How Relationships Built a Career and a Campaign with Frank Carone

What if the most powerful business strategy you could ever use isn't a strategy at all, but a lifelong commitment to showing up for people?

Frank Carone is a seasoned legal and political strategist and the founder of Oaktree Solutions, where he guides businesses, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs through complex challenges at the intersection of law, regulation, and politics. With over three decades of experience as a lawyer and litigator, Frank has built a reputation for navigating the most intricate corridors of power in New York and beyond.

Frank served as Chief of Staff to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a role he describes as one of the greatest privileges of his life. He co-authored Everyone Wins!: The Ultimate Guide to Optimize Your Business Relationships and Achieve Financial Freedom, with an expanded second edition releasing in early 2025, and sits on the boards of the Central Park Conservancy and the Museum of Modern Art.

A proud Brooklyn native, Marine Corps veteran, and father of two, Frank shares the relationship principles and pivotal people who shaped everything he has built, from a napkin idea in a Brooklyn neighborhood to the halls of New York City government.

 

[00:04:00] Who Is Frank Carone?

• Founder of Oaktree Solutions, navigating law, regulation, and politics for businesses and nonprofits

• 31 years as a lawyer and litigator, plus decades in politics and government

• Served as Chief of Staff to NYC Mayor Eric Adams

• Co-authored Everyone Wins! with Russ Prince to make relationship-building learnable

[00:05:20] Oaktree Solutions: Navigating Legal, Regulatory, and Political Complexity

• After 31 years as a lawyer and litigator, Frank found his greatest value at the intersection of law, regulation, and politics

• Most industries are highly regulated; clients need someone who can interpret, navigate, and advocate across all three environments

• Oaktree Solutions workshops problems and creates value for both paying clients and the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors

• Frank's approach: don't limit access to those who can afford it; some of the most important relationship seeds are planted pro bono

[00:08:00] Deep Listening as a Business Strategy

• Frank makes it a habit to understand clients' business objectives, fears, obstacles, and past experiences, not just their goals

• Listening takes patience and requires setting aside ego; the point is to extract information that leads to the best service

• When clients feel genuinely heard, they return on a routine basis and refer others without prompting

• Giving people the gift of feeling seen, heard, and understood is one of the most powerful things a relationship-builder can do

[00:12:00] Growing Up in Brooklyn: The Roots of Grit and Credibility

• Grew up in Canarsie, Brooklyn, where grit and credibility were non-negotiable

• Sold newspapers, flowers, and candy on the el train as a boy; later sold his comic book collection to help fund law school

• His father taught him to learn from both successes and failures

• Coach Bobby Napo challenged him to aim higher than a civil service job

[00:15:40] The Marine Corps and the Art of Perseverance

• Received a Marine Corps recruiter's call meant for his younger brother and ended up applying himself

• Was disqualified due to childhood asthma; Captain Samuels fought the appeal alongside him and won

• Graduated from Officer Candidate School as a second lieutenant

• Marine training reframed his standards: bar exam prep in a library felt easy by comparison

[00:17:40] Frank Seto and the Decision That Changed Everything

• Frank Seto was a family friend and future assemblyman who let a young Frank sell Christmas trees outside his home

• Frank turned to him when choosing between an honorable discharge and a law firm partnership offer

• Seto's advice: whatever decision you make will be the right one

• That single sentence removed regret from Frank's decision-making permanently; he has never looked back since

[00:20:40] The Relationship That Moved a City: Mayor Eric Adams

• Eric Adams came to Frank's office as Brooklyn Borough President asking for his support in a mayoral run

• Frank activated political, labor, and business relationships to build the campaign coalition

• Adams was far behind in the polls; the campaign turned it around through relationship capital

• None of it would have been possible without decades of trust built in advance

[00:24:20] Brother Anthony and the Power of Long-Term Loyalty

• Frank's assistant Jen has been with him for 20 years across multiple businesses

• His brother Anthony joined his mortgage banking venture from day one

• When Frank left for City Hall, Anthony gave up his own firm to hold the client base together

• Anthony now runs Oaktree Solutions as CEO

[00:26:40] Credibility, Authenticity, and Playing the Long Game

• Credibility and authenticity are the two words Frank returns to again and again

• You cannot have credibility without authenticity; it is the baseline

• Real credibility means admitting when you are wrong and pivoting when you have to

• His advice: do not burn bridges, admit mistakes, and embrace relationships rather than just collecting them

[00:29:00] Russ Prince and the Everyone Wins Framework

• Frank cold-emailed Russ Prince after seeing his name in a book foreword; Russ responded in seconds

• They connected immediately and Russ has workshopped problems with Frank ever since

• Together they co-authored Everyone Wins! to make relationship-building accessible to anyone

• Frank's belief: building million dollar relationships is a learnable process, not a personality trait

 

KEY QUOTES

"The skillset necessary to build million dollar relationships that stand the test of time can be learned." - Frank Carone

"I don't think you could have credibility without authenticity. Authenticity may be the line in the sand. In order to have real credibility, you need authenticity." - Frank Carone

"None of us are really here on an island. Most people's success comes through a collection of relationships. So embrace them, don't just collect them and push them aside." - Frank Carone

CONNECT WITH FRANK CARONE

🌐 Website: www.frankcarone.com 

📚 Book: www.EveryoneWinsBook.com 

🏢 Oaktree Solutions: www.oaktree.solutions 

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/frank-carone-57477910 

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/frank.carone.3

 

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