Name: Gary Michael Smith
Age: 45
Title: Senior Partner at SMITH PAKNEJAD PLC
Married/Single: Married
Kids: None (but 2 happy housecats)
Live: Phoenix
I was born…
in New York City.
My favorite thing about Arizona…
is the lifestyle (try New York City sometime…yikes)
I’m listening to…
Mulatu Astatke, Led Zeppelin, Derek Trucks, and Genesis (the Peter Gabriel years, not that Phil Collins fluff).
My family…
is my primary source of inspiration. I am the third generation of my family in the US, and the first to complete college and graduate school. My grandfather came here through Ellis Island with nothing. He worked long hours at menial jobs, but was able to raise a family of four children in the suburbs of New York City. No matter how hard my life seems at times, I know it cannot possibly compare with his experiences.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…
Carl Sagan, Mohandes Gandhi, Elvis Presley, Philip Pullman, Robert Oppenheimer, Bill Maher, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Martin Luther King, and the entire ensemble of Monty Python.
One thing I cannot live without…
warm human interaction…and oxygen.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
a famous archeologist/ninja.
I’m inspired by…
the Buddha.
The one person who motivates me is…
everyone motivates me in their own way.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…
making cold fusion a reality.
The perfect day would be…
with my wife accompanying me: an extra hour of sleep, followed by a light breakfast, a well-performed yoga class, some quiet recovery time under a shady tree staring at clouds while sipping an icy glass of pineapple juice, reading a few chapters of a good book, and a long slow dinner in a dimly lit room filled with great conversation.
My first job was…
delivering newspapers at age 12.
My favorite escape…
this is a 3 way tie between my guitar, my Xbox, and yoga.
My life…
is in a perpetual state of evolution.
I’m currently working on…
the second edition of my book.
Always…
be compassionate.
Never…
Favorite Quote…
“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
Biggest Dream…
to be a well-respected author.
My Pet Peeve(s)…
people who eat audibly.
