Things I learnt as a Dot Com Millionaire:

1⃣There is a TON of money in the world. When the market looks promising, you can cold pitch a Venture Capitalist and land an offer of $15 million (I did). But... that may not mean it's the right deal.
2⃣Correlation is not causation on the age/wisdom bit. Sometimes you'll have better ideas that those older than you, but you don't have their experience so you'll need to fight to get ideas heard. Fight. BUT also recognise when those with more years in the game know more, & learn.
3⃣The start-up space is seriously sexist (it's way better now) so, again, you've got to fight. You also need a great sense of humour, because you literally don't have the hours in the day to fend off all the attacks. If you're just fighting for equality, you'll get no work done.
4⃣Being a millionaire on paper doesn't mean you have a million in folding. Not sure why people still don't get that. It's weird. 😕
5⃣Having staff and offices is a gigantic pain in the arse. You go farther, faster if you work solo, or with a small team of freelancers.
6⃣When an industry collapses, you've got to pivot FAST. There's no time to cry. Pivot! Pivot! Pivottt! I took 3 companies through the Dot Com Crash, put one on the back burner and focused attention on building the newest one with all I had. I brought in a billion-dollar deal.
7⃣When you get everything you think you want, it doesn't always feel that great. I remember driving down the road, thinking: "I'm 26. I have 2 offices, 2 PAs, all the top tech, I'm interviewing celebs, I'm in the media, & I feel empty AF."
8⃣If you need to do something, you can still do it even if you're busy.

I realised, aged 29, that I'd forgotten to join a band. So I did. I was a Company Director by day, in the studio recording albums or gigging at pubs by night, and playing festivals at weekends.
You can follow @rebeccabardess.
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