Michael Rubin

I co-created a new retail concept—the "you paint it" ceramic industry, which became a global phenomenon. Also convinced George Lucas to let me write a book about his company. Which I did. And worked closely with Bernardo Bertolucci to make a movie. That was life-changing.

I've been very proud of my book "Nonlinear"—which became an industry staple in the conversion of Hollywood from film to digital, and coined the term; i self-published it in 1993—and it supported me for the decade i was building the ceramics company.