[md_]

He's clearly smart.

I am not sure I get the "failed in the right way", though. From one point of view, I think it's a great story here that, given how much of a role is played by luck and external factors, someone who might have proven himself to have great instincts and intelligence can get ahead even if, due to external factors, his particular startup failed.

But from another point of view, Sam is just an example of "those who can, do; those who can't...", only in this case it's "become hugely successful VCs and CEOs."

Which is weird! But maybe the wrong interpretation. I don't know.