currentwisdom — essays by Micah BaldwinEssays on founder craft, leadership, and noticing. Coaching practice, twenty years in startups, four exits, hundreds of founders coached.https://www.currentwisdom.com/en-usDon’t Panic; Let’s Talkhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/dont-panic-lets-talk/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/dont-panic-lets-talk/"You are not alone." Of all the advice I’ve received and given, those four words always rang as the most important.Mon, 06 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMTWorking With The Voices In My Headhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/working-with-the-voices-in-my-head/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/working-with-the-voices-in-my-head/There is no one harder on me than me.Wed, 29 May 2019 00:00:00 GMTPerpetual Motion Machine of Entrepreneurshiphttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/perpetual-motion-machine-of-entrepreneurship/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/perpetual-motion-machine-of-entrepreneurship/Success begets success, and entrepreneurship perpetuates entrepreneurs.Fri, 12 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMTDon’t Lie; You Don’t Carehttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/dont-lie-you-dont-care/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/dont-lie-you-dont-care/As product people, we can do better.Mon, 01 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMTOwnership is About Trusthttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/ownership-is-about-trust/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/ownership-is-about-trust/Failure without learning is a loss. Learn something, and it’s a win.Mon, 10 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMTWhat is Customer Obsession?https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/what-is-customer-obsession/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/what-is-customer-obsession/The customer isn't always right. Earn their trust instead.Tue, 04 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMTWhat I Wish Always Existedhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/what-i-wish-always-existed/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/what-i-wish-always-existed/Build something you wish always existed.Fri, 27 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMTHow to Take a Nohttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/how-to-take-a-no/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/how-to-take-a-no/Founders aren't applying for a job. They're selling a piece of their company.Sat, 17 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMTElements of A Startup Ecosystemhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/elements-of-a-startup-ecosystem/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/elements-of-a-startup-ecosystem/Founders have to be more than founders. They have to be the boats that rise all tides.Tue, 13 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMTChasing Perfectionhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/chasing-perfection/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/chasing-perfection/Our lives are moments of perfection surrounded by a cornucopia of suck.Sun, 11 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMTThree Things to KISS.https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/three-things-to-kiss/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/three-things-to-kiss/We stop listening to ourselves because we stop trusting ourselves.Sun, 15 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMTWant to Start a Company? Work at a Big One First.https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/want-to-start-a-company-work-at-a-big-one-first/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/want-to-start-a-company-work-at-a-big-one-first/I went to Amazon and learned to be a better founder.Wed, 20 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMTTouched By a Thousand Smileshttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/touched-by-a-thousand-smiles/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/touched-by-a-thousand-smiles/I am bipolar. But you knew this.Wed, 13 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMTThe Timid Nature of Agehttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-timid-nature-of-age/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-timid-nature-of-age/I see, but I don't do.Mon, 11 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMTBreaths, Heartbeats and Timehttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/breaths-heartbeats-and-time/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/breaths-heartbeats-and-time/I had created difficulties in my life for the sake of making my life difficult.Sat, 02 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMTOn Suicidehttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/on-suicide/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/on-suicide/I've asked myself 12,775 times if suicide was a better option than death. 12,775 times the answer was no.Wed, 02 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMTAtomic Givinghttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/atomic-giving/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/atomic-giving/I lose my grip on the present and spend all my money on memories of the past and contemplations of the future.Tue, 04 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMTSilicon Valley is Deadhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/silicon-valley-is-dead/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/silicon-valley-is-dead/The givers are getting replaced by the takers. It's strangling Silicon Valley.Sun, 02 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMTAsk Questions Without Fearhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/ask-questions-without-fear/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/ask-questions-without-fear/Accept not knowing, while knowingly be accepting.Sun, 25 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMTEliminate These Two Wordshttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/eliminate-these-two-words/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/eliminate-these-two-words/No, I don't think it. I don't believe it. I know it.Tue, 06 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMTBe Positive, Asshole.https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/be-positive-asshole/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/be-positive-asshole/I used to believe brutal truth was the best way to help. God, I was such an asshole.Thu, 01 Jun 2017 00:00:00 GMTStop Asking Me For Introductions; I Only Connect Peoplehttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/stop-asking-me-for-introductions/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/stop-asking-me-for-introductions/Value the connection. You'll never need an introduction again.Sun, 28 May 2017 00:00:00 GMTYou know, that one fucking momenthttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/you-know-that-one-fucking-moment/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/you-know-that-one-fucking-moment/You are only alone when you close your eyes.Thu, 27 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMTWhen The World Tells You No, Don’t Hear Yeshttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/when-the-world-tells-you-no-dont-hear-yes/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/when-the-world-tells-you-no-dont-hear-yes/Beware the false positive. It's only going to prop you up until you fail.Mon, 24 Apr 2017 00:00:00 GMTThree BS Startup