Not many can boast both “magician” and “lawyer” as previous means of employment, but Howard Tullman, dubbed “the most accomplished, best-connected entrepreneur you’ve never heard of,” by Inc. magazine in 2012, isn’t your average businessman.

From pioneering educational ventures (Tullman was heavily involved in the revival of Kendall, an accomplished culinary school in downtown Chicago and founded Tribeca Flashpoint Academy, which seeks to modernize and digitize the tradition arts/media college curriculum) to invading the music industry (he produced a Tony award-winning musical and lead the mid-nineties online publishing revolution for clients such as RollingStone.com), Howard’s resume is anything but short.

And, though the industries that Tullman’s touched seem to vary, Howard assures that there are three pillars that make businesses of any kind successful: 1., Be the industry standard; 2., Provide documentation and objectivity; and 3., Be something nobody can afford not to be a part of.