RE:
On a serious note. i am sorry to see that the goofballs have gotten to you. It is difficult to ignore. however i am confident that my market survey will prosuce the results as predicted.
JE,
Great time at lunch. Love to do it more often. Come to Tibet, we can serve you merinated yak meat and fresh barely sprouts (but only on Thursday's).
Couple of thoughts:
- Family. A more precise reading is that I think I have come through it fine in terms of emotioinal component. The day after Pearl Harbor Day happened (a very specific, memorable day), I assembled the leadership team, explained what had happened (they hired lawyers, n.b. plural), explained my translation (we gotta get outta Dodge) and told them my goals:
a. I wanted to architect and execute the transition with excellence. Wanted to be able to look back and say 'job well done'.
b. I wanted us to come out of the difficult experience with our values and culture intact.
I think (actually, I know) we accomplished both and at the end of the day, that's counts is that I know this to be true.
- Reputation. My comments have two components:
a. Self delusion. I enter a guilty plea, throw myself on the mercy of the court with my only defense being that I was born that way.
b. Reality. I do think that most of the business community is confused and since they are only mildly interested, there is no motivation to dig further. Have multiple relatives with same last name on no obvious "Who's Who" in the P family.
c. Having said the above, I was with Jamie D in March. He triggered a similar conversation and when I expressed an issue about reputation, he said "actually, you are the poster child for how to handle a family problem".
So, my assesment is the issue isn't emotional damage, it's a question about reputation.
- Mutual Fund.
a. Your thinking is solid. I will be better at building than trading. Challenge will be to find a platform to build off of. As you know, I have started some companies and that requires work, time and luck. I only have two of those available. If Jes has something we should look at, that will be great. I will follow up with usual suspects and have them looking.
- You. Not sure that there is anything I can do, but consider me volunteered.
Best,
Tom