Myths We Believe.https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/three-bs-startup-myths-we-believe/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/three-bs-startup-myths-we-believe/Milestones aren't achievements. They're calls to action.Wed, 15 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMTWhen Your Time Comes Aroundhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/when-your-time-comes-around/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/when-your-time-comes-around/Time. Fucking hell. Who knew it would be so important?Tue, 03 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMTOpened Mouths Equal Closed Earshttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/opened-mouths-equal-closed-ears/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/opened-mouths-equal-closed-ears/We spent all our time talking. We did everything but listen.Wed, 09 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMThow > who > why > what > when > where.https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/how-who-why-what-when-where/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/how-who-why-what-when-where/How is the true driver of legacy.Tue, 06 Sep 2016 00:00:00 GMTGiving Gets You Goodhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/giving-gets-you-good/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/giving-gets-you-good/What was making me sad was the lack of give.Sun, 31 Jul 2016 00:00:00 GMTLiving to Diehttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/living-to-die/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/living-to-die/The opposite of death isn't life. It's trust.Mon, 27 Jun 2016 00:00:00 GMTAdvisors Stop Screwing Foundershttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/advisors-stop-screwing-founders/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/advisors-stop-screwing-founders/It is not cool to be an advisor; it's a responsibility.Mon, 09 May 2016 00:00:00 GMTWhy I Write is Not Why You Dohttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/why-i-write-is-not-why-you-do/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/why-i-write-is-not-why-you-do/Just write. People will hate it. People will love it. People won't care.Wed, 27 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMTBulletproof.https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/bulletproof/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/bulletproof/When I turned 18, I was surprised. Surprised that I was alive.Tue, 19 Apr 2016 00:00:00 GMTTruth. Lost Among Optimism.https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/truth-lost-among-optimism/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/truth-lost-among-optimism/Founders are abject optimists. Optimists are the greatest liars.Sun, 20 Mar 2016 00:00:00 GMTIt All Changes When The Founder Drives A Porschehttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/it-all-changes-when-the-founder-drives-a-porsche/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/it-all-changes-when-the-founder-drives-a-porsche/Founders make different decisions when money doesn't matter.Thu, 14 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMTI Hate Retrospectiveshttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/i-hate-retrospectives/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/i-hate-retrospectives/Yesterdays are set in stone. Tomorrows in clay.Sat, 02 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMTThe Boring Lifehttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-boring-life/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-boring-life/How doing nothing became my everything.Sun, 27 Dec 2015 00:00:00 GMT10,000 > 1,000,000https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/ten-thousand-greater-than-one-million/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/ten-thousand-greater-than-one-million/The creation of value trumps the creation of wealth.Sat, 28 Nov 2015 00:00:00 GMTI Love You, but I Hate Your Assistanthttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/i-love-you-but-i-hate-your-assistant/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/i-love-you-but-i-hate-your-assistant/You want to look more important? Build something important.Thu, 27 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMTStep 1: Time Over Thingshttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/step-1-time-over-things/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/step-1-time-over-things/Length of time has begun to matter less to me. I prioritize spending time with the people I love rather than assuming there is always time available.Fri, 21 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMTChoosing the Day I’m Going to Die Has Helped Me Livehttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/choosing-the-day-im-going-to-die-has-helped-me-live/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/choosing-the-day-im-going-to-die-has-helped-me-live/Of all the reasons I love my animals, probably the biggest one is that they have provided me the ability to set my death date.Tue, 18 Aug 2015 00:00:00 GMTThe Only Guide to Seed Fundraising You Will Ever Need. Ever. Seriously.https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-only-guide-to-seed-fundraising/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-only-guide-to-seed-fundraising/You're not raising money. You're selling a piece of your company.Thu, 28 May 2015 00:00:00 GMTIndependent Board Members: Why?https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/independent-board-members-why/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/independent-board-members-why/You need someone in the room who cares about you first, the business second.Thu, 02 Apr 2015 00:00:00 GMTYour Product Sucks; Stop Telling Me About It.https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/your-product-sucks-stop-telling-me-about-it/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/your-product-sucks-stop-telling-me-about-it/It's fine to love your product. Pitch your business.Fri, 27 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMTThe Three Meeting Gambithttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-three-meeting-gambit/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-three-meeting-gambit/Three meetings is enough to get to a yes or no.Tue, 24 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMTWhy Maximizing Your Valuation May Be Minimizing Your Chance for Successhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/why-maximizing-your-valuation-may-be-minimizing-your-chance-for-success/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/why-maximizing-your-valuation-may-be-minimizing-your-chance-for-success/Stop worrying about valuation. Start focusing on trust.Sun, 22 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMTDie, Traction, Die.https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/die-traction-die/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/die-traction-die/There is no worse word to hear while fundraising.Thu, 19 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMTCreating Lines Out of Dotshttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/creating-lines-out-of-dots/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/creating-lines-out-of-dots/I knew what I am good at. I was unsure if my dots were turning into lines to get me there.Mon, 02 Feb 2015 00:00:00 GMTThe Science of Business Developmenthttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-science-of-business-development/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-science-of-business-development/To get, you have to give. And trust the gift is compelling enough to come