Accepting What Is: The Art of Loving Fate
Character Is Fate: Building a Life That Deserves Its Place
“Each person acquires their own character, but their official roles are designated by chance. You should invite some to your table because they are deserving, others because they may come to deserve it.”— Seneca, Moral Letters, 47.15b In today’s world, success often...
“To Offend a Strong Man, Tell Him a Lie. To Offend a Weak Man, Tell Him the Truth.”
Commonly attributed to Marcus Aurelius. Whether or not the exact phrasing appears in Meditations, the idea is undeniably Stoic: strength is measured by our relationship to reality; weakness by our avoidance of it. We live in an age that confuses volume for strength....
The Working Tools of the First Three Degrees (Preston-Webb): A Deep Dive in Symbol & Practice
Freemasonry borrows the instruments of operative builders to teach the inner craft of building a life. In the Preston-Webb (American) system, the first three degrees present a compact but complete toolchest: the Twenty-four-Inch Gauge and Common Gavel (Entered...
The Mindful Negotiator: Using Presence to Create Better Outcomes
Deals don’t fall apart because the math is wrong; they fall apart because <strong">people feel unseen, rushed, or threatened. Mindfulness—practical, trainable presence—turns tense back-and-forth into collaborative problem-solving. This isn’t crystals and...
SOLACHAN 2025: What L.A.’s New Housing Report Means for Buyers, Sellers, and Builders
Los Angeles just got a fresh, data-rich snapshot of its housing reality: the State of Los Angeles County Housing and Neighborhoods (SOLACHAN) 2025. Compiled by USC’s Neighborhood Data for Social Change, it pulls together the big trends—population shifts, supply,...
Sustainable Building Materials That Actually Save Money Long-Term
Most “green upgrades” get dismissed as feel-good extras. In reality, the right materials cut your utility bills, maintenance cycles, insurance risk, and replacement costs—and make the building more durable and comfortable. Below is a practical, contractor-tested...
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...