How Ginny Hubbard-Morris Saved My Life

 

 

The year was 1999, and I felt that the next step for radio would be to create custom online radio stations for big brands. Following multiple venture capital pitches, I raised the first round of financing and hired a team of about 50 people, including radio programmers Steve Rivers, Sean Demery, and Steve Wyrostock.

The other programmers I hired were computer programmers, headed by Rich Sadowsky, the brilliant inventor of live update technology. Together we invented and built a concept to create customized stations in multiple formats. Our first customers were Earthlink, About.com, A&E Television, and dozens of others, and we became the second-largest audio streaming consumer in America.

After a couple of years, once we'd proved concept, developed some great new patents and technology, and had actual customers, it was time to go to the market for more money, so we began the process of pitching our second round. Over several months I made more than 200 presentations to every possible venture group and strategic investor, raising considerable commitments, but we had to finish the round and close one major strategic investor. It was logical that we talk to people in the broadcasting business that might like to invest in the digital radio space. One of those broadcasters was Ginny Hubbard-Morris at Hubbard Broadcasting.

As we did on all trips with the executive team, we scheduled multiple meetings in each location and then moved on to other cities. Our first stop was to visit with several VC firms and strategic investors in New York. Our team was to meet at 8:30 a.m. in the lobby of the World Trade Center on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, for coffee. Our CFO, Mark Dirsa, had a meeting with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the World Trade Center, and then we were to go across the street to our second meeting, to talk with Dow Jones about a strategic investment. Following our day in New York, we planned to fly to Minneapolis to meet with Hubbard.

On Monday, September 10, Ginny Hubbard-Morris phoned to cancel our meeting because something had come up. We would have to reschedule for the following week. Though I was discouraged, the team's first instinct was to go to New York anyway. But Hubbard Broadcasting appeared to be our best prospect to complete the round, so I decided to reschedule our meetings and do the trip the following week.

The rest, as they say, is history. Had Ginny Hubbard-Morris not called on Monday to cancel, we would have been in the World Trade Center at 8:30 a.m. and would have been there at 8:46, when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower.

Everyone has a 9/11 story. Most did not end as happily as mine.

So many of us lost friends and colleagues on that tragic day. I feel blessed to have been forced to cancel my trip. Thanks to that cancellation, I've had 10 wonderful years, including the gift of my triplet children, whom my wife was carrying at the time. That decade has been a precious gift.

As we remember the tragedy and the friends we lost on that day, let's not forget the commitments we made to our selves and our families on 9/11. Almost everyone I know committed to spending more time with his or her family and more time on the things that were most important to them. If anything good came from the tragedy, it was the fresh appreciation for life and loved ones we all experienced. This anniversary should remind us of that most of all.

Comments

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[Lyndon]

Hi, i think that i saw you visited my website so i came to “return the favor”.I'm attempting to find things to improve my site!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!

[Rich Sadowsky]

Oh I remember it like yesterday. I was traveling with you. I was up early that morning to head to the airport but we were heading for Minneapolis not NY due to the schedule change. Remember when we finally did go to Minneapolis a few weeks later they had the emergency at the airport where we had to all exit back outside security and re-enter? It was an emotionally intense period for us all.

[Jack Smitj]

Thanks for reminding us Eric how precious life is and how our destiny is indeed influenced by those we surround ourselves with. You are a lucky guy

[Rick Heilmann]

Moving story, Eric. Thanks for sharing.

[jaymie gordon]

Thank you for your story. Life tends to distract us and we do end up taking the things we have for granted. Life is so fragile.

[Cole]

Nicely written.

[Danny Czekalinski]

Wow! An amazing story. Just another reminder how every day on this earth is a gift. Don't make today "just another day."

[Gregg Lindahl]

Beautifully written Eric. A wonderful reminder.