Michael Rubin

In stock, which wasn't sellable, by the way, because the market, okay. And then I had maybe my total net worth in 2009. was $10 million outside of the $25 million of stock I had. And by the way, I probably had $15 million in real estate. So I had a negative net worth. Okay. I remember coming home. I was calm as a cucumber. Get out. Are you serious? Yeah, because you know what?

In stock, which wasn't sellable, by the way, because the market, okay. And then I had maybe my total net worth in 2009. was $10 million outside of the $25 million of stock I had. And by the way, I probably had $15 million in real estate. So I had a negative net worth. Okay. I remember coming home. I was calm as a cucumber. Get out. Are you serious? Yeah, because you know what?

Because I wasn't scared of failing. Here's what I knew. If I fell apart and it was all over, I would just do it again. And it would be fun.

Because I wasn't scared of failing. Here's what I knew. If I fell apart and it was all over, I would just do it again. And it would be fun.

I think ever since I was a little kid, I have not had fear in business. I've just always been fearless like that. And so it doesn't even seem off to me. I think a lot of entrepreneurs think that way. I mean, it doesn't, you know, no matter what you tell me, I'm like, okay, how do we deal with it? Because you want to keep everyone calm, cool, and collected all the times.

I think ever since I was a little kid, I have not had fear in business. I've just always been fearless like that. And so it doesn't even seem off to me. I think a lot of entrepreneurs think that way. I mean, it doesn't, you know, no matter what you tell me, I'm like, okay, how do we deal with it? Because you want to keep everyone calm, cool, and collected all the times.

Think about Tom Brady when he was down 28-3. against the Atlanta Falcons. Do you think he was in there saying like, I'm dejected, I'm quitting? It's just like, fuck that.

Think about Tom Brady when he was down 28-3. against the Atlanta Falcons. Do you think he was in there saying like, I'm dejected, I'm quitting? It's just like, fuck that.

It's when I work the absolute hardest is like, that's when you need to step up. And you know, when the game's on the line, when you're losing, that's when you have to work the smartest and the hardest. And I always work hard, but that's when like nothing's getting in the way. It's like you have tunnel vision.

It's when I work the absolute hardest is like, that's when you need to step up. And you know, when the game's on the line, when you're losing, that's when you have to work the smartest and the hardest. And I always work hard, but that's when like nothing's getting in the way. It's like you have tunnel vision.

So I owed JP Morgan $50 million from 2008. I kept paying them back and I got it down to $3 million. I couldn't get the money. Like I had called friends. No one, like I could, there was no- No one's coming out. 2009, nobody's coming out.

So I owed JP Morgan $50 million from 2008. I kept paying them back and I got it down to $3 million. I couldn't get the money. Like I had called friends. No one, like I could, there was no- No one's coming out. 2009, nobody's coming out.

Yeah. And I had one fund that I'd invested in. I was his first investor. was worth like maybe $5 million. And I kept calling the guy, asking him for the money back. I probably called the guy 50 times to get the money back. He's like, Michael, if I give you your money back, I'm going to have to give every investor their money back. And I can't do that or I'll go out of business.

Yeah. And I had one fund that I'd invested in. I was his first investor. was worth like maybe $5 million. And I kept calling the guy, asking him for the money back. I probably called the guy 50 times to get the money back. He's like, Michael, if I give you your money back, I'm going to have to give every investor their money back. And I can't do that or I'll go out of business.

And literally like on the, 50 first time when I called this guy, I'm like, man, like I'm going to lose my company. I'm going to go bankrupt. Like I need this fucking money. He's like, I'll give it to you if you just stop calling me. I like, I know the guy so bad. He gave me my investment back at what it was worth then. And that saved me from being marched out of the company.

And literally like on the, 50 first time when I called this guy, I'm like, man, like I'm going to lose my company. I'm going to go bankrupt. Like I need this fucking money. He's like, I'll give it to you if you just stop calling me. I like, I know the guy so bad. He gave me my investment back at what it was worth then. And that saved me from being marched out of the company.

By the way, 18 months later, eBay bought the company for $2.4 billion. 18 months later, not five years later, not 10 years later, 18 months later. And I'm telling you, you can think I'm like crazy. I enjoyed the experience of thinking that I was going to be pushed out of my company. I was going to be fall apart because it was like an adventure to go on. I mean, why do I like roller coasters?

By the way, 18 months later, eBay bought the company for $2.4 billion. 18 months later, not five years later, not 10 years later, 18 months later. And I'm telling you, you can think I'm like crazy. I enjoyed the experience of thinking that I was going to be pushed out of my company. I was going to be fall apart because it was like an adventure to go on. I mean, why do I like roller coasters?

Like I like, like I still today at 52 years old, like going on a roller coaster, you know, with my friends, with my kid, because it's the adventures fun.

Like I like, like I still today at 52 years old, like going on a roller coaster, you know, with my friends, with my kid, because it's the adventures fun.