Every relationship has an origin story.

Wendy is my wife, my partner and the person who has probably shaped my life more than anyone else. We met through work in the education industry. We became friends first, and over time that friendship became a partnership in every sense of the word. It is one of the reasons I believe so strongly that the people you meet can change the direction of your life.

We are very different in all the ways that seem to matter—and somehow that is exactly what makes us work. Wendy is practical; I’m a dreamer. She lives in the details; I tend to see the big picture. She jokes that she is an “indoor cat” and I’m an “outdoor cat.” But underneath those differences, we share the things that matter most: family, food, travel, building a good life and continuing to pursue what is next.

From the beginning, Wendy has believed that when you have the right partner, almost anything becomes possible. That idea has shaped the life we have built together. We have been blessed with children and grandchildren, a peaceful and fulfilling home, the opportunity to work together and the freedom to keep chasing our dreams.

For me, Wendy is the clearest reminder that the right relationship does not limit who you are—it helps make more of who you are possible.

Richard McCulloch is one of those rare people you meet and somehow know early on that the relationship is going to become more than work. We first connected through the education industry more than 20 years ago, and over time I came to know Richard in a lot of different ways: as a fierce advocate for students, a talented marketer, a thoughtful leader and one of the most genuine connectors of people I have ever met. He has introduced me to countless people and opportunities over the years, never with an expectation of what might come back to him.

What started as a professional relationship became something much bigger. Richard and his wife Kathy became family, and through him I have had the privilege of getting to know his son, his sister and his father as part of our extended family too. Along the way there have been businesses, cigars, golf, travel, documentaries, plenty of conversations about New York and a lot of life in between. Richard is from the Bronx, so maybe our shared New York connection helped, but the truth is that some friendships simply grow beyond the circumstances that created them.

Today, I consider Richard my brother from another father.

He is one of the people I know truly has my back, and every conversation with him seems to leave me thinking about something differently. He is well read, insightful and generous with his perspective, and he has always encouraged me to pursue the things that matter to me.

Richard reminds me that some of the most important relationships in your life can begin as colleagues, clients or business partners. You just have to recognize when they have become something more.

Roly Rodriguez is one of the most creative people I know. As the founder and creative force behind Pink — The Pink Collective, Pink Studio Central and Pink Leadership Lab, he sees brands, business and opportunity through a different lens. He has a way of challenging the obvious, pushing you to think outside the box and reminding you that getting noticed sometimes starts with being willing to do something differently. Add style, talent and a shared appreciation for a good cigar, and there is rarely a shortage of things for us to talk about.

We met through a networking event with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. At the time, it was simply another introduction—one of those moments you could easily overlook. Instead, that introduction became a friendship, a trusted creative relationship and the beginning of many collaborations over the years. Roly has become someone whose perspective I value because he often sees the thing I haven’t seen yet.

That’s why I’ve learned not to underestimate an introduction. You don’t always know which relationships will become friendships, collaborations or something more when they first begin. Keeping my circle open has brought some incredible people into my life.

Roly is one of them.

Steve Nudelberg is one of the most respected people I know in sales and professional development. An entrepreneur, author, speaker and the driving force behind On the Ball, Steve has built his career around relationships, action and the idea that opportunities are created by consistently staying connected. I’m proud to be an On the Ball member, but even more grateful for the friendship we’ve built over the years.

Steve and I were both at Inc. magazine’s GrowCo Conference in New Orleans in 2013, but we didn’t meet there. We met at the airport afterward, both heading home. A simple conversation turned into staying in touch. Staying in touch became friendship. Over the years came plenty of cigars, ideas, introductions and eventually opportunities to do business together.

More than a decade later, the conversation is still going. Steve is a great example of why I believe you should never underestimate an introduction or assume you know where a relationship might lead. Sometimes the person who becomes an important part of your life isn’t someone you meet in the room you came to network in. Sometimes it happens on the way home.

The important thing is being open enough to start the conversation—and intentional enough to keep it going.

Omar McGee is one of those people who is always building something. An entrepreneur with interests that span luxury cigars, automotive, hospitality and entertainment, Omar has never been afraid to take a chance on an idea that interests him. I respect that. He puts himself out there, takes risks and keeps moving forward—but what stands out just as much is that he has remained humble, grounded and connected to his roots in Flint, Michigan. He is a family man, a generous friend and someone who understands that success means more when you bring others along with you.

I met Omar while traveling in Los Angeles near the airport with Richard McCulloch. Like so many of the relationships that have become important in my life, it started simply. Over the years, I’ve watched Omar continue to build new businesses, pursue new opportunities and expand his world without losing sight of who he is or where he came from. I’ve always admired that balance.

Our friendship has continued through the years, and I was proud to travel to Beverly Hills with my brother Wil to celebrate Omar’s 50th birthday. Watching a friend succeed is one of the great rewards of staying connected.

Omar reminds me that the people you meet can introduce you not only to new opportunities, but to new ways of thinking about what is possible. Sometimes the lesson is simply to take the chance, pursue the thing that excites you and stay grounded while you do it.

My introduction to Carlito Fuente Jr. and Manny Iriarte really begins with my friends Ana and Miguel Cuenca. I had already spent many days at Cuenca Cigars, where my appreciation for cigars grew into a deeper appreciation for the culture, craftsmanship and community around them. Through Ana and Miguel, I was introduced to Carlito at Havana Nights in 2015. That introduction opened the door to a world I had admired from the outside and gave me the opportunity to get to know people who have helped shape the cigar industry in remarkable ways.

Carlito made an impression on me almost immediately. He once said, “It’s not about the cigars, it’s about the people,” and over time I came to understand exactly what he meant. The next time we crossed paths, he remembered my name. It was a small gesture from someone whose name is known throughout the cigar world, but it stayed with me. Through Carlito, and later through Manny Iriarte and the world of The OpusX Society, I began to see cigars as something larger than the smoking experience itself. There was artistry, design, hospitality, luxury, entrepreneurship and an entire community surrounding it. A visit to Chateau de la Fuente in the Dominican Republic made that world even more tangible, and the beautiful OpusX Society humidor I was gifted still sits proudly in my home today.

Those relationships changed the way I looked at an interest I already loved. They showed me that something you enjoy personally can also become a source of creativity, connection and opportunity. That experience ultimately helped inspire the idea for CigarChops, a community and directory created to support and promote local cigar lounges and shops. Looking back, none of that was something I could have predicted when Ana and Miguel first brought me into the room. Maybe Carlito had it right from the beginning: it was never just about the cigars. It was about the people.