FAQ-Friends-Fun Stuff

Greg's Grandma always said, no matter how serious your work, it is okay to have fun while doing it. With that in mind, here's some fun pictures of Greg throughout his life - with family, new friends, old friends, old classmates and a few funny pictures from Greg's travels thrown in for good measure.

I connect dots

This was me around the time I graduated (except that most days, I probably wore a backwards baseball cap and flip flops)

The best way I can think to answer that is with an example. Through an unlikely set of circumstances, I met two complete strangers on a cross-country flight and we all ended up deciding to sit together (and had a really fun time!). One of us is an attorney with four degrees. Another is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who considers 'Sound of Music' the best film of all time (and happens to have four degrees as well). And the third was coming home from keynoting an Event for Black History Month. Good luck guessing which is which. In a nutshell, that's what my life is about.

Two come to mind.  The first - when I was 7 years old, I received an autographed picture from Arthur Fonzarelli.  He wrote that "he heard I was cool."  For the Fonz to tell you that was just about the greatest thing ever.    I'd say I went at least six months actually believing I was cool after that.   The other - the first book I ever purchased with my own money (the children's biography of Harriet Tubman).  Got it at a grade school book fair.  To this day, I still have both the Fonzi autograph and Tubman book. 

Commonly misunderstood, easy to straighten out.  Yes, I was named after Malcolm Forbes and Forbes magazine -- but I'm not related to that family in any way.  I wasn't named after him in the way you're named after your late grandfather.  I was named after him in the way that someone who admired Mickey Mantle might name their son Mickey.  My father was a stockbroker, and he felt the Forbes name represented success - and he hoped being given the name would inspire his first child to pursue that.

   Visiting my Grandma, spending time at the library reading books and the movie theater seeing movies, playing with my dog and friends in the backyard, hopping the fence and playing catch with my friend who lived next door, going to summer camp every summer, hearing the sound of the Good Humor Man's truck coming around the corner every other week.

  I was at the White House with some people.  We ended up taking Buddy the Dog for a walk around the West Wing.  While we were doing it, we ran into President Clinton and the head of Argentina.

Look for things to do/learn so I don't have any free time

One of my favorite athletes was baseball player Tug McGraw. I named my dog after him.  On a full-circle note: The foundation started by Tug McGraw before he passed away ordered copies of The First Thirty for its Board of Directors and some of its top supporters.

Rocky, Forrest Gump, Life is Beautiful, A Bronx Tale, To Kill a Mockingbird, Aviator, BIG, The Firm, Juno, A Lesson Before Dying, Crash, Hotel Rwanda, Bad News Bears, Serendipity, Trading Places, Stand and Deliver, Dead Poets Society, Hurricane, Mr. Wonderful, Castaway, Stripes, Juno, Night at the Museum, Boyz n the Hood, A Beautiful Mind, Patch Adams, Lucas, Blood Diamond, Serpico, Primary Colors, Last King of Scotland, Schindler's List, E.T., Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Shawshank Redemption, Animal House, American Gangster, Godfather, Goodfellas, Heat, The Departed, Rainman, Remember the Titans, 12 Angry Men, A Few Good Men, Cocktail, Secret of my Success, Mask (with Eric Stolz) and Field of Dreams

A little bit of everything - one or more tracks by artists/groups like Vusi Mahlasela, Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Jay-Z, Natasha Beningfield, Notorious BIG, Creed, U2, Nicole Scherzinger, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Melissa Etheridge, Lenny Kravitz, Fergie, soundtrack of Rocky, Tim McGraw, Nickelback, Faith Hill, Nelly Furtado, Timbaland, Edwin McCain, Jennifer Lopez, Green Day, Marc Cohn, Destiny's Child, Verity, Tupac Shakur.  Student groups like Dolphin Street Jazz Ensemble and WVHS' Mosaic Ensemble

I keep long hours, and I've never really been a big sleeper. So, my best guess is, I think, at some point, my body just sort of decides on its own that it's time to go to sleep.

(Reassurance to Event Organizers seeing these pictures: Greg did eventually pick up the pad of paper, and the event went great.  It's just that, well, the event was in LA, and Greg lives where there is snow...you get the idea).  Click here to see pics & feedback from the event.

Note to Event Organizers: Again...we kid, we kid.

(The multiple tasks would be:  sleeping, swimming, sunbathing and guarding the basket)

What would you be doing if life turned out differently?

