Michael Girdley started his career as a software engineer at companies like RSA and BEA/WebLogic, even co-writing books on Java and WebLogic, before becoming a repeat founder who has built and owned a wide range of operating businesses rather than just investing in them. He's known for openly sharing the playbooks and systems he's developed for running small companies, for talking about picking games where he has a clear edge, and for linking his years as a college swimmer to how he spots hardworking, overlooked talent.