1/ I had a call with one of our angel investors yesterday to catch up on company progress. The last time we caught up was right before the world changed. After some small talk, he asked, "So this must all be affecting you right? Are you guys going to come out of this ok?"
2/ I gave him the usual update. Talked through our plan about how we've adapted to make sure we still hit our launch date.
After the call, I stared at 3 words I wrote on a post-it note above my computer monitor.
After the call, I stared at 3 words I wrote on a post-it note above my computer monitor.
3/ A few years ago, I learned that in the Rocky Mountains, there are signs that warn travelers: "Mountains Don't Care." 
4/ If you come unprepared and get caught in the middle of a thunderstorm, the mountains don't care.
If you trip and twist your ankle, the mountains don't care.
The mountains don't give a sh*t about you.
If you trip and twist your ankle, the mountains don't care.
The mountains don't give a sh*t about you.
5/ But you go anyways. Because the reward is facing the challenge.
Lost on the slopes because you didn't pitch your tent in time before it got dark? Great, you'll learn how to maneuver in the dark and you won't make the mistake again.
Lost on the slopes because you didn't pitch your tent in time before it got dark? Great, you'll learn how to maneuver in the dark and you won't make the mistake again.
6/ Ran out of food on the third day? There's edible vegetation if you know what to look for. There are animals to hunt if you know how to track.
You'll feel like starving, but survival mode breeds creativity. You'll figure it out or die trying.
You'll feel like starving, but survival mode breeds creativity. You'll figure it out or die trying.
7/ These are terrible times for everyone. It's tempting to blame everything on the situation: "Oh yeah we're going to be delayed because of x, y, z. We're not making sales because the economy is slowing down. It wasn't our fault. There's no way we could have predicted this."
8/ But it's happened. We're deep in the mountains now. And surprise, the mountains still don't care.
So the best thing we can do is own it. We adjust, and we go hunting for the opportunities. We'll get hurt. We'll fall along the way.
So the best thing we can do is own it. We adjust, and we go hunting for the opportunities. We'll get hurt. We'll fall along the way.
9/ But if we stop blaming and start moving, we'll get stronger.
And we'll make it to that next mountain.
And we'll make it to that next mountain.
