I'm fascinated by nonlinear effects.
A few examples:
A 15-minute afternoon nap refreshes like a 2-hour sleep.
One vice—pride—is the source of most people's problems.
A similar dilemma constrains the growth of different companies.
Controlling an opponent's head in Jiu-Jitsu reduces his power by 80%.
The essence is simple: a tiny change yields a colossal result.
It's a disaster if the nonlinear effect works against you. Standing in the path of an avalanche or mass hysteria makes no sense. One force will soon exhaust itself. The other won't even notice the obstacle.
It's a different story when asymmetry is on your side. You playfully move mountains and rivers. Your initial input doesn't matter if a lever amplifies it by 1,000 times.
So, for example, for a venture investor, early-stage startup valuation is secondary. Whether it's $1M or $5M is trivial when the company has a real chance to be worth $1B in a few years.
The task is to find the non-linear effects and be in sync with them.
I used to think they were a vanishing species, like the white rhinoceros. Turns out, they're everywhere. Sometimes, I even stumble upon them.
It's about optics. You need to slightly adjust your perspective.
Sincerely yours,
-Alexander
About me:
As a business therapist, I help tech founders quickly solve dilemmas at the intersection of business and personality, and boost company value as a result.
How can I help you?
If you've long been trying to understand what is limiting you and/or your business and how to finally give important changes a push, then The Catalyst Session is designed specifically for you. Book it here.