Since I started "doing startups" I've used a simple trick to track my optimism: Each day (sometimes several times a day) I write down an integer between 1 and 10, with 10 high. I've learned that the resulting time-series looks a bit like waves at the beach, with wild swings on a short time scale. Knowing this makes it easier to get through the bad bits. You can go from a fantastic sales meeting to one where you lose a deal. Startups are like surfing: you can't predict the waves – when they come you have to get on the board and surf, and you cannot afford to fall onto the reef below.
This morning I recorded a 9, and then a bit later, a 6. Now I'm back up at 10.
Bromium is a high flying company. Our product is quite simply superb. Our sales have been exceptional for a startup in its first year. We have the best engineering team in the world and the calibre of our executive team and board is stellar. Each day I start with a 9, keeping the extra 1 in reserve as a mental reward for great achievements during the day.
My 6 came from the news that Tal Klein (@virtualtal) is leaving Bromium. Working with him has been a delight, and he's a marketing wiz. And while I'm happy for him that he has been offered a VP role at another company that will allow him to spread his wings and fly as he deserves, it's a downer to lose his talent and passion. Great people must do as they must. I'm fortunate to count Tal as a firm friend, and we will share many tales of surfing startup waves, in the future.
Now I'm back up at a 10 based on a superb win by our Federal Sales team – a "company maker" opportunity that has taken well over a year to develop, demonstrating the superior value of hardware-isolation for protection and threat intelligence gathering, and winning our customer's confidence because of our commitment to their interests. I am privileged to work with the very best, and the very best people inspire their team mates to greater success.
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