Hi Tim - I noticed your writing soon after joining Medium. You seemed to be published every other day in the big publications - Startup, Forge, etc and yes had a million views and claps galore. I figured you were gleefully selecting the paint color of your Porsche.

Honestly I couldn't figure out why you were doing so well and I was doing so crappy. You had great titles. So great in fact that I actually created a spreadsheet with the phrases that got my attention. Yes, I have a Tim Denning spreadsheet. But the guts of your articles seemed simply okay. The enormous gap between your success and mine annoyed me so much I unfollowed you.

When I saw the headline of this article about the dumpster fire, I wondered what exactly had happened. I'm afraid my click was probably less about learning from your mistakes as it was like someone slowing as they drive by an accident.

And inside this article I discovered a soul who I really like. I followed you again (not that I'm guessing you need more). I'm truly sorry for your loss of your friend and your regret for not reaching out. And I agree that knowing that you made someone else's life better, really better is life's greatest reward.

Thanks for sharing your highs and lows as a writer.