One Way and Two Way Doors
A framework for how you can make better decisions faster
Sometimes you just do not know what to expect. Case in point with SxSW where I was the week before. If you do not know, SxSW is a conference hosted every March based in Austin. It started as a music festival in 1987, then added film and tech programs. This was where Twitter famously got its first big exposure back in 2007.
I was on the fence about going though. In my role as a startup advocate, I need to allocate my time wisely in order to connect with as many entrepreneurs and founders as possible. Would it be busy like years before COVID shut it down? Was it going to be worth my time to attend? If I did go, would there be anyone worth meeting?
Even at a reduced size, the value of being at SxSW in person was definitely worth it. While the talks themselves were interesting, it was the interactions I had and the random collisions of people I met during the week. Even if just a tiny fraction of the follow-ups SxSW amount to anything, it would have been worth the trip.
It could also have been a complete waste of time. I am a believer in the power of serendipity…