Act like an investor with your time by forming hypotheses about which industries are most likely to experience your key compelling events. By predicting where M&A or new market entries will occur (e.g., in telecom), you can proactively focus your territory on high-probability accounts before events are announced.

Modern sales culture mistakenly equates constant activity with productivity. The real competitive edge comes from scheduling time for strategic thinking. While competitors react to noise, you develop clarity, spot unseen opportunities, and devise creative solutions by deliberately doing nothing but thinking.

Most people slow down during holidays. By intentionally increasing your focus and effort during these 'separation seasons,' you can create a significant gap between you and your competition, much like driving on an empty highway at night.

Don't chase every deal. Like a spearfisherman, anchor in a strategic area and wait patiently for the 'big fish'—a once-in-a-decade opportunity—then act decisively. This requires years of preparation and the discipline to let smaller opportunities pass by, focusing only on transformative deals.

Mastering generative AI requires more than carving out an hour for thinking. It demands large, uninterrupted blocks of time for experimentation and play. Tavel restructured her schedule to dedicate entire days (like Mondays) to this deep work, a practice contrary to the typical high-velocity, meeting-driven VC calendar.

The seed investing landscape isn't just expanding; it's actively replacing its previous generation. Legacy boutique seed firms are being squeezed by large multistage funds and new emerging managers, implying a VC's relevance has a 10-15 year cycle before a new cohort takes over.

To win highly sought-after deals, growth investors must build relationships years in advance. This involves providing tangible help with hiring, customer introductions, and strategic advice, effectively acting as an investor long before deploying capital.

The career arcs of venture and buyout investors differ starkly. VCs rely on networks relevant to young founders, leading some to retire by 45 as connections become stale. In contrast, buyout investing is an apprenticeship business where age and experience are increasingly valued.

Large tech conferences often foster consensus views, leading VCs to chase the same deals. A better strategy is to attend smaller, niche events specific to an industry (e.g., legal tech). This provides an information advantage and helps develop a unique investment perspective away from the herd.