A lot of super privileged folks do well in the startup world is not because of inherent intelligence or skill. It’s because we’ve grown up with a risk-reward system that allows us to invest ourselves in the long game has always been protected by buffers like money and access.

And this is not some kind of character indictment or anything. It’s just a fact. If the startup I work at just dissolved today I’d have a nice little ‘failed up at’ on my LinkedIn and a story for my b-school essay. A lot of folks will never have that safety.

Which is why when startups tell me ‘it’s a funnel problem. We just don’t get applicants’...ask yourselves. What are you giving applicants as an assurance? A decent pay? ESOPs with a non-ridiculous tie in (6 years!)? A substantial skilling up budget? Why should they join you?

Startups need to realise that they need to invest in their talent as much as their talent invests in them. It is important to have a deeply empathetic ‘talent sherpa’ of sorts who can coach folks out of their learned reactions. Remember, a panicked employee is often a scared one.

And for fellow operators? Be fucking kind. You can do 3x the work because you don’t have to worry about a parent’s medical bill? Congrats. You’ve won an entirely arbitrary lottery. You can head out for drinks with funders? Congrats. You’re lucky. Nothing special about you.