Founder’s Story
Call me your guide. Call me your teacher. Call me what you would like. I like to call myself your "Zeitguide," which means Guide to the Zeitgeist. Zeitgeist is a German word for the spirit of the times. It is my deep desire that my work inspires you to understand how our world is changing and what it means for YOU.
When I look back at how I got here, my career started perhaps when I was a kid. I taught myself how to learn and succeed in school against all odds. You see, in first grade, I was in the lowest reading group. The lowest math group. And at 18 years old, I graduated top of my class and went to a college deemed to be one of the best in the world, and also graduated top of my class.
How did I do that?
I had a deep curiosity not just about the subjects I was tested on, but also about myself, and how I can teach myself how to learn.
My curiosity also led me to my first personal endeavor: starting a tutoring business called Insta-Tutor.
I taught kids from all over the world, including young actors who needed to learn while they were on set. People called me the "Hollywood Tutor," so much so that one day I got a call from one of the most influential producers in the show business—Brian Grazer. He produced some of your favorite movies, like Academy Award-winning “A Beautiful Mind”, “8 Mile”, and “The Da Vinci Code”, and shows like “24”, “Parenthood”, and “Friday Night Lights”. He called me up one day and said, “I want you to be my tutor.” I was honored but perplexed. He was already one of the most successful people in Hollywood. Why would he want me to tutor him? It turned out, he wanted a tutor of culture: someone who would bring him fresh insights into what was happening outside of Hollywood so that he could produce movies that would resonate with his audience.
After five years of doing it, I started Zeitguide, so I could teach others about culture. I worked with artist Shepard Fairey and top executives for some of the most influential consumer brands like Disney, Unilever, and Airbnb. And now with my culture classes, anyone can learn from me.
I’m here to guide you through the chaos, the complexity, the uncertainty, and the constantly changing culture. I will help you find the signal in the noise; the zeitgeist, or the subjects of the day that will inspire you to stretch your worldview and uncover what REALLY matters. If you sometimes feel lost in the vast of culture or feel like you’re fumbling in the dark, this offer is for you. With my fast lane into culture, I will help you save time and enter the kind of focused state you need to design your best future.
I'm so grateful for your interest and the opportunity to guide you through this ever-changing world.