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Bon Journal

A millionaire in each of us

Tonight I attend the London premiere of Harry Potter - the movie.

I have not read the book, but from what I've heard, it is every child's dream story. From what I've read, it's every adult's rags-to-riches story.

I'm talking about the author. Almost overnight J.K. Rowling went from being on welfare to being a millionaire. It gives hope to the rest of us who dare to dream.

Is there room for another Harry Potter? Another Pokemon? I'm surprised there is - given our ageing population. Or is it really the adults that choose, buy, and read the books and toys?

Work hard at something you believe in, and your lucky break will come. You'll sell your wind farm to some large energy company who wants to acquire customers in your area. You'll sell your database to a company many times more than the cost of building it.

That's what kept me going years ago. I worked for nothing for friends who had a brilliant idea. But in the end, I used up my savings and my health. I lost my friends and our friendship. And I went back to the safe haven of corporate life.

Maybe I just wasn't desperate, ambitious, or lucky enough to cut it. But the conviction that what we had was the best product in the world and that we could become millionaires motivated me to work without pay from the minute I woke up to the minute I crashed into my basement bed late at night.

I haven't forgotten that desire to succeed. And I admire all who dare to dream. For there is room for another Harry Potter. There is a millionaire in each of us.

16 November 2001 Friday

Ah! It is so much faster to write this journal in Dreamweaver than to code it in HTML!

I'm glad to have my laptop back. Thanks, Simon.