back.Fri, 23 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMTMotivation.https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/motivation/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/motivation/Motivation is a lie. Don't wait for some mythical mental motor. Just do it.Tue, 06 Jan 2015 00:00:00 GMTPain Is Only Understood In Its Absencehttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/pain-is-only-understood-in-its-absence/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/pain-is-only-understood-in-its-absence/We only understand pain when it's absent.Fri, 26 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMTThe Prepared Mindhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-prepared-mind/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-prepared-mind/Great victories don't come because you're better. They come because you're better prepared.Tue, 23 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMTCreativity is as Creativity Doeshttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/creativity-is-as-creativity-does/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/creativity-is-as-creativity-does/Inspiration and creativity are not about time. They're about space.Mon, 22 Dec 2014 00:00:00 GMTThe $12 Alarm Clockhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-12-alarm-clock/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-12-alarm-clock/The beauty of single use devices.Mon, 27 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMTWriting is More Than Wordshttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/writing-is-more-than-words/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/writing-is-more-than-words/I have no idea if I am good at it. I just enjoy it.Thu, 23 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMTThe Rule of Awesomehttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-rule-of-awesome/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-rule-of-awesome/If we hire you because you're awesome, you have 30 days to do something awesome.Thu, 16 Oct 2014 00:00:00 GMTWhat Your Product Tells Investorshttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/what-your-product-tells-investors/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/what-your-product-tells-investors/It's not to show that you can build beautiful. It's to show that you can build big.Tue, 23 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMTI am Gayhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/i-am-gay/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/i-am-gay/Living a life of acceptance means more than being tolerant.Wed, 17 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMTThe Most Important Startuphttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-most-important-startup/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-most-important-startup/By always putting others first, you teach them it's okay to put you second.Sat, 06 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT3 Lessons That Make A Markethttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/three-lessons-that-make-a-market/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/three-lessons-that-make-a-market/It's never team first. It's always market.Thu, 04 Sep 2014 00:00:00 GMT8 Traits That Make Founders Fundablehttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/eight-traits-that-make-founders-fundable/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/eight-traits-that-make-founders-fundable/We always know what to do. It depends on whether we decide to do it.Sat, 30 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMTFounders Are Fixershttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/founders-are-fixers/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/founders-are-fixers/But we can’t fix ourselves.Thu, 14 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMTIt Looks So Easyhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/it-looks-so-easy/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/it-looks-so-easy/I am not alone. You are not alone.Tue, 12 Aug 2014 00:00:00 GMTCultivating Dark Matterhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/cultivating-dark-matter/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/cultivating-dark-matter/I am dark matter.Tue, 22 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMTDark Side of the Curvehttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/dark-side-of-the-curve/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/dark-side-of-the-curve/Never compromise user trust for user growth.Sat, 12 Jul 2014 00:00:00 GMTBig Ideas; Small Communitieshttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/big-ideas-small-communities/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/big-ideas-small-communities/Our small community is building big ideas while you do.Mon, 30 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMTLegacy > Currencyhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/legacy-currency/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/legacy-currency/I want my legacy to be that I did something that warranted an email of thanks.Mon, 23 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMTPassion Killshttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/passion-kills/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/passion-kills/There is no word in startup lexicon I hate more than passion.Sun, 09 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMTI Hate Being an Entrepreneurhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/i-hate-being-an-entrepreneur/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/i-hate-being-an-entrepreneur/I never became an entrepreneur. I've just always been one.Mon, 13 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMTThe Perfect Monthhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-perfect-month/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-perfect-month/Perfection isn't about not having flaws. It's about finishing.Wed, 01 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT10 Steps to Being an Ex-CEOhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/ten-steps-to-being-an-ex-ceo/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/ten-steps-to-being-an-ex-ceo/Could and should are two different things.Wed, 18 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTPut Me In, Coach!https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/put-me-in-coach/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/put-me-in-coach/It isn't whether you can run fast. It's whether you can help your team run the fastest.Tue, 03 Sep 2013 00:00:00 GMTFounders’ Anonymoushttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/founders-anonymous/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/founders-anonymous/In order for founders to exist, we need pals.Fri, 23 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMTFailing Purposefullyhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/failing-purposefully/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/failing-purposefully/If failure is a part of entrepreneurial life, shouldn't we practice it?Fri, 02 Aug 2013 00:00:00 GMTYes. It is Your Fault. Dammit.https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/yes-it-is-your-fault-dammit/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/yes-it-is-your-fault-dammit/Failure is, 100% of the time, your fault. Own it.Fri, 28 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMTThe Curse of Tomorrowhttps://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-curse-of-tomorrow/https://www.currentwisdom.com/essays/the-curse-of-tomorrow/On April 1, 2006, I chose life.Tue, 02 Apr 2013 00:00:00 GMT