“I have yet to find the person, however exalted their station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under a spirit of criticism.” - Charles Schwab

Scientists make great entrepreneurs, because unlike people like me, they aren’t full of sh**.

They are actually doing things and building things, and pushing boundaries and envelopes. This makes their pitches more grounded and their ideas more credible: exactly what VCs want.

However, we make a mistake in thinking that gifted communicators aren’t valuable because they aren’t scientists.

The world needs both: Introverts that build brilliance, and loud, confident communcators who can sell their ideas.

We assume that being a better communicator means we will be liked more.

While there is a lot to be gained from employing empathy, reading the room, and tailoring our message to the people we’re talking to, in a strict sense, you can be a great communicator and be hated.

Great communicators are the ones who get their message across most effectively.

Great communicators are the best understood.

But being understood isn’t the same as being liked.

One makes you hit a deadline, one makes you miss a putt.

The urgency/terror of a deadline brings clarity and focus. Much of the world’s great art has been delivered under enormous time pressure (See: 6 Days to Air: The Making of South Park).

One kind of stress forces us to filter out the unnecessary and embrace decisive action.

The other kind of stress causes us to miss a 2-foot putt we’ve made 999 times in a row—when money wasn’t on the line.

This is some paint. On a road.

I know the green square of paint with a bicycle icon might tempt you into thinking this is a bike lane. But that’s where you’d be mistaken…

You see, it’s actually just a road, that cars drive really fast on. All the time. It’s a small nuance to be sure, but maybe if I simplify things, you’ll be able to understand.

A bike lane does not:

• Instill mortal terror into its user
• Guarantee that motorists will be constantly pissed off at you
• Push you into traffic when any idiot opens their door

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A bike lane does:

• Have a physical barrier between cyclists and any cars
• Mean that bikes have supreme right of way inside the lane
• Feel eerily peaceful, safe and calm

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Don't be fooled again!