Introduction: The Early Years (1978 to 1982)
It all kicked off in 1978 when I was an 11-year-old paperboy with a fascination for all things tech. While delivering newspapers, mowing lawns, shoveling driveways, and stuffing envelopes for my neighbors—I was the neighborhood’s one-stop shop for odd jobs—I was also exploring the frontiers of early computing. (If you ever received a chain letter promising good luck if you forwarded it to ten friends, well, let’s just say I might have had a hand in that!)
My dad worked at Timex and brought home a Timex Sinclair computer. Between that and my trusty Commodore VIC-20, I spent countless hours tinkering, dialing into online bulletin board systems (BBS), and even dabbling in a bit of hacking—not the malicious kind, just seeing what made things tick. You may ask what is a BBS? Well, before the dawn of the internet, as we know it, there was the Bulletin Board System, aka BBS —the frontier of digital communication. Dialing into a BBS back in the day felt like trying to enter an exclusive club, but first, your modem had to perform a secret handshake with screeching tones. It was the original ‘social media’—a place where you’d hang out, swap stories, and download things at speeds that made watching paint dry seem thrilling! How slow? Well today’s speeds are about 5 million times faster than a 200 baud modem. To put it into perspective, downloading a typical song file (around 5 MB) would take several hours with a 200 baud modem, whereas a modern high-speed connection can handle this in a fraction of a second.
These were exciting times. The world was on the brink of a digital revolution, and I had a front-row seat. But if I’m honest, I wish I’d done more with those opportunities. Instead of diving deeper into coding or electronics, I was often sidetracked.
1983: A Teen on TV
By 1983, I found myself on local access Cable 5, hosting “Concert TV,” a show featuring ’80s music videos, along with a sports trivia program. Suddenly, people recognized me and assumed I could fix their TVs and VCRs. You’d think these would be the best years of my life, right? Well, not exactly.
I was a mediocre student, more interested in getting a laugh than getting good grades. I didn’t hang out with the overachievers—instead, I spent time with a crowd that wasn’t exactly focused on the future. I couldn’t wait to get out of school. For what? I had no clue. I just knew I wanted something different.
Entrepreneurship was calling me. I was part of the DECA program (Distributive Education Clubs of America), and I regret not diving deeper into it—or even considering the military for the structure I so desperately needed. Without that structure, I stumbled into some problems—problems I had to find my own way out of.
Little did I know, this mix of early media exposure and personal challenges would set the stage for my future. It taught me that sometimes you have to navigate through uncertainty to find your path, and that’s exactly what I began to do.
1985-1991: Out of High School with No Plans
After high school, I dove headfirst into the world of consumer electronics. I started as a customer service rep making a whopping $4.15 an hour at TV Engineers, then moved up to sales and became a sales manager. I had big ideas for the company, but my boss, Harold Kay, wasn’t interested. Frustrated that he wouldn’t take my suggestions, I decided to strike out on my own.
In 1991, I launched my own venture: Video Hotline. Why that name? Honestly, I have no idea—it just popped into my head, and I ran with it. We specialized in VCR and electronics repair, rented video tapes, and sold pagers and cell phones. Around the same time, I started Gizoom.com. The idea was an online platform for local businesses to offer incredible deals—kind of like Groupon before Groupon existed. When I told people about online coupons and a directory of deals, they’d look at me like I had two heads. “Hey Kid, haven’t you heard of the Yellow Pages?” they’d say. Turns out, my idea was a bit ahead of its time.
1993-1994: A Pivotal Return
Then in 1993, a consultant from Deloitte & Touche dropped by and talked about turning a small corner store into a retail giant. Inspired by this big idea—and perhaps feeling a bit nostalgic—I found myself drawn back to my roots at TV Engineers. Not just to reminisce, but to take charge. I bought out Harold Kay, my first employer, and transformed the modest repair shop into a thriving tech hub. This move was more than just business; it felt like coming full circle.
We were also one of the first companies offering RCA DSS—the small 18-inch satellite dishes. The local newspaper even featured me with the headline “Fire Your Cable Company.” Calls poured in about this new technology. Unfortunately, with no local channels available, people weren’t ready to cut the cord. Once again, I was ahead of my time.=
1995: Gizoom Transforms
By 1995, Gizoom evolved again, shifting from a local coupon concept to an electronics sales center. I started leveraging eBay—which was just gaining traction—to sell electronics nationwide. I also ventured into the burgeoning cell phone market, becoming one of the first Sprint stores in my area. I thought it was great, but Sprint’s service wasn’t. There was very little coverage around the area, and entering a roaming zone could hit you with hundreds in fees. It was an exciting time, being at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, even if it came with some bumps in the road.
1998: The Flood and Its Aftermath
Just as Gizoom was hitting its stride, disaster struck. In 1998, a catastrophic flood destroyed over $300,000 in inventory, nearly wiping out the business. Amidst the chaos, my dad looked at me and asked what we’d do next. I told him, “When life gives you lemons, you open a lemonade stand.” This disaster, while devastating, didn’t dampen my entrepreneurial spirit but instead forced a critical pivot in my career.
1999-2005: Corporate Realities
The flood was the last straw that pushed me toward the corporate world. From 1999 to 2005, I worked at Circuit City, then Office Depot, and finally Bernie’s, a regional electronics and appliance store. In 2000, fresh off the Y2K scare, I was climbing the ranks at Circuit City quickly. I was promoted from Sales Manager to Store Manager within a few months, getting my own store in 2001—just as the 9/11 attacks happened and my first marriage failed. It was a rough year.
