Fighting the pandemic, Racism

As Churchill said, ‘Never waste a good crisis’ - we can use this pandemic to make big environmental changes. Great to see London doing it already with the step towards increased bicycle and pedestrian lanes.

From a tech perspective, we’re using this crisis as part of a second wave of e-commerce adoption, the influx of new marketplaces in education and health, and the leap to a more integrated home and work life. Countless more examples that this pandemic can be used for good, within our inter and intrapersonal lives too. Gratitude and appreciation of little things - if we can keep that, it will genuinely lead to happier lives.

Now, we need to apply that thinking to the George Floyd situation. #blacklivesmatter and diversity is a topic that is not seen as a priority outside of tragedies like this - and that itself, is tragic. But this needs to be used as a trigger for a movement of all people across all industries for weeks, months, years and decades to come.

We need to collectively buy into this as a purpose - in whatever sector we apply our trade, it is our collective responsibility to seek ways to pursue equality. Eventually, eventually, greater equality should lead to greater conscious and subconscious understanding that we are absolutely different, but absolutely equal.

In the same way we can use the pandemic to reform our approach to the environment long term, we need to use the George Floyd situation to reform our approach to subconscious and conscious racism long term.

In our personal capacity we can all campaign. Saying that we need to acknowledge white privilege and racism is a good start. But it can be dangerously close to ‘trendy’ and ‘fluffy’. We can all take further steps. In professional capacity, we can action change that will [eventually] lead to long term impact.

In the startup space there are a few things we can do. There should be a new wave of angel networks (like Cornerstone), angel investors, family offices and VCs that a) focus exclusively on black founders, and b) established investors (of varying fund sizes and that invest various stages of business) that shift focus slightly to actively choose higher percentage of black LPs, venture partners, associates - black decision makers. They need to actively seek out black-owned businesses to invest in and fuel. This has to be an internal KPI. Something that everyone agrees is the right thing to do to move the world forward. A purpose. 

It’s much easier said than done. South Africa has tried for two and a half decades to institute institutional black-economic empowerment, but it falls apart when the government enforce it without appropriate organization and buy-in. This is not a top down approach.

This should be done bottom-up, private sector operators and investors instituting this by choice. Not easy. It needs excellent businesses that tick the right boxes. Pre-seed and seed finance is crucial to give these startups the chance to flourish. It needs commitment to the cause

In startups, first key hires should actively seek more diversity. When employee number is more than 5 people, enforce an internal rule that the business will never be more than 60-40% split in both gender or race. Again, maybe not easy, but what’s the point of life if we don’t have purposes to strive towards?

There are obviously 1000s of flaws to my suggestions. That’s good, we should implement change, experiment, learn that our hypotheses are flawed, and actively improve on them over time. The only way we will prevent ‘accidents’ like Geroge Floyd or Oscar Grant, is by changing the power dynamic in society. It’s by socioeconomic equality. It’s by getting the right voices in the rights places and slowly, gradually, righting the wrongs of centuries of human history. What can you do within your job, your role as a leader, to institute change in your company to do your part in moving the world forward?

Winning this Battle

The world as we have known it, changed forever.

These are difficult times, many are losing their lives, many are facing irreparable illness, industries are being shut down, and jobs are being lost.

Many are also opening their eyes to new possibilities.
Some are reconnecting with loved ones.
The world of remote work has been catalysed into reality.
New industries are being born.
The environment has had an opportunity to regenerate.
Humans going out of their way to help other humans.
While self-isolated, as a community, we have never been closer.

We will look back on these times in a year, in a decade, and tell the stories to anyone who will listen about the times we saw a young masked-man scurry away with 27 bags of toilet paper; groups singing across the streets with neighbours in defiance and in unity; and young athletes pouring dishwasher liquid on their kitchen floor to simulate a treadmill experience. Surreal, but we are living it.

While self-isolated, as a community, we have never been closer.
We are resilient, as individuals and as a collective.
We are in it together. Some affected much worse than others.

