Q1: What inspired you to start your entrepreneurial journey?

A: It all kicked off with this restless urge I couldn’t shake—I just had to build something of my own and make a dent in the world. One night, while everyone else was asleep, I was wide awake, my mind buzzing like crazy. The name “Wave2Wave” hit me like a rogue wave, flooding my thoughts with meaning and potential. It wasn’t just a name; it was my vision, nagging at me until I couldn’t stand it anymore—I had to make it real, and that’s how my entrepreneurial ride started.

Q2: How did you come up with the idea for your first business or project?

A: I wasn’t even sure what I’d do—no product, no tech, just a spark and a name. I started telling friends about my new business, Wave2Wave, and they’d hit me with, “So, what do you sell?” Fair question, right? Undeterred, I hit the road, traveling to meet old customers with a PowerPoint I barely used. One meeting stood out: a customer surprised me by saying he loved it—not because of my pitch, but because I let him talk. He poured out his problems, frustrations no one else bothered to hear, and I listened. That’s when it clicked—maybe Wave2Wave wasn’t about selling something; it was about connecting, listening, and solving what others ignored.

Q3: What was the biggest challenge you faced when you were just starting out?

A: I don’t think I faced any massive challenges right at the start—it was more about figuring things out as I went. But here’s a glimpse of what my infant company looked like back then: my first customer payment was a check for $500 and change. For a split second, I thought, “I should frame this and hang it on the wall!” Then reality kicked in—I made a copy to hang up instead and rushed to deposit the original for cash flow. That’s the life of a startup—celebrating the wins but keeping the wheels turning.

Q4: Can you share a moment when you thought about giving up—and what kept you going?

A: Believe it or not, I’ve never once thought about giving up or felt like anything was too hard. It’s like there are always problems in front of me, and I’ve just been solving them one by one, making progress every step of the way. For me, it’s not about hitting a wall—it’s about seeing a puzzle and figuring it out.

Q5: What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as an entrepreneur so far?

A: Listening, period. It’s made my life so much easier. I ask questions, then shut up and listen—it’s like a crash course from customers and others every time. I’ve learned tons this way, and it’s even scored me some great friendships along the ride.

Q6: How do you handle failure or setbacks in your business?

A: Losing a deal is never easy, but I’ve come to see it as probably the best learning opportunity throughout my journey. Setbacks are valuable for two big reasons: 1) they get me thinking about how I can do better next time, and 2) they push me to grow emotionally, to look at things objectively and take setbacks as chances for learning and growth. It’s never a breeze, but it’s so worth it to keep moving forward instead of stopping.

Q7: What’s one decision you made that completely changed the direction of your venture?

A: Acquiring a company in Israel during the war in 2014 was a game-changer. I flew into Tel Aviv for the first time, fully aware it was a country at war, and that alone was a leap. But walking the Old City of Jerusalem during that trip—it did something to me. It connected my physical, mental, and spiritual sides in a way I hadn’t expected. I still feel it—just last week, I walked the Old City again, and it recharged me like nothing else. That acquisition has not only shifted my business; but also it reshaped how I approach everything.

Q8: Who has been your biggest supporter or mentor along the way?

A: God, hands down—and all the people who’ve shown me the little things pointing to Him. It’s like every step of the way, I’ve seen these signs in the details, through the folks around me, guiding and lifting me up.

Q9: What’s the funniest or most unexpected thing that’s happened to you as an entrepreneur?

A: I can’t pinpoint a funniest moment—maybe because I don’t dwell on funny stuff, or maybe because I’ve always got this optimistic streak and positive energy around me. But the most unexpected thing? That’s gotta be me starting to write song lyrics on my birthday at the beginning of 2024. I just picked it up out of nowhere, and I’ve been writing ever since—it’s like a whole new side of me opened up.

Q10: How do you balance your work and personal life—or do you?

A: My work and life have been pretty balanced for a long time now, though I’ll admit it leaned way more toward work in the early days. I think what drives both is key—when the driving force is one thing, balance just happens. For me, it’s all about the meaning behind what I do, whether I’m at work or off the clock.

Q11: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about running a business?

A: “Give yourself credit.” I move so fast, I rarely stop to celebrate or take a break—I’d even forget my jacket on the back of a chair at a restaurant if I wasn’t careful, and yeah, that’s happened plenty of times. One of my advisors said to me once, “Give yourself a lot of credit for what you’ve done.” But he didn’t stop there—he added that it’s just as important, maybe more, to give the people working for me the credit they deserve too. That stuck with me—it’s about recognizing the journey, mine and theirs.

