Former MySQL CEO Marten Mikos on faith over optimism Marten Mickos was brought into MySQL when the open-source icon had 12 people in 2001. He grew the company to over 400 people and eventually sold the company to Sun Microsystems for $1 billion in January 2008.In this segment, Mickos advises entrepreneurs to seek wisdom in the words of Admiral Jim Stockdale, the highest-ranking American prisoner in the Hanoi prisoner of war camp from 1965 to 1973, who through  unwavering faith believed he would one day be set free from prison. In Jim Collins' book "Good to Great," he introduces the notion of the "Stockdale Paradox," which is to "retain faith that you will prevail in the end, regardless of difficulties, and at the same time, confront the most brutal ...   [ Read more ]