Zero To Billionaire

er cup of weak coffee carried the bitter flavor of defeat, yet he peered at it as if it contained answers. The fluorescent li

ever, those waves were long gone. The house now smelled of calm despair and burned toner. Workers moved through t

ile adjusting his collar. The tension was already there, a kind of electricity tha

s strange that Mark had not arrived yet. John blinked against the light as he turned to his computer after taking a quick look at t

terested in being called into Harris Black's offic

of a funeral procession. Everyone understood the symptoms, and he walked past cubicles full of collea

nd, really? After seven years of giving everything-staying late, skipping holidays, toleratin

saw his reflection: weary eyes, thinning hair, and the little outline of stubble from when

ilent. **H. Black, CEO** was written in gold serif letters on a massive frosted gl

e CEO flipped through a printed report with surgical precision while s

m and said, "Sit." Every line of his cold, clipped vo

his fists clenc

Black's gaze eventually lifted, he as

k a gulp.

ith a thump upon the desk. Turner, the business is dying. Like vultures, investor

oon would only undermine hi

They are looking for innovation. disturbance. An indication that w

ard. "That is wh

blinke

ing that gives the impression that this business is still viable. You have spent enough time here. You are aware

shed breath. This was not a

nding, John answered, "I

your own expectations.

anced down at his desk once a

-

s head as he left the workplace. Five days. You have five days to come up w

alf-eaten protein bar. Ignoring the emotional wh

d Mark. "You appear

a little closer. "Black

rows went up

nnovative image. I have five days to develop a

softly. "A lo

aybe this is m

he had not heard in years. He looked at

ignored emails, and missed lunch. At first, ideas came in ragged streams,

ad an idea for an app that would allow users to get fully immersed in the narrative of a product-gamify the user experience and all

n. For the first time in years, he felt alive, even though his eyes hurt and his finger

rk, who was using his

"May I present yo

p. "Okay, go a

might succeed. User-led experiences combined with augmented involvement

. His lips opened slightly and his brows

chest. He felt noticed for the fi

?" With optimism

ntaining eye contact with the

ed in the depths of his eyes

hing c

ulating

he was too preoccupied with t