Like a Moth

During one of my business trips to Japan I was treated to a big dinner event at a fancy Tokyo restaurant. A dozen Japanese executives were there. At some point, after several rounds of drinks, I asked the senior Sumitomo executive if he could tell a joke. The room grew quiet. The executive stood up, whiskey glass in hand, and said, "In my youth I had time and health but I had no money. In my middle age I had health and money but I had no time. Now I am old, I have money and time but I have no health."

This little joke has given me a neat way to organize all the little episodes that make up the story of my life. In Part 1, the first 25 years of my life, I grew up in the counterculture of the 1960's, searching for truth and trying to have as much fun as possible. In Part 2, the next 40 years, I was a serial entrepreneur working crazy hours and building two very successful tech companies. And now I'm in Part 3, where I have enough time and remaining health to do things like writing this book.

It's all here. From out-of-body experiences to boardroom battles, from cross country hitchhiking to developing one of the first world's spreadsheet programs, from Ouija boards to road racing to high-stakes business drama. And from West African drumming to Chinese books, adventures in India, and mountain climbing.

"Sun and shower, wind and rain, in and out the window like a moth before a flame."

This is a memoir by Jeff Pepper. He has founded and led several successful software companies, including one that became publicly traded. He's currently President and CEO of Imagin8 Press and Tunescribers.com. Jeff has authored over 40 books and was awarded three U.S. patents.