When we do yoga or casual stretching, there’s a reason we’re told to hold a stretch for a minute or more.

In the first 30 seconds or so, the inverse stretch reflex actively stops us from stretching too deeply, as a protective mechanism. That’s why it’s largely useless to stretch for ten seconds. It’s a concept that’s stuck with me since high school physiology.

There’s a similar phenomenon in the internet today. The internet hive-mind typically has a forceful, knee-jerk reaction to any new product or idea.

The Cybertruck looks stupid! The Vision Pro was a colossal misstep by Apple! Jaguar’s new branding sucks!

The truth is always more nuanced. Today Cybertrucks are everywhere, the Vision Pro is the future of computing whether anyone realizes it or not, and in time, Jaguar will find a rabid fanbase who defiantly champion their products precisely because everyone else hates them.

Why else would so many people buy a Hummer in the 90s, happily getting 4 gallons per mile?

Just like with stretching, we have to push past the inverse internet reflex. We have to let the first reactions pass, because they’re seldom the most important.

“I have yet to find the person, however exalted their station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under a spirit of criticism.” - Charles Schwab

Scientists make great entrepreneurs, because unlike people like me, they aren’t full of sh**.

They are actually doing things and building things, and pushing boundaries and envelopes. This makes their pitches more grounded and their ideas more credible: exactly what VCs want.

However, we make a mistake in thinking that gifted communicators aren’t valuable because they aren’t scientists.

The world needs both: Introverts that build brilliance, and loud, confident communcators who can sell their ideas.

We assume that being a better communicator means we will be liked more.

While there is a lot to be gained from employing empathy, reading the room, and tailoring our message to the people we’re talking to, in a strict sense, you can be a great communicator and be hated.

Great communicators are the ones who get their message across most effectively.

Great communicators are the best understood.

But being understood isn’t the same as being liked.

One makes you hit a deadline, one makes you miss a putt.

The urgency/terror of a deadline brings clarity and focus. Much of the world’s great art has been delivered under enormous time pressure (See: 6 Days to Air: The Making of South Park).

One kind of stress forces us to filter out the unnecessary and embrace decisive action.

The other kind of stress causes us to miss a 2-foot putt we’ve made 999 times in a row—when money wasn’t on the line.