How to make better long-term decisions.
I’m 36. I have three children under five and am currently unemployed because the startup I decided to build for the last three years just went bust.
You guessed it! I need to find a job.
How did I end up here?
In April 2018, I decided to quit my Private Equity job. I’d been working for one of the most prominent Family Offices in Latin America for five years, and I loved my job. Investing in highly exclusive, growth companies across the world, my dream job.
But I was driven by the need to improve the quality of education in Mexico and Latin America, so I decided to quit and start an Edtech company called Trybu.mx. Starting a tech company with the ambition to reach one million children and failing to do so has been one of the most frustrating, demanding, yet valuable life and educational experiences, but that’s another story.
Fast forward three years later. I need to find a job.
The problem is finding something that makes me happy before entirely running out of my life’s savings eight months from today.
Defining what makes me happy has been a big challenge. Thankfully, a few years ago, I stumbled upon the “IKIGAI” concept. In summary, anyone’s IKIGAI is something that checks all of the following:
you love to do,
you are good at,
you can be paid for, and
what the world needs.
I have spent several months answering these simple yet profound concepts. In trying to do so, I talked with my friends and family. I’ve spent days thinking about my kids’ future, the life I want to live, and envisioning what I want my life to be like in ten years.
In this process, I found myself constantly considering crazy ideas that were not viable and would put my family’s future in jeopardy.
One of these “crazy ideas” was to start another education company. Haha!
A discussion with my wife would go:
Me: Danna, I think I know what to do!
Danna: What?
Me: I’m going to start a new education company. Look. In Latin America, there are thousands of entrepreneurs starting companies, but the failure rate is 90%. Imagine a school that helps all these entrepreneurs to become successful!
(And I would go on for 3-4 minutes pitching her my idea.)
Danna: laughs hysterically and leaves the room.
What I haven’t told you is that Danna is a full-time mom. I provide the only source of income, and we had just spent 80% of our life’s savings in the last three years.
Starting another company? Ha!
I didn’t realize it then, but I learned that the strong force pulling me to think of these ideas was something called ego. I wanted to prove to people that I could be a successful entrepreneur!
Interestingly, I also learned that the weapon to defuse this force is an opposing force called the gut. Imagine yourself grabbing a vacuum and putting it on your gut. Now, turn it on at the highest speed level. Can you imagine what you would feel--the vacuum sucking into your skin? That’s the warning sign at the end of the road saying, “Unknown terrain. Proceed at your own risk.”
I have learned that being patient is key to making better decisions. We, as humans, are wired to play the short game; we seek quick wins without considering second-order consequences. Playing the long game gives you a competitive advantage, so find a way to make sure you can stay in the game for longer than others. At least long enough for you to do what you need to do.
I am still figuring my IKIGAI, but the process has been a joyful and insightful one. If I had to pick one sentence for each IKIAI component, it would be as follows:
I love to have high-touch experiences and spend time with people.
I am very good at mentoring, understanding businesses, as well as building and nurturing relationships.
I can be paid to help investors find, invest, and help companies grow.
The world needs conscious companies that have a positive impact on humanity.
I think I now have a base that will help me find a job that will make me happy. I will keep fine-tuning my IKIGAI, listening to my gut, and playing the long game.
I am excited to go and find my new job, hoping that no crazy ideas get in the way.
Thank you, Danna! Thank you for always supporting and helping me make better decisions.