Q12: How do you stay motivated when things get tough?

A: When things get tough, I actually get motivated pretty easily—I love a good challenge. The trickier part for me is when the goal isn’t clear; that’s when I put in more time and effort. There’ve been moments where I’ve had to stop and ask myself, “Why am I still doing this?” And honestly, that question’s a perfect segue—it snaps me back on track, recharges my energy, and keeps me going. I think we all need to ask ourselves that more often, no matter what we do.

Q13: What’s one tool, habit, or routine that’s been a game-changer for your productivity?

A: Cold showers. I’ve been doing them for three years now, but it’s not just the cold water itself—it’s what it represents. It was one of the first changes I made to improve myself, and I talk about it every chance I get. It’s become this social thing, a way to connect, and it keeps reinforcing that I’m doing something good for myself. That little habit, and the process of sticking with it, has sparked a bunch of other helpful habits—together, they’ve made my life wonderful, and I feel it every single day.

Q14: Can you tell us about a time you took a big risk that paid off?

A: Starting Wave2Wave with a bootstrap approach and acquiring a company in Israel during the 2014 war—those were some obvious risks most people wouldn’t touch. But “paid off” for me isn’t about the financials, though that’s nice. It’s about two things: 1) how much I’ve grown as a person, getting to navigate all kinds of wild situations, and 2) how many people I’ve connected with along the way. That connection—that’s my biggest payoff, hands down, and it keeps paying dividends forever.

Q15: What’s something you wish you’d known before becoming an entrepreneur?

A: Nothing, really. I’ve been talking to people about the steps from A to Z, and I love quizzing them: “How many letters are between A and Z, and which one’s the most important?” The answer’s B. Taking that first step is the hardest thing for most people, but I just went for it. I didn’t need to know more—I just needed to start.

Q16: How do you deal with competition in your industry?

A: I don’t worry about them or fight against them—I talk to them when I can. I get to know the people there, and along the way, I’ve made friends with so-called “competitors.” Some even turned into partners. Looking back, it’s had two big effects: 1) I don’t waste energy on unproductive stuff—I focus on building my own company, and moving faster is my best strategy; 2) it’s given me a wider vision and a more open perspective, which is a massive competitive edge all on its own.

Q17: What’s the proudest moment you’ve had in your entrepreneurial career?

A: It didn’t feel like a single “moment” at the time, but it’s something my team and I talk about all the time now—our first deployment of 30 ROME units in India. It was our very first go, and it was massive. We knew going in we’d hit a ton of problems, and boy, did we ever. Up to 13 people from our global team were in and out over three grueling weeks. We got one Saturday off and one evening at a bar in Bangalore—otherwise, it was 18-hour days, every single day. We pulled it off, finished the project successfully, and walked out of the customer site with smiles, hitting the airport just past midnight—no lunch or dinner that day. Then, right after security, we turned a corner and saw a Chinese restaurant. That midnight feast? Pure victory.

Q18: How do you come up with new ideas or innovate in your business?

A: It boils down to three things: 1) I always demand better—the status quo just doesn’t sit right with me; 2) we take on tough problems to solve, often starting with arguments or brainstorming sessions where we don’t have the answers yet; 3) I step back to see the bigger picture—are we really solving the problem from the customer’s standpoint? Lately, I’ve been locked into this mode, and it’s helped us pivot big-time into today’s AI and robotics era. Stay tuned—we’ve got some major stuff on the horizon!

Q19: What’s one mistake you made that turned into a surprising opportunity?

A: I’ve made plenty of mistakes, I’m sure—but I wouldn’t call anything a mistake. To me, they’re all stepping stones. I’ve done things without knowing why, just following my gut, and later they connect to something bigger. Over my 20-year entrepreneurial career, so many of those moves have led me to God. Whatever I do, I see a bigger plan at work, piecing it all together.

Q20: Where do you see yourself and your business in the next five years?

A: Wow, it’s super exciting—and I’m just thrilled to be this excitable, which is a pure blessing. We started as a hardware company, tackling a problem no analyst even bothered to cover. People used to say we had a solution without a problem, but I saw it as a tough nut no one wanted to crack. The timing’s perfect now—the AI and robotics era is here, and with 10 years and hundreds of customers’ experiences under our belt, we’re in the sweet spot. FiberSmart’s ready to rock and roll—big things are coming, so stay tuned!