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Loneliness is a warning signal So important is it to be part of a social group, that when we find ourselves alone or an outsider we typically feel lonely, even agitated, and will actively work to try and remedy the situation. Few of us could cope with living completely isolated on a desert island with no prospect of rescue. Even the rather disagreeable Scottish seaman Alexander Selkirk (the original on whom the Robinson Crusoe story was based) was overjoyed to be rescued after spending four years alone on what is now officially known as Robinson Crusoe Island. Loneliness takes its toll on us, and we do our best to look for opportunities to meet people. Being part of a group makes us feel properly human. We feel more relaxed when we know we belong. We feel more satisfied with life when we know we are wanted.
Right now you’re probably thinking, “But don’t all startups begin with the founders owning 100 percent of the shares?” True. But not all founders are willing to begin working on a startup without an outside investor. Many of them hold out for that first check like it’s a security blanket. I prefer founders who are willing to pursue their visions long before an investor comes along and takes some of the pressure off of them. What this signals, in my experience, is that if these founders someday run out of money—and almost all startups do—they will likely revert back to not paying themselves, while still pushing the company forward with their effort, in order to save the business (and your investment). These are my people, the hustlers and the builders. As the world figures out you’re an angel, you will be crushed with a legion of founders who want your backing, and most of them will not be the “sweat equity” type. Most wannabe founders are waiting for an angel to anoint them with a $50,000 check before they start working on anything outside of a PowerPoint deck, or worse, delusionally long emails explaining why everything else out there sucks and their derivative idea will win—if only you believe in them and cut them a check. If the most a person can create without funding is a PowerPoint deck or an insufferable email, they have DQed themselves from running a startup—and you should tell them that in your own style. I don’t recommend using my style, which is uniquely abrasive but works with my personal brand and goals. I typically tell wannabe founders, “I invest in people who build things, not people who talk about building things.” My approach is to be judgmental and combative, if you haven’t figured that out.
In 2013 in Russia, customs officials noticed that a series of consumer goods manufactured in China, including electronic teakettles and clothing irons, arrived with modifications that Russian authorities were none too pleased about. The devices contained hidden miniature Wi-Fi cards capable of spreading malware to any open Internet network within two hundred meters and were able to “phone home,” relaying secret messages back to China.
Future Crimes
Marc Goodman
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