Investor, Writer & Photographer. Partner emeritus @ True Ventures. Past life: Started GigaOm. I have written about tech for 3+ decades. Visit: Om.co

Perhaps the most profound lesson was learning to look beyond immediate outcomes. What seemed like devastating wounds at the time have become battle scars I now cherish. Former colleagues became lifelong friends. Ideas we pioneered—from paid subscriptions to multiple revenue streams—are now industry standards.

Most importantly, failure opened doors I didn't know existed. It led me to photography, where I learned to hear light and see wind, finding new meaning in the slowness of time. What felt like the worst moment of my life was actually a journey to a better future—I just couldn't see it then.

Remember this: your worst day might just be the universe's way of redirecting you to where you need to go. 

A longer version of this post is published and available on my website, https://om.co/2025/03/11/ten-years-later/