Hi, my name is Clinton Fowler. This is a brief story about my life, so far.

I grew up 5 miles from Plymouth Rock in a small town called Kingston, MA.

I remember visiting 'the rock' and Plymouth Plantation and the other various historical monuments every year as part of school trips. But I mostly remember thinking how far a bike ride it was to 'the rock'.

Disclaimer. I no longer talk with a Boston accent. Exceptions include when I'm upset or very happy.

It took approximately 6 months of co-workers at Kraft Foods (internship) in Chicago asking me to say 'burga' and 'pizzr' every day for me to mostly eliminate it.

I grew up racing motocross from the age of 5 to 18. Loretta Lynn's was a place where the national championships were held, not a country singer. I raced ~40 weekends a year, every year.

It's tough to quantify just how much racing shaped who I am today. From a love of travel/adventure (I'd raced in about 15 states before I was 10 years old), to composure under pressure (try lining up against 39 of your fastest competitors from around the country at 8 yrs old), to spatial awareness and leadership (always know where you're at on the track).

I also raced BMX, played hockey, ski/snowboard, and absolutely, postively sucked at baseball.

While I don't ride/race moto now, I'm still an avid fan.

My dad always said "if it's worth doing, do it right". That's stuck with me forever. Whether it's racing, learning, or [fill in the blank], I put 110% effort.

I went to NU in Boston. Unlike in high school, I applied myself and actually won awards, made the dean's list, and got 4.0's. It was fun and I had a blast in business classes.

I was also on the ski team for 2 years, though only one result ever counted towards our team ranking so my contribution was more in spirit.

I love Boston, but don't miss the harsh winters or sticky summers. My family still lives in the area and I do miss them. Like most families, they have their quirks, but they still rock.

After interning at Expedia and getting an offer to return to Microsoft full-time, Seattle became my new home in 1999. 14 years later, it's still home. My friends and 'family' are all here. And I love the Pacific Northwest (mostly).

I joined the Xbox team when we sat in the 'bat cave' on the Redwest campus and there was less than 50 employees. Xbox was like a startup without any of the risk. At the time, I remember saying it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Looking back, it was indeed. It's not often you get a chance to be a team member working on a project with such scale and cultural impact.

I have a lot of fond memories and a bucket full of '10 year stories' from Xbox. Not sure which is my favorite, but trying to 'sell' JerryJ's car sure was fun.

I love bikes. All kinds, but especially mountain bikes, which I ride and race frequently. I raced semi-pro nationally for a couple of years. And I also started and run a regional MTB team called the 529 Legion.

MTB keeps me mentally and physically healthy, challenges me to progress, gets me out with friends, and gives me the chance to travel to really cool locations. If you've never been to Zion or Whistler, you're missing out!

After 10 years at Microsoft, I took a year off to relax and recalibrate. I went skiing in Jackson Hole and then traveled around the western United States and Canada to ride the best MTB trails.

Jackson Hole is simply amazing. The small town, steep slopes, and 360 degree views beautiful.

Overall, it was an epic trip.

After my road trip, I returned to the work force with a goal to start a company someday. I started by getting some experience. Discovery Bay Games was stop #1. The Clymb was stop #2. 529 was my own.

I feel like I've earned a degree in entrepreneurship. And I love the passion, drive, and comraderie of working with small teams of smart people.

I'm happy to admit to a few loves and a few hates.

Growing up I remember seeing stickers that said "He who dies with the most toys, wins.".

For me, it's about the stories...