There's a talking point floating within VC circles that's close to being an original thought that isn't quite there. Whenever in media interviews or on panels they're participating in they're asked about how their jobs changed after they had kids, they say it made them better. 1/ Their boils down to the focus they must have to remain on point when they have time to work, that they have to be careful with their commitments and to say "No" to what doesn't need to be decided by them or to even come to their attention. Then the conversation moves onward.

2/

A friend is closing on a chief of staff role at a Series A startup. What’s the best wisdom out there to ensure that he is up to task at this role? PR people like to inflate their responsibilities and their influence because they believe it’ll help justify their fees. In truth, the only way to achieve those fees is to produce outcomes beyond what was asked, which is why being a person in the world is so crucial for success.

Ok, so this story is the best on a rainy night in NYC. I am the only person who sends hundreds of LinkedIn connection requests to people I don’t know while trying to build my network toward bringing in a deal. It’s the opposite of how others use LinkedIn, which is the point.

1/ I have extended 660 invitations to people I’ve never spoken to before, those who I believe to be next tier connections for me. Most of them are based in NYC so that the other party will see we have many mutuals and also once we connect I can offer in some cases to grab coffee. 2/

I've been saying this a lot of late in conversations with founders, and I deem it worthwhile to share here, too.

Reporters don't write about solutions, they write about tension. If you wait to finish and find the solution, that's great, but you won't deserve any press for it. 1/ By then, it'll be too late. Which is fine, if you don't want to prioritize press. But if you want press, then you must speak to reporters while you're working through the mess and the muck, figuring things out and making proposed solutions that may not even stick. Share that.

2/

CMOs are so unbelievably bad at using social. Instead of sharing best practices for how to run a marketing budget during a bear market, they post pictures from their team members' surprise party they threw for the CMO's dog's birthday.

This is a time for serious business people. Sure, have the birthday party if you'd like. What are you posting?

Are we still fixed on that talking point of how important it is to say No because when we're done with that I have a list of a few dozen people you could be helping by saying Yes and making your strengths and your network available to others who are struggling with some basics. Yes, yes, I know it's the conflation of two ideas, but that talking point has been weaponized by many to get out of doing the right thing that, if they were simply willing to say Yes and to try to be of some assistance to others, they might discover that they actually like it...

Executives: We need to sell more apples.
PR people: I can't sell apples, but I can get people excited about them.
Executives: OK. If I'm paying you to energize people, how many dollars can that bring in?
PR people: Who knows. But it'll generate millions of impressions for sure." Amid bull markets, you can skate by with this rationale, hoping that the company sells enough apples on their own to justify you as a loss leader.

Amid bear markets, you better figure out how to sell apples, too. Even if it's not how you traditionally think about your role...

In late 2008 when I didn't have a job, I went to a daytime talk show taping in the middle of the afternoon because it was free and would take my mind off. Since the demographic there was mostly women, I was a clear target for the warm-up comedian when I wanted to be invisible. 1/ He asked what my job was, and I tried to deflect by saying, "Writer." He asked who I write for. I was caught off-guard. I was at that time writing for nobody. It was the recession. Few jobs available, and the ones that were didn't go to me. I felt I'd be unemployed forever.

2/

I want to tell you about my book club, and I will share my thoughts extemporaneously until I feel I've gotten it all out there.

On December 6, 2017, a group of us gathered for the first time to talk about "The Book of Separation." It's wild to me that we are still meeting.

1/ The idea emanated from me being brash. I had spent significant time sitting over lunch regularly with a group of EAs and the head of facilities at the company I was working at. And then when I gave notice to leave that company, the relationships were going to depart with me.

2/

I attended a number of meetings on site at HQ yesterday, including a departmental all-hands near the close of the day. That event had four presentations, all of which were informative and informal, which is totally my speed. Two of them were fireside chats with experts.

1/ The moderator for the second one was someone from my department who I have not met yet. She was excellent. Came prepared, actively listened, kept the conversation flowing and at the level the audience could and should understand, and was engaged how sometimes others aren't.

2/