The Bridge #85
in which we start a new year, even while accepting the circularity of it all
Hello
& Welcome to The Bridge!
When a new year begins, it’s a fresh start.
Or at least it can be.
Some things never change, and some things change slowly.
No matter how it is, let’s find our flow, make dreams come true, and fill the empty possibility that is the year ahead with actioned intentions that keep us moving kindly in the spiral that is life. One step at a time, and sometimes we slide!
Something Fun
Pink Martini is a band making old school music, this one in the style of the Great American Songbook (American jazz standards, popular songs, and show tunes from the 20th century). They wrote this song in 2020, and it celebrates friendship! (which you might have guessed from the title.)
I had been listening to Pink Martini for years without realizing how they began. Several decades ago, Thomas Lauderdale started the band with friends from college in support of progressive causes (music for fundraisers and so on), and over time they developed a very international repertoire that runs a fun balance between classic and new.
Considering how long Pink Martini has been performing as a band, maybe readers know and love their music already? If so, let’s be friends!
Something Interesting
Why millennial women are embracing angel investing (Fast Company)
The title is more click-baity than is the content. The article itself describes how angel investing first began (tech bros pooling money together to help spark further innovation, supporting the new business ideas of friends), and goes on to describe how more and more women (of whatever age) are participating as angel investors in early-stage fundraising rounds of startups.
One reason the author — and those interviewed — suspect millennial women in particular are embracing angel investing is the ease with which one can create and sustain professional networks via the internet. Within 3-5 years working in tech, one can be earning a 6-figure salary, and without needing to schmooze traditional “boys clubs” one can form a Whatsapp or Slack group in minutes, and find friends to talk dealflow.
As well, the barrier to entry has historically allowed only the very wealthy to invest in early-stage startups (fanning the spark of an idea into a healthy bonfire of a business, ideally). Today, due to recent changes, “non-accredited investors” can invest as little as $1k in an early-stage round via a syndicate or crowdfunding platform.
Most startups fail, and for those that succeed it takes usually ~10 years to fully prove the idea. It’s a risk that not everyone is willing to take. For those that do, though, there is potential for high reward. With more women participating, it means new ideas can be supported and wealth can be shifted in ways that bring greater balance to society. Exciting!
Something Serious
Imagine soon after you’re born your father leaves to “do other things” and so it’s your mother who raises you. Imagine other childhood difficulties like a war and not having enough money. You have your sister though, and your mother, and you realize rather quickly as a teenager, people find you beautiful.
Imagine you hit it big, and though born in Italy you’re being featured alongside big-time stars in American-made films, and in your mid-20s your new husband gets you featured in the leading role of a movie about war. You are a mom taking care of her daughter; it’s a gritty, moving, and critically-acclaimed film. You win the Academy Award for Best Actress along with another 10+ awards worldwide. Your career is made!
Imagine you keep going, and you star in other films, take time to focus on parenting, later on use your brand to start businesses, mentor others, live a good life. Imagine you still have years ahead of you. Imagine abundance!
Something to Practice
The story above is a true one.
It’s a quick summary of the life of Sophia Loren. Much more that one can say about a person like that. I hardly know who she is, as I only learned about her a few weeks ago. That said, the tools we have at our disposal to research things. It’s pretty incredible.
Next time you encounter the name of a famous person you’ve never heard of before, do a little research to get to know their life. It can be fascinating.
I'm a song /
You're the dance /
I'm the fancy /
You're the pants /
The Paris in my France /
Let's be friends /
JPC ❤️