Don’t Take It Personally. Take It Professionally.
I’ve changed my mind about something.
It stings when someone I know starts a company and doesn’t tell me about the financing. Either to consider participating ( since it’s my job) or at the very least to say, hey, FYI, I wanted to let you know before you heard elsewhere but I founded a new thing and it got funded.
My well-adjusted mature adult self understands these situations [I’m not all things to all people; they have their own priorities; etc] but my lizard brain still twitches with “fuck them” or “I’m a failure.” Or both. Then I calm down by reflecting, “don’t take it personally,” and let it pass. But it sometimes, kinda, often, still lingers around the person for me.
But now I’m not even thinking about it personally. I’ve replaced that word for these situations with ‘professionally’ instead. And I am ok taking it professionally.
Taking it professionally means understanding why I didn’t have the chance to chat with the founder during a financing event. And using that feedback — if applicable — to continue improving our communications, our product SKU, and so on. To treat it like a To Do, or an Action Item, or just a piece of data to be prioritized accordingly. Not needlessly letting it weigh on my psyche, or my relationship with the individual (unless there’s really something between us that needs to be resolved in order to strengthen both the personal and professional bond).
Take it professionally.
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Bluesky has the JUICE
Originally published at https://hunterwalk.com on February 7, 2025.
