Fifty Eight. / The Look Alive, '25 Edition.
On Welcoming Comprehension, Noticing More, and The Power of Kindness.
Hey, everybody.
I’m writing this on a plane back from our late holiday / “change of scenery” (aka still working) trip to Hawaii. We just stayed in O’ahu at a friend’s place on the east cost (Waimanalo, to be specific, which…wow, what a wonderful and serene place). In today’s fiery world, I give a million hat tips to the island (and really a country, but that’s another story for another time) for injecting its Aloha Spirit, a laidback but conservation-focused attitude, into just about everything.
I highly, highly recommend visiting for the ultimate mental palate cleanser!
Oh, and if you need any O’ahu recommendations, I GOTCHU.
PS: This edition may get cut off in your email, please make sure to read in full!
What are you currently working on?
Our first fund of VHS Ventures is just about closed up, with 19 (soon to be 20!!) companies in the fund! We’re working on the next stages of the firm now, and it’s quite the time to be alive. I’m helping some founders on the side, but even with all of the good energy forward, I’m still keeping a watchful eye on the way this incoming administration is handling, well, humanity in general.
The below is part of what I wrote the following to our portfolio company founders on November 11th, 2024 (6 days after Election Day):
While there might be some positives to an incoming Trump administration and GOP-leaning Congress, from a potentially more welcoming economy to more embracing of innovation and M&A, and it may ultimately help parts of the VHS Ventures portfolio, let me be clear:
We will do everything in our power to protect each founder and their work if or when
this administration, movement, and members of Congress
decides to create chaos for and/or instill fear in them.
I've always believed that ethics and economics go hand-in-hand;
you can have a successfully working economy that benefits
the backbones of our country and society while
protecting the rights, privileges, and freedoms
(not to mention safety and security) of all citizens.
And that is the same mentality that I will continue to bring
to the villages of Fund I and future funds.
Furthermore, I’m working on an initiative called the American Experiment Initiative (AmExIn) on the side; it will be a platform dedicated to highlighting and empowering (through visibility and capital) organizations and individuals who are taking on this fear-mongering, whether it be across rights and freedoms, safety and security, or personal privileges and choices.
If you're interested in learning more and/or getting involved, ping me!
What are you currently excited about?
I met
many years ago through the investing world, and her Substack is one of my favorites I read within the category of self-reflection and self-evolution. She posted late last year about how we can manifest our dream lives, showcasing her work from 2018 to 2023.I’m working on my version for 2025, but I’m zeroing in right now on what I’m welcoming and what I’m releasing this year, as Dianna also wrote up on.
So in 2025:
I welcome Comprehension
(slowing down, rushing to a conclusion/solution much less),
and I release Self-Sabotage.
(consistently doubting and/or putting down myself, consistently comparing my status to others).
What’s a story or article that you're currently thinking about?
I decided to comb through a few of my favorite “Year in Review” and/or “Ins and Outs” Substack posts and share them here.
First up, it’s Mr. with his Maxims & Lessons.
I got the idea for this entry from Francois La Rochefoucauld’s famous book, Maximes. Published in 1665, it’s essentially just his approach to life as told through a collection of small declarations. It’s not unlike a Twitter thread, if you want to think of it like that.
Next, it’s longtime friend with her 2025 Plan, broken down into Mindfulness, Workouts, Meals, and Fun Things (Reading, Watching, Listening).
We then have Mr. with looking at The Future of 2025.
We aren’t just post-pandemic anymore. We are post post-pandemic. Let’s wake up to a perspective that isn’t imprisoned in 2019 comparisons or 2020 blame. Let’s forge ahead into a 2025 future that is wide open and ready to be filled. Where anything goes. And while some it might be different and strange, may all of it be revolutionary. I will meet you there.
Fourth is a guest contributor (Jenni Dawes) to on self reflection, where she posits 25 questions to the reader to “to guide your exploration.”
Fifth is , who put together a 13-question list on how we can shop smarter this year! It’s a great add-on to the 4321 Rule (4 Years, 3 Outfits, 2 Yes-es from friends, Sleep on It for 1 Night or 1 Week):
Finally, one of my favorite Substack friends I made last year, , welcomes January (“a fresh sheet of paper, an inky black pen & a hot cup of tea”) in four ways, specifically Bloom Where Planted, Be of Service, Notice Things I Love, and Trust My Gut About Small Things.
What’s a product you’re currently obsessed with?
I’m trying to be more mindful of my time and making sure I’m not often sucked into social media- or email-laden spirals, so I’ve been implementing two items:
Pomodoro Timers aren’t new, but it’s nice to be able to use online versions to keep my time, brain, and work sharp!
- is a great book that I’ve been going through on my Kindle; I’m going to get a hardcover version for spur-of-the-moment flipping once I finish it. It’s a great set of exercises to help disconnect from distractions and reconnect with the worlds around us. Plus, Rob started a Substack around the method!
Wild Card: What’s an item you can’t shake your mind off of?
I’ve been trying to implement Hanlon’s Razor ever since I learned about it from , but with all of the acerbic hatred, unabashed insults, and misinformation spreading that has basically tarnished all levels of social media, I was sadly reminded this holiday of the bigger issue of passive-aggressive asshole-ery.
The worst part about this disease is that people you know also contribute to it.
So…if I were to do one IN/OUT item, it would be:
OUT with the aforementioned passive-aggressive asshole-ery, and IN with more of this:
"Reputation is what people think of you.
Character is what you are."
- Oxford, The King’s Man
~ C O L O P H O N ~
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<3 Thank you for the mention!! So many cool things you listed!!
Sumeet YOU’RE a fave! Thank you for including me. Cannot raise my hand fast enough for the Experiment initiative— sounds like what many have been looking to support. ✔️