Cyan Banister

But what I'm doing is trying to immerse myself among the general population of people and trying to figure out what their problem points are. For example, going to a mining convention, not Bitcoin, but actual heavy equipment and seeing like, what are these people that are moving the earth thinking about going to a toilet paper convention?

But what I'm doing is trying to immerse myself among the general population of people and trying to figure out what their problem points are. For example, going to a mining convention, not Bitcoin, but actual heavy equipment and seeing like, what are these people that are moving the earth thinking about going to a toilet paper convention?

I was curious, like everybody during the pandemic ran and bought toilet paper. Why did we have a shortage? I'm going to go to a toilet paper convention and find out things like that. And I just think that when a person sitting in front of me and they're giving me the pitch, I start daydreaming and I start seeing the truth of what they're telling me.

I was curious, like everybody during the pandemic ran and bought toilet paper. Why did we have a shortage? I'm going to go to a toilet paper convention and find out things like that. And I just think that when a person sitting in front of me and they're giving me the pitch, I start daydreaming and I start seeing the truth of what they're telling me.

And if I feel it, then the feeling I call my lightning bolts. It literally feels like a jolt of energy in my body. And I feel like a tingle. And it's like, ooh, there's something here. There's something novel here. There's something different that I haven't seen. And then I try to figure out what is different about it. Is it the person? Is it the opportunity? Is it the timing?

And if I feel it, then the feeling I call my lightning bolts. It literally feels like a jolt of energy in my body. And I feel like a tingle. And it's like, ooh, there's something here. There's something novel here. There's something different that I haven't seen. And then I try to figure out what is different about it. Is it the person? Is it the opportunity? Is it the timing?

Has someone tried this before and failed? Why is this person potentially the right person, etc. ? And so sometimes it's so overwhelming that I'm just like, I've written checks on the spot because it's like one of these things where I just feel arrested by it. And sometimes I go and marinate on it and chew on it for 24 hours. And if I still feel the same feelings, then I make the investment.

Has someone tried this before and failed? Why is this person potentially the right person, etc. ? And so sometimes it's so overwhelming that I'm just like, I've written checks on the spot because it's like one of these things where I just feel arrested by it. And sometimes I go and marinate on it and chew on it for 24 hours. And if I still feel the same feelings, then I make the investment.

But in general, it's this weird intuition that this person is onto something and it could be big. For example, let's look at Pokemon Go, Niantic.

But in general, it's this weird intuition that this person is onto something and it could be big. For example, let's look at Pokemon Go, Niantic.

Yeah. And I went to work. I was working at AngelList at the time and I was showing everybody their previous game called Ingress. And I was playing it and trying to explain to them about how this world would be reskinned. And instead of these portals that I was playing at, there would be these Pokestops and then there was going to be Pokemon around and everybody's like, you're insane.

Yeah. And I went to work. I was working at AngelList at the time and I was showing everybody their previous game called Ingress. And I was playing it and trying to explain to them about how this world would be reskinned. And instead of these portals that I was playing at, there would be these Pokestops and then there was going to be Pokemon around and everybody's like, you're insane.

What are you talking about? And I could see it clear as day, but I couldn't understand why no one else could. And when I go out and start trying to explain this dream to people, this visualization that I see, and they continuously can't see it. And they came up with excuse after excuse not to invest in it, which was like, Nintendo is a corporate investor.

What are you talking about? And I could see it clear as day, but I couldn't understand why no one else could. And when I go out and start trying to explain this dream to people, this visualization that I see, and they continuously can't see it. And they came up with excuse after excuse not to invest in it, which was like, Nintendo is a corporate investor.

I don't do investing with corporate investors. These guys are spinning out of Google. Do they really have grit? There was excuse after excuse after excuse. I was just like, you don't understand. These people built Google Earth. They really understand mapping. And then the other thing was the insight that I had was that company was ultimately a mapping company. not a gaming company.

I don't do investing with corporate investors. These guys are spinning out of Google. Do they really have grit? There was excuse after excuse after excuse. I was just like, you don't understand. These people built Google Earth. They really understand mapping. And then the other thing was the insight that I had was that company was ultimately a mapping company. not a gaming company.

And trying to convince people of that, they're like, well, they only look at the bird in hand. They're just like, well, it doesn't look like that right now. So not interested. And so I think that that's how my mind is different and how I arrive at these decisions is I just really, really trust. And I really don't care if people don't believe me or think I'm crazy or stupid or any of those things.

And trying to convince people of that, they're like, well, they only look at the bird in hand. They're just like, well, it doesn't look like that right now. So not interested. And so I think that that's how my mind is different and how I arrive at these decisions is I just really, really trust. And I really don't care if people don't believe me or think I'm crazy or stupid or any of those things.

And so for me, I don't have those kinds of fears that some people have. As a matter of fact, the more they disagree with me, it's almost like I feel like it's a sign. I'm like, huh, that's interesting. Or I look at the argument and I try to see if it has merit. Like I said, don't be contrarian for contrarian's sake.

And so for me, I don't have those kinds of fears that some people have. As a matter of fact, the more they disagree with me, it's almost like I feel like it's a sign. I'm like, huh, that's interesting. Or I look at the argument and I try to see if it has merit. Like I said, don't be contrarian for contrarian's sake.