True to Yourself

Preface

In the fall of 1988, when I was thirty-seven, the first part of my adult work life ended. I left my job at Harvard Business School to build a business that reflected my values. I did have some practical experience. Before I became a professor, I had worked with my father selling real estate.

Dad began his career working with his father in their chemical products company. After many ups and downs, the business failed. So in the summer of 1967, Dad and I went to work for Gulf American Real Estate Corporation, selling undeveloped property in Florida to New Englanders.

Bankrupt and unable to get a bank loan, Dad also sold insurance to pay the bills for his family of six. The following year, he used our real estate commissions to buy options ...