Sur-thrival

Not gonna beat around the bush here, it is a challenging time to be trying to build any kind of business, let alone one based on technology beyond the grasp of the overwhelming majority of those walking this rock. Compounding that is that at a time when capital deployment- whether buying groceries, filling the gas tank, and paying employees a fair salary evokes extreme anxiety, or trying to not only maintain a startup, but to gain the requisite momentum to keep attracting users and LPs, these are difficult times in the macroeconomic landscape.

And this trickles- rather geysers down to Web3 start ups. So as to not sound like this is going to be a pity party for tech startups in this realm, I will say there IS a solution. Rather there are a few. Here is the recipe- and easier to write a few bulleted polysyllabic words than to manifest the actions behind them-

Conviction

Teamwork (Team creation, nurturance, building, a maintaining)

Resilience

Patience

Flexibility

None of these connotate raising or funding strategies- but they are the key to sur-thrival. Yeah I made up a word- but it fits.

See, it’s not about survival. It’s about finding a way to thrive. Regardless of the catalysts around us throwing a monkey wrench into the cog of our machine.

It’s about finding a way, being super-reflective- but having compassion for yourself. These are all seemingly pollyanna meanderings of the eternal optimists, but realistic optimism is integral- it feeds and supports conviction. If you can’t be optimistic about what you are building- move on to something else. If you can’t be 150% sure that what you are doing is impactful- integral- transcendent — even to just a small community of people, then it will never feel like enough, nor will you enjoy the journey.

Just because you work 25 hours a day and believe so strongly in what you are doing doesn’t automatically mean you are gonna “make it” so you sure as heck better enjoy the process- and learn from it- DAILY.

And be sure to surround yourself with people who are on this journey with you- really with you. For the right reasons- doesn’t have to be the exact same reasons as you- but the Venn diagram should have a few key elements in that middle shared shape.

“Build in your team a sense of oneness, a feeling of strength derived from unity” — Lombardi

When the chips are down, and things get rough- you gotta be with people that share that conviction- that share the optimism- and do so in a way that is productive and forward moving.

Because Frens- things are tough out there. For everyone. And the shared resilience of the team- fueled by laser focused shared vision and mission amongst a strongly galvanized team, provides a sturdy foundation off which to leap daily with an unwavering resilience.

While we are at putting all the above together, deciding and acting will not immediately yield desired results- again, there are too many factors out of our collective control for this to happen. Now there are serendipitous events- but they are just that. Patience is central. And Fam, I am terrible at patience. I own that, am aware of it and work on it daily. Thankful for my teammates who remind me when I am being thus.

I am thankful because it allows me to find flexibility in the tightening box of impatience. Flexibility is key- and frankly, finding flexible, creative ways to operate, build, offer, serve- this is the beautiful collateral effect of challenges- makes your product better.

These are values- convictions I bring daily- and when I don’t, my partners call me out on it. We resolve through, think of flexible solutions, and move forward. Chasing sur-thrival.