Tim and Thomas have chosen a hard route with all of their scientific discoveries, etc. That route has not been easy. Biotech is not easy. All of the filings, and paperwork, rules, SEC and FDA requirements... and... etc. is not easy. It is a tough route. The beauty of a tough route is that when the route is done, the mission reached (even if there are various milestones), the rewards are great. In the case of TSOI, lives are saved and changed. How much is that worth to the individual? Family? Friends? Investors? But to get there, the climb can be difficult and treacherous, and beautiful as well.
For instance, the SM stuff, wow. I will not say more. I watch it, as do the majority of you (I assume).
Imagine the day that the stuff that TSOI is working on hits that tipping point? One moment when the stock begins to rise, SM takes note. YouTubers begin to talk. Etc. Monetization begins to happen in a way that snowballs into well, what we have all been dreaming of.
So how about my story?
Many... many years ago, when I was a teen (17 and 18), I decided that I wanted to add an exclamation point to my life and do the hard route.
I had been rock climbing since I just a kid I never knew anything about rock climbing until our Jr. High showed an inspiration film called Solo for the student body to watch. I was inspired. I started climbing and did not know anything, climbing with close line. My mom was smart and did not want us to kill ourselves so she said that me and my best friend should climb with the Sierra Club to learn proper skills. I did and the experience was awesome.
We would climb all over the place and as a teen I used to lead trips of adults and teach them climbing skills. I got pretty good (not compared to today's standards).
I climbed a lot with the Sierra Club folks and one day at age 17 I asked if any of them wanted to climb the face of Half Dome in Yosemite. They all thought I was crazy and none wanted to go. Keep in mind we are talking 1977 and back then there were no climbing gyms, and advanced gear, etc.
A couple teen buddies of mine said sure, why not and we went. I spent multiple days on the side of a 2000' vertical wall of granite. Lots of hard moments. Lots of memories. When things got hard, the only option we had was up! It was a hard route. A long route. It took skill and stamina, and will and the belief that we would not fail no matter what. Today, with all of the climbing gyms around and gear, it is still hard but not as hard for many. Back in the day it was still hard, and as you will see in the attached video, it is not easy.
The video is not of me and or of my buddies. I just put a link to a recent video on YouTube so you can get an idea of what the route was like. Day and night on the face. Sleeping with nothing but air below.
So what is the point?
The point is, Tim and Tom, you picked your route. It is not easy. It will provide you with uncountable rewards when you reach your goal and the lives that are saved and are changed (including mine along the way, and Debs, and Sarge's and Craigs, and Alphas, and Curncmans, and... you get the pic), it will be amazing. The angels will rejoice and you will know that you have what it takes to be among the heroes, the great, the undefeated, the ones who press on in the face of adversity.
Rocky said in one of his movies, “It's not about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.” - Rocky balboa Sylvester Stallone
When you don't think you have more to give or question why, or feel like you have lost or want to give up. Don't. Just Don't. It is the time to dig deep and build your character, look more creatively at the options and resources around you. I remembered many times, hanging on the side of the cliff, wondering if I had pushed too far, if I had crossed the line and if I would would make it. In those situations, you discover what you are made of and who you are. ... Tim and Tom are winners! You know that, the world wants assurance of that. You've got this. You know a lot of folks. There are folks on the scientific board. There are influencers out there who want to change the world and who are looking for heroes to save folks. I am not here to say what to do, but to inspire. The secret sauce in in you. The will to succeed is in you. The hard work and long nights, you have invested. The countless hours of reading and studying and .... etc. Are you going to let SM folks rob you of that? Are you going to let down the people who have no other hope, no other hope, than the miracles that you can bring to help them. The choice is yours. I would include a link to a Rocky inspirational video here, but I have done that before. Just know that we are with you. We applaud your hard world. Stick to the mission. Pull out all the stops. Get creative, have fun and rock this thing! Once it starts going up and it can't stop, you will wonder why you ever doubted yourselves.
JUST KEEP GOING. ROCK THIS THING! The route is hard. Of course it is, but you are both chosen to change the world. The only way is up!
We are counting on you.
We have put our faith, trust, and for some (like me, my life savings in TSOI).
You've got this.
Be brave. Be strong. You've done a lot of the hard work. You have prepared/practiced for the climb. You have filed for patents. You have spinoffs, you are on your way. You have spent years of your life pursuing this endeavor and for an amazing reason. You alone, are the ones gifted to bring us the IP that you do. Connections. You know people and it is not just who you know but who they know. You have an incredibly powerful story, mission, and IP portfolio. If you are cash short, sell the story. Sell where TSOI is going and there are people out there who will take you on and not let you fail. Do not underestimate the power of your story and what you have to offer. In the right hands of a believer, and one with the right connections, cash flow should be a thing of the past.
Do not give up. Do not waiver. Sometimes the only way is up and remember that Hard Routes are Rewarding but are Hard. I cannot tell you how many times that when it came to life or death moments while climbing, I became very creative, brave and bold. Fortunately, I am still here to talk about it but there were times when I was not sure if I was taking my least breaths. When the only option is up, one gets to know themselves pretty well.
And once I would pass that moment it was so exhilarating and rewarding. As I pushed my limits I became a little better each time, although I cannot say that sometimes, things got very scary. Business can be like that too as can anything we do. By the way, I climbed the face twice at 17 and 18. Both times the reward of reaching the summit was so, so rewarding.
Enjoy the video, and by the way, this is the actual route we climbed. I giant chunk of rock, (giant) has fallen off since we climbed it so the mid section of this climb is a little different for these guys, but the Thank God Ledge, as it is called (that amazing narrow ledge is still the same one that we crossed twice, is still there.) The Regular NW face route of Half Dome (as it is called) is a beautiful climb.
and... Solo... the video, long ago that started my love for climbing and that consequently changed many other's lives...
https://www.rockandice.com/videos/climb ... hort-film/
Some folks are content being like chickens, happy to walk around in the chicken yard, happily picking at the ground. You are not chickens, not pigeons... you are EAGLES! You are the ones leading the others, the top, the best of the best. It is when you doubt and lose focus of this or doubt yourselves, or become afraid, that the enemy wins. There are forces that do not want you to succeed and save/change lives. Back down and potentially lives may be lost when you have what it takes to save them. Just something to think about. Time for a Rocky moment. He got bashed, he got knocked down, but he did not give up. The world loves Rocky, not because he was a fighter with the best style or most hits, but the one who when hit just kept going. He is a symbol of heart and belief in getting the job done even when faced with incredibly difficult odds. U got this!
SM can be a tough crowd, especially when their money is involved. Just know Tim and Tom, that there are many who still are rooting for you and your mission!
Steve
