Blake Scholl

So it was early compared to today, but not ultra, ultra early.

And it was my first real job.

So I didn't know what a great company looked like versus crappy company.

So I spent about five years there.

And ultimately, I left feeling frustrated with what I thought the problems were.

And then after that, I was part of a couple of different startups, one that I founded and we sold to Groupon.

And after having spent time at Groupon, I learned how lucky I was to be at Amazon.

The companies all like to say all these great things about themselves, their principle, they make long-term decisions, they care about their customers, et cetera, et cetera.

The hard part is actually doing the real work.

And so when I can look at what Amazon would do versus what Groupon would do,

Again, back then, just a huge study in contrast of who were actually the long-term thinkers, who were actually principled, who was willing to take short-term pain for the long-term right outcome.

And Amazon, this is really very much Jeff's leadership, built that.

And Groupon didn't have it.

I think it's the reason that approximately Groupon doesn't exist anymore.

Right.

For some of us, there's just this magical flight thing and it's a bug that bites us and it never gets out.

I remember taking my first flying lesson when I was an intern in college working in the Bay Area.

I'll never forget that first takeoff.

It was just magical.

It was just sort of this experience of