After the death of my wife, Dr. Robin Carter, in late 2014, something deep inside me shifted. It began as a whisper, then grew into a steady voice: it was time to keep moving forward. Like the words of Lord Tennyson in Ulysses, I felt the urgency to live fully, not to “rust unburnished” but to shine in use.

I didn’t write this memoir for applause or profit. I wrote it to retrace a journey—a decades-long pursuit of meaning, across continents, cultures, and moments of chaos and clarity. Power tells the story not only of where I went, but of who I became in the process.

I started out a “nobody from New Jersey,” shaped by military service and the grit of New York City. A chance opportunity in the heart device industry launched my career, first in the Big Apple, then to Southern California, and eventually across the Pacific. Australia opened the door to Asia, and Asia opened the door to transformation. In the crowded cities, sterile operating rooms, and countless hospital corridors, I found not just work, but purpose—and success.

Asia gave me more than business—it gave me identity. I built lasting relationships, learned to navigate unfamiliar terrain, and earned the trust of leaders in the cardiac world. Along the way, with the help of an extraordinary partner, I launched APEX, a newsletter that shared the untold stories of the heart surgeons and cardiologists we met. After our marriage ended, I went on to co-found a scientific journal that still connects me with the international cardiac community today.

Writing Power took nearly five years. It challenged me in ways no business ever did. But looking back—on the risks, the losses, and the wins—I realize this story had to be told.

I remain committed to causes close to my heart, including training young surgeons through the Victor Chang Foundation and supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters. I still follow my beloved Philadelphia sports teams, and I continue to find joy in photography, nature, and writing—ways that keep Robin’s memory close.

If Power leaves you with anything, let it be this: to truly grow, you must step beyond what’s safe. Walk into unfamiliar rooms. Speak with purpose. Risk failure. Risk being seen. Because real power doesn’t come from staying in place. It comes from daring to leave, and from having the courage to return wiser, humbled, and still willing to try again.

This memoir reflects my journey—an evolving prism shaped by ambition, setbacks, and a deep belief in something larger than myself. It’s the most personal thing I’ve ever done, and I hope it stays with you, long after the last page is turned.

“To know others is intelligence; to know yourself is true wisdom.

To master others is strength; to master yourself is true power.”