We hit that resonant frequency where every single thing just clicked. It's like an 80,000-ton flywheel that starts to roll and then accelerates, accelerates, and accelerates. But the most unexpected thing can reverse the flywheel, causing it to spin in the other direction just as powerfully. I understood that lesson at an intellectual level, but now I understand it at a visceral level. These catalyzing events have certainly made me much more careful, much more humble.
Hardship is relative.
It's actually a very optimistic and motivational rule, because it means that you shouldn't sit around and feel sorry for yourself. MicroStrategy experienced a revenue restatement. A lot of people lost their jobs. As we've seen with other companies, the worst is when the stock is delisted, the company goes bankrupt, and the court disallows bankruptcy. I don't mean to suggest that this whole experience has not been very, very painful, because it's been the most painful thing that's happened to me in my entire business career.