Venture

Credentials are an interesting thing.

I used to be impressed with them.

Used to impress myself with them.

Framed certificates signifying intellect. 

Business cards and titles therewith.

Term sheets.

Firm handshakes (still important).

These things used to matter to me.

Now, I'm borderline feral.

Barely civilized, if I ever was.

Respectful, but wild.

I'm happy to say I have a lot of credentials.

Even happier to say I don't need 'em.

They got me here, in a roundabout way, and that's worth it in and of itself.

Couldn't be where I am without them.

Ties with collared shirts would break me out.

Felt like a costume.

A collar.

A leash.

I don't wear them anymore.

My old boss at the Menlo Park venture capital law firm said, "Alex, you need to be on the other side of the table."

I think he was trying to get rid of me, but he's right.

That's where I belong.

Been trying to fit square pegs in round holes my whole life.

Then I figured out something:

Credentials don't make you happy.

They make your parents happy.

Because it makes them feel better around other old Koreans.

I love my folks, but I wish they didn't care about what other old Koreans thought.

Everything, though, puts me right here.

Writing on this ridiculously good domain name just for my own personal joy.

Haha.

Weird.

🕺