This post is a random set of quick thoughts and questions.
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Most of your fears are learned and mostly negligible.
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Leapfrog opportunities are life’s cheat codes. How can you save years getting to where you want to go? Some examples – create a new category, partner with the right person / entity, build a community, and ask fearlessly.
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Comfort can be a special kind of prison – thinking small is a very real punishment that robs your upside and the world of your gifts.
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More problems and critics are an immensely positive sign. Embrace this as indication of your growth and ability to take rapid, fearless action.
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Consistent effort over time pays off. Everything is compound interest. Exponential growth feels flat for a while, and then you’ll feel the rapid build up.
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Why do we feel so inhibited? Take control and own your full power. Scare people a little!
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Making a trail is more fun than following a path.
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When you’re swimming with sharks, find a way to be the whale.
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I need to maximize. And to maximize, I need to be fanatically authentic, take ever bolder risks, challenge you and myself, set boundaries with my time and energy, welcome controversy if there is truth, and emphasize evolving. Maybe sprinkle in a big bear hug, a healthy cry, or a “f@#k off”.
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Success is measured by your capacity to give and receive love.
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There is a side of you that is like nobody else. Embrace these qualities. Express full comfort in your individuality – life somehow works better when you own the fact that you are different.
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Ask yourself. Are you being ambitious enough?
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Does the atomic hypothesis define systems beyond the physical? What is the analog for music, emotions, and other intangibles?
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There’s a lot of philosophy on work culture, which poorly addresses the “why”. Culture should be a means to enable full authenticity and intensity for all parties involved. From this, you maximize productivity and happiness, and screen faster for organizational fit. Dissatisfaction can be pinpointed to inauthenticity.
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Your energy and goals are magnificent. Maintain it. Build with high-energy people. Cut the cord with stagnant energy. Active mindfulness around this compounds quickly.
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How do you build endurance? You endure.
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Something about the word “no” takes my drive and competitiveness to a whole other dimension. I’ll take it.
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Before you can receive acceptance from others, you must first gift that to yourself, fully.
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I want to be like Casper – the world’s most famous ghost 👻. Working behind the scenes in venture.
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To achieve more, you must first expand your self image.
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Admiration and envy are distinguished by comparison.
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The winning combo: conviction, hustle, and access.
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Quick take on skills:
Kindness (underrated)
MBA (overrated)
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A better question than “how can I be helpful?” is “what are your top 3 concerns/priorities?”
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No one gets extreme results by being average.
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Your vibe attracts your tribe.
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Conviction in yourself is the first step to building something incredible. Conviction in others is a fantastic gift to give.
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Random thought: there are so many “desirable” opportunities where everyone is trying to break in, but the folks that are in are trying to break out.
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My current mantra, inspired by Rumi — ‘Live life as if everything is rigged in your favor.’
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Fundraising mental hack: imagine you had to pay the investor to test you.
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You know you’re type A when not working feels like work.
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Curious about the impact of not thinking big enough…
…vs thinking too big and failing.
Something tells me not thinking big enough has caused more harm.
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Each morning, upon waking, I have been asking the question – “how do I scale?”
The epiphanies have been game changing.
What will be your morning question?
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Critical hires and partners should be a long-term, multi-touch point endeavor of both courting and observation…
Perhaps even better done without them knowing they’re on your short list.
Instead of self-rejecting an opportunity, ask: “why not you?”
Being underestimated is secretly a superpower. Use others’ expectations to your advantage.
The more value you add, the luckier you get.
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Am I diversified?
No.
I’m *all in* on my success as an investor.
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How to win over more female founders: stop interrupting them during their pitches.
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If you don’t give up, your company can’t die.
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At first, they’re dismissive.
Then, you show the results.
…and then they chase you.
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Founders (and GPs) should actively seek investors who bring “f@$k yes this is going to WIN” energy.
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There’s something quite charming about stubborn, maniacal commitment.
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Why do things you don’t have 100% conviction in?
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The law of reciprocity backfires when you only give to receive.
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Grace under pressure.
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Authentic selling is all about allowing yourself and the other person to break character.
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There should be a charm school on how to maximize opportunities in life.
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My “GTL”:
Great coffee
Talk tech
LPs
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Consciousness is one of those topics that makes less sense the more you learn about it.
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We can’t get better at the things we don’t attempt.
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Celebrity is a poor proxy for legitimacy.
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Keep putting in the hours.
People will first notice you’re just not giving up.
And then notice you’re just too good to ignore.
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You can either wait for someone else to break a paradigm, or, you can break your own.
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Swapping “before” and “after” photos during COVID would look like THE most successful dieting & beauty campaign on the planet.
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The fundraising cycle:
Emphatic first adopters & supporters, high hopes!
Small wins & some early rejection, but the optimism is still strong!
Pit of despair, hope is *almost* lost.
Uptick in those willing to take a chance, renewed confidence.
Euphoric run to the finish line, woohoo!
-Fin-
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A good idea makes more sense the more you think about it.
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Everything is nuanced, especially nuance.
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Something about the word “no” takes my drive and competitiveness to a whole other dimension. I’ll take it.
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Food for thought this weekend: by thinking and acting the same way as everyone else – you perform the same way too.
How are you thinking differently?
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I *love* seeing founders reach this inflection point in their biz…
BEFORE: meeting with 100% of investors, sending follow-ups to everyone, getting ghosted, and the low and slow conversion rates.
AFTER: putting 100% of time to top 10% of investors, getting chased, oversubscribing, and then breaking the hearts of investors who didn’t gain conviction early.
Boom.
Founders, is that one of life’s best feelings, or what? 😉
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People tell or show you what you need to know.
If you pay attention. 👀
This requires removing the layers of ego.
And being open to accepting what you’re not ready to realize (either due to hubris or stage in your journey).
It is important to not take these truths or perceptions personally.
Instead, to make a commitment to excellence and to doing your best.
I wish I had this epiphany much earlier in life.
This is such a life hack to level up quickly.
OK let’s f’n go.
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The mental shift investors have when they hear about Conscience:
The 1st time: 🤔
“What?! Um…. Let me get this straight. Consumer and… science? How?! Do those… go together?”
Vs. the nth time: 🤯
“Yes! Aha! Of course! Consumer and science! How was this missed?! Mhmmm, that makes total sense!”
I love the instant this transition happens on calls.
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What I love most about fundraising: meeting some of the most interesting people on the planet, and pitching what you’re most passionate about.
Think about it — in what other context would you be able to connect with these investors?
Exciting, right?
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Where would your life be, if you asked yourself each morning: “how can I 100x my output?”
Hmmmm… 🙂 love fun questions like this.
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Investing: a combination of
(1) top-down assessment (for overall attractiveness),
(2) bottom-up evaluation (for ground-level understanding),
(3) compared to other opportunities (relative investment *and* portfolio awareness),
(4) with a clear understanding of risks (vs. uncertainty),
(5) and some informed vision of the future (or a plain ol’ wild bet).
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What makes a great startup? 🤔
Great startups:
>> Look for problems before they arise.
>> Fully understand their customers and the problems they face.Â
>> Invest in building an amazing culture.Â
>> Create an environment to attract top talent.
>> Hire slowly and intentionally.
> Back clear goals with purposeful spending.
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Increased certainty comes at a cost.
Unless…
You are in a space no one is focused on.
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“What am I doing to win?”
Matters more than:
“Why was I rejected?”
Opinions are not prophecy.
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