Lessons from Q2 2025: Autonomy, Influence, and the Vanity of Authority

This quarter has been nothing short of clarifying. As I build, invest, and collaborate, the contrasts between what is seen and what is substantial have never been sharper. Here are a few themes that defined my Q2:

Autonomy vs. Authority

Authority is often confused with control. Autonomy, on the other hand, is power exercised from within. I've watched those in "positions" with zero personal momentum, and those without titles move industries. Authority is often borrowed; autonomy is built.

Influencer vs. Influential

Followers don't make you impactful—decisions do. An influencer can drive clicks; someone influential drives change. Q2 showed me that the loudest in the room aren't the ones who get things moving behind closed doors.

Real VC vs. LinkedIn VC

You can post all the pitch decks in the world, but if you're not wiring cheques or building value, you're not a venture capitalist—you're a content creator. The LinkedIn VCs this quarter treated their profiles like Instagram feeds: high-gloss, low capital. Real VCs aren't trying to look busy; they're just busy.

Final Thought

2025 Q2 was a reminder that it's easy to perform success online. It's much harder to live it offline. I'll take fewer posts and more proof any day.