#24 Angelinvesting.it - From idea to Series A - Weekly Newsletter

No early exit.

3 Minutes to reflect

After the almost coup last week in Russia, there was a joke circulating on Twitter: "The Russian army went from being the second in the world to the second in Ukraine, and finally, the second in Russia."

Amidst the drama surrounding the Russo-Ukrainian war, there is a leadership lesson worth highlighting. A global superpower attacks you, and as the prime minister, you are given a safe and dignified way out for you and your family. Instead of taking a plane to safety, you decide to stay and fight.

Let’s say the invading superpower is a giant that enters your market with the intention of crushing you. The plane to salvation is an early exit; you sell the company for less, but you secure money for yourself, your loved ones, and provide peace of mind to your collaborators.

Many CEOs, instead of fighting, would have chosen the simpler and perhaps more rational path. But not all CEOs are the same. There are founders who know that one of the best strategies in business is "not to die."

As, partially, the war in Ukraine is proving, the more you resist, the less your enemy seems unbeatable. The more you resist, the more your opponent questions itself. The more you resist, the more chances there are that a bit of luck will knock at your very door.

The ability to stand one more day with indomitable willpower and resilience is the path to success. It's the emotional intelligence of founders, an innate desire to fight, always and under any circumstances. It's a fire within that drives you to resist, to always keep resisting.

2 Resources to pro level

A great book about resilience is surprisingly called "Resilience" by Eric Greitens. It's the kind of self-help book that is so comforting for the soul. (link to Amazon)

A great quote from the book: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." One of the first times this prayer was seen in print was in 1944, in a book handed out to Army chaplains and soldiers fighting in the Second World War.

1 Reason to be happy

Let's make this newsletter a bit less virtues-heavy. From the same book: “One of the most famous spiritual journeys was made by Saint Augustine, who lived in the fifth century. He wasn’t always a saint. He fathered an illegitimate child with his mistress, and was known for the prayer “Grant me chastity . . . but not yet.”

Have a great weekend,

Simone

—

Want to read more: click here

Want to invest with me: click here

Want to share a deck: click here