I recently came across an article in The New Yorker about the Google lawsuit against Uber, which prompted me to reflect on the beginning of my journey 25 years ago when I left Robert Half to establish AP Professionals. As I delved into the article, memories of my youthful ignorance and hubris flooded back. At that time, I was a young professional with a supportive wife and two remarkable children. Despite having a good job, the entrepreneurial spirit always burned within me.

My most valuable assets then were the client relationships I was building and the knowledge I had gained in the staffing industry, though I later realized it wasn’t as extensive as I had believed. I always relied on opening doors and my business card. One significant obstacle to venturing out on my own was the one-year non-compete agreement I had signed in good faith. Seeking legal counsel, I consulted three different lawyers, two of whom told me it wasn’t worth the paper it was written on, while the third suggested that if he were representing the plaintiff, he’d keep me off the market for a year.

During that time, my prospective business partner (who became my closest friend through our joint ventures over the past 25 years) advised me, “Be patient; it’s the right thing to do. We can explore other opportunities for a year, and then we’ll launch your new staffing business without any issues.” My new lawyer at the time, Frank Gaglione, echoed this sentiment, advising me to leave without taking anything, “not even a paperclip.” I resigned, upheld my non-compete agreement, discovered 66 other opportunities, and embraced the Root Philosophy. I still have that magical 66 list and several of those ideas took hold as well. That year turned out to be a unique opportunity for exploration and strategic planning, rather than the business purgatory some might see it as.

Frank Gaglione’s legacy of helping clients and friends live in infamy.

For a couple of years leading up to my departure, my bank account urged me to disregard the non-compete contract and jump right in. Fortunately, I heeded the advice of Tony, Frank, and my mom. Today, 25 years later, I find myself comfortable and proud of the businesses we have built. 

As I approach 60, I acknowledge that I’m in the latter part of my career, but I’ve always relished the back nine because it’s where everything happens.

*Now, returning to that article about Google versus Uber.

What I didn’t know back then was that non-compete agreements were more enforceable on the East Coast than they were on the West Coast. This distinction traces back to 1957 when Silicon Valley was born, thanks to a young group of engineers who played a pivotal role in creating a more dynamic and less restrictive business environment. The difference between William Shockley’s employees in 1957 and myself in 1993 was that I adhered to decision-making based on standards and ethics. To this day, we maintain those principles as the foundation for our business growth.

At times, adhering to standards may affect ethical considerations. For my part, while recognizing the importance of standards, I’ve leaned towards ethical choices. So, the next time you face a decision, give due consideration to the standards, but ultimately, let your ethics guide you. I know that doing so makes my mom proud.

Back to that article. Click here for the PDF in its entirety. Google versus Uber