April 20th is Joe's birthday.  It reminded me that Joe would always say, “It’s 420. Hitler and I share birthdays.”  Joe had this self – deprecating sense of humor that I loved.  I’m not saying Joe liked Hitler.  But he did enjoy 420. A lot of my friends and colleagues reach out on Joe’s birthday.  Some want to make plans to tell old stories.  Others e-mail or text, “Here’s to Joe.”  I didn’t really think that people recognized birthdays after the person has left us?  In most cases it probably doesn’t happen, but it does for Joe.   Because Joe was no ordinary Joe.

This week was the Transact tradeshow.  I saw a lot of posts, and it reminded me of Joe.   Joe served on ETA’s Board of Directors from 2000 to 2008; as President from 2006 to 2007; and rejoined the Board as an Advisor in 2014. When you walked the trade show floor with Joe it was like walking with Elvis.  He knew everyone and everyone knew Joe.  Not like they knew “of him,” it actually felt like everyone knew him – like I knew him.  Joe was the Mayor of ETA City.  I met so many people through Joe.  His network became my network.  

Steve Peisner told me a story about Joe jumping on a plane with him to China on very short notice, where Joe helped him get a deal done.  Travis Powers shared a story during his first ETA where Joe just came up to him and said, “Come on, you’re coming out with me tonight.” Travis said, they barely even knew each other.  Jackie Ostler reminded me about our 1st ETA where Joe gathered the entire Intuit team for dinner and introduced us individually to all the “key players.”  His network became our network.  I still feel connected to these people.  I feel connected because of Joe. 

I remember a night at the ETA where I was invited to dinner by Micah Kinsler, Gregg Morrow and the entire MiCamp team.  Micah rented out the balcony of II Mulino with a view of the Las Vegas strip.  This was one of Joe’s favorite spots.  Micah never knew Joe, but he saw how me, Brian Sachs and River Cohen spoke about Joe.  Micah honored Joe that night, without ever meeting him.  A class act. Patrick, the GM of Il Mulino came up to me and shared how he watched Joe’s funeral over the Internet and how much Joe touched everyone at Il Mulino.  Not only in Las Vegas, but also in New York.  Patrick told Joe stories.  We told Joe stories.  That night, we were all connected because of Joe.

I remember the next day we had our quarterly “All Hands Meeting.” I found myself thinking and channeling Joe during the meeting.  At our meetings, Joe’s favorite line was, “This is the most fun I can have with my clothes on.”  The visual wasn’t great, but it always got a great laugh.  He made meetings fun and always ended with a key message.  I was leading our meeting and channeling Joe.  I had new people come up to the front and introduce themselves and we all welcomed them – just like he did.  Joe would actually have all of us throw balls at the newbies.  It was his way of initiating new employees into his world.  His way of connecting; something we all shared.  My ending message was about “goal setting.”  Joe would have all of us write down 3 business and 3 personal goals at the beginning of the year and send it to him in a sealed envelope.  He would never open the envelope.  At the end of the year he’d just return the envelopes and ask, “How’d you do?”  Even though Joe never looked at our goals, we still felt responsible.  I decided to have everyone come up with one S.M.A.R.T.  goal.  It’s a goal this is Simple. Measurable. Actionable. Realistic. Timely.  And 3 things they will do this quarter to help them hit their goals.  I decided to make Joe’s goal setting ritual, my own. 

Most days, Joe is still on my mind.  But especially on 4/20.  His life (and after life) lessons are so strong and profound.  I'll share some.

5 Joe Lessons (before he left us)

5.  Set goals: “A goal without a timeline is only a dream.”

4.  Customers are key: “Without our customers, none of us get paid.”

3.  Give back: “Let’s go build a house.  Who’s with me?”  

2.  Tough love is still love: “Broudy, you suck.” This message took me awhile to embrace. 

1.  Everyone matters

5 Joe Lessons (after)

5.  Be bold:  When my partners and I had a business issue to solve, we ask, “What would Joe do?” Joe was defiant.  Joe made the hard decisions look easy.  If you’re not bold you don’t ask what they’d do. Joe helps us make decisions today.  Thanks Joe.

4.  Build a strong network:  I know.  Duh Jeff.  But the way Joe did it was different.  He “worked” on connecting people.  Most of us don’t work on it.  Building a strong network takes work.  No one did it better than Joe did.

3.  Act instinctively:  Many of the Joe stories that have been shared with me involve Joe doing something that surprised them.  If it felt right, Joe did it.  Trust your instincts.  Most the time, they’re right.

4.  Make the moments matter:  I'm pushing 60 this year; Joe, my parents and other good friends are n o longer with us.  Joe passing, and watching my parents age has heightened my appreciation of every moment.  There will always be another job, another deal, another trip, another meal.... but there will never, ever be “this moment", "today", "us, together, now."

5.  Missing is different than feeling:  Ok.  I may be getting too spiritual here, but hear me out.  Yes, I miss Joe.  However, I feel his presence.  Not because I hired the New Jersey medium person, but because Joe had such a deep impact that he feels present to me.  If you make your legacy goals a desire to be felt, then you’ll act differently towards people (in my opinion).  Joe’s actions, interactions, and overall being impacted people so profoundly that he is more than just missed.

I often think about and feel for Brandon, Danielle, Parker, Aaron, Michelle, Judy, Sue and others.  I can’t imagine the presence still being felt by all of them.  Writing this is therapy for me.  So thank you.

To my friends and network – thanks for always reaching out on Joe’s birthday and sharing Joe stories We feel you brother.  Happy birthday Joe.  Fuck you Hitler, no cake for you.