Play to Win

“You know, Tom, I hate most people. But I hate you most of all.”

That’s Gray Grisham for you. He’s never been the sort of person who won’t speak his mind, even if he knows you won’t like what you’re about to hear. Especially then: he takes a special delight in telling people off. Usually, the person he’s telling off is me.

When Gray was twelve years old, he started crying over his Cheerios one day because he didn’t think he was ever going to have enough money to buy a share of Berkshire Hathaway. That’s the last time he ever remembers worrying about money. At fifteen, he managed and owned his own business. Five years later, he’d made his first million. These days, he could buy all of Berkshire if he wanted to. But he makes more money on his own. Which is I think why so many people are willing to put up with his bullshit. An asshole, yes, but a genius, too.

“I’m honored,” I say. “But you’re still wrong.”

I’ve known Gray since we were both in diapers, and I expect I’ll still know him when we’re both back in them again at some nursing home in Florida. That’s why I’m not worried about telling him how I feel about this Flaherty business. It’ll get him knocked if he’s not careful, and it’ll get him knocked even if he is.

He shouldn’t be involved, but I can already tell that he’s not going to listen to me. That’s not going to stop me from trying, though. In this business, if you don’t speak out, you lose. I’m not a loser.

(Free theme with some dialogue)