This year has been a wild ride. I realized I say this about every other year. Moving into web3 full-time and a month’s long workcation later, I am living a life I would have never imagined.
On work.
Despite being unqualified, I’m blessed to join Coinhall as the Chief of Staff in March. There was so much to learn and being able to build the company brick by brick is an opportunity I cherished. March was also the height of web3 interest and the bull market. Things came spiralling down since May with the UST depeg, the 3AC saga, the Celsius meltdown, and the FTX plot twist. I still feel appreciative and touched by people who reached out at every point. Every message mattered to me to keep me going. Top lessons to myself:
- Diversification and risk management. It would be a lie to say that the company was not affected by the depeg. But we were lucky to move and swap parts of our treasury out before the value nosedived. We became sensitive to every fud and move quickly instead of being stuck to our previous convictions. Be safe than sorry and be accountable. Happy to say that my company and I are both doing alright.
- The right people matter. I expected the team to be shaken and some to change paths because of the industry's volatility. And it wouldn’t be any of their fault because web3 and startups aren’t for everyone. But when they continue to grit their teeth and place their faith in building better and being better together, it’s an amazing motivating factor. I have no regrets about striving alongside such people. Hiring right is singlehandedly one of the most important principles. Meeting people in the industry to whom I can relate and learn is assuring. A support network needs to be in place to remain sane in this fast-changing place.
- Balancing being an optimist and realist. Although they seemingly are at opposite ends of the spectrum, both need to be equipped to work well in a web3 startup. The belief that things will get better eventually, that building is still worthwhile and yet making sure that we don’t live in a bubble.
On life.
A friend reminded me that I’ll be in my late 20s next year and quarter-life crisis is real. Hence 2022 me learnt to create boundaries for my own time and energy. It is alright to not give people and things my time and energy when I am feeling drained, even if they ask for it. It’s also alright to create spaces to protect the things I like.
2022 me also realised that it’s okay not to be an overly serious adult at all times. It’s fun to just be a frivolous human and sometimes that means standing in the cold for 4 hours to get my favourite dance crew’s signature. It means choosing more novels than business books. It means not being productive 24/7 and allowing myself to sink in bed. It means playing games that are cliche and fun instead of the ones that are meant to exercise my brain.
2022 me wanted to try new things even if I think I am terrible at it. Breaking my previous stereotypical impressions of yoga and spin classes, they are actually fun with friends. To have a month’s long workcation in Korea is something I didn’t even think about. But it was more fulfilling than I imagined, reminding myself that I don’t have to sacrifice play for work. Of course I am privileged to be able to work remotely. A couple of notes for those who want to try workcation:
- Time and space difference. I was fortunate to work in Korea which is only an hour time difference away. However with the difference in pace, I found myself working longer hours to compensate the fact that I was not physically in Singapore. I didn’t want my colleagues to have any hint that I could be slacking. So setting a good boundary is still important to communicate with your bosses. Space in terms of strong wifi and quiet environment. Korea is great in this sense because it’s littered with cafes at every corner but there were still instances where I struggled with wifi speed during calls, loud background music, and traveling to and from places.
- It’s easy to lapse into a comfort zone if you don't actively try to break it. I had a list of things I wanted to do before I flew and ended up convincing myself that it’s okay if I missed out on them. Don’t be like my couch potato self. Go explore and try things that you wouldn’t. I was thankful to my travel mates for nudging me to take a different path, try a different dish, choose to take T-express twice.
2022 me wants to tell 2023 me that we all got to start somewhere so be gentle with yourself.