When all is said and done, perhaps I’ll write a book – of the trials and tribulations of my incredibly diverse, interesting, and ever-changing career path. I truly believe it would be great reading, particularly if I “let loose” and tell some of the real, behind-the-scenes stories.
After getting through the requisite “entry-level” Wall Street positions – in compliance; bond brokerage – at Cantor Fitzgerald on the 105th floor of WTC South Tower, which would provide enough material for its own book; and the buyside, as a hedge fund analyst/trader; my real career started, coincident with obtaining the CFA designation - as an oilfield service, equipment, and drilling sell-side analyst.
Including my time on the buyside – where I was initiated to the oil service sector - I spent nine years living and breathing oil and gas. However, by the time I left Salomon Smith Barney in 2005, my heart – and investment portfolio – was fully immersed in Precious Metals, where I was already a well-known commentator in the alternative media, outside my SSB “day job.”
From 2006 through 2010, I worked as an investor relations officer and consultant to the junior mining industry. Mostly Precious Metal companies, but also three-years as VP of IR for a base metal exploration company. That, too, would provide fodder for great material – most of it, the horrors I was exposed to…nearly all of which, ended in tears. Thankfully, I saw the writing on the wall in 2011 – crying “uncle” on my mining stock investments, and leaving the mining industry to become Marketing Director of Miles Franklin Precious Metals. Which, in hindsight, was another sinkhole of misery, that lasted for six long years.
THANKFULLY, I discovered Bitcoin in late 2013 – which could not have occurred, had I not been in the bullion industry. My experience with Mt Gox, where I earned my “OG” status, was horrible - but my interest in Bitcoin continued, until I finally decided to invest heavily in January 2016, at roughly $425. As my Precious Metal interest waned, my Bitcoin interest – and to the chagrin of my employers, commentaries – waxed…yielding my inevitable departure from the firm, under very unpleasant circumstances, in August 2017.
At the time, I felt lost and scared; as frankly, I had never been in such a position before - where it was difficult to determine my next career move. For some time, I believed I could make it on my own selling blog subscriptions – and with Bitcoin taking off, it seemed the perfect time to try. I was in the process of selling my silver for Bitcoin, but still believed strongly in gold - as a complement to Bitcoin, which I increasingly believed to be the future of money. Hence, the website’s name, CryptoGoldCentral.com. Five months later, I had sold all my gold, too – for Bitcoin; but the name stands, as fortunately, “gold” is as synonymous with quality as it is with money.
The very day CGC was launched – September 10th, 2017 - the Chinese government banned cryptocurrency exchanges, causing the price to plunge from roughly $4,000 to $3,000. Fortunately, I had Charlie Lee scheduled for my first 1-on-1 podcast – which at the time, was still on the CGC YouTube channel; but it was unquestionably, a scary, ignominious start to my business. Things rapidly reversed, and three months later, Bitcoin was hitting $20,000 whilst my business was skyrocketing. What a crazy start, to my first foray into private business ownership!
Then, the bear market hit. Believe me, I’m no stranger to misery, stress, and lowlights, having worked through multiple bear markets – both broadly (2000-02, 2008-09) and specific to the oil, mining, and bullion markets. However, my Bitcoin (and crypto-dividend) profits; and growing presence on the World Crypto Network; made the situation far more palatable.
It hasn’t been easy – and since launching CGC, I’ve been forced to make several major adjustments to my business model. Some have been very profitable; and others, yet-to-be-determined. However, unquestionably the experience has been a VERY positive one, and I couldn’t be more pleased with how things are going.
In the big picture, Bitcoin has “saved” me in myriad ways – one of them being, the ability to work for myself, through thick and thin. And of course, to meet so many interesting people – cumulatively, the polar opposite of what I experienced in 25+ years in the legacy financial markets. Thank you all for your support - and I look forward to being your “colleague” for years to come, in the fight to establish Bitcoin’s global dominance!