Sport, and the passion for competing, have always been very important aspects of my life. Managing to find the time to hone in on the proper technique and possessing a genetic predisposition to sporting activities, I managed to reach the highest levels of competition both in biathlon and in cross country skiing to Olympic standard. In 2014 I was training with my coach on a ski run in Sochi, Russia, when I lost control of my skies on a very steep icy slope and I hit a metal fence head on at very high speed. Cross country skiers are not required to wear helmets, and therefore I found myself with the left side of my skull and orbital bone crushed in. This is not the place to expand on what ensued, suffice to say that the many days I spent, first in intensive care and the 8 surgeries needed to keep me alive, gave me the incredible opportunity to reflect on what had happened, and in particular, on the kind of legacy I wanted to leave.
Just to be clear, I have every intention to leave my legacy whilst living a happy and fulfilled life, but nevertheless, the accident was a most powerful catalyst in defining my vision. That vision was that as a result of my efforts in accelerating impactful capital, I wished to leave a positive legacy that transcends generations. Since I already enjoyed working with, and investing in, visionaries and smart minds eager to change the world, I focused my attention on startups.
Once that vision was crystallised, I began developing my mission and the requisite steps to achieve it. As a strong believer in analysis and process, I started formulating a scientifically based methodology that would both prevent startups from failing (or at least mitigate the alarming 90% failure rate) whilst at the same time offering my fellow angel investors confidence they could de-risk their portfolios.
My question to you today is…If you were to die tomorrow, are you doing what you want to be remembered for?
Are you fulfilling your higher calling?