The Criticality of Timing: Investing and Writing Evergreen Notes

The Criticality of Timing: Investing and Writing Evergreen Notes

When it comes to writing, it's important to remember that our initial audience should always be ourselves. This means that when we write notes, we should disregard any thoughts of an audience and focus solely on capturing our own thoughts and ideas. However, there is a temptation to write notes in a publishable form, especially when it comes to evergreen notes that can be used as part of a strategy for writing public work. But this approach can actually hinder our writing process.

One of the main reasons why trying to write evergreen notes as publishable prose for an audience can be challenging is because it adds an extra cognitive load. When we are trying to distill a complex topic on its own, the added pressure of considering a reader can overwhelm us and lead to writer's block. The act of writing notes for ourselves allows us to freely explore our ideas and thoughts without the fear of judgment or external expectations.

In the world of investing, Scott Belsky has been a seed-stage angel investor since 2010. He focuses on helping early-stage companies in the consumer, marketplace, and "transformation by interface" space. His expertise lies in crafting the first mile of a product, structuring design-driven product teams, blending copy and UX, optimizing defaults, considering ego analytics, and more. One important aspect that Belsky emphasizes is the power of narrative in positioning a product. He believes that a product's story matters not only for external marketing but also for the team's perspective of their own product.

Belsky admires teams that value initiative over experience. In his view, the science of business encompasses the things that scale, while the art of business involves the things that don't. He specializes in helping teams navigate through the messy middle, where challenges and uncertainties arise. Belsky supports mission-driven teams that prioritize design and exceptional product experiences. These teams are focused on solving problems by connecting and empowering people. What sets these teams apart is their ability to leverage the forces already at play and combine imagination with a grounded approach. They are driven by empathy for those suffering from the problem and are always striving for improvement.

Now, let's find the common points between the concept of writing evergreen notes and Scott Belsky's insights on investing. Both emphasize the importance of focusing on the present. When writing notes, we should focus on capturing our thoughts in the moment, without getting caught up in worrying about how it will be received by others. Similarly, successful investors like Belsky understand the significance of being grounded in the present. They are constantly evaluating the current state of their product and seeking ways to improve it.

Another common point is the value of iteration. When writing evergreen notes, it's important to view it as an ongoing process of refinement and iteration. The same applies to investing. Belsky supports teams that are never satisfied with the current state of their product. They are constantly iterating and seeking ways to enhance the user experience and solve the problem at hand.

Based on these commonalities, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Prioritize capturing your own thoughts: When writing notes, focus on capturing your own thoughts and ideas without worrying about how it will be received by others. This will help you avoid getting overwhelmed and experiencing writer's block.

2. Embrace the messy middle: Recognize that the journey of writing or investing is not always linear or straightforward. Embrace the challenges and uncertainties that arise in the messy middle and view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.

3. Continuously iterate and improve: Whether it's writing evergreen notes or developing a product, strive for constant iteration and improvement. Never settle for the current state and always be open to finding new ways to enhance the experience for your audience or users.

In conclusion, writing evergreen notes and investing share common principles. By focusing on capturing our own thoughts, embracing the messy middle, and continuously iterating, we can improve both our writing process and our investment strategies. Remember, it's important to write for ourselves first and foremost, and then consider the audience later. By doing so, we can unleash our creativity and produce meaningful work.