At 85 years old, Michael A. Sisti has built more than 25 businesses across seven decades, survived federal interrogations, and weathered countless corporate betrayals. Now the serial entrepreneur is channeling those experiences into award-winning books that serve as both entertainment for the masses and essential guidance for aspiring business owners.
Sisti’s entrepreneurial journey began unconventionally at age 11 when he sold fireworks to classmates, launching what would become a 74-year career marked by both triumph and turmoil. By 19, he had already skipped college, married, and started a printing company while expecting his second child. That early venture, relocated to Manhattan with a partner, collapsed when the partner abruptly resigned, leaving Sisti to manage the financial aftermath alone.
The late 1960s brought personal tragedy when both his father and uncle died, leaving the family’s prestigious printing company in crisis. Sisti stepped in alongside his young cousin to save the business, but despite years of effort, the firm ultimately failed. Rather than surrender to defeat, he pivoted to sales roles in the printing industry before returning to entrepreneurship, eventually building a full-service advertising and promotions agency with 15 employees and $20 million in capitalized billings.
His business portfolio expanded dramatically over the decades. Sisti co-founded Aqua Mizer, Inc. in Sarasota, Florida, which became the nation’s largest manufacturer and installer of water-saving devices. He also built Sisti Zinbarg & Howard into a top-50 advertising agency in New Jersey, demonstrating his ability to succeed across diverse industries.
The veteran entrepreneur’s career hasn’t been without significant challenges. Sisti endured a three-day interrogation by the U.S. Attorney and FBI after being scapegoated in a bribery scandal, facing the threat of federal imprisonment. Throughout his career, he documented incidents of embezzlement, extortion, and exploitation, including instances where personal records were erased, commissions withheld, and clients stolen by unscrupulous competitors.
His sole experience as a corporate employee came during a six-year tenure as Chief Communications Officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island starting in 1996. Managing a staff of 25 and a $4 million marketing budget, Sisti led the company to win the National Brand Excellence award three consecutive years. He created the insurer’s first television show, which ran as hour-long specials on the NBC affiliate for four years and earned an Emmy nomination. One of his public service campaigns, featuring New England Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri in a smoking cessation advertisement, became a finalist for the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection.
In the early 2000s, Sisti began documenting his experiences, transforming decades of business wisdom into fictionalized accounts that capture the complexity of entrepreneurial life with thrilling entertainment. His literary output now includes ten books spanning thrillers, humor, self-help, and a TV drama series co-written with a filmmaker colleague. These works have earned recognition including two International Book Awards and two Firebird Book Awards, with readers consistently rating them four to five stars.
The books serve a dual purpose, offering high-stakes drama while delivering critical insights for entrepreneurs navigating similar challenges. Drawing from his extensive experience with corporate extremes—from narcissism to corruption—Sisti’s writing provides practical lessons wrapped in compelling narratives about the joy, heartbreak, humor, and chaos of business life.
Beyond writing, the Southwest Florida resident remains actively engaged in mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs, primarily on a pro bono basis. He speaks at schools and business forums, sharing hard-earned wisdom with the next generation of business leaders. His mentorship focuses on helping entrepreneurs avoid the pitfalls he encountered while building resilience and purpose in their ventures.
Living in Southwest Florida with his wife Sara, Sisti maintains an active lifestyle that includes golf and long beach walks. At 85, he continues consulting, promoting his books, and demonstrating that entrepreneurial spirit knows no age limits. His story stands as testament to the power of persistence, showing how even the most challenging business experiences can be transformed into valuable lessons for others.
For entrepreneurs seeking guidance from someone who has navigated the extremes of business life, Sisti’s books and mentorship offer insights forged through seven decades of real-world experience. His journey from selling fireworks as an 11-year-old to becoming an award-winning author illustrates that success often comes not from avoiding failure, but from learning to transform setbacks into stepping stones.