In 2002, I was named Store Manager of the Year out of over 600 stores. However, the experience was a mixed bag. The environment was marred by overzealous loss prevention managers and district managers who lacked people skills. There was increasing pressure to meet numbers amidst dwindling foot traffic. Circuit City’s Achilles’ heel was Best Buy, along with bad real estate deals and over-leveraged inventory purchases. Office Depot grappled with Staples and its own messy mergers and acquisitions. Bernie’s was a huge mistake; when I joined them, I knew within hours it was a house of cards waiting to crumble. I committed to them for one year and was ready to leave by the first day.
Retail was getting old, and watching these giants struggle underscored the stark contrast between profit-driven agendas and genuine customer care. It reinforced my desire to steer my own ship once again.
All the while, I was still working on Gizoom during my free time. In those early days of the internet, I immersed myself in website development, SEO, and graphic design. Back then, search engine optimization was much simpler. You could include popular terms—like “Britney Spears”—in your meta tags alongside the keywords you wanted to rank for, and almost instantly achieve top three rankings. It was truly the wild west of the web.
But then Google showed up and started shaping search as we know it today. They introduced more sophisticated algorithms that prioritized relevant and high-quality content over keyword-stuffed pages. As the digital landscape evolved, so did my approach. I adapted to the new rules, focusing on delivering genuine value through optimized content and design.
2005-2018: Embracing the Digital Age and Expanding Horizons
After leaving the corporate grind, I rebuilt Gizoom from the ground up. It was clear that the digital landscape was where the future lay. With the support of my second wife—who graduated from NYU School of Dentistry and had previously attended dental school in Brazil—Gizoom transformed into a digital consultancy, helping local businesses navigate and thrive online.
In 2008, leveraging our combined skills, we took over a struggling dental office in downtown Fairfield, Connecticut, and grew it into a $1.2 million-a-year business. Watching my wife grow into an incredible businessperson was truly inspiring. Despite some challenges, mostly related to employee issues, it was a gratifying experience.
2019: The Great Scottsdale Saga
In 2019, we decided to make a bold move. We sold the dental practice and nearly everything we owned—not because we love minimalism, but because who doesn’t enjoy selling their belongings at breakeven or at a loss? We packed our bags and moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, chasing a dream of life without snow shovels.
We opened a new dental office, only to discover that a global pandemic is not the best time to ask people to say “Ahh.” Both Gizoom and the dental practice took hits so deep, we found ourselves starting not from zero but from somewhere near the Earth’s core. On the bright side, we now know what magma looks like. If 2001 wasn’t bad enough, 2019 was its twin.
Along this wild ride, I’ve met some wonderful people and some who could star in their own villain origin stories. Trust became a game of “Where’s Waldo?” but with more frustration. Enter salespeople masquerading as marketers and 20-somethings pitching one-off ideas for the low, low price of $5,000+. It’s amazing how creative people get when selling you a dream—with a free set of steak knives if you act now! And don’t get me started on those peddling “legacy projects” like they’re offering the next best thing since sliced bread. Moving on before my sarcasm levels become unhealthy.
Today: Gizoom in 2024 – Heading Towards 2025
As we approach 2025, Gizoom is undergoing an exciting transformation—from a traditional agency into a comprehensive consulting firm. We’re not just dusting off the old playbook; we’re rewriting it with a mix of wisdom, wit, and a bit of wizardry. Think of us as Deloitte & Touche meets a stand-up comedy tour, offering top-tier consulting services with a modern twist and a personal touch that’s as refreshing as a cold drink on a hot day.
These days, armed with decades of experience—from overseeing corporate stores with revenues that made me count the zeros twice, to nurturing a $1 million dental practice and sculpting a million-dollar agency—I’m pretty much a walking, talking business simulator. With experience in over 70 categories of businesses, I’ve got enough tales to rival a long-running sitcom.
Sure, I might be missing a few details here and there. Some memories are crystal clear, some I’ve probably forgotten, and most just have me lying in bed at night, staring at the ceiling wondering, “What the heck was I thinking?” But hey, that’s all part of the fun.
Gizoom has evolved into more than just a consultancy; we’re your friendly neighborhood reality check for dreamers whose heads are in the clouds but whose feet need a little help finding the ground. We’ve become experts at identifying and solving the real issues that small to medium-sized businesses face—like figuring out why the printer only jams when you’re already running late.
Our mission isn’t just to inspire but to hand out actionable strategies like they’re free samples at a grocery store. And let’s be honest, it’s not easy. You will face challenges. The trick isn’t just to face them but to plan for them with a grin.
At Gizoom, we’re all about helping entrepreneurs navigate their journeys with practical insights gleaned from our own epic adventures—and yes, the amusing misadventures that make you think, “This should be a movie.” Whether you’re aiming to skyrocket your business, turbocharge your digital presence, or solve the mystery of why the coffee machine seems sentient, we’re here to guide you through the business maze with a grin and a reliable map.
So come along as we dive into this exciting new chapter, blending sky-high dreams with down-to-earth solutions. Let Gizoom be the GPS for your business aspirations, turning them into incredible successes—even if we have to occasionally say, “Hang tight, rerouting!” After all, every great journey includes a few unexpected detours. Don’t worry—we’ll be right by your side in the passenger seat, ready for whatever comes next.