Adam Delehanty (adam-xyz)

Crypto was more fun when it was about tearing down the establishment not bowing to the emperor

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Last year I spent about 500+ hours embedded at Duolingo to write the Duolingo Handbook -- which finally went live this week. Grateful to have had a front row seat with one of the most brilliant, unconventional teams on earth. I can't think of another company who has been able to build so much, so fast -- and with an insanely high bar on quality. The book tells the story of the company, and covers the key ideas and practices that make it so different. And even though the audience is primarily internal, I think folks from any tech / education / consumer company can find some gold in there. Link below: https://lnkd.in/ejddyDfH

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I think so many problems in crypto stem from the idea that people treat VCs like they're Gods, but they’re just Middlemen. Shuttling capital between lazy HNW boomers and based 20-somethings who just need a shot. Deploying capital is many things, but it is not the Lord’s work. Still, somewhere along the way, people started acting like VCs were the main characters. Like funding rounds were the real milestones. Like writing a check was the hard part, not staying up all night trying to make something that actually works. The problem with worshipping VCs is that it turns capital into the story rather than the fuel. It creates a world where everyone wants to be an investor and no one wants to be a founder. Where risk gets replaced by optimization, and the best and brightest aren’t building—they’re managing portfolios and clout-chasing on Twitter. The people who deserve clout are making something brand new. Capital follows conviction... but conviction starts with founders.

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Interesting tactic: when introducing yourself, offload self-promotion to a friend. A few weeks ago, a friend called me his "storytelling doula." It was 28% cringe, but I also kind of loved it. I help clients birth their ideas into language that helps them grow their business. There's a lot of breathing, some moments of panic, and occasionally someone screams. Introducing yourself -- especially verbally -- can be a mess. We get trapped in boring patterns, garble our words, downplay our magic. We overcomplicate trying to sound impressive, or shrink ourselves out of fear. But when a friend describes what you do? They have no stake. No anxiety about sounding too full of themselves. Their words carry none of our baggage. Next time someone asks what you do, borrow a friend's words. They probably see you more clearly.

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