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Hats Off!
Someone once told me a story that I think about often. It went something like this:
Two friends were walking together through some fields when they came to a high wall. The wall stretched as far as they could see in both directions. As they were talking about what to do in this impassable situation one of the men takes off his favorite felt hat and throws it over the wall. The other looks at him and says “why did you do that – that was your favorite hat,” to which his friend responds “now we’re going to have to find a way over that wall.”
A little corny perhaps, but the lesson is a good one and particularly relevant to life as a VC (or just life in general) where we sometimes forget that our jobs are to throw hats over impossible walls and figure out a way around or over them. Sure, gathering data is important; taking a measured stand is important; and jumping off of a bridge with the idea that you will figure out how to make a parachute on the way down is probably not the greatest idea. But sometimes the right thing to do is to jump into the unknown and take the stand that you will figure it out.
This story has relevance to blogging as well. I wasn’t expecting the ‘holy crap’ feeling I had last night after I had posted my first blog entry and sent a note around to some friends letting them know that I was on my way. What am I going to write about, and who is going to care anyway? A friend wrote to me after he had read my first entry saying that he too had been thinking about starting up a blog, but that the anticipation of feeling exposed and out there after taking the jump was stopping him (he actually used more colorful language not worth subjecting y’all to). Well – my hat is lying firmly on the other side of the wall. Not sure if I’m going to find a way over it, but here’s to trying!
sjl
p.s. RB – hat’s off, man!
Welcome to the world of the “King has No Clothes!” I know the feeling, and quite enjoyed the way you expressed it. It is kind of like that first speech you are required to give in college, what most people are afraid of is fear of exposure.
I look forward to reading of your exploits.
-JC
Welcome to the Blogosphere from another Colorado Blogger. Come check out the BoB Awards 2004 at http://www.blogmechanics.com/bob and see our latest idea. My partner and I just launched a new business One By One Media, LLC in December and the Awards is our first project.
Jim
Yup! Here ya go Seth…Bernie
Until one is committed,
there is hesitancy,
the chance to draw back,
always ineffectiveness.
Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation)
there is one elementary truth,
the ignorance of which kills countless ideas
and splendid plans:
That the moment one definitely commits oneself,
then Providence moves too.
All sort of things occur to help one
that would never otherwise have occurred.
A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one’s favor
all manner of unforeseen incidents
and meetings and materal assistance,
which no man could have dreamed
would have come his way.
I have learned a deep respect
for one of Goethe’s couplets:
“Whatever you can do,
or dream you can,
begin it.
Boldness has genius,
power and magic in it.”
Quotation from
The Scottish Himalayan Expedition,
By W. H. Murray,
Pub. J.M. Dent & Sons, Ltd., 1951
Ha! Exactly what I love to see!
The art of self expression is one thing – but the art of self exposure – now that takes guts!
Love it!
Now slip me some great stories so I can write about Seth’s amazing investment adventures in an issue of the magazine! We are all about the risk takers!