Diogo Mónica - I Built America's First Crypto Bank
1. Being a Founder Comes with Daily Challenges
Diogo mentioned that being a founder is akin to waking up every day and getting punched in the face. This analogy emphasizes the relentless challenges and hardships founders face as they navigate their journey, highlighting that while the experience is incredibly valuable, it is not for the faint-hearted.
2. Embrace Discomfort for Growth
Diogo believes that seeking discomfort is key to growth. He shared that the most significant personal growth occurs during the hardest times in his life, suggesting that individuals should intentionally seek out challenging situations to accelerate their learning and development.
3. Valuing Experience Over Wealth
Diogo expressed that when starting a company, the value of the experience gained far exceeds that of being an employee. He argued that a founder's journey accelerates their knowledge and understanding of operations, ultimately making them better suited for future challenges or leadership roles in other companies.
4. The Loneliness of Entrepreneurship
Diogo pointed out the pervasive loneliness that often accompanies the entrepreneurial journey. He shared personal reflections about seeing old team photos where most individuals had moved on, emphasizing the emotional toll of seeing foundational teammates depart and the isolation that founders can feel.
5. The Need for Long-term Incentives in DeFi
Diogo proposed that for decentralized finance (DeFi) to truly work, founders need to adopt long-term incentive structures similar to traditional equity systems. He argues that current practices lead to premature liquidity for founders, which discourages the deep commitment required for building lasting businesses in the crypto space.
6. Balance of Work and Family Life
Diogo shared his perspective on balancing family life with a demanding job that requires significant travel. He articulated the struggle between being physically present for family while also delivering on professional responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of quality time with loved ones during his downtime.
