Miles Davis is rocking my Sonos sound system. The new Sonos Play:5 is amazing: One is more than enough to make the house pulsate. But I have the trumpet blasting loud, because I need the music to drive away the Monday morning blues. It has been a tough few days. I have been sick, and when that happens, my life shifts into down gear, both physically and emotionally.
Last Thursday my throat started feeling scratchy, and overnight it became virtually impossible to even gulp a sip of water. Fever came next, and for the past three days I have been bedridden and trying to hydrate and get some rest. Luckily, I didn’t have many meetings today, and it has been nice to sit at home and catch up on emails and paperwork for as long as my body can take it.
I have been taking extra precautions — eating better, more vitamins and whatnot — and yet I seem to fall sick more often than usual. This is my second bout of fever in less than seven weeks, and it is making me a little irritable. I am going to have to figure this out; otherwise, the productivity drain is just too much.
Ironically, today is the second anniversary of my starting full-time work at True Ventures as a partner (I had been a part-time venture partner since 2008). The full-time gig means I spend more hours meeting companies, researching what comes next and, most importantly, building a fabric of relationships with my colleagues.
I have wanted to write about my transition and life as a venture capitalist and offer some advice for startups and founders, but I shy away from it, mostly because there is already so much good writing about this sector. I don’t feel I have a special angle. But last week, when I met former Wall Street Journal reporter Evelyn Rusli (who is working on her own startup) for a coffee, she suggested that I should write about venture business as an insider yet approach it like a reporter translating for laypeople. Whether it is trends, ideas or peccadillos, they all could make for interesting reading, Evelyn suggested. I said I’d think about it. So I am thinking about it — aloud.
That said, my gold standard for venture blogging is August Capital partner David Hornik’s work, because it was honest and direct and felt like getting lessons from one’s favorite professor. Then there’s Brad Feld, a great blogger who happens to be an investor. I would rather read those two guys!
In case you’re wondering why I’m writing when I’m sick: I think it is all about habits. I had lost the habit of blogging every day, and for two years I have been sporadic in my writing. In 2016, I want to return to writing every day and make it part of the daily process.
For now, back to Miles and trying to focus on work while under the influence of DayQuil.
Feb. 1, 2016, San Francisco