Unplugging from the matrix

It has been a year since I put the new chapter of life into motion, leaving the security and joys (of which there are many) of a stable pay check behind. It has been tricky to describe the experience of choosing to leave a position and team that I genuinely enjoyed working with. I have sat with this puzzle for a few months and believe that the phrase that best describes my experience is that is has been like 'unplugging from the matrix' (of my old life).

Looking back over the year, I am immeasurably grateful for the level of growth and opportunity that has arisen from throwing myself into unfamiliar, new territory. I wanted to crystalise some of these learnings, to take stock of what has stood out most to me and mark the passage of the last twelve months.

Lesson 1: I was more prepared than I gave myself credit for

While the decision to leave my old world was not a spontaneous one, I still dreaded throwing myself into the 'career abyss'. However, I see now that I had started sowing the seeds of this new life from as far back as 2016 when I started seriously investing in private holdings. I used to sweep these investments under the banner of passion projects. I did not recognize it at the time, but I had created a meaningful portfolio of multi-asset products which grew to become the basis of LiHT Capital as it stands today.

The truth is that I had not realised what I wanted to do until years after I had planted the first seeds of my new life but the guiderails were all already in place by then.

When I finally (embarrassingly late) saw the elephant standing in front of me, it was already in full form and shape. I just had to take hold of the idea and run with it. The general headline reads, if you have been thinking about it, you have probably been preparing for it, even if you don't know it yet.

Lesson 2: Fear is inescapable and can be relentless

A common misconception that I want to dispel is that fear of the unknown dissipates over time.

It. Does. Not.

The reality is that fear never fully goes away. I still find myself in moments of panic over the changes I have made. The only panacea I have found is to focus on the positive datapoints that things are working largely according to plan and to use these to retrain my brain away from guidelines of progression that I was used to before.

I had to get comfortable with letting go of the idea of career fulfilment from promotions and bonuses. Today, wins come in various forms; mentoring young entrepreneurs and watching them build thriving businesses; connecting founders with industry leaders; or successfully closing up a funding round for a portfolio company.

It is like transitioning from a step ladder to a slope. The trajectory remains the same but the journey up is less defined than it used to be.

Lesson 3: Plugging into a new network has been immensely rewarding

A meaningful positive surprise from my transition into the entrepreneurial universe is that it is far more welcoming than I had anticipated. I miss my old team and colleagues and while I could not be here without spending years learning from amazing investors within the supportive environments of top institutions, I am embracing the dynamics of being in a less structured space today.

The vast majority of people I have met have been incredibly helpful and enabled collaboration across regions and ideas. It is hard to overstate how the general chutzpah and 'can do' spirit of fellow founders and angel investors is infectious, creating a virtuous cycle for growth and success.

In a room of dreamers, one no longer feels isolated to try new things or to push the idea boat out a bit further. Just try it.

So that wraps up my biggest learnings for the past year. I am sure I have many more lessons and challenges ahead but it has been an enormously enjoyable ride so far. Did I miss any big ones you have encountered? Feel free to drop me a line if you have some other key lessons in your own journey, I would love to hear about them.