Useful articles on raising VC money
Reflection this morning on profiles
A profile is essentially a bio-chemical based system. When gearing for a specific outcome, it is important to examine its configuration at all levels to remove redundant attributes to free up CPU cycles for performance effectiveness.
The goal of a practitioner is thus to consistently work on the discipline of self-mastery.
Levels of available profile configuration
- Behavior
- routines
- Habit
- Personality
- Identity
- Worldview
- Beliefs
Book summary: the success equation
- When more skilled than opponent, make rules simpler to reduce variance introduced by luck
- when being the underdog, make rules more complex to introduce variance introduced by luck
- imoortant to differentiate luck and skill
- when situation is mainly dependent on luck judge likelihood of outcome by base rate
- when situation is mainly dependent on skill, judge likelihood of outcome base on single success story
- practices equanimity towards luck
- focus on practice to improve skill
Reflections for the morning
A purely functional approach to solving a user problem tends to lead to an overall disjointed user experience. A purely experiential approach to solving a user problem tends to lead to an unruly infrastructure that becomes harder and harder to maintain overtime.
The discipline is to explore the different alternatives to tease out the intersection that best satisfies form and function at each crossroad of a product’s development.
The second order constrain is the trade off between time/resources and variants explored.
The third order constrain is the utilization of time to build capababilty to translate resources to number of variants to be explored.
Time is thus the highest order constrain to building a strong solid foundation. Trees that grow taller and has denser trunks tend to have a longer time maturity. A by-product is their fire resistance. The sequoia tree avoids unnecessary extravagance but conserves all its energy to grow quietly, adamantly and deeply to achieve a majestic presence overtime.
Summary of learnings from Reeds and Oaks
- Listen for values when conversing
- Use “yes, and” technique
- Seek to juice as many possible application of insights accumulated as possible
Learnings from trip to Taiwan and missing the flight
- citings one successful example is not indicative of sample size that is statistical significance
- advice from person that is not accountable for the outcome of the decision should be taken with a pinch of salt
- to weigh believability based on historical batting average
- the ability to follow a train of thought and continuously question till all nuts and bolts are elicited is a form of competence
- Data management is part of national security
External references
- Principles, Ray Dalio
- Machina, Sebastian Marshall
Friday morning coincidence
I was driving to Edmodo this morning when SIRI recited to me the section of the book on the Muses and the higher spiritual planes. I was stopped at the intersection just shortly after SIRI mentioned the vision the author had of becoming one with an eagle during his meditation when I saw this giant bird with a great wing span landing to perch on lamppost that I was about to drive under.
I was the very first time I saw such a bird in this parts of town. Must be a coincidence.
I wonder if Seth Godin’s recommendation of this book was resultant of similar experience he had when reading this book
Key takeaways from dinner with Jerry and Johnson at the Rosewood hotel
Types of money making opportunities
it is very important to know the type of opportunity you are tackling and to employ the right strategy. Opportunity shifts overtime between categories
- fast money
- slow money
- big money
- small money
Types of abilities
- professional knowledge, intellect
- social capital
- Must important: steadfast perseverance
Warnings
- when dealing with opportunities pick your battles and don’t spread too thin
- focus on the core and do it well
Parameters to optimize
- Time
- Effort
- Quality