In 1950, a young boy stood at the Hungarian border as his life changed in an instant. Within minutes, everything familiar was gone, and a completely new chapter began.
That boy was Tom Herskovits.
Years later, his path would lead him to leadership roles at Procter & Gamble, General Foods, and Kraft. In a recent episode of The Munn Avenue Muse, he sat down with Charlie Levin to talk about the moments that shaped him and why telling your story matters more than most people realize.
If you’ve ever thought your story was too ordinary to share, this conversation says otherwise.
1. The habits you build early stay with you
After leaving the orphanage, Tom was taken in by a Hungarian chess master named Bala. They played every single day for years.
Those games became something bigger than chess. They sharpened his focus, strengthened his patience, and trained him to think a few moves ahead. That mindset carried into every room he later walked into, from meetings to major leadership decisions.
Small, repeated habits have a way of shaping big outcomes.
2. A story can open doors you didn’t even know existed
Tom wrote Budapest to Boca to honor his son, David, and to support the foundation created in his name.
Then something remarkable happened.
After years of trying to connect with the chairman of a major corporation, Tom finally heard from him. The reason was simple: the chairman’s wife had read the book and felt a connection to it.
That’s the quiet power of sharing something real. A story moves, travels, and reaches people in ways no plan can fully predict.
3. Momentum often comes down to a simple decision
One of the defining voices in Tom’s life was his mother. She lived through war, imprisonment, and immense change, yet her outlook stayed focused on moving forward.
At a pivotal moment, her words were clear: “We’re going again.”
That mindset became a throughline in Tom’s life. It shows up in the risks he took, the roles he stepped into, and the way he approached each new chapter.
Years later, when he returned to Hungary with his son to find his father’s grave, a sudden downpour met them as they arrived. It became one of the most meaningful moments he chose to include in his book.
For anyone thinking about writing their own story
Start with an outline. Map the moments that shaped you. Let your personal and professional experiences sit together on the page.
That’s where your story comes alive.
Because what feels ordinary to you often carries immense meaning for someone else.
🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Munn Avenue Muse featuring Tom Herskovits on your favorite podcast platform.
📘 From Budapest to Boca is available now at:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Bookshop.org
🌐 Connect with Tom through his official website
✍️ If you are working through your own story, whether it is personal, professional, or somewhere in between, Munn Avenue Press can help you shape it into something lasting. If you are ready to publish your book or audiobook, or are just beginning to explore the idea, visit MunnAvenuePress.com to learn more.
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Happy Writing,
Charlie Levin
Publisher & Founder
