About Mr. Doug
I’m Doug Hardman. I’ve been known around the internet as “Mr. Doug” since 2005 when I changed my screen-name of 15 years from CptTripps. (I couldn’t stand all the Jerry Garcia references, and nobody got the Stephen King reference.)
I don’t see myself as special. I’ve been many things in my life, and have taken a very strange path to get to where I am today.
Let’s get some basics out of the way early on, so I’m not setting expectations incorrectly. It hasn’t been all kittens and rainbows. (I’ll tag my Wins and Losses along the list so you can keep track at home.)
- I’m a recovering drunk. 36 years. (L/W)
- I’m in a relationship with my best friend and business partner, Dana. I was previously married and divorced twice. (W/L/L)
- I have 2 sons. I love them deeply. (W/W)
- I’ve spent my whole life being an entrepreneur in one way or another. I’ve had wild successes and been part of over $250M worth of exits, and I’ve also shuttered a number of attempts at greatness. (W/L/L/W/L/W/W)
- The last time I used a resume was just after I (barely) graduated High School. (W)
- I never went to college. (W)
- I’ve made a lot of money, but also been bankrupt and had to build myself back from literally nothing. (W/L/W)
- I’ve been fired from jobs. (L/L)
- I’ve been in therapy for the better part of 20y now. (W)
- I take anti-depressants every day for bipolar depression. I feel really good about that now. (W)
- I’m passionate about the things that interest me, but I often lose interest and move on to other things. Sometimes very quickly. (?)
- I’m told I’m great at sales, but hate the sales process. I’m terrible at paperwork. (L)
- I bought 4,000 BTC at $1.40 each and used them to buy something an hour later. Wish I’d understood what the BTC was all about and held. Who wouldn’t? (Also: There’s NO WAY I’d have “Diamond Handed” BTC up to $100K. I’d have cashed out happily at $100. So don’t feel sorry for me.) (L)
- I day trade S&P Futures. I’ve had many days where I made $10K, and several days when I lost $50K because I have a hard time admitting when I’m wrong. (W/L)
I could go on and on with all of my Ws and Ls but I think you see the point.
I tell my kids that I’d rather them fail at things along the way than just have all wins. A loss not only builds character, but it teaches you more than any book or class will. I don’t want to know someone that has never failed at anything. That tells me that they never tried anything new, or pushed themselves.
Why This Site Exists
My hope with this site is to keep people up to date on the things that I’m doing, what I’m currently passionate about, and hopefully help people along the way. Even one person sending me a DM to tell me they found something helpful is a huge W in my book.
I promise that I’ll always be my authentic self here. Authenticity is something that I feel is in short supply these days. True authenticity. Not telling people that you’re one way, but really thinking another.
I also admire people that are willing to be wrong. I’ve admitted on countless occasions that I was wrong when confronted with facts and data that support an opposing argument. I’m a student of life above all else.
So, let’s see where this all goes. Shall we?
Random Facts
- I own the typewriter that Leigh Brackett used to write the original screenplay for The Empire Strikes Back. It came to me through a family connection—my mother cared for Leigh’s sister before she passed.
- I have a lightsaber tattoo…right next to a tattoo of the Elder Wand.
- I’m a million-miler on more than one airline.
- I’ve traveled the world for Harry Potter experiences with Dana. Yes, we’re those people.
- I met Dana on a golf course in Wisconsin.
- I’ve started some of the largest online Golf Communities since the early 2000s— PutterTalk.com, CameronCollector.com and others.
Contact
Email: doug@mrdoug.com