This is my one-hundred-forty-eighth weekly reflection. Here are my takeaways from this week:

• Missing piece – I spent time this week with a rising entrepreneur. He shared what’s holding back his business, and it’s something I’ve heard from other entrepreneurs. He's able to find attractive deals but doesn't know how to structure deals to attract investor capital. I think there’s an opportunity to provide it to him and other founders to help unlock more value.
• Sentiment – I chatted with investors and entrepreneurs in various sectors (not just tech) this month. There’s a noticeable, albeit slight, uptick in investor and entrepreneur sentiment this month. Tuesday marks the end of the month. I’m curious to see if this slightly positive sentiment continues in February.  
• I still get things wrong – I made a decision that didn’t pan out the way I planned. It was a mistake. This week was a reminder of a couple of things: (1) I still make mistakes regularly, and (2) I should spend time reflecting on what I learned from a mistake, not dwelling on the fact that I made one.  
  

Week one hundred forty-eight was a great week. Looking forward to next week!

This is my one-hundred-forty-seventh weekly reflection. Here are my takeaways from this week:

• Tech Layoffs – This week Google announced a 12,000 headcount reduction. Earlier this week Microsoft announced a 10,000 headcount reduction. The layoffs are terrible for those impacted. I believe we’ll see a material uptick in entrepreneurship and more of these people migrating to lower-cost cities like Atlanta.
• Focus on Simple Ideas – I’ve been thinking about this all week. Outsized success is the result of intensity applied to simple ideas.  
• History Lesson – I had a long conversation with an elder about historical events I wasn’t familiar with that shaped the world in ways I wasn’t aware of. I’ve been thinking about this conversation and learning more about the events he shared with me. I want to start digging into history more to better understand the events that led to today’s society.  

Week one hundred forty-seven was a steady week. Looking forward to next week!

This is my one-hundred-forty-sixth weekly reflection. Here are my takeaways from this week:

• Fundraising season – I talked to several founders this week, asking for feedback on fundraising materials. Some attempted to raise last year, but market conditions were too bad. Some simply delayed raising. I suspect that starting around February a significant number of companies will kick off fundraising.
• Wise people – I researched Charlie Munger and noted some of his lessons learned. He’s got almost 100 years of wisdom. Seeking out the wisdom of highly successful people has such a high ROI. With platforms such as YouTube, podcasts, and good old books that are available online, their wisdom is more accessible than it’s ever been. I wonder if people realize its value.
• Multipliers – Founders who have this mindset are on a different level than other founders. The potential reward of multiplying is worth the risk of betting it all (or most of it), in their mind. I like this mindset, and I’m thinking about ways to identify the multiplier trait when founders are first starting out.

Week one hundred forty-six was a solid week. Looking forward to next week!

A friend shared a quote from Charlie Munger with me:

I think people that multitask pay a huge price. They think they’re being extra productive, and I think they’re [out of their mind].

I think when you multi-task so much, you don’t have time to think about anything deeply. You’re giving the world an advantage you shouldn’t do. Practically everybody is drifting into that mistake.

Concentrating hard on something that is important is . . . I can’t succeed at all without doing it. I did not succeed in life by intelligence. I succeeded because I have a long attention span.

It’s telling that Charlie attributes his success to concentration, not intelligence.

I was chatting with a very successful person, and he shared with me that he blocks out time to think. He said he’s disciplined about when he checks text messages, email, etc. so he isn’t in a reactionary state. And he’s intentional about making time to focus on important topics.

These days, more distractions than ever are making it harder for people to know how to focus. This person and Charlie are both super successful, and both make a point of setting aside time to concentrate. That isn’t a coincidence.

I’m intentional about making time to think regularly, but not on the level of these two. In 2023, I want to look for ways to multitask less and lengthen my attention span.

‍

Today marks the end of my one-hundred-forty-fifth week of working from home (mostly). Here are my takeaways from week one hundred forty-five:

• New year – The new year is here. It’s a fresh start. I’m really excited about what’s in store in 2023.
• Personal velocity – I’ve been thinking about this concept more as it applies to evaluation of individuals. I’ve also started to think about the personal velocity of people in my circle.
• High gear – The most successful people have a hidden gear, an extra one they don’t use all the time. They shift into high gear when they’re trying to create something new or take something to the next level. I feel like 2023 will be the year that many will kick into high gear.
• Layoffs – More layoffs are hitting the news, specifically in tech. Given the macro environment, some of these people will pursue entrepreneurship; it’s likely one of their best options now.

Week one hundred forty-five was short. Looking forward to next week!

I hope the new year is off to a great start for everyone!

Today is the last day of 2022. This year felt more evenly paced than 2021, which went by in the blink of an eye. Although 2022 was another year of macro uncertainty and pain for many, for me personally, it was a good year. It was a year of learning, refinement, and growth. I appreciate having experienced another year, and I’m looking forward to 2023.

‍

Today marks the end of my one-hundred-forty-fourth week of working from home (mostly). Here are my takeaways from week one hundred forty-four:

• Christmas – It’s always great to spend holidays with family and friends. This year’s Christmas was cold but a good time. We didn’t do Christmas in 2021, and that’s something I hope to never have to repeat.
• Year end – Tomorrow is the last day of 2022. What a year it was. Lots of highs and lows, but more importantly lots of growth. Looking forward to 2023.
• Public markets – The last two weeks, I’ve had more friends share contrarian views on public market valuations. They’re expressing optimism even though headlines are gloom and doom. Not sure if holiday downtime prompted people to pay closer attention to the latest market movements and share their views. Or something else. I noticed a pattern, though.
• Rest-of-year plans – I shared my holiday plans last week, which helped me be intentional and stick to the plan.

Week one hundred forty-four was a quiet week. Looking forward to next week!

I was chatting with a friend today about the rest of the year. He told me everything he plans to do and asked about my plans through the new year. I shared this ordered list with him:

• Spend quality time with family and friends for Christmas
• Read an interesting book
• Make progress on a work project

My list is noticeably shorter and simpler than his. Spending time with family and friends is my highest priority. I don’t want to commit to too many things or attempt to do much during this holiday season because I want to be present with them.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving, a holiday I enjoy because I get to spend quality time with family and friends. We’re a few years removed from the beginning of the pandemic, and I’m more intentional about this holiday than I was pre-pandemic. This year I made a point of thinking about and sharing with others all the things I’m thankful for. The year hasn’t gone according to my plan or other people’s plans. At times it’s been frustrating and felt like a stream of bad news. But even with all of 2022’s curveballs, I was able to come up with a long list of people, memories, and things I’m extremely thankful for.

What are you thankful for?