Reflections, insights, and lessons learned from crypto + generally working on planet earth.
As I was heading back from Devconnect, scrolling through my notes, full of ideas on what to work on next, I realised that I've been in the crypto/web3 industry for 2 years! Like full-time, day-night kind of 2 years, not your typical 9 to 5. It definitely feels so much longer, and I still feel like I’m pretty new.
So, as I mark my 2nd anniversary working in crypto, I decided to put some of my ramblings on paper. My notes turned out to be not just about working in crypto but generally working in a initiative-driven, dynamic and disruptive industry, especially as someone coming from the corporate world.
This blog post is basically some of the things I learned and don't want to forget.
How you communicate is the sheer determinant of your success. First, how you speak, then how you write. Listen to good communicators & read, a lot. Even if you don't learn from the context, you'll learn how to write/speak well and, more importantly, structure your thoughts. In the end, it doesn’t matter if you have the greatest tech, if you can’t convince people to use it becomes irrelevant.
Most people are in it for the money. There's a lot of money, so of course, many people come for it; hence, you'll hear a lot of speculation and price talks. A lot of easy money = drama. Similarly, being rich doesn't equate to being successful. On the bright side, it's quite easy to identify and filter people and projects.
A lot of the tech doesn't work (yet) - shocker? I've seen companies that appear extremely polished from the outside but lack a solid technical foundation or even any sort of plan. I'm not saying these efforts won't eventually work out; rather, I'm pointing out that they may not be as refined as they seem. Initially, this frustrated me (especially trying to build something with many parts not working). However, now I understand this is what people mean when they say, 'We're still early,' because, well we’re really building the tools together. Also please note that this doesn't mean you should believe everyone and everything. Best is to be an optimistic realist. 🙂
Be VERY interested! In my daily life, I spend a lot of time explaining to people that blockchain/crypto is not bad. If I weren't personally interested, I wouldn't be able to do. Also, it's so fun and easy to work with people who are actually interested and enjoy what they're doing; the opposite is true as well.
Put stuff on the internet 🛳️. Anything - writings, talks, presentations, code. Saying I built cool projects without having your cool projects on the internet means nothing. Leetcode doesn't get you a job here (or anywhere in the startup world); it's the open-source contributions you've ALREADY made. If you want a job you MUST do the work prior.
The talent in the crypto space amazes me. The energy of interesting and motivated people is contagious. After meeting so many people in Devconnect, I have a long list of ideas. This also means that: Team >> Ideas. Surrounding yourself with inspiring people is a life hack.
Many people make it seem more complicated than it is. People used to complain in the corporate world about the number of acronyms. It's the same here - there are way too many buzzwords and abbreviations. The concepts are probably not that complicated, however, people generally use big and new words. So don't get intimated by this. In fact, I see it as an opportunity to make things simpler.
There are lots of scams & security vulnerabilities. There are hacks and scams every day. Even the most "degen" names are vulnerable. Don't connect your wallet to everything; don't send your tokens if someone tells you they'll send you something in return, etc. Be EXTRA cautious.
There's a cult-like nature, which is a huge minus. People get stuck in their opinions, especially when money's involved and they're winning together. It turns into a kind of group thing that's more about getting along than adding value. This is a huge drawback. I hope that with more high-value projects and tech-savvy and ambitious folks this can change.
Show up PREPARED. There are a lot of irl and virtual events. Being present and engaged puts you 3-0 ahead. But NEVER go unprepared - do your research and have a clear message of what you bring to the table.
The default is "no". If you don't take your shot, it's the same as asking and getting a no (which, trust me, is rarely the case). A general life hack.
Tips for giving presentations. Don't say "Ummmm." Here's a great video on tips and tricks for giving presentations. Regarding slides, if you think that you have too many slides or too many words on them, you probably do. Also talk slow. Especially in spontaneous situations; there’s no right or wrong answer, so relax.
Some of these may seem intuitive, but it's amazing how easy they are to overlook.
Two wild years have taught me more than just writing smart contracts and the intricacies of crypto twitter. It's been less about the code and more about the bigger picture stuff - like working on things you are personally interested in with people you care about and just showing up to do your own thing.
Final words - It was a 10/10 decision, and I’m excited for what’s coming.
Now, this post is on the blockchain forever. 🤝