the power of determination
This essay is about why I consider toughness the most underrated cliché and how I've been trying to build it.
“So much of being a successful entrepreneur is just not giving up.
When we've funded people who have a great idea, perfect background on paper, great product and still failed, it's usually been that they're insufficiently determined.
Of course, you need a good product, a good market, and be smart. But, that's obvious.
The degree to which being a three or four-standard deviation outlier on determination is a required skill of a CEO was not something obvious to me when I started”
Among the few things we control in life, determination is the most important.
This week I talked to two friends who are startup founders. I could see in their eyes how emotionally drained they were. Both of them had stressful, disappointing weeks.
“I feel like I've been on a rollercoaster. I switch from ‘We'll take over the world’ to ‘Shit, I want to give up’ three times a day.”
One said.
Much has been said about the challenges of building a startup in your early 20s. You lack expertise, track record, network, etc.
But, the toughness to keep or increase energy when there's a lot of shit thrown at you is the most decisive one. Few people of any age can ride the rollercoaster of building the future and keep showing up with intensity.
This is emphasized when we're young because chances are high we never go through something profoundly bad in life (myself included). Yet, I believe young people have a special edge when combining optimism, energy, and determination.
This "assessing determination” mental model appeared to me through Jeremy Griffon. He advocates for investing in founders who've been beaten down by life.
Patrick: And probably the one that resonates the most with me that you've talked to me about is this notion of whether or not someone is before or after their personal fall. Explain what that is, how you came on the idea, and why it's a powerful way to understand someone's situation in life.”
Jeremy: Pre- and post-fall is really, I guess, a perversion of a Christian idea, which is, has someone really been brought to their knees by life. You can see it immediately.
I find it's uncorrelated to who they are or what they grew up with or whatever. You can see it in someone's eyes whether they've been humbled deeply by life or they haven't.
And the reason that I find it useful is it gives you a sense of the capacity that, that person has suffering or pain. I find it to be a very good indicator of if something bad happens this person, how are they going to react?
Developing determination
I'm a strong believer in the idea of anticipating "must-have” aspects of building a startup before you even have an idea.
Anticipate meetings with potential early hires, accumulate the expertise, build the proprietary distribution channel, get to know the potential investors, etc. All of it years before building your startup. Step by step. Patient about the future while ferociously impatient about the next move.
Developing determination is one of these key traits. It's a make-or-break trait.
That's why I believe it should be practiced daily before being tested in the “arena”. You stimulate determination every time your performance surpasses the limits you had set for yourself. And when things get tough, you just keep showing up.
Things I've been doing to practice my determination:
Challenge me to post weekly and refuse to fail
Set ambitious goals at work
Learn programming
Send so many cold DM's that I'm becoming okay with receiving No's
Deleted my Instagram account to delete the noise
These are not profound hard challenges. I'm aware of it. The purpose of it is to stimulate the “determination muscle memory”. Develop the habit of showing up even though things aren't comfortable.
Final Thoughts
You can spot determination in people's eyes. You just feel the horsepower in the body language, voice, eyes. You can tell they won't give up after a few punches. This is a superpower.
I believe that when creating the future there are aspects it's okay to be ignorant about. Feasibility, competitors’ firepower, risks, etc. Some of them are even a blessing to be ignorant about.
However, I don't believe it's ok to ignore how much determination it takes. That's why developing early signs of horsepower and determination is crucial.
It's about intentionally showing yourself you have what it takes.
Anticipate. Build determination muscle memory.
I enjoyed this post. I like the energy and intensity with which you talk about determination. But, I must say, I am fiercely opposed to the presumptuous and frankly arrogant idea that you can "see in someone's eyes if they have been humbled by life." People are people—they don't have supervision. Just because you don't wear your pain on your face doesn't mean it's not there. It can take trials, tribulations, and time to bring to light this aspect of someone.