It has filled me with such hope to see so many acts of generosity during this time.
I want to implore anyone reading this: If you are in a position to help an individual or a group that has been financially affected, please consider doing so. A landlord that can afford to waive rent. An employer that can afford to pay those wages. A company that can afford to provide that essential service for free. This is a time for enhanced empathy, that will hopefully become a muscle that we develop far beyond this crisis.

Let us fight through these times, remember the detail of how it made us feel, and use this feeling to come out stronger on the other side as a more generous, grateful society.

Your Customer is Your Partner

Why get into business?

To make money?

To move the world forward?

To create a movement?

To solve a problem?

For any of the above, it makes sense to get people using your product or service to fall in love with it. It makes sense for the people who engage with your business to become ambassadors, to go out of their way for their friends to use it too. Mass adoption is needed to build a goliath business.

There are a few ways to achieve this mass adoption…

Traditional network effect - the social media model of becoming more valuable the more people are on it. You only want to be on Facebook if your friends are using it too.

Another method, is exorbitant spend on referral - If I get $100 for a referral, I’m going to make sure my friends start using that product.

The most appealing method to me - is to shift away from company-customer ; shift from business-client relationship… into one collective community. To shift into the idea that a new business is an opportunity for everyone involved to come together as one: Leadership, employees, customers and partners aligned as a collective to achieve the vision of the business.

The best way to achieve this? To create that sense of ownership for all stakeholders. For all stakeholders to feel that the company belongs to them. Over the next decade, the fastest growing businesses will adopt this - customers will metaphorically and literally own the businesses they engage with as a part of their identity.

We can’t all initiate ideas that will move the world forward, but we can all support them, belong to them, form part of a movement. The companies that understand this - that can grow a customer network of impassioned owners will rule the next decade. Equity crowdfunding is a way to achieve this for a growing private business - the modern fusion of traditional crowdfunding and public markets for growing private businesses; the modern way to raise capital for a growing startup.

For mass adoption in modern business, give your customers ownership and build a movement.

Why angel investing?

If you ever stumble upon Crowdcube, you may see a bunch of really interesting looking companies, and think, “yeah - they’re great and all, but why should I care?”

Why should I invest my hard earned money into a business that I know very little about? What do I really get out of it?

If there’s nothing else you take from this piece, I want you take the idea of ‘moving the world forward’. I’ll get back to that.

You may lose your money. Capital at risk. Some companies take 3 years to exit, some take 5 years, some take 10 years, some never exit and some simply fail. The first rule of angel investing is that you may lose your money.

In years gone by, you had to be one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet to invest in private businesses. Now, you need a tenner and you can share in exactly the same emotional rollercoaster as the highest net worth humans in the world, as well as the most revered venture capital institutions. You’ll lose money with them, you’ll gain money with them. Most importantly, you’ll move the world forward with them.

So if it’s such a risky business, why do high net worth individuals take that risk? Why do venture capitalists risk hundreds of millions of other people’s money to invest in someone’s idea which often has little more than a proof of concept and a big market size? These people understand the risk. For them it’s about so much more. For them it’s about making an impact. It’s about creating a legacy. It’s about influence. It’s about the upside.
It’s about moving the world forward. 

Every time you go onto Crowdcube, and you see a clothing brand that only uses recyclable materials, an entirely new way of imbibing your favourite beverage, a game-changing way to pay your friend, the cheapest electric bicycle on the market, or simply a pizzeria that has the best tomato base that the world has ever known - you have the opportunity to be part of their story. Without creating the idea, without slaving away 14 hours idea on their vision, you have the opportunity to fuel their vision. You have the opportunity to equip the right people, at the right time to create the right solution for the right problem.

Fuelling them to move the world forward. 

Yes, the upside can be great. Angel investors like returns, but they cannot rely on them.

However, to be part of a movement...
To fuel a business that you believe in…
To move the world forward…. 
That’s why we invest.  

Opportunity?

Opportunity or challenge.

Glass half full or glass half empty. Or appreciation and awe that we even have a glass?

Optimism or pessimism. Internal or external locus of control.

Every interaction: An opportunity, or a challenge.

