12 Comments
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Brian Doran's avatar

Bro ur a fuckin elegant wordsmith

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prayingforexits 🏴‍☠️'s avatar

Thank you brother. Here's to a strong 2023.

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Mujavid Bukhari's avatar

Loved the take on nepotism being positive. As strange as it sounds, it's like building a product for a niche market. A small group of people having faith in you, gives you the ability to go after a bigger group later.

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Kunle's avatar

This was lovely to read. No despair.

The spirit of the entrepreneur seems to be the most important factor to these things no matter the environment.

What a way to begin 2023! Thanks for penning these so elegantly. Let’s Go!

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prayingforexits 🏴‍☠️'s avatar

No despair ever - theres always steps to take forward!

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Daniel Akang's avatar

Exit Fuel is probably going to be my favorite publication on substack.

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Ravdeep Anand's avatar

This is gold! 🤌🏽

You've inspired me to start writing again. Here's to stronger 2023 for you! 🙌🏽

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prayingforexits 🏴‍☠️'s avatar

Awesome! Good luck on your journey friend.

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Mark Adams's avatar

Superb writing Mr Exits. You've inspired me to get back in the fundraising saddle for 2023.

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prayingforexits 🏴‍☠️'s avatar

Please follow up and let me know how it goes!

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SuburbanUniverse's avatar

Is this a parody of VC "thought leadership"? Let's tick off the bingo card:

- Sun-Tzu quote ✓

- use of 'Sisyphean' ✓

- Anthony Bourdain quote ✓

- scarification ✓

- Rorschach ✓

- Kobe Bryant ✓

You need to put the down the thesaurus and slow down with the mid-writ style.

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Christine Outram's avatar

Really liked this piece. It also got me thinking: do you think some founders just *have* integrity of belief and others do not? Or is it that some founders are better at expressing their convictions.

My hunch is the latter and you inspired me to write something about it (and quote you).

https://www.startupwithchristine.com/blog/why-people-pleasers-raise-less-money-from-VCs-and-what-you-can-do-about-it

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