Driving through Golden Beach, Florida

Is it the school of hard knocks or real life business school?

There have been times when actions of extreme generosity with ideas, capital and concepts all in the name of success for a project or an idea have backfired - big time and I have lost so much more than money, precious time.

Projects and concepts that materialize from effort and collaborations are the sort of things that excite and stimulate my mind; along the way they have also been the source of good business school via the school of hard knocks. Recently I was reminded to work for myself.

“ Every Realtor has to have a niche, what’s yours?”

In my realtor life it seemed as if my niche is history, human stories, and a radio show. Following on a “what can I do today to make me happy?” hunch; I put on my investigative reporter-ish hat, put myself on assignment to discover the history of Sunny Isles Beach, Florida.

Taking advantage of a rare trip to the United States Post Office to purchase a stamp so that a letter could be mailed (how old school right?) I stopped by the Sunny Isles Beach government center (same building) with a thought to meet the city historian.

Smiles, friendliness, cleanliness, a public library, tourist information center and its well documented city history openly greet you making the air conditioning magically seem that much more refreshing – funny how some places can have that effect. After a few calls I was informed the city history would be down to meet me, (ha and I thought I would be making an appointment)

“It’s like honey on a hot buttered biscuit it’s that good”

My plan to make an appointment just turned into a fantastic opportunity when Mr. Richard Schulman, Historian kindly joins me at the lobby. After a long-winded sort of awkward introduction/admiration/neighborly endless handshaking moment he smiles and welcomes me to visit the city’s hall of history.

Now, New York knows New York so the Brooklyn/Long Island connection between us was quickly made but little did I know that Mr. Schulman, the retired banker turned historian would not only share a visual history tour via photos and metals and city proclamations but also share many similarities within my own personal Miami history.

Life is so amazing when you allow it to happen

As we walk through the history filled hallway I mentioned a video about the history of Sunny Isles Beach and commented to Mr. Schulman how well done it was made and how enjoyable it had been to watch. He created it. The first of our connections was made when I shared my television experience and he shared his, “…I was the first employee at channel …” and then we both are graduates of University of Miami’s School of Communications and there’s the Paul Nagel connection. Paul Nagel was one of the two favorite professors George Capewell is the other The “U”’s green and orange are on cover of the book on display “From Sandbar to Sophistication The Story of Sunny Isles Beach” there’s a special dedication page to Richard in the book.

Photos of barren landscaped Sunny Isles Beach of the 1920’s , 30’s, and later the development of the happening motels of the 50’s. We share a love for architecture and old Miami. Come to find out Richard and I are also Shenandoah Chiefs and MHS Stingaree alums. Richard and I had lived in the same Shenandoah neighborhood maybe several decades apart but went to the same junior high and high schools…woah… talk about old connections.

There is no doubt with all the heavy weight names involved in the glamorizing and mega developments of the modern day Sunny Isles Beach. The care and interest taken in Sunny Isles Beach is visible especially in the preservation of its history.