I got caught up in the hype of Silicon Valley in my 20s and totally regret it.
I was living in Silicon Valley, where it's all about big VC raises and big exits, and starting a service business just wasn't cool.
But after selling my 2nd company by the age of 23, I had an idea for a product design agency and studio called "Islands." Why the name? Because I wanted to help different clients, like their own little islands.
However, after seeking feedback from two Silicon Valley legends, they persuaded me to turn Islands into a social networking product.
"You donโt move to Silicon Valley to start a service business." They chuckled at me.
"You go big or go home." they told me. They were my heroes, I listened.
I raised a few million dollars and was off to the races. Ended up selling to WeWork, the poster child of VC.
We raised $22.3 billion dollars and were unprofitable. It didn't feel good.
Deep down, I always loved the design agency business. I loved working on multiple projects, seeing others succeed, and helping them get there.
And when COVID hit in 2020, I knew I couldn't wait any longer to start that concept of Islands.
So I called it Late Checkout (@latecheckoutplz), a product design agency and studio for companies who want to supercharge their communities. Top tier design, engineering and innovation.
And what's the lesson here? Better late than never, and trust your intuition. It's right more than you think.
And we just launched 2 more agencies. Both are taking off.
1. Dispatch (@dispatchdesign):
https://t.co/4Cxe2NDr06, unlimited design (decks, websites, apps) for a monthly fee at affordable prices.
2. Boring Marketing (@boringmarketer)
https://t.co/pIYc4oMEYf, "boring" ways to bring customers more money through SEO
And more coming agencies soon. We're incubating and acquiring them.
My point is this:
If you're feeling lost or wondering if you're on the right path, take a lesson from my experience. Follow your gut, trust your instincts, and don't be afraid to make a change. Because who knows? It might just lead you to your dream life.
Do what you want, how you want, when you want.
Itโll be a blessing.
๐ Top 10 Largest Countries by Population ๐
๐จ๐ณ China: 1.44 billion
๐ฎ๐ณ India: 1.38 billion
๐บ๐ธ United States: 331 million
๐ฎ๐ฉ Indonesia: 274 million
๐ต๐ฐ Pakistan: 221 million
๐ง๐ท Brazil: 213 million
๐ณ๐ฌ Nigeria: 206 million
๐ง๐ฉ Bangladesh: 165 million
๐ท๐บ Russia: 146 million
๐ฏ๐ต Japan: 126 million
Thokozani ๐๐๐
I'm sharing a thread about the energy of the Full Moon that we are currently in. It's very long, so prepare your breath if you'd like to receive it.
โจ
Part of what this Full Moon is holding space for, is the upliftment and restoration of your creativity.