Bradley L. Gerstman, Esq. just seems to have more hours in the day than the rest of us.
He’s a high-powered, hard-charging attorney and lobbyist, media commentator, champion for the underdog — and quite the clotheshorse. He’s also the first to say he’s not a nice guy, which is, of course, simply a deflection device that thereby proves he, in fact, is.
While his college days on the gridiron have long passed, the competitiveness he brought to the game is alive and well, and readily apparent in his work and advocacy on behalf of a multitude of charities and worthy causes. Read on to find out what’s on his mind and what makes him tick …
FMC: What are the three best things you’ve done in your life?
BLG: Firstly, my family – my wife and kids – is my biggest achievement. Second is co-founding Gotham Government Relations with my partner, David Schwartz, Esq. Lastly is playing football at Hofstra University.
FMC: What mistake did you make that turned out to be your best learning experience?
BLG: Trusting too many people
It would really help if I knew what other people were thinking.
FMC: When you were five years old, what did you want to be when you grew up, and why?
BLG: I grew up wanting to be a football player, and I still do. And I still think I can do it.
FMC: Why do you do what you do?
BLG: I like to fight for the underdog.
FMC: What’s your guilty pleasure?
BLG: Cigars.
FMC: What gives you hope for the future?
BLG: My belief in God.
FMC: What’s your idea of happiness?
BLG: Happiness, simply, would be a time when nothing bad is happening.
FMC: Coke or Pepsi?
BLG: Diet Coke.
FMC: Who’s the most influential person in your life?
BLG: My father.
FMC: Favorite restaurant?
BLG: Fresco’s by Scotto in New York City.
FMC: Last book read?
BLG: What Men Want … by Brad Gerstman, Esq., , Christopher Pizzo, CPA, and Rich Seldes, MD
FMC: Ha! We’ll add ‘promoter’ to your list of accomplishments. Where do you get your news?
BLG: I usually get my news through various news feeds on Twitter.
FMC: What five people, living or dead, would you want to have dinner with?
BLG: Israeli Prime Minster Netanyahu, President John F. Kennedy, Meyer Lansky, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, and my favorite New York Giant, Lawrence Taylor
FMC: Favorite drink?
BLG: Diet Coke
FMC: What’s the biggest misconception people have about you?
BLG: The biggest misconception is that I’m a nice guy.
FMC: Define leadership and tell us, who is your favorite leader and why?
BLG: Leadership is the ability to get people to follow up. The greatest leader in recent history has to be Martin Luther King Jr.
FMC: What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your career?
BLG: There is never enough time, whether it be time to address issues or personal time.
FMC: What’s your choice of super hero superpowers?
BLG: Telepathy. It would really help if I knew what other people were thinking.
FMC: What’s your idea of success?
BLG: Success is that great moment when you find personal and familial happiness.
FMC: What’s the best business advice anyone ever gave you?
BLG: My father told me that if you provide great, personal service to your clients, then they will keep coming back.
FMC: If you weren’t you, who would you want to be?
BLG: LL Cool J
FMC: What’s your current state of mind?
BLG: Confusion.
FMC: What’s the biggest challenge facing your industry right now?
BLG: Corruption.
FMC: What makes you tick?
BLG: High energy people … Things need to get done.
FMC: How big is your closet?
BLG: My closet has exceeded my own and overflowed to every space in my house. My suits, shoes, workout gear … My wife wants to kill me.