The memory...  The memory that started it all was shortly after graduating from college, sitting on the beach in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, with my friend, Val Lenington. We were talking about what we wanted to do with our lives and that’s when and where we decided to go into business together. We agreed to start our company in two years and shook hands on it. That was 27 years ago and we are now celebrating 25 years in business!

The hobby...  Scuba diving has been a passion of mine for over 30 years. Being in another world underwater, away from phones or sounds other than bubbles, weightless and surrounded by fascinating beauty is my most relaxed state. In fact, you could say that my “Zen” is 60 feet under!

The time of day... Sunsets are pure magic in my book. And while a margarita on the beach at sunset is one of my favorite things in life, Texas sunsets are also mighty spectacular. We have some new venues in Dallas with amazing decks where the views of the downtown skyline against our sparkling new white bridges at sunset are just incredible.

The color... Given that cool ocean blues and greens are where I’m most relaxed, it’s probably a given that my favorite color would be a tropical teal, the combination of both. And maybe that’s how our logo ended up blue and green?

The friend... Val, of course. We met while sailing around the world in college on Semester at Sea. Who could have imagined then that her creative right brain and my analytical left brain would pair up to form an ideal business partnership? But it's the perfect friendship spanning 30+ years that I wouldn’t trade for the world. We are blessed.

The smell... One of my favorite smells is chocolate. And when you cover strawberries with it, well that’s just bliss!

The book... A favorite book I read while on vacation recently is Shoe Dog, a memoir by Phil Knight, the creator of NIKE. Even without a strong sport or brand connection, I found it to be profoundly relevant and compelling. For entrepreneurs, it’s a must-read.

The piece of advice... Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first! OK, I know there’s been more profound advice given to me over the years. But I’m still thinking about the chocolate covered strawberries, so this one seems very relevant right now.

The joke... My favorite joke is about the elderly monk who is discovered sobbing in the vault underneath the monastery where he was studying ancient original manuscripts. He was found wailing, "The R! We missed the R! The word is ‘celebrate’!"

The exercise... Although he'd probably never forgive me if he knew I was telling anyone, my favorite exercise is a “dance party” that I occasionally coax my 12-year-old son into having with me – FUN! Sometimes this is in exchange for playing sports with him on the X-box – which is also a fun exercise.

The alternate job... I mentioned how much I love diving but I don’t think I shared that I’m also a certified divemaster. And, if I were going to abandon this professional life for another, that’s where you’d find me… on a tropical island working as a professional divemaster.

The song... I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas. It’s just such an upbeat song about anticipation – expecting an extraordinary night and an extraordinary life.

The taste... Texas barbecue. As a fourth generation Texan, it might be because it’s in my DNA, but to me the combination of sweet, sour, spicy and HOT is irresistible.

The accessory...  My shoulder bag which is covered with black and white photos of my two boys. I love it and am going to continue carrying it until it either falls apart or until my boys are both married – whichever comes first!

The TV show... Who has time for that? Really??? I don’t think I’ve watched a TV show regularly since before my boys were born. But the one I love to stumble across now and then that usually has me roaring with laughter is America’s Funniest Videos. They still make that, right?

The quote... It’s framed, sitting on my desk, right next to my computer: "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life"- Steve Jobs