Chapter 3

           Ionceknewaguy;we’llcallhimJimmy.

           Jimmyalwayshadvariousbusinessventuresgoing.Onanygivenday,ifyouaskedhimwhathewasdoing,he’drattleoffthenameofsomefirmhewasconsultingwith,orhe’ddescribeapromisingmedicalapphewaslookingforangelinvestorstofund,orhe’dtalkaboutsomecharityeventhewassupposedtobethekeynotespeakerfor,orhowhehadanideaforamoreefficienttypeofgaspumpthatwasgoingtomakehimbillions.Theguywasalwaysrolling,alwayson,andifyougavehimaninchofconversationaldaylight,he’dpulverizeyouabouthowworld-spinninghisworkwas,howbrillianthislatestideaswere,andhe’dname-dropsomuchitfeltlikeyouweretalkingtoatabloidreporter.

           Jimmywasallpositivityallthetime.Alwayspushinghimself,alwaysworkinganangle—arealgo-getter,whateverthefuckthatmeans.

           ThecatchwasthatJimmywasalsoatotaldeadbeat—alltalkandnowalk.Stonedamajorityofthetime,andspendingasmuchmoneyinbarsandfinerestaurantsashedidonhis“businessideas,”Jimmywasaprofessionalleech,livingoffhisfamily’shard-wonmoneybyspinningthemaswellaseverybodyelseinthecityonfalseideasoffuturetechglory.Sure,sometimeshe’dputinsometokeneffort,orpickupthephoneandcold-callsomebigwigandname-dropuntilheranoutofnames,butnothingeveractuallyhappened.Noneofthese“ventures”everblossomedintoanything.