with fourth and fifth graders
Friday with fourth and fifth graders something I’m very very proud of that
something I’m very very proud of that
something I’m very very proud of that all stemmed from that initial honesty
all stemmed from that initial honesty
all stemmed from that initial honesty that I really wasn’t gonna make it as a
that I really wasn’t gonna make it as a
that I really wasn’t gonna make it as a lawyer in the way that I wanted to this
lawyer in the way that I wanted to this
lawyer in the way that I wanted to this insight that I didn’t want to do it even
insight that I didn’t want to do it even
insight that I didn’t want to do it even if I could do it and and the courage to
if I could do it and and the courage to
if I could do it and and the courage to defy other people’s expectations about
defy other people’s expectations about
defy other people’s expectations about me to conquer my own self-doubt to
me to conquer my own self-doubt to
me to conquer my own self-doubt to withstand the risk and uncertainty and
withstand the risk and uncertainty and
withstand the risk and uncertainty and to take the adventure and it’s been an
to take the adventure and it’s been an
to take the adventure and it’s been an unbelievable pivot for me and so in some
unbelievable pivot for me and so in some
unbelievable pivot for me and so in some ways maybe I am my own individual
ways maybe I am my own individual
ways maybe I am my own individual Instagram or Twitter thank you very much
Instagram or Twitter thank you very much
Instagram or Twitter thank you very much [Applause]
”
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