This year has been filled with more conversations and taking more twists and turns than I could have imagined. At the start of 2023, I did not envision starting my venture capital journey or not being a founder anymore. To be honest, I am still wrapping my head around all of it. This year I went to 4 conferences in 5 months and had over 300 conversations with those outside of my immediate network. I've listened to people's stories, contemplated my thoughts and choices, and have been left amazed and inspired by almost all my conversations. However, with the abundance of conversations I've had, it quickly became overwhelming to sift through the conflicting advice I received. After about a month into my VC deep dive, the conversations felt less helpful and left me in states of confusion, frustration, and anxiety. I would leave one conversation thinking I was on the right track and another contemplating my existence. But as I reflect on my final conversations of 2023, my greatest takeaway from talking to those in the tech and venture space, as simple as it sounds, is that my journey is exactly that...MY JOURNEY.
People give advice based on their lives, their experiences, their trauma, and their triumphs. I am not them; they are not me. Some advice I received works for me; it meshes well with my lifestyle, my goals, and how I operate. For example, I know I thrive in big cities, I tried a slower pace in college and it did not work for me. I also know that I need to be in dynamic work environments; this is something I've learned rather quickly throughout the first year of my career. The list goes on. When I began to differentiate my goals, needs, and processes from others, it started making conversations easier. Going into 2024, I know some pointers I'll receive will not be applicable, not that I won't appreciate them. These conflicting takes allow me to learn from the mistakes of others and weigh my options. I'm slowly learning to embrace the journey, my journey. I'm working hard to be in a situation that works best for me. I do not think there is any better way to live than that.
Bring on 2024!
-Zoe
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