A Beautiful Mind

I sit inhaling the ocean; it smells damp and salty as it pounds into the rocky shoreline. It roils silver along the jagged coast, expanding to pale blue that eventually fades to a thin layer of milky white as it meets sky and clouds on the horizon. The sight makes me feel humble and insignificant, brings me back to what I am—a brief and fragile visitor to a powerful and timeless land. It feels good to lay down the pride and shame of coming from a race of conquerors. And simply revel in a gift of beauty.

Inside are a conference of some of the brightest men and women I will meet in my life time, all contributors to the Med Tech industry. They are responsible for advancing long standing medical procedures for physicians, and creating ingenious devices of the most delicate design that will save or greatly improve countless lives. I am here among this glittering crowd not because of my merit, but because of my husband’s. It is strange and exciting.

Together, they are a sea of polished and elite successful, garbed in business suits and fine jewelry, accessorized with confident handshakes and smug nods. Together, they are imposing to me. If I think too much about their accomplishments, education and ambitions, I will become tongue tied and run back to my well-appointed room.

I cannot keep up with the workings of their intellect; the innovative solutions they invent require specialized degrees and complicated maps that I cannot navigate because I don’t understand the key. So instead, I allow my heart to seek what my mind cannot grasp. I can’t suppress my curiosity about them; I am fascinated to know more. In my intrigue of person and my pursuit to understand them, my admiration swells.

What moves me is not necessarily their accomplishments, education or ambitions (though these things do impress me). It is their daring spirits, their willingness to leave executive jobs and predictable pay checks, impressive titles and societal accolades. They left to satisfy what money and titles could not— the chance to reinvent the definition of success and ultimately of themselves. This show of moxie awakens a sharp loyalty in me; I want to be their champion.

Because I am married to one in this crowd, I understand the costs and rewards to walk down the path of this particular kind of entrepreneurship. Eight years ago, I encouraged my husband to exchange security for the unknown because I knew he was uninspired at what he was doing. And lack of passion is a sure prognosis for a slow death. I would rather he pursue with conviction and get little, than rest disheartened among velvet and jewels. His innate happiness means more to me than a paycheck ever could.

But words are easy and often meaningless; he alone did the hard part and took action. His first steps under the tremendous weight of a family to provide for. It was engaging his mettle that took him from being merely smart into boldness. Maker of his own Phoenix.

The rest of the conference goes well. I take long walks by myself on pristine grounds, eat lovely meals underneath beams of polished mahogany and continue to be enthralled with this caste. When it is time to leave, I look upon the ocean once more, and then turn towards Minnesota where a modest house is tucked beneath the yellow canopy of slender cottonwoods along the Mississippi River, and my two best investments wait for my return.

Minneapolis St. Paul is designated as one of the largest med-tech areas in the country by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Ross Meisner is co-founder and Managing Partner of Dymedex Consulting, a Mpls. firm specializing in scientific market analysis for med tech companies from around the world.