Every pitch. Every workshop. Every date. Every meeting. Every conversation. Every interview.

Everyday.

Everything.

Opportunity?

Or challenge?

My belief is that the subtle difference between these mentalities can play a deciding role in the path to success.

Let’s choose Opportunity.

It's Not Important

It’s not important.

Or it’s extremely important.

Sport. Money. Owning a house. Travelling. Nice shoes. Awards.

None of those are important.

Or they’re all extremely important.

Two weeks ago, I went to the Liverpool Supporters Club in Edenvale to watch Liverpool play Manchester City in the Quarter Final of the Champions League. Spoiler alert: Liverpool won. Each goal was celebrated with some of the most unbridled joy I’ve ever felt in my whole life. Don't judge me.

South Africa beat Australia in style in the most recent cricket test match series. I loved every second of it.

Rose Namajunas retained the UFC Strawweight Title a few weeks ago. I was on the edge of my seat for every jab she slipped and every right hook she landed.

I don’t know these people. I don’t make any money out of any of these victories (I feel like gambling wouldn’t be the best idea for me). Yet I passionately kick every ball, play every shot, and throw every punch emotionally as if I am there.

I constantly ask myself why? None of these things are important. In fact, you could argue that in the context of my live, they couldn’t be less important.

I am invested.

I made it important.

I bought into the story.

I have made these things more.

More than just sport: A journey, good guys and bad guys, underdogs, tactical battles, one leadership team versus another, contrasting personality types.

I have allowed myself to indulge in these views, and it has given sport importance to me.

The same can be said of an appreciation for any hobby, collecting luxury items, a passion for rocks, dinosaurs, comic books, watches, cars, comic books, travel, movies, wealth or anything else. To some people, dressing up as a life-sized dog and eating dog food is important. No judgement here.

None of it is important. It’s all important.

If it gives you joy and it's not hurting anyone, cherish it. 

Every aspect of life is what we make it.

It’s either not important at all, or all extremely important, or we each pick and choose what is important. That’s what makes it interesting. That’s what makes getting to know each other worthwhile.

When my important is the same as your important, we are involved in the same community, a “tribe”, as Seth Godin would say. When my important differs to yours, we are given the opportunity to compare and learn.

Let’s appreciate, celebrate and share each other’s important.

Here's wishing you a weekend full of importance.

A romantic view of asking for what we want

We have desires on our hearts. We have goals, we have ambitions.

We also have so many reasons not to pursue what we want. We fear failure. We fear rejection.

Because honestly – it feels absolutely horrible to fail. It feels disgusting to get rejected. Hurt and pain associated with knowing you can’t have what you want is like getting kicked in the face by a really unattractive horse.

But there is only one feeling that is worse than knowing you can’t have what you want…

And that’s the feeling that you never tried.
The regret of wondering what could have been if you acted.

If you ask for what you want, you just might get it.  Along with that, you will feel a joy that comes with the courage regardless of outcome.

“You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great could come of it” Benjamin Mee

I understand there is a time for reason, and for patience. But I would argue that there is such a thing as too much reason, or too much patience. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating for stupidity. We have to check the narrative we are telling ourselves, mentally prepare for disappointment and understand that we live in the real world when taking that leap.

With that said, occasionally it is worth picking up that phone, getting on that plane or knocking on that door, and literally asking for that opportunity. The only downside is unpleasant short term emotional pain. This pain can then be channeled as a learning and can help inform a better approach for your next goal. It could be an avenue that you can cross off, one less avenue to travel, and more information gained about yourself and the world.

Take a moment, move on, and onto the next one.

The possible upside? At the risk of sounding clichéd – a dream could come true. At the very least you could take the next step on a journey that invigorates and excites your soul. That’s pretty cool.

Perhaps it is better to go out on your sword, knowing that you acted, than be left with empty justifications and rationalizations of not acting. As Ryan Holiday says, “courage at its most basic is taking action… Saying yes, let’s go”.

After all… is life not just a series of seasons and opportunities for us to pursue what is on our heart, wholeheartedly?