From Fool to Who? Few Thoughts on Life and Investing 2023

Note to myself from 2023, to let me be a better investor into venture human.

TLDR

If I were to summarize this semi-philosophical text so that someone who was lured in by the vision of investment advice could quickly glance at it and then leave, I would say:

1. Life has a lot in common with investing and vice versa.
2. Investing (especially with good results) can easily make one arrogant and rude, lose focus, and get lost.
3. The remedy could be contemplation - constantly better understanding oneself and the reasons & consequences of one's actions. This allows setting true (to oneself) goals and, on the path to achieving them, continuously improve one's plan.
4. Curiosity about the world, obscured by profits and leveling up in the social hierarchy, can disappear and be replaced by a grift. It's worth not allowing this to happen, to contemplate and follow what led us to take up crypto/investing/.
   • If we don't have a goal and strict discipline, we can be almost certain that fortune will not favor us. The world is too big to comprehend, and as a society, we have achieved so much thanks to specialization. Instead of spreading our energy over dozens of actions, focusing on specific ones and pursuing results in one area is better.
   • Life is more colorful in a group than alone. It is even better when we can choose our group well, knowing what we need from it and what we can give. It's not worth chasing every business, every idea, and every opinion. It's worth living in a society with humility and an open mind. If we give others good energy, there's a chance it will come back to us. Investing is largely about relationships, and it's worth focusing on quality rather than quantity here.
   • Finally, if you want to invest, then you should invest. The worst thing you can do is not make any decisions and stay on the sideline.

5. The Grifty InvestoorIn 2023, my web3 foray felt much different than in the previous years. The allure? A mix of social acclaim, status, and the elusive promise of asymmetric returns. The quest for badges, once the scout’s one, now desired as startup logos, feeds my ego wonderfully, making me not just an investor but a central figure in the unfolding drama in my mind. This pursuit of recognition, though seemingly fulfilling, loses its sheen upon closer scrutiny.My past life as an athlete taught me that respect (for oneself as well as from others) came not from the title but from the toils in the arena. Similarly, in investing, the facade of greatness and influence conceals the emptiness beneath if it lacks substance. True merit comes from being at the forefront of action and making bold, non-consensus-driven decisions that bear fruit.Reflecting on this journey allows me to recognize my own place and admit that I've lost my way a bit. Embracing slow learning, I look forward to shedding the superficial layers and seeking a more meaningful and influential path in 2024.And how can I do it? I think a few areas will allow me to do so.