Growing up, my favorites included: Runaway Slave (Biography of Harriet Tubman), Where the Wild Things Are, A Light in the Attic, The Ultimate Gift, Where the Sidewalk Ends, a book about NFL star Roger Staubach.  As I've gotten older, other books I've liked have included: Forrest Gump, The Natural, The Autobiography of Frederick Douglass, Eyes on the Prize, The Book of Job, Mafia Wipeout, Boss of Bosses (and, of course, The First Thirty and A Place To Sit) :)

The weather.  You can go all year long without needing a jacket (kidding). In reality, I think the best part about where I grew up - above and beyond the things we sometimes take for granted (like always having a roof over our head and always having food on the table) - was the fact that we grew up in a place where every neighbor had a key to your house, just in case you got locked out. To me, knowing everyone on the street was comfortable with everyone else on the street being able to go into their homes created a real sense of trust and community

I have two kinds of art.  The collection of portraits is called My Sleepless Nights.   In 2006, I began accepting offers to have them on display (i.e. in California, New York , Chicago, Canada), but I have never accepted an offer to sell any of them.  The other kind of art is known as outsider art (where you take items that seem to have no value and turn them into art).   That collection is called The Art of Nothing.    For that collection, I usually make one edition of each piece, but in a couple of instances, I have made two editions of a piece - and allowed the second to get auctioned off.  Thus far, in every case, I've given 100% of the proceeds of those auctions to charity.  At some point, I may consider offers for the portraits, and may start selling the other pieces - but, for now, that's what I've chosen to do.

Mother Nature  :)

I try to lift weights four days a week, and run at least two days a week.   I started when I was a teenager. At the time, I wanted to be as big as the bodybuilders and wrestlers I'd see on TV or magazine covers. Nowadays, just do it to stay in good shape.  Not worried about how much I bench press . 

Note: Greg enjoyed dressing the part for Halloween (above), but he had even more fun watching the real deal perform (left). They're incredibly talented and put on a great show - whether you're with friends, family or on a date. To learn about Blue Man Group and get tickets to a performance near you, go to www.BlueMan.com

I speak English and Spanish.  I initially learned Spanish in school (high school, college), and have just made it a point to practice as often as possible. I cannot speak the language with perfect grammar, but I can communicate fluently.   For instance, a couple years ago, I gave a 40 minute speech in Washington DC - did the speech in Spanish, without any notes.  I'd really encourage any student out there to learn the language if possible.   I took nearly 40 courses in college, and I liked a lot of them - but Spanish is, almost without a doubt, just on a practical level, the one I use most often.  Probably speak Spanish to someone at least once a day.

If you happen to be having dinner in Chicago and feel like shopping first (say, for The First Thirty), you can stop by Borders on Clark & Diversey or 150 N State or Michigan Ave - some of the many fine stores around the USA that carry The First Thirty by Jillip Naysinthe Paxson (the book based on Greg's story).  Of course, as long as you're on a computer, you can get the book by just clicking here!  

There are a bunch, many of them discussed in the book (The First Thirty), but I guess four come to mind right off the bat. Two come from my Grandma, and both are integral parts of the books based on my story. One is "If life was nothing but straight lines, it wouldn't be worth living." It's printed at the opening of the book, The First Thirty . The other is "All you have is all you need. Time, the willingness to spend it, and a place to sit." It's featured on the cover of the other book, A Place To Sit   The other two are ones I came up with after things I experienced.  I can't share those two just yet - because they're going to be part of the next two books. :)

Answer to commonly asked question: Greg is *not* wearing a tux because this was his wedding. He is single. The bride is with the 'other' guy. Update: And they now have twins! Congrats Justin & Leigh :)

  My favorite time of year weather-wise would be Fall.   And somewhat mysteriously, I seem to have a connection of some kind to the middle weeks of the middle month of the year (June 10-June 25).   Long story but true."

I get teased on a regular basis for using coupons at restaurants, and I will never -- ever -- understand that. If you go to the shoe store, and they say, 'You can pay us $50 for the shoes - or if you'd like, you can pay us $75 for the exact same pair", I don't know many people who would think it makes sense to pay the extra $25. Have never understood why it's any different when it comes to meals. If you go on a date to a restaurant, and they say, you can pay 10 percent less for the meal if you'd like to do so, why in the world would you turn them down? I'm not saying you should be cheap and order less. I'm just talking about paying less for what you already ordered. At best, you save money. At the very least, it's just that much more you can spend on your date after dinner.

