When to Pivot vs. When to Persevere: A Framework for Tough Decisions
Entrepreneurship is a constant balancing act between vision and adaptability.One of the hardest choices you’ll face is whether to stay the course or change direction. Pivot too soon and you might abandon a winning idea before it matures; persevere too long and you...
From Wildfire to Rebuild: Navigating the Phase One Entitlement Process in Los Angeles
When disaster strikes—like the devastating Pacific Palisades fire earlier this year—many homeowners face an overwhelming reality: rebuilding isn’t as simple as hiring a contractor and breaking ground. Before a single nail is hammered, there’s an essential, often...
Getting in the Way: When We Become Obstacles to Our Own Light
By Worshipful Armen Mardirousi, Past Master Brethren, We gather in our lodges seeking light, yet too often we cast shadows. We profess to work upon our rough ashlars, yet our unfinished edges cut those who labor beside us. This month, I ask you to engage in an...
The Triple Crown of Manhood: Being a Man, a Husband, and a Father
We live in a time when the role of men is being redefined, challenged, and in some cases, altogether dismissed. The world often tells us masculinity is dangerous, that fatherhood is optional, and that traditional values are outdated. But I believe, now more than ever,...
The Authenticity Paradox: Navigating Personal Branding Through the Masonic Lens
In a world obsessed with personal branding, authenticity has become the ultimate buzzword. We’re told to be “our true selves,” to “show up authentically,” and to “build a brand that reflects who we really are.” But here's the paradox: the moment we consciously brand...
The Mirror of Friendship: Reflections on Authenticity
Sometimes the greatest lessons about integrity come not from our enemies, but from watching those we trust navigate their own moral contradictions. There's a peculiar kind of education that happens in midlife—one that arrives not through books or formal instruction,...
Rebuilding After the 2025 Pacific Palisades Fire
When disaster strikes, the real test isn't surviving the crisis—it's navigating the complex journey back to what was lost. The 2025 Pacific Palisades Fire stands as one of the most devastating wildfires in Los Angeles history, destroying over 6,800 structures and...
The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Morning Sadhana: Starting Your Day with Purpose
The quality of your morning determines the quality of your entire day. For the entrepreneur, this isn't just philosophy—it's strategic advantage. In the relentless pace of entrepreneurial life, where every moment seems to demand immediate action and every notification...
The Unspoken Eulogy
I sit in the back pew, watching tearful children approach the podium. Their voices crack as they share stories of Sunday morning pancakes, bedtime stories that stretched past midnight, and the way their grandfather's eyes lit up when they scored their first goal. They...
Building Multiple Revenue Streams Without Losing Focus
The art of diversification lies not in chasing every opportunity, but in creating synergistic streams that amplify each other's success. After nearly three decades of building businesses across real estate, technology, and construction, I've learned that the key to...
The American Rite: Our Masonic Heritage Explained
By Armen Mardirousi, PM Have you ever wondered why our ritual feels distinctly "American" compared to our English or Scottish counterparts? Or perhaps you've heard the term "Preston-Webb Work" tossed around and wondered what it means? Well, grab your favorite beverage...
The Brotherhood of Man and the Manhood of the Brother
By Armen Mardirousi, PM In the sacred halls of our lodge, we gather as brothers united not by blood, but by bonds far stronger—those forged through shared ideals, mutual respect, and the common pursuit of light. The phrase "Brotherhood of Man and the Manhood of the...
Building Civilizations in Our Minds: The Proper Utilization of Masonic Tools
By Armen Mardirousi, PM In the sacred chambers of our Lodge, we are taught that the working tools of Masonry are not merely physical implements, but profound symbols designed to shape the intangible temple of our character. As we labor in the quarries of our daily...
Why the Best Real Estate Deals Never Hit the Market (And How to Find Them)
by Armen Mardirousi The phone call came at 7:30 PM on a Tuesday. "Armen, I know this sounds crazy, but I need to sell my duplex in Silver Lake within two weeks. My daughter got into Stanford, and I need the down payment for a house near campus. Can you help?" Three...
Why Most Small Business Marketing Fails (And How to Fix It)
by Armen Mardirousi Here's a harsh reality: 90% of small business marketing doesn't work. Not because the business owners aren't smart, not because they don't care, and definitely not because they aren't working hard enough. It fails because they're playing a game...
Breath of Fire for Business Leaders: Ancient Techniques for Modern Stress
by Armen Mardirousi It's 2 AM, and you're lying in bed with your mind racing through tomorrow's board meeting, the quarterly projections that don't add up, and that difficult conversation you need to have with your biggest client. Your heart is pounding, your jaw is...
Permit Navigation in Los Angeles: A Contractor’s Guide to Avoiding Delays
by Armen Mardirousi If you've ever tried to get a construction permit in Los Angeles, you know the feeling: you walk into the Department of Building and Safety with what you think is a simple project, and three hours later, you're holding a stack of correction notices...
The 90-Day Rule: Why Most Business Ideas Fail Before They Start
by Armen Mardirousi Here's a harsh truth: that brilliant business idea you had in the shower last week? It's probably going to die within 90 days. Not because it's a bad idea, but because you're going to kill it with the same enthusiasm that birthed it. After nearly...