I mentor and sometimes tormentor of mine died Friday of a heart attack. As I discuss in my first book, Bob Bernard, 45, CEO of Whittman-Hart was one of the inspirations behind me leaving IBM and eventually becoming an entrepreneur. Bob showed me how much fun having your own business could be and how you could create something from nothing, helping the world in the process.

Although we did not always agree (he fired me as his Director of Sales), Bob was a leader with alot of charisma. He befriended me. You wanted to follow him. Many of us did. I had not seen Bob for many years, but when I had him on a panel about 3 years ago after his first heart attack, he finally had become more humbled. He still managed to buy back Whittman-Hart and became successful once again after the bubble burst on him on 2001.

I was personally friendly with Bob for many years in the late 1980’s and early 90’s. His passing at the same age that I am at now makes me feel especially sad..and mortal.