I understand Steve. Truly. I took a Huge risk (for me) all those years, but I really believed in it based on everything I read and the incredible, selfless work of folk precisely like YOU. Fact of the matter is, I was trying to help him with something. He doesn’t need it of course, but he is a close friend. Let’s just say it stung… for a long time what was said to me. If I need someone to make me feel stupid, I can go in lots of differing directions, I don’t have to seek it from a very, very close friend.
Now. To my friend’s defense. He is military. Bull in a China shop. If I gave you his name, he’s easily searchable through his military career and private one as well. Decorated. He says things first sometimes and realizes their impact later. Maybe, this time he also realized the effect of what was said. That was my real point in bringing it up. 14 years of lead time, I was trying to give him something to research at the exact right time where he could have made a killing. Would have been nothing for him to drop a mil or two a year ago (heck 100-200K even). His son, a tech junkie the same. Then he could have done what he wanted with it at this point having made close to 20X with the promise that it’s only the beginning.
That said, it is what it is. I mentioned it Monday walking mostly to confirm that he had in fact forgotten it completely and not realized how much he in effect made me ‘feel’ stupid for taking a risk. Funny thing is,
He does the same even in retirement. I know of a roughly 2 mill flyer he has taken. Let me say simply this. My ‘dead money’ even from this point on will likely crush his. In another year, we will see where we are.
As I said, what was said took a year’s worth of courage to mention again. I didn’t mention it to rub it in or anything, that’s not me. More to see if he realized the effect of his words. For a year, I wanted to reflect with him on that… he looks to me let’s say for a very different kind of direction and advice…
Best to the longs today,
F2
