Who's Craig Garber
Fun Stuff Outside of Work
I'm originally from New York City and have been living in Florida since 1989. I live in Tampa with my wife of 33+ years, and what is almost certainly too many rescue cats.
For a lot of those years, work came first. Over time, I realized success without a life outside of work and without more time together wasn’t a win. So now I make sure our lives come first, work after that.
We have 3 adult children, and besides spending time with my wife, I love playing guitar, working out, listening to music, and traveling. I also enjoy street photography, meeting new people, interesting conversations, good coffee, a good cigar, and the occasional whiskey.
When I tell you I live in gratitude, I don't mean that in a new-agey "woo woo" way. Far from it, actually. The truth is, considering where I started, and where I am today... I feel incredibly fortunate.
I’ve been lucky enough to overcome a ton of obstacles and build a life I genuinely enjoy. I've spent over three decades with a woman I love... raised three adult children, all of whom, thankfully, still talk to me... and I still wake up excited about what’s next.
That’s what I mean when I say I’m grateful.
Business is important. So is everything else.
Bryant Park Holiday Market
Lessons, Wins & Mistakes
I started working at 14, and never looked back...
After college, I started my career as a "Big 8" CPA, auditing Fortune 500 companies, S & L's, and manufacturing companies. From there, I spent several years in sales before spending nearly two decades as a direct-response copywriter and marketing strategy consultant, working with over 300 clients across 120+ industries. Over time, this evolved into the work I do today.
Along the way, I ran an estate & financial planning practice... owned and operated several businesses, including e-commerce (vitamins, supplements, skin care, merch) & publishing... spent years in real estate wholesaling, and made more than my fair share of mistakes.
One of the most meaningful experiences of my life was interviewing 950 musicians, producers & engineers over seven years, as the host of a podcast I ran, called Everyone Loves Guitar. From major international touring artists to incredible session players most people have never heard of... these conversations were never really about music or gear. They were about people's lives, creativity, work, relationships, decision-making... overcoming addiction, trauma, difficult childhoods and countless other challenges… and the unusual paths people take to build meaningful lives and careers.
When people ask where my perspective comes from, it’s a combination of everything: Resilience and lessons learned from a challenging childhood... decades of business experience... thousands of conversations... a lifelong curiosity about people and their journey... being open to possibilities... and an ongoing effort to understand why some things work and others don’t.
Also, making mistakes. I think paying tuition in the form of mistakes is ultimately one of the best teachers - as long as you're open and honest with yourself about what's going on. And the truth is, I've always been brutally honest with myself.
If you want to get a sense for how I think and how I approach conversations, feel free to listen to a few interviews from my Everyone Loves Guitar podcast that I particularly enjoyed:
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Ian Paice (Deep Purple) - A masterclass in humility from one of the most accomplished drummers in the history of rock and roll
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Jeff Carlisi (38 Special) - An incredible four-hour conversation about life, music, and reinvention. EVERYONE wants 38 Special to get into the RnR Hall of Fame - apparently... except the RnR HoF
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Al Berry - One of the most honest and inspiring conversations I’ve ever had. The grace this man maintained in what anyone would consider one of the most difficult points in a life, still gives me chills
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Beth Hart - A remarkable discussion about creativity, struggle, mental illness, and resilience
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Amy Ray (Indigo Girls) - An honest conversation about identity, conviction, creativity, and staying true to yourself
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Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad) - Truly one of the most unbelievable stories I've heard about a band getting screwed by the record company
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Andy Summers (The Police) - Yes, he really does dislike Sting, and for good reasons
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Matt Bissonette (Elton John, Joe Satriani, David Lee Roth) - A conversation that unexpectedly opened the door to faith for me
Some things changed. Others didn't.
(Let's just say one of those changes involved a razor!)
Hard work lets you build. Having fun sets you free.
Why I Enjoy Doing This
I enjoy this work for a few simple reasons:
First, I get to spend time with intelligent, hard-working people. My clients introduce me to new industries, new business models, and new ways of thinking. I’ve always been a curious person, and learning has always been what keeps me engaged and excited about life.
Second, I genuinely enjoy talking with other business owners and founders. Not because business owners are better than anyone else, but because they’ve chosen a path that most people wouldn’t want. Building a business is difficult. It requires responsibility, decision-making, risk-taking, and resilience. And I’ve always felt at home around people like that, even before I was able to articulate this.
Third, I got into this business because this is how my brain naturally thinks. I'm lucky to have both left and right brain strengths. I feel things deeply, yet I'm also analytical, and naturally drawn to recognizing patterns.
This is what I'm doing anyway when I connect with people and listen to what they're telling me. In both professional and personal situations. I'm listening and connecting the dots, and understanding "why" they connect.
I LIKE solving problems and being able to communicate back and forth in a thoughtful and accurate manner. And I've been extremely fortunate to have had a lot of experiences in business and in life - and to have paid a LOT of attention to lessons learned along the way.
Finally, I’ve experienced the cost of friction, and how it exhausts you, both in business, and in your personal life. And I’ve also experienced the benefits of removing it. Helping someone identify what’s getting in the way, making a better decision, reducing unnecessary stress, and moving forward... is deeply rewarding to me.
Over time, I’ve learned that success isn’t just about growth. It’s also about creating a business and a life you actually enjoy living.
That’s something I care about, and it’s one of the reasons I enjoy helping others do the same.
Let's Stay in Touch
Occasional emails on making better business decisions, reducing friction, and having a business that's easier to run