Fall 2023
Cheers to a Stellar Fall Season
It has been a whirlwind since the last newsletter. A few highlights: my son, Sebastian (“Seb”), was born, started a new job a month before Seb was born (it was tough to leave the warm bosom of Google for a Series D new venture), a couple long distance bike races, trips to Frisco, Crested Butte and Palisade and a multi-day backpacking adventure in Rocky Mountain National Park .
This year, it has been a delight to read biographies on the likes of Larry Ellison, Elon Musk, Sam Bankman-Fried, Ross Johnson (famous for the LBO of RJR Nabisco) and Felix Dennis (a wacky wealthy Englishman). Definitely some Dollops of Wisdom in these books!
Please see below for selected Dollops of Wisdom. Since the last newsletter, I have added 72 new quotes.
Selected Dollops of Wisdom
QUOTE #1
"In my whole life, I have known no wise people who didn't read all the time - none, zero." - Charlie Munger
QUOTE #1 COMMENTARY
This is especially apropos since I read in the new SBF biography, that SBF despised reading books … maybe if he would have picked up a book, he wouldn’t be potentially going to prison.
QUOTE #2
"When a leader walks in the room - the followers feel intimidated, the snakes feel threatened, but the next leaders feel inspired." - Felix Dennis
QUOTE #2 COMMENTARY
How do you feel when the leaders speak at your company?
QUOTE #3
"Hope is not a good strategy, you can hope in one hand and shit in the other and see which one fills up first." - Andy Alexander, my brother (inspired by Stephen King)
QUOTE #3 COMMENTARY
Hope? Useless … Action? Useful
QUOTE #4
"When the pain of remaining the same is greater than the pain of changing, you will change. In life, we either chose the pain of discipline or the pain of regret." - relayed to me by Fred Alexander, my father (but actually Jim Rohn)
QUOTE #4 COMMENTARY
I think maintaining discipline gets harder as you age … you just get too comfortable. Although, if you choose regret, it can be easier to wash down with a nice glass of Cab Sav.
QUOTE #5
"I'm not an expert in psychology or anything like that. All I can tell you is that when you're a person that always has a goal, that always has a mission, the less you have to think about, "How do I feel today?". "Am I depressed today?" "Do I feel sorry for myself?" "Have I become a victim?" "Oh my God. I feel so bad about myself," and all this. I don't have time for this crap. A lot of times, it's people who don't work enough. If you're busy all the time, you don't have time to think about this stuff. Let's just move forward. Move. Move. Move. Move." - Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Netflix documentary on his life
QUOTE #5 COMMENTARY
After Arnold's parents died, he dealt with it by staying busy, after losing a show, he continued to stay busy. Don't let negative thoughts take over your mind.
