From a labor mindset to a capital mindset

I've been quiet on the blog lately -- writing is one of those things that's hard to build a habit for, but always pays big dividends when you do it.  Every time I've gotten into a good blogging rhythm I am undoubtedly surprised by the feedback I get (good and bad!), but more importantly, by the ripple effects.  Writing is capital -- you work to make it, and then it works for you. As someone who likes to work with his hands (both in the analog and digital worlds), I feel pretty deeply connected to both labor and to capital.  The process of making something (a table, an app, a blog post) can be deeply satisfying, and then the follow-on effects from that thing existing can (in the best cases) be very high leverage. I would say my hands-on nature is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to this.  Because I like "making stuff" I'm often drawn into projects where I might be better off hiring (or inspiring) someone else to do it, or delegating it somehow.  When it comes to producing capital, sometimes actually the less you "do", the more you can accomplish.  I think of this as learning to develop a Capital mindset, over a Labor mindset. Of course this relates to money as well. For the longest time -- I think this was just my foundational mental model -- I intuitively understood the idea that you work, and you get paid.  Labor.  Paid for your time.  Despite the fact that I have worked for a  long time in the software economy (and of course now, in venture capital), I had to overcome this idea of labor being the thing.  For instance, I spent a lot of time in my early twenties as a freelance developer, building apps (capital) for others, but just getting paid for my time. Maybe this is intuitively obvious to other people, but it has taken me some time to turn the corner and understand the value of, and the power of, capital.  **Especially** capital you can build through your own efforts, like writing, or coding, or making music, art, etc. I feel like it's an overall very powerful frame, and is especially helpful when it comes to prioritizing your own time & activities -- whether you are the CEO of a company, or a guy/gal sitting in your living room. With that in mind, here is my first blog post of 2018.  Here's to a great year, everyone.