Ep 110.1: How do you measure your life? | Ian Lee (Co-Founder, Syndicate & Former Head of Crypto & Blockchain, Citi)

Ian Lee is the co-founder of Syndicate: a decentralised investing
protocol & social network by the likes of A16Z, IDEO, Kleiner
Perkins, Uniswap, Coinbase, Opensea, circle & Ledger. He is
also the former founding member of IDEO Colab and Head of crypto
& blockchain at Citi.


But before all that, he was an artist. 


Then a designer. Before pivoting into marketing &
advertising, investment banking and finally, consulting.


Where he ended up being diagnosed with cancer. 


His world shrunk into 3 month timeframes, because he just didn’t
know if he would live beyond each three month period. 


Ian’s worldview changed. He was and remains afraid to try new
things. 


In Part 1 of Episode 110, our discussion centres around the
fundamental question of: How do we measure our life?


Opening with a viral Tweet that Ian wrote, inspired by a Harvard
Professor called Clayton Christensen where he learned that: 


The best strategy in life is an emergent one.


Don’t plan life in 5-10 year spans. Instead go all-in on what you
have the most conviction, passion & excitement for in 12-18
month increments.


You’ll learn more, grow faster & outperform others not as
into it as you.


You’ll learn how and why in this episode, and so very much more
in this episode with Ian Lee.





Highlights:


2:41 Don’t plan your life in 5 to 10 year spans

3:49 Going to art school instead of science?!

6:07 Being diagnosed with cancer

7:43 Living in 2 to 3 month increments

9:26 Exploring rabbit holes

19:10 Life isn’t a linear progression

20:36 Letting go of his need for obsessive planning

22:15 Is there a place for long term vision and planning?

24:38 Would Ian really do anything differently?

27:59 Knowing when to quit

30:44 How to plan for a pivot

35:39 Juggling art and business in his CV

42:45 Mentors

48:53 Fostering relationships with mentors






P/S: Part 1 of the interview with Ian Lee comes out this
Wednesday! Where we talk all about Ian’s deep dive into the world
of investment banking & web3.





Show notes: www.sothisismywhy.com/110


 Weekly Newsletter that deconstructs how you can find
success & purpose on your own terms:
https://sothisismywhy.ck.page/acd5bd1062