If youth is truly wasted on the young, as Nobel Prize-winning essayist and playwright George Bernard Shaw claimed, then it would seem that experience often is wasted on the, er, experienced. After all, most of us at some time have bemoaned, "If I only knew then what I know now. …"

Thus comes this current season of making resolutions.

Our resolution at Private Clubs for the coming year is to better serve as a forum for sharing some of the tremendous experience of our readers. You’ve got what Tom Wolfe called "the right stuff" in his 1979 best-selling book of the same name. One of Wolfe’s examples of people possessing the right stuff was test pilot Chuck Yeager, the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound. Yeager later wrote in his 1985 autobiography (Yeager) that if "there is such a thing as ‘the right stuff’ in piloting, then it is experience."

And so we’re looking to share some compelling lessons of experience. Sometimes, the lessons come from trying times, as writer Scott Gummer points out in this issue in his conversation with Silicon Valley Capital Club member Greg Jamison. Along with the interview, Scott convinced the president, CEO, and part owner of the San Jose Sharks National Hockey League team to share five keys to winning in business: Have a vision; hire good people; foster an environment of success; be accountable; and have the courage to change course.

Our "Capital Ideas" concept will take different forms in upcoming issues. We’ll pass along the lessons of experience where we find them — when we find you. To assist us, please send us your lessons of experience, business tips, or advice you would give a 22-year-old (e-mail: privateclubs@clubcorp.com). And let us know what you think: What is "the right stuff"?

Enjoy the issue,
Patricia Baldwin
Editor in Chief