There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t get multiple inquiries through my social media channels. Some actually valid that are genuinely interested in our products and services while many others that I consider disingenuous. Here are a few examples of recent contacts and my serious or humorous responses: Social Media Contact: “Hi Chad! We’ve been connected for some time. Just checked out your profile. Very cool stuff. When you say “cyber strategist” what do you mean exactly?”...

I was chatting with a client of mine today and we reflected on some of the most successful pillars of our lives. Here are five of mine: Family: It is the fuel that keeps me humming and thriving. Whether a deep discussion or a romantic dinner with my wife, playing with my grandkids and witnessing the miracle of their development, it is one of the profound pillars of my life. Business: I love the challenges and rewards of running my...

2019 has passed and here we are starting 2020 as a new year. It will probably take me a few months to put the correct year on the checks that I write; (yes, I still do write a few checks from time to time), and take a second longer to scroll down to my birth year on every online form I fill out. I look back with some sadness at the losses this past year; my dear father, Tzvi, my...

Tucked away under the Cleveland bridges and highway overpasses live the lost and forgotten. Last week, on Christmas day, we met men and women such as Hector in his flimsy tent, Dopar from Sudan, William from Cleveland’s east side, living on the streets since age 12, Rico, a delusional felon and countless others who survive the harsh winters on the streets and in shelters. 80% addicted to deadly street drugs with no way out. Many are fathers, brothers, uncles and...

December 24, 2019. An average day in the Barr household, dreary grey skies with misty fog, and an early start on the pickleball court. The recreation center was not at its usual bustling capacity this morning, though the young basketball hopefuls were out in force on the courts practicing dribbling and shooting on a full court press. We stopped at a nearly empty FedEx on the way home at 11 am, and the roads were already starting to be thick...

As I am getting ready to wrap up another year and get ready to launch the next year, I like reflecting on some of my key learning: January: Reflect often on where you’ve been, where are you going and what action must you take. Identify the exciting and valuable projects you are working on and pinpoint their critical path from ideation to fruition. Share the insights and successes gained from working with your clients. February: Life is fragile. Hug your...

Our grandchildren visited us recently at the same time the movie Frozen 2 opened. They insisted on being the first to see it and they, along with hundreds of other kids, waited in line for a viewing on opening day. The reviews were spectacular along with the new music, but they couldn’t forget the original song, Let It Go. As this year draws to an end and we begin looking ahead to 2020, I began taking inventory of my accomplishments...

As I reflect each year on all the innovation that took place, I am in awe of the amazing new thinkers and creations the world reveals each year. Here are my predictions for this upcoming year and some critical questions I share with you to contemplate: Mobile devices will further increase in their popularity and practical use. What new functions should you release next year that leverage these mobile devices? Social interactions will advance to a higher level while opening...

I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.(Henry David Thoreau) As I look around my office, my home, my community and business sphere, I stop to take notice and am filled with gratitude. It’s almost unimaginable that 44 years ago when I arrived here with $200 in my pocket that I would be enjoying the life that I have worked hard to create in a country that has offered so much opportunity. Thanksgiving is truly...

Many Americans and perhaps others around the world, have spent at least a few minutes watching the live testimony of the impeachment inquiry this week. While researching a topic for this newsletter, I discovered that on this day, November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg address on the battlefield near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. As a naturalized citizen, I had never read this short speech, 271 words to be exact, one that Lincoln delivered in just 2 minutes. In its...