Proforma Founder: If I Hadn’t Seen Such Riches …

I love the song “Sit Down” by James.

In the song there are two lines that in many ways define my life, “If I hadn’t seen such riches, I could live with being poor.”

Truth is, I grew up in a middle-class family. My father was a meat salesman, and my mother was a stay-at-home mom. Growing up, I had no idea about the lifestyle of wealthy people. I worked from 5th grade on. Shoveling snow. Mowing lawns. Janitor in my grade school. Home care worker for a paralyzed man. And more.

Fortunately, I lived in a town where people north of Clifton Boulevard, nearer to and on Lake Erie, had money. I mowed some of these folks’ lawns and shoveled their snow. That was my first glimpse at wealthy people.

In high school and college, I made friends with fellow students from wealthy families.

After graduating from college and starting Proforma within a few years, I was fortunate enough to join the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). This is where I made many friends with levels of wealth I did not know existed as a boy. Private jets. Yachts. Second and third homes. And much, much more.

The more I saw of what was possible in life, the more I wanted to achieve that lifestyle for myself and my family.

Truth is that without all the connections and friends I made as a young man I would not have known what was possible.

So, let me ask you, who are you connected with? Who are you friends with? That can help you see what’s possible. That can show you “such riches” that will change your life forever.