 During summer after (I think) second year of high school - I worked as a busboy at a hotel restaurant.

"Every day and every week is a little different than the one before it, and sometimes, I'm on the road for a speech or book signing.  But, in general, I work and/or volunteer 14-16 hours a day, 7 days a week, with very few exceptions."

The last time I took an actual, traditional 'vacation' was December 1997 - three days in Florida - but, on the bright side, I get to travel to some fun places for speeches and book signings. To see some examples, click Greg's Week   - and, also on the bright side, I'm not the smartest kid on the block - so I can daydream about a vacation for five minutes and then actually convince myself I went on one :)

England, Italy, Spain, Africa and Australia are the first ones that come to mind

[Update:  Cross Africa off the list:  click Greg's Week, click June 2008 Africa]

The list, past and present, includes: Sarah Shahi, Penelope Cruz, Vanessa Williams, Vanessa Marcil, Heather Locklear, Bo Derek, Christy Turlington, Stephanie Seymour, Claudia Schiffer, Jennifer Connelly, Rachel Bilson, Elizabeth Mitchell, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Elisabeth Shue, Monica Bellucci, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Kate Beckinsale, Marisa Miller, Halle Berry, Talia Shire, Julie Bowen, Evangeline Lilly and Rachel Specter.

Eyes.   And  - of course. 

Present list includes Lost, the HBO shows (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, etc), ESPN shows ( sporting events, SportsCenter, etc)  Past list (when I was a kid) includes L.A. Law, Happy Days, Dukes of Hazzard, Three's Company, Diff'rent Strokes, Knight Rider, Hunter, Family Ties, Saturday morning cartoons, sporting events

The list includes Harriet Tubman, JoAnn Robinson, Nelson Mandela, My Grandma & Gandhi

Don't have much time to play them, but they would be: Scrabble, Boggle, Monopoly

Because she was the wisest woman who ever lived - and, if you questioned that, she smacked you over the head with a rolled-up newspaper.

I personally don't drink...but if you're old enough, and you're smart about it -- and you're not driving -- then I don't think there's something inherently wrong with it.  Most people I know who are over 21 drink socially. I just happen not to.  

 I love animals.  Always had a dog growing up.  These days, I have a dog, a cat, two turtles and a rooster (except that, where I live, pets are not allowed - so, for the record, I ought to point out it's actually... a clay dog, a plastic cat, a ceramic rooster and two wooden turtles. :)

Two-part answer. In general, I don't raise money for my nonprofit organization (The 11-10-02 Foundation) in traditional ways like grant writing or fundraising campaigns. I subscribe to the Rocky/Gump/Gandhi/Field of Dreams Philosophy. You just do what it is you love to do, and if it's inspiring, sooner or later, other people will show up and ask to do it with you - whether it's running (like Rocky & Gump), sitting (like Gandhi), playing ball (like Field of Dreams) or volunteering your time to help a cause you care about. The other part of the answer is that, in general, I really don't focus on how much I raise. I focus on what is (not) spent. I think that's the key to success, whether in business or philanthropy - it's not what you make/raise that matters most. It's what you don't spend.  If you want to support my Foundation, go to www.ShakingUpAmerica.org and click Donate Now  to see how to donate online or by mail.  It's completely tax-deductible.

List includes apples, carrots, smoothies, Isabella fat-free blueberry muffins (in photo),   a variety of health bars, reduced fat crackers and wheat thins, and Kashi (Happy Trail Mix) Cookies

  Anything healthy (chicken, fish, turkey, hard-boiled egg whites, protein drinks, Cheerios), plus milkshakes and grilled cheese sandwiches

I tend to break things down to their simplest form.  In the case of economics, I usually just stick with this:  I don't spend what I don't have.  So far, that philosophy has worked out okay.

Not much. I usually only buy what I'll eat in the next 24-48 hours, tops.

I don't sleep much.  Usually around 4-5 hours a night. My art collection 's name (My Sleepless Nights ) is a reflection of that...and, in the book, it talks about a 7 month period where I didn't even have a bed.  These days, I have one, but I don't always use it.  Sometimes, I fall asleep right at my desk, usually face first on the keyboard...and wake up with lines on my head as a result.

  Been through a lot, but the death of my Grandma is in a league of its own

Yes, but I like to think of them as 'traditions'.  For instance, one tradition is that I always wear mismatched socks.  Another is that I always listen to the same songs on the way to the gym, while lifting weights and while jogging.  That kind of thing.  Another tradition is that I like to 'borrow' interesting cars when I visit different towns for speaking engagements and book signings.

