Alex Shalman.comPractical Personal Development

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:33 — 10.3MB)

AlexShalman.com Practical Personal Development Podcast #11

Rabbi Henry Harris has one of the more fun positions on Wall Street – especially these days. As a religious man by occupation, earning a living mentoring the best and brightest on Wall street, Rabbi Henry Harris is a unique asset to this show. It’s a gift to have a career that is fun, stimulating, and rewarding on a daily basis, while at the same time paying the bills.

Aish HaTorah and Becoming a Rabbi

Becoming a Rabbi is not as easy as it looks. The task of ‘Bringing Light Into the Nations’, isn’t exactly a job you’re prepared for at some vocational school. In fact, much of the preparation takes place away from work.

A Rabbi strives to reach an understanding of the meaning of life, and the meaning of their life specifically, in order to uphold the highest of moral characters, and assist both the Jewish people, and people in general in finding their own purpose.

Aish HaTorah is an international organization, whose headquarters I have personally visited just opposite the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Branches in almost 30 cities around the world, with dozens of projects to meet the needs and concerns of the Jewish people.

The New York location, which is where Rabbi Henry Harris is located, is fueled by the mission to create a Renaissance of Jewish Pride in the city. They accomplish this with various programs of engaging learning, social events, and personalized studies.

Rabbi Henry Harris holds the positions of Educational Director at Aish HaTorah New York. Forging programs that are meant to unlock people’s potentials. He also coaches and councils individuals and couples to become the greatest version of themselves.

Coaching Top Wall Street Executives

A team of four Rabbis, including Rabbi Harris, go into the field to learn with top level executives. They act as a coach and counselor not only in Jewish matters, but also in relationships and aspects of business. As someone that took a brief glimpse into the Jewish Orthodox lifestyle, I can vouch that much time is spent learning laws, social dynamics, business ethics, and self-improvement.

Some of the high-powered executives that Rabbi Henry Harris and his team mentor are:

• Robert Hormats – Vice Chairman, Goldman Sachs International
• Andrew Fox – CEO, Hansa-USA
• Gerald M. Lierberman – President & COO, Alliance Bernstein L.P.
• Carrie Gray – AVP, Merrill Lynch
• Neil Cole – CEO, Iconix Brand Group
• Mitch Kuflik – Managing Partner, Brahman Capital Corporation
• Peter Hochfelder – Managing Partner, Brahman Capital Corporation
• Scott Beck – Managing Director, Bank of America

By now you know my stance on spending time with successful people. Our philosophies and behaviors are greatly influenced by the people that we spend most of our time with. The list above is a glimpse at the type of people that Rabbi Harris sees and learns with on a daily basis. The level of success that these people have reached in their professional careers is surely fueled by great character and philosophies, that I wouldn’t mind rubbing off on me on a daily basis either.

Common Attributes of Successful Executives

Rabbi Harris and his team coach a lot of these guys. The common denominator from where we’re looking is that all these executives are successful. However, that isn’t enough for me, and the point of this Podcast show is to dig a little deeper.

One of the things that’s in common between all these high-powered executives is their humility. Come again? They’re not brutally cold, rich, snobby, and overly bossy individuals who live their life in solitude in that big office on Wall Street? Not according to Rabbi Henry Harris, who spends a heck of a lot more time with them than we do.

Who is the wise one? The one that learns from every person.
~Talmud

These successful individuals got their success in part because they understood the power of listening and learning from others. This is also the same quality that draws them to their Judaic roots and lessons with Rabbi Harris, because they’re more in tune to listen to the wisdom of the ancients, such as the quote above.

Harris Coaching: Business, Relationships, Religion, & Beyond

A common principle that comes up in sessions with Rabbi Henry Harris is that real leadership is about having relationships with values and principles that are larger than you. To be an effective leader that helps people accomplish their greatness takes a commitment to your own wisdom and values.

Rabbi Harris points out that, before reacting to changing circumstances and financial matters, it is important to step back and look at our core principles that we’re committed to unconditionally. Much like the idea in my ebook, How To Get a Girlfriend, it is important to define who you are and what you’re looking for, so that you aren’t swayed into making bad decisions.

Another principle that commonly comes up is a recognition that there is a higher power. Powerful people are not those that have no limitations, rather they are ones that see their limitations and use them to create meaningful partnerships. The successful executives that Rabbi Harris coaches rely on and seek out individuals that can help them accomplish their goals.

The Day to Day of Rabbi Henry Harris

From 6:30am to 10:00am every day Rabbi Henry Harris works on his Personal Development. He does this by praying, which to him is a way of opening up his consciousness to Gods consciousness, and trying to see the world the way God sees the world. Part of this time is also spent learning Jewish law and Jewish wisdom, which are used to further the understanding of how God sees the world as well as instructions for living.

At 10:00am Rabbi Henry Harris starts his day of work, which currently means creating programming. For the set of learning programs that his team is creating they are finalizing the curriculum, marketing, and partnering with other parties to help create the series. There is also the individual relationships, such as the executives he is coaching, which require meetings, conversations, and coaching.

The Marketing Secrets of Judea-Christian Religions

The spread of this work, from Jews to Jesus, has seen nothing short of astronomical gains. I asked the good Rabbi if they put these guys through some kind of intense marketing boot camp to prepare them for spreading the word. I figured, if it’s just marketing techniques, then I can use them for anything, right?

The truth is, it’s not the marketing skills, in fact, technique and personality must be put aside, in order to authentically deliver the real goods; which is the product.

Rabbi Henry Harris’ Recommended Reading

1. What the Angel Taught You: Seven Keys to Life Fulfillment ~ Noah Weinberg
   Every human being is endowed with an extraordinary intuitive wisdom and life is the process of rediscovering it.
2. It’s All a Gift ~ Miriam Adahan
   A book that opens us up to a paradigm that everything we go through in life is an opportunity.
3. Rejoice O Youth ~ Rabbi Avigdor Miller
   Mapping ancient wisdom onto contemporary society and issues. How to see the world today and understand it with the power of these ancient teachings.

Final Tip For Success

Every single person has the power and gift to make an extraordinary difference. Who is the rich person? The one that takes pleasure in what he has. By taking time every day to see the world through this paradigm, you open yourself up to living an extraordinary life.

Practical Personal Development on iTunes

Enjoying the Podcasts? Make sure you click the image above and subscribe to this podcast via iTunes. This ensures that you get the full repertoire of interviews in an easy to listen to format.

Tweet This Post