Recently, I had a deeply personal conversation with my partner. I asked for an honest perspective on who I am as David. She gave me three insightful comments that touched me deeply.
First, she said, “You’re creative.” But it wasn’t just about artistic creativity. She saw my creativity in how I approach the market and bring our product to customers. Each market, each customer, and each encounter is unique. This human-level connection, this creativity in my day-to-day work, is something she admires. It made me realize how much I enjoy connecting with people and how much they appreciate this personal touch.
In the early stages of our technology, I was the company’s most valuable asset. I wasn’t just selling a product; I was selling my passion, the innovation of our team, and myself. Our early customers were pioneers, much like the first buyers of Tesla’s Roadster. They took a leap of faith with us, embracing new technology before it became mainstream. We opened new markets step by step, often without even meeting our customers in person. This required a level of creativity and persistence that defined our journey.
My partner’s second comment was about my persistence. She pointed out that I often run my own race, which can be both a strength and a weakness. I move fast, sometimes too fast for an organization. This has its downsides, like not spending enough time building company structures or appreciating our achievements. I realized that always chasing the next goal without celebrating our successes creates a sense of insecurity and a lack of appreciation.
Over the years, I’ve understood the importance of innovation and speed in keeping the company secure and stable. However, I’ve also come to see the downside of always being on the move. It prevents me from enjoying the present and appreciating what we’ve achieved. If I don’t appreciate myself and our accomplishments, I can’t fully recognize the efforts of my team.
This constant rush can create an atmosphere of insecurity, a relentless pursuit of the next target, without a moment to pause and reflect. It’s like living a mission impossible, always on the edge, but never stopping to appreciate the journey. This realization hit me hard. I understood that to truly value what we have, we need to slow down, enjoy the present, and celebrate our achievements.
One evening, after a significant product milestone, we took a moment to sit down and reflect. It was a revelation. Appreciating what we’ve done allowed us to see the tremendous value and innovation we have brought to the industry. Slowing down, letting people catch up, and working together to solve problems and create business opportunities is a magnificent achievement in itself.
