Musings at Altitude

I’ve been thinking back over my business life and thinking about those magical moments that happen when all things seem to go right – that perfect program that comes in ahead of schedule and under budget; that perfectly timed contract that leads to the investment round being signed or leads to that advance check that allows you to meet payroll; that perfect hire that plugs in the missing piece of the puzzle and makes the team now that “A” team that clients want or that a major program requires; that perfect deployment where the product or application works exactly as needed and the customer is ecstatic beyond belief.  I remember every single one of these magical moments, and in some ways, I live my business life excitedly moving from one of these magical business moments to another – or at least that’s what I want.

But the older and more experienced I get, the more I now desire to create magical moments rather than unexpectedly fall into them or desperately seek them out.  In my early business years, the magical moments tended to come from the assignment I was given or the impossible task that was assigned to me.  I remember that General that asked, “how many Lieutenants do I have working for me?”  I remember that Colonel that said, “you’re representing us in NATO – get packed and get ready.”  And I remember that other General that told my Colonel to sit outside because he wanted to talk with me and not hear it from the Colonel.  All of these preceded or followed very magical moments.

In my later business years, the magical moments came from a particular path that I chose or from a specific company or project that I started.  I remember negotiating with my client and getting that first $2M check.  I remember the decision to start my own company and then within weeks having that first marquee client that ended up providing us with millions of dollars in business.  I remember being part of oh so many briefings to venture capitalists trying to raise money after 9/11 and then getting that call from the company’s founder saying we finally (after 7 months) got a term sheet and expected the long delayed and much needed funding.

In each of these cases, I was blessed to be part of something magical.  In each of these cases, others created magic for me.  Now it’s time for me to create magic for others.

More to follow.