Member of the Month: Joseph J. Console

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I am Joseph J. Console.  I am an attorney and partner at Console Matison LLP.  We are real estate and family law attorneys, practicing in Philadelphia, the PA burbs and New Jersey.  Despite spending most of my childhood in New Jersey, I am Philly through and through, I attended St. Joe’s Prep for high school and Temple University, followed by Rutgers-Camden for Law School.   I love the city, and as a real estate attorney I get to see how the city moves forward, gets re-born, gets imagined and re-imagined and how the different departments work together to create a version of the City that matches how great we all know it is. 

More about Joseph:

What is your favorite spot in Philly to disappear for some alone time?
The Southampton Spa.  It isn’t in Philly proper, its in Southhampton, PA (in the far, far Northeast).  This is the area’s only authentic Russian Banya, which for those that don’t know, is a place with a series of saunas, steam rooms, cold plunges, and other services (like traditional massage) that, while on paper might sound like “The Rittenhouse Spa” or something, it is actually very, very different.  The serious banya rooms have wood-fired stoves and can get as hot as 210 degrees.  Water boils at 212 degrees!  Spending a half a day here, going in and out of the rooms, is about as good as it gets for me…either with some fellow real estate professionals, friends, or just by myself.

What is a non-profit that you support? Other than CCBA?
I support Filitalia, which is a Philly-based, but international, organization that does a lot of work with spreading excitement and awareness of the Italian culture and language.  My family history is South Philly, by way of Southern Italy and Sicily, and I belong to a few local organizations in that vein. I sit on the board of the Filitalia Delco Chapter, and my family sponsors a scholarship that helps fund things like exchange programs between the US and Italy. 

What was your first concert?
My first concert was the Monkees with “Weird” Al Yankovic, at the Mann Music Center on August 8, 1987, with my parents.  I was 6 years old and those were literally (perhaps besides the Beach Boys) my two favorite artists at the time.  “Weird” Al came out in his “like a surgeon” outfit, to open the show ...man I was in heaven.  I am sort of a music nerd now, but if this tour happened again I’d go and likely be just as amazed. 

What is something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t done yet?
I have had a long meditation retreat on my radar for a while now, since well before I had kids (my kids are 8 and 6).  While I have a consistent daily meditation practice, and I digest a lot of literature and dharma talks, I haven’t had the time to disappear for a long, silent, retreat.  I think it would add a layer to my practice that isn’t really feasible while managing all the necessary business and family day-to-day stuff.  Alas, one only gets so many days away from their family, and I’ve yet to prioritize this.

What is your best networking tip?
Show up!   I am someone who freely admits to having social anxiety, which is likely a result of being a staunch introvert.  However, in my profession, and especially after having started my own business ten years ago, being shy just isn’t an option.  Look, it's always easier to not do the thing, to stay home where it's comfortable and there’s a million things you could be doing or would rather be doing than showing up to a random event full of people you’ve never met and trying to make conversation.  But just show up.  Talk to 3 people, get their cards and have lunch with them.  Do it again the following week.  Just worry about meeting 3 people, which isn’t that many, then go back to your comfortable home. You’ll be amazed, if you are consistent, how quickly that will produce results.