others in San Francisco, Los Angeles
and Prague). Money20/20 named Na-
tureTrak one of the top 100 startups
in fin-tech, and James hopes to close
another $2 million to $4 million as this
issue of Comstock’s goes to press. And
all without a huge party.
Brenda Horton is back too. She found
a new way to channel her passion — in-
fluencing workplace culture through
technology — by working on business
development and marketing with Hu-
maxa, software for improving commu-
nication in organizations. She brings
what she learned from ProPlanner (le-
veraging social media, digital market-
ing, running workshops) to her current
role. The loss meant growth. “Every
experience I’ve had in my career is just
something I build on,” she says, and she
keeps a healthy perspective. “I don’t
see it as failure. I really don’t. … My life
is much bigger and complex than to be
defined by one aspect or category such
as work. I am a sister, daughter, wife,
friend, aunt who has many facets and
interests.”
In the end, failure is one thing —
perhaps the only thing — that unites all
of us. Just ask failed writer J.K. Rowling.
After losing a job and her marriage, she
was broke, depressed and collecting
unemployment, then she sent the first
three chapters of “Harry Potter” to a
publisher, which rejected it. So did an-
other 11. As Rowling once told a grad-
uating class at Harvard University, “It
is impossible to live without failing at
something, unless you live so cautious-
ly that you might as well not have lived
at all, in which case you have failed by
default.” n
Jeff Wilser has failed at writing many
books, which helped him write many
others, including “Alexander Hamilton’s
Guide to Life.” His work has appeared in
print or online in GQ, New York Magazine,
Esquire and Mental Floss, among others.
On Twitter @JeffWilser.
SHAKEN,
NOT STIRRED
NOVEMBER 9, 2019 | 5:30PM
Please join us at the museum for this very
special evening featuring a farm-to-fork
dinner, cocktails, live entertainment, and
a fabulous one of a kind auction offering
unique experiences and items. Pre-sale
tickets are $75 through October 31st, $85
after and at the door.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
WWW.CALAUTOMUSEUM.ORG
916-442-6802
CALIFORNIA
AUTOMOTIVE
MUSEUM
2200 FRONT STREET,
SACRAMENTO, CA
October 2019 | comstocksmag.com
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