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1/ When I was younger, I believed in being hyper-focused. Commit to a goal, be uncompromising and never quit.
2/ I spent 5 years of my life dedicated to becoming a successful filmmaker. I came out of that experience burnt out, lost and confused.
3/ Focusing so hard and rigidly on a goal, and tying my entire self-worth to it was toxic.
It also kept me from stopping to question if this goal that I was killing myself for was actually what I wanted. If it would even make me happy.
It also kept me from stopping to question if this goal that I was killing myself for was actually what I wanted. If it would even make me happy.
4/ When I finally quit film, I felt like a weight was lifted off me. I was once again free to do what I wanted, and open to new possibilities that could come up.
5/ As I established my career in tech, I tried to stay open and curious, not thinking too much about the long term, and letting the opportunities that came up guide my path.
6/ That’s how got to move to SF with @clearbanc when they were just 10 people, and how I landed in the blockchain space, right as it was blowing up.
None of these opportunities were things I could have planned for, and each one of them changed my life.
None of these opportunities were things I could have planned for, and each one of them changed my life.
7/ But as the years went on, I started to get this nagging feeling in the back of my mind - so small at first that I could ignore it, but growing steadily over time:
Why was I working so hard and not moving forward?
Why was I working so hard and not moving forward?
8/ I felt like I was blowing with the wind, chasing whatever felt exciting. But none of those things were really what I wanted to do, and once the novelty wore off, I would always find myself bored and dissatisfied. Waiting for the next opportunity to come sweep me off my feet.
9/ And of course with that there was a huge sense of fear - what if the next opportunity doesn’t come?
It felt like I had no control or agency over the direction of my life. I couldn’t picture at all what I’d be doing in 10 years or where I’d end up.
It felt like I had no control or agency over the direction of my life. I couldn’t picture at all what I’d be doing in 10 years or where I’d end up.
10/ Even with running @helloirisHQ, I felt a kind of terror about what I’d do next if the company didn’t work out.
Again, I found myself in a toxic position where I had no freedom, but this time because I didn’t have any long-term plans.
Again, I found myself in a toxic position where I had no freedom, but this time because I didn’t have any long-term plans.
11/ It felt pretty ironic to be back here again, to be honest and it really made me think:
How can you have direction and move towards goals that you set but at the same time be open to change and new possibilities?
How can you have direction and move towards goals that you set but at the same time be open to change and new possibilities?
12/ Last night I had an epiphany:
What created the toxicity in my life wasn’t having/not having goals - it was a scarcity mindset. Thinking that there is only way for me to a filmmaker, or that the only way for me to do meaningful work that I liked was at @helloIrisHQ.
What created the toxicity in my life wasn’t having/not having goals - it was a scarcity mindset. Thinking that there is only way for me to a filmmaker, or that the only way for me to do meaningful work that I liked was at @helloIrisHQ.
13/ I realized that having goals and moving towards them is important, but those goals should be about the what, not the how.
For example, instead of saying, “I want to win an Oscar in 5 years”, say, “I want to make films that move people”.
For example, instead of saying, “I want to win an Oscar in 5 years”, say, “I want to make films that move people”.
14/ This gives you a way forward, but keeps how you get there open.
It cultivates an abundance mindset, and keeps you open, curious and playful, as you explore different options of how you can get to where you want to go.
It cultivates an abundance mindset, and keeps you open, curious and playful, as you explore different options of how you can get to where you want to go.
15/ Know that there isn’t just one way forward, that no one rejection, failure or missed opportunity can make or break you.
Know that you have always have options, that there is always more.
Know that you have always have options, that there is always more.