(Greg loves animals. This is just your standard 10 foot plastic moose).

There are probably a bunch.  First one that comes to mind - I'd let people vote at a younger age.   There are a ton of benefits to lowering the voting age, and I cannot think of a single downside to doing it.  

 I would change the policy that says you need to wear shoes while eating breakfast.  I don't care if you eat breakfast at 5 am or noon. Breakfast is intended to be eaten while barefoot.    I think the world would be a happier, nicer, more peaceful place if everybody ate breakfast before they put on their shoes. 

If you share Greg's barefoot at breakfast belief - and still want to follow the rules... here's an example of how he does it...Greg was staying at a hotel while in town to give some speeches...the sign said "Shirt and Shoes are Required in the Restaurant area"...so he brought the shoes with...but, technically speaking, the sign didn't say you actually had to WEAR the shoes....so he didn't :)

"I think all elected officials should have to live within the section of their community with the highest crime rate and/or the lowest average income per household.   If they lived there, I have a feeling that things would change.   (Full disclosure:  I can't take credit for this idea.   I saw a documentary and someone mentioned this idea in it)."

Sometimes, they say they know about me from the media. Other times, it's a result of the book. Sometimes, one event simply leads to another. As a quick example: I recently got a note from someone who said they heard me speak at an event, and now they're involved in planning one of their own and wanted to see if I was available. Occasionally, it happens by chance. I recently sat next to someone on a plane and we got to know each other. A few months later, his company has now booked me to speak at an event. Once in a while, it's as simple as someone like YOU taking the time to call up someone at a school or nonprofit or company where they happen to know someone (or simply speaking to someone who works at their own), giving them my website and recommending they contact me.

I've had four operations on my feet.  Just happy I can run at all.   (No, I can't imagine I ever would).

Have a question? Email it to Events@GregForbes.com

$25 more than none

The places where I've been asked to speak -- it's ranged from small groups of a dozen or so people (like a class of students or a group of executives) to several thousand people (like a college commencement).  

And no, I don't really get nervous giving speeches.   I  save that (getting nervous, stumbling/mumbling) for dates   :)

It would be a combination of two things. Curiosity and work ethic.

On the cover of The First Thirty, and inside the story itself, it suggests that your mind would wander so much when you were a child that you literally ran into walls. Is that true?

...and it wasn't just walls.  And it wasn't just when I was little.  I had a terrible crash with my first ten speed bike right after getting it, a terrible crash with my first car within two days of getting my license, and as recently as this week (September 2007), I cut my head open (literally) when my mind wandered and I ran into a wall.  (p.s.  It hurt when  it happened as a kid -- it still hurts when it happens now!) :)

On the bright side, when Greg does run into walls or hurt himself, and he is sore, or has a cut he needs to bandage, there are products he can use...like the ones by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company (such as, Band-Aid® Brand Adhesive Bandages). [Ironically, he's wearing one on his left thumb when this picture was taken] :)

Every college in America I hoped to attend.  

I try to live by a bunch of them. A couple of them include:

The first school - I called and asked nicely.   The other school - I made them an offer they couldn't refuse.

In all, between the two schools, I finished college with  an 'A' in every course but one (a 'B').

The site for the art is www.MySleeplessNights.com -  As it explains on there, the common thread linking those I draw -- in some way, big or small, they  have inspired others to think and/ar act and/or give and/or serve and/or lead..   (It doesn't mean I personally, necessarily, agree with their views -- only a recognition that they have impacted lives of others in one of those ways).   As I answer this question (April 2008), I am not sure who I will draw next.  Some of the people I'd like to draw, for various reasons, in the future include:  Richard Jewell, My Grandma, Gregory Peck, Condoleeza Rice, Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks, among others.

Because I couldn't find anywhere nearby to go shark cage diving.

I'd love to get married and have kids at some point.  Having said that, I'd only like to be a father if I thought I'd make a good Dad (and I think there's a huge difference between being a father and being a Dad).  There's a movie called Life is Beautiful.  The main character in that movie - to me, that's a Dad.   And that's what I'd hope to be if I had kids.

Sometimes, I use a podium -- but I definitely prefer to sit down on stage instead.  I think it's less formal, more engaging.  And...my Grandma always said, you need just three things in life: time, the willingness to spend it and a place to sit.  And  it isn't comfortable sitting on a podium :)

Yes (especially this one).