S3 EP4: Excelling at Tech, Entrepreneurship and the Art of Not-Knowing — with Sequoia Blodgett Tracking Wonder Podcast

Corporate culture perpetuates the idea that we need to fake it ‘til we make it, pretending to have all the answers and projecting confidence in our abilities—whether we feel it or not.
But what if there are advantages to not knowing?
What if living rich, creative entrepreneurial lives requires that we let go of what we think we know, step into new territory and expand our mental map of the world?
Today, Jeffrey considers the benefit of naïveté in creativity and entrepreneurship with Sequoia Blodgett, former music video director and founder of Commas, a tech platform designed to help founders build sustainable businesses. Sequoia shares her journey from directing music videos to the tech world, explaining what she did to secure VC funding for her first company and how the failure of that venture led to the creation of Commas. She addresses the vast disparity of women of color in tech, discussing the unconscious bias prevalent on both sides of private equity and her mission to even the playing field for multicultural entrepreneurs. Listen in to understand how travel enhances creativity and learn how to navigate your own knowledge gaps in the pursuit of an excellent life.
Key Takeaways [0:02] How naïveté can work to our advantage
‘Fake it ‘til you make it’ = destructive business advice Wide-eyed not-knowing benefits pursuit of creative life Let go of what think know as step into new territory [4:44] How Sequoia’s creative genius expressed itself early on
Organize ideas + people in form of magazine, film Exposed to father’s creative work at Pixar Studied TV, dance and film at Loyola University [11:47] Sequoia’s frustration with the business of making music videos
Can’t just create what you want (write hundreds of treatments) Must prove yourself over and over again Politics means work may never be released [17:43] What inspired Sequoia to step into the tech world
Learned about VC working at tech camp for girls Crowdfunding to attend Draper University Tim Draper invested in first tech company 7AM [29:59] How the failure of 7AM informed the creation of Commas
Didn’t understand business, burned through capital Platform to help entrepreneurs build profitable business [34:46] The navigation of knowledge gaps in pursuit of excellence
Access to much info, yet rapid change renders us ignorant Learn to recover from failure savvier but not jaded [39:10] Sequoia’s mindset shift around what it means to fail
Mentor explained that failure necessary for learning Freed from weight of having to be right [40:04] The vast disparity of women of color in tech
Issue on both sides (i.e.: unconscious bias, pattern matching) Mission to even playing field for multicultural founders [46:01] Sequoia’s insight around trying to do it all yourself
Scale with systems when small, leverage automation Tech to build cashflow business and then hire team [48:06] What Sequoia is doing to foster a strong inner life
Hire coaches to make sure Commas is successful Support with business and self-development [51:20] Sequoia’s take on the necessity of wonder
Travel to experience other perspectives Creativity improves when embrace other cultures [57:27] What Sequoia is learning to say NO to
Reject opportunities not necessary for growth Left Black Enterprise to say YES to other opportunities [1:02:22] How to expand your mental map of the world
Know what you don’t know + create support pack Create nurture pack to foster inner awareness Learn from people your brand elevates Get outside yourself to shake up perspective Connect with Sequoia Commas
Commas Podcast
Sequoia’s Website
Resources A Wondrous Mind on 1440 Multiversity
Ray Dalio
Sequoia’s Dad’s Blog
Dave Meyers
Sequoia’s Music Video
Draper University
Alexa Café
Adobe Creative Suite
Scratch
Awesomeness TV
Tim Draper
Y Combinator
Adobe InDesign
Black Tech Mecca
Sequoia’s Article on BTM
Black Enterprise Magazine
This Movie