Nearly 10 years ago, Frank Gupton and I had a chance encounter where we learned that we both had interest in creating efficient routes to generic medicines. Lucky for me, Frank and I began mentoring each other-Frank teaching me wisdom gained from 30 years in industry and I sharing what I knew about the academic world. As some who know Frank will understand, his lessons in some cases seem devilishly obvious and should be chanted daily like a zen koan while others are subtle and complex, requiring many years of reflection. Frank was asked by OPR&D to offer these lessons in a condensed form so that others might learn what I have. Frank and I decided that a transcript of our many conversations condensed into one document might do the trick.