Meet Neal Greenberg

We were lucky to catch up with Neal Greenberg recently and have shared our conversation below.

Neal, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I’d attribute it to a mix of practice and upbringing. I wasn’t an exceptional student, but I could focus deeply on things that genuinely interested me. My parents weren’t overly strict about grades, but they made sure we always felt loved—even when we fell short—and they never let us adopt a victim mentality. We were taught to take ownership of our circumstances and keep moving forward.

Although my academic performance was less than stellar, I was always a dedicated worker. From my first job as a busboy at 15, I worked hard and with integrity. That work ethic helped me thrive in every role I took on and gave me the confidence to recognize my own strengths.

Over time, I started to believe I could lead, not just contribute. I moved from managing teams within other companies to launching my own ventures. The journey wasn’t without mistakes—but mistakes are necessary for growth. What matters most is having the mindset and resilience to learn from adversity.

If you were raised to reject a victim mentality, consider yourself fortunate. If not, make it a priority to shift that mindset—because until you do, success will be limited and happiness will remain out of reach.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I co-founded Schmartboard, Inc. (schmartboard.com) in 2005 to solve a significant challenge in the electrical engineering world. As electronics got smaller—so small that we can now wear computers more powerful than those used during the moon landing on our wrists—engineers ran into a major problem: they could no longer easily prototype circuits by hand. The components became so tiny that traditional methods were impractical, costly, and time-consuming.

To address this, we invented and patented a breakthrough solution: the Schmartboard|EZ. At the time of its release, my business partner’s 10-year-old son—who had never used a soldering iron—was able to hand-solder some of the smallest components on the market using our product. He even appeared in our early advertising. Nearly 20 years later, Schmartboard is still in use by electrical engineers, universities, and hobbyists around the world.

In 2022, as I approached 60, I made a major shift in my personal life—losing a significant amount of weight, building muscle, and taking control of my health. A resistance-based training device helped me along the way, but I found it lacking in several key areas. That inspired me to improve the concept and launch Phit.Club LLC (https://phit.club) in late 2023.

Our flagship product, the PhitStick, is now used by senior living communities, athletic teams, physical therapists, corporate wellness programs, and individuals of all ages and fitness levels. It enables full-body workouts anytime, anywhere—whether sitting, standing, or walking. While I still value the work we do at Schmartboard, helping people reclaim their health has become especially rewarding for me—because I’ve lived that transformation myself.

Giving back has always been important to me. Over the years, I’ve been active in several nonprofits focused on mentorship, entrepreneurship, ADHD awareness, and education. I currently serve on the board of Supporting Education, Business and Achievement (https://www.seba-leadership.org/), an organization dedicated to addressing bullying before it escalates into something more dangerous, such as school violence. At its core, SEBA helps young people reject a victim mindset—something I deeply believe in.

My latest project is my first book, titled:
Quick and Effective Balance and Strength Techniques for Seniors: Simple steps to quickly get strong, avoid falls, and maintain a high-quality, independent life.
This book is a labor of love. As I move into this chapter of my life, the topic has become personal—especially after my mother recently suffered a few falls. The book includes a chapter on the PhitStick and how it can help seniors improve balance, strength, and flexibility. My goal is to empower older adults to stay strong, independent, and confident as they age.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1) Persistence
If you truly believe in something, don’t give up. Stay committed, even when the road gets rough. Be open to exploring different strategies, trust your instincts, and understand that failure is just part of the process. Learn from setbacks, adjust your approach, and keep moving forward with purpose.

2) Willingness to Seek Advice
If you’re reading this, you probably already value learning from others. Continue to ask for input, feedback, and even criticism—and don’t take it personally. Constructive insights can help you grow. Implement changes when needed, and take full responsibility for the choices you make—especially the ones you deliberately choose not to change.

3) Flexibility
Your goal is your destination, but the path you take must remain adaptable. Stay clear on your end vision, but constantly evaluate whether your current direction is getting you closer. Be willing to pivot, experiment, and reassess as needed—flexibility is often the key to progress.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

Over the years, I’ve read and listened to a wide range of self-help and business books, and I’ve found value in each one. Two authors in particular have had a lasting impact on me: Anthony Robbins and Stephen Covey. Robbins has written numerous inspiring books, but Awaken the Giant Within arrived at a pivotal time in my life. If you’re looking for a book that can ignite your belief in your own potential, this one might be it. Covey’s classic, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, offers timeless principles that can reshape the way you think and act—it’s not just about productivity, but about personal integrity and intentional living.

More recently, I’ve been drawn to the thought-provoking insights of Jordan Peterson and Gad Saad, whose works challenge conventional thinking and offer powerful perspectives on personal responsibility, truth, and resilience..

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