A full zodiac later: reconnecting with an old friend

Twelve years passed like a week.

Friday night I was transported back through the hallowed halls of the Rice Business school, I stepped back in time—back to when I was dreaming about what life would look like after B-school.

For those who don’t know, this is my great friend Jennifer Soliman.

We met in 2011 when we both embarked on the pursuit of our MBA.

An entire zodiac cycle has passed since we last spoke face-to-face.

So much has changed, yet twelve years later, we still find ourselves asking the same question:

Now what?

It was a breakfast with Jennifer and her husband all those years ago that nudged my journey.

I can still recall the conversation.

I’ve written before about Sam—how he was instrumental in helping me see my natural talents.

That breakfast changed my trajectory, and for that, I’m forever grateful.

Friday’s conversation was no different—a spaghetti conversation as Jennifer called it.

AI, faith, life, and ambition—we tried to unpack twelve years in just two hours.

But what stuck with me most was the Now What?

Ambition is a double-edged sword—driven people tend to hyper-focus on accomplishments.

I’ve been guilty of that.

Looking back, my path is littered with the burned remnants of people and things I consumed to reach where I am today.

Now what?

What will the next turn of the zodiac reveal?

Maybe the fire inside has tamed a little.

I no longer feel the need to chase titles or be the CEO of a public company.

But one thing I know for certain—this next chapter will have more time carved out for friends and family.

Friday night was a reminder of what making connections is all about.

The journey we are on is only made fuller and more rewarding when we share it with others.

We become better versions of ourselves when we allow others to enter into our selfish little worlds and share stories, share life.

Friday night was a reminder that maybe I should not waste the most precious of gifts, time.

It would be awesome to dream that I will be given 6 or 7 more turns on the zodiac wheel.

But I know the reality of what that means, the number of people that were there in the earlier cycles will no longer be around.

Our stories really matter to our friends, this journey is meant to be shared with our friends.

Because in the end, that’s all that truly matters.

PS: Your real fiends will understand, take a moment to say hello, even if its been 12 years.