Bloom - Fueled by Failure: Using Detours and Defeats to Power Progress

If youre in need of inspiration and actions to get you through the inevitable failures in business, and life, this book hits the mark. Jeremy recounts his journey from athletics to entrepreneurship with humility, sharing the backstory behind his very public defeats, and more importantly, revealing priceless lessons in competing for success. If you compete at anythingsports, business, or lifeyou need this book.

Scott Blackmun, United States Olympic Committee CEO

Jeremy has emerged stronger from failures in his life and is truly the embodiment of positive energy in everything he does. In these pages Jeremy will show you how to move forward in business and in life without letting the disappointments get in your way.

David Karnstedt, former Adobe Systems, Inc. SVP of media and advertising solutions

Jeremy believes in possibility rather than limits. What stops most of us is our fear of failure, not failure itself. The dread of losing keeps us from the bold pursuits that create success. Jeremy, on the other hand, gets excited about an idea and pursues it with a fearless passion. What could you do if you didnt limit yourself from the start? Jeremy Bloom shows us how to focus on whats possible and just go for it!

Jillaina Wachendorf, Wish of a Lifetime CEO

I took Jeremy snowboarding once... he had never done it before. He went from being terrible at it to excelling in a matter of hours. Part of it was natural talent, but part was that he didnt fear failing. The rest was sheer tenacity. That embodies how Jeremy goes about learning things and this book reflects it. Hes done the researchpractical and theoreticaland delivers great guidance on staying the course to reach success.

Bill Maris, venture capitalist and managing partner at Google Ventures

Jeremy has packed a lifetime of experience into 32 years. While hes led an extraordinary life thus far, the ups and downs hes experienced are something we can all connect with and learn from. His story is inspiring and the lessons he imparts are invigorating.

Tony Bates, president of GoPro, former Skype CEO and Microsoft VP

Part of what has made Jeremys life so remarkable is that he takes on challenges and doesnt look back. When something doesnt work out he learns why and uses that knowledge to better himself. His book is the proverbial kick in the ass that most of us need when we start retreating or giving up on a challenge or a goal.

Brad Feld, American entrepreneur, author, blogger, and venture capitalist at Foundry Group

Jeremys super smart and he gets the big picture. He realized that after sports he would need to do something more. He surrounded himself with very strong, very bright individuals who shared their insights, advice, and best practices. He took those lessons and made sure they were transferrable to the stage he was on. To me that was a huge cornerstone for him. Now you too can learn those attributes in this book.

Apolo Ohno, eight time Olympic medalist in Speed Skating

Publisher: Entrepreneur Press

Cover Design: Andrew Welyczko

Production and Composition: Eliot House Productions

2015 by Entrepreneur Media, Inc.

All rights reserved.

Reproduction or translation of any part of this work beyond that permitted by Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act without permission of the copyright owner is unlawful. Requests for permission or further information should be addressed to the Business Products Division, Entrepreneur Media Inc.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bloom, Jeremy, 1982-

Fueled by failure: using detours and defeats to power progress/Jeremy Bloom.

pages cm

ISBN-13: 978-1-61308-307-9 (ebook)

1. Success in business. 2. Failure (Psychology) 3. New business enterprisesManagement. 4. Organizational behavior. I. Title.

HF5386.B556 2015

658.4'09dc23

2015000164

20 19 18 17 16

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

CONTENTS

T hank you first and foremost to my mom, Char, and dad, Larry. My parents have supported every dream that I have ever had in my life. They are my heroes and the two people that I look up to the most. I also want to thank my brother, Jordan, and my sister, Molly. As the youngest of three, I spent most of my childhood losing to both of them in just about everything. Those losses inspired me to set goals to become the best in the world. And to my dear grandmother Donna, who, at 89 years old, lives high in the Rocky Mountains in Keystone, Colorado, and volunteers every week at the elementary school and senior center.

Id like to also thank the following people for contributing to this book: Tony Bates (former CEO of Skype and current president of GoPro), an entrepreneur who understands how to set an intention and accomplish his goals regardless of the circumstances; Brad Feld (managing director at Foundry Group), for his infinite wisdom and honesty, and for believing in me as an unproven entrepreneur; David Karnstedt (former CEO of Efficient Frontier), for being one of my closest business advisors; Bill Maris (managing director at Google Ventures), for first introducing me to the tech world and later becoming on of my closest friends; Eric Roza (CEO at Datalogix), for showing me that turning around a company when it seems impossible is, in fact, possible; Apolo Ohno (Olympic champion), for showing what hard work was all about as a young aspiring athlete; Karen Cogan (U.S. Ski Team sports psychologist), for helping me sharpen my ability to handle pressure; Jillaina Wachendorf (CEO at Wish of a Lifetime), for her infinite energy and passion in helping make sure the wishes of the oldest among us are fulfilled and dont die with them; and to Greg Besner, Dr. Sydney Finkelstein, Gail Sagel, Roger Staubach, and Brian Swette, all of whom I have not had the privilege of meeting personally, but whose stories inspire me. I would also like to thank Reggie Bradford, Seth Levine, Bruce Dines and Sam Landman for not only investing in me but for also becoming close friends and mentors along the way. I would not be where I am today if not for their support.

I would like to thank Sara Terry and the Brookdale Senior Living Team for believing in a vision for a national partnership with Wish of a Lifetime that has enriched the lives of senior citizens all across the country.

And thank you to Jillian McTigue, Rich Mintzer, Jennifer Merritt, and Karen Billipp for their work on this book for Entrepreneur Press.

W hen I first started thinking about writing this book, I asked ten people what they thought about the title Fueled by Failure