I’m sipping my cup of cacao this morning, reflecting on the winding path of TrueSight DAO and agroverse.shop, and I’m struck by a thought that’s been simmering lately—maybe I’ve been looking too far afield for the next big win when the real treasures are right under my nose. It reminds me of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, where the protagonist journeys across deserts chasing a dream, only to discover the gold was buried in his own backyard all along. What if the key resources, the perfect fits, the game-changers for our climate mission are already within reach, just waiting to be noticed? Let’s dive into this idea, revisit some incredible alignments we’ve already found, and explore how to focus on what’s close at hand while refining our DAO structure.
Perfect Fits: Treasures Already Uncovered
Sometimes, the best resources aren’t the ones you chase—they’re the ones that reveal themselves when you least expect it. Take Kirsten, for instance. She’s the heart behind Kiki Cocoa and has an infectious passion for chocolate. When she joined TrueSight DAO, it was like a puzzle piece snapping into place. Her deep knowledge and enthusiasm for cacao brought an energy that’s hard to manufacture. She’s shaped how we present our products and eventually took over the entire logistics and fulfillment of our cacao out of San Francisco to the rest of the USA. Without her stepping into that role, I’m not sure we’d have scaled distribution so smoothly.Then there’s Ken, who works for the city of San Francisco and is plugged into the tech and web3 communities there. When he saw what we were trying to do with climate solutions and cacao, he stepped up, opening doors to tech meetups where we could serve cacao and share our mission. Those connections gave us traction I don’t think we’d have gained otherwise. His network was a goldmine right in front of us.
I can’t forget Eleanor from the Lama Bus with Levi. She came in with an idea I hadn’t even considered—bringing our cacao to the Okanagan Family Barter Faire in spring to share with the hippie community there. I didn’t even know that audience existed as a potential beachhead, but she did. Eleanor opened that door wide, and it turned out to be a critical early win. Without her insight, I’m not sure the project would still be standing today.
Then there’s Matheus, who stepped in when we started expanding into the field—literally. Without him, I don’t think we’d have made all the physical visits to remote farms in the Amazon rainforest and the Atlantic rainforest. He also provided warehousing in Brazil and handled the exporting paperwork with the Brazilian government, making the entire logistics supply chain possible. His groundwork was invaluable.
And of course, there’s Fatima, instrumental in our early days. She led discussions with the first cooperative we onboarded, providing critical social proof to expand into the farmers’ network. Her natural negotiation skills and consistent follow-up made a massive difference in building trust with partners.
Lastly, I’ve got to mention Val Lapidus, who stepped in at a crucial moment when we first started bringing cacao into the USA. He provided the initial logistics and warehousing support, smoothing out what would’ve been a far more complicated supply chain setup. This was remarkable given his busy schedule—working at Totango, being a father, and juggling side projects like Tai Tai Coco at San Francisco farmer’s markets and brewing beer with cacao molasses. Despite all that, he made time to help lay our foundation.
Key observation: These fits weren’t hunted down—they emerged naturally from within our existing circle. Kirsten, Ken, Eleanor, Matheus, Fatima, and Val were treasures already in our backyard, and their contributions clicked because they were passionate and positioned where their strengths could shine.
The Alchemist’s Lesson: Looking Closer to Home
Reflecting on these stories, I’m starting to think I’ve been too focused on searching outward for the next big resource—new partnerships, untapped markets, fresh faces—when maybe the real gold is right here, in the network and assets I’ve already got. Like in The Alchemist, where Santiago’s epic journey leads him back to his starting point to find the treasure, I’m wondering what I’ve overlooked in my own backyard. Are there skills, connections, or ideas among our current team that I haven’t fully tapped? Maybe there’s a quiet contributor with a hidden talent, or a local opportunity I’ve walked past a hundred times without noticing.Reflections for the day: Chasing distant dreams has its place, but sometimes the most powerful resources are the ones you’ve already got—if you take the time to see them. What if the next breakthrough for TrueSight DAO isn’t out there, but right here, waiting to be unearthed?
Tokenomics and Structure: Nurturing What’s Within
This mindset shift ties into the broader challenge with TrueSight DAO. Our initial tokenomics model—1 hour of contribution for 100 tokens (TDG), or $1 USD spent for 1 TDG—aimed to reward effort and invite everyone in. But I’ve seen how this can dilute value if contributions don’t match impact. I’m leaning toward a curated approach, guiding people into areas where they’re motivated and skilled, much like how our key contributors naturally found their niches. Maybe tokens should reflect measurable outcomes—carbon saved, connections made, markets opened, supply chains built, partnerships secured—rather than just time spent. And perhaps part of that curation means doubling down on the strengths already in our circle before casting a wider net.Here’s the rub, though: curating contributions can feel centralized. What began as a decentralized vision edges toward a smaller group steering who does what. It’s a trade-off I’m wrestling with, especially after seeing how organic alignment within our existing network yields incredible results. How do we nurture what’s already here while protecting the system’s integrity?
Building on What’s Close: The Road Ahead
I’m still tweaking TrueSight DAO, exploring ways to align contributions with real impact and encourage more of those natural fits. Maybe it’s about creating space for small experiments within our current team, so we can uncover hidden strengths before looking elsewhere. I’m inspired by how Kirsten, Ken, Eleanor, Matheus, Fatima, and Val showed us what’s possible when passion meets purpose right in our own backyard, and I want to build a system that keeps uncovering those gems—without letting it devolve into chaos.What about you—have you ever realized a game-changing resource was right under your nose? Got any ideas on how to focus a DAO on existing strengths without missing out on new opportunities? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
For now, I’ll keep sipping my cacao and brainstorming with the team. It’s about finding that sweet spot—where we dig deeper into what we’ve already got, and let that guide our progress. Let’s keep shaping this together.