Ways to Develop Exceptional Individuals

Oh, yes. The keyboard still works. It’s been a while since I wrote anything. But, you know, it’s not like anyone’s holding their breath.

When I kicked off my writing journey back in 2013, I stumbled upon *Nobody Wants to Read Your Shit* by Stephen Pressfield. Really insightful stuff, but that’s not the main point here.

So, I wanted to give you a little update on a venture we started earlier this year called Exhibit A. To put it simply: it’s going well. We’ve been busy, and, well, if you’re interested in collaborating, feel free to reach out directly.

This week, I caught Barry Diller on Patrick’s podcast—definitely worth a listen. Patrick asked about the impressive people we’ve seen achieve remarkable things, like Michael Eisner and Jeffrey Katzenberg. Diller’s response was memorable.

“Give people more responsibility than they are entitled to.” I hit pause and took a note. It resonated with me.

I really appreciate people who come into my field without loads of experience or preconceived notions. There’s something special about exposing people to bigger roles than they think they’re ready for. If a space like that existed, we’d attract some seriously talented individuals.

Barry and Josh have done this for me all through my career. Honestly, I’m grateful to be on the receiving end of it now. Matt Ceminaro represents that spirit at Exhibit A. In February 2024, he sent an email to one of RWM’s staff, with a subject line that read, “If I showed this to Michael, it would mean the world. Thank you!”

Opening that email, I could practically feel his excitement leaping off the screen.

Dear Michael,

These notes can be read in 2-3 minutes; that’s all I’m asking. Appreciate your time.

I’ve been a fan of Animal Spirits and TCAF since my junior year in college. Your discussions with Josh and Ben were in heavy rotation during my drives. I think I’ve listened to nearly every TCAF episode and about 70% of Animal Spirits.

In December 2021, Tom Lee was a guest on your podcast. I reached out afterward, and he hired me while I was still in school. That episode genuinely changed the course of my life.

He sent over 13 charts, all formatted similarly.

I’ve shared more about this story before, if you’re interested. The bigger picture is that Matt has been leading Exhibit A for about nine months now, and let’s just say he’s been making a real splash—think Michael Phelps, but, you know, not weird.

Exhibit A is a fantastic resource, helping hundreds of advisors speed up their sales processes and communicate effectively.

There are currently 140 charts, and we add new ones every week. Here are the final six charts that will appear on the platform each Friday morning—I’ve simplified it for easy copying.

We are truly thankful to our early adopters. One of the perks of being a smaller company is our ability to collaborate directly with our clients and genuinely enhance their businesses. This daily interaction helps us grow the platform, and it’s something we won’t ever let go of. It’s part of who we are.

Matt and our team—Eric, Aram, and Jacob—are building something truly remarkable from the ground up. And it’s working. I’m excited for what lies ahead.

*I might be misremembering; that book was published in 2016.