Talent Capital

Slow capital is gain earned over time. Fred Wilson, venture capitalist and blogger, suggests five tentets of slow capital:

1) doesn't rush to conclusions and doesn't expect entrepreneurs to do so either

2) flows into a company based on the company's needs, not the investor's needs

3) starts small and grows with the company as it grows

4) has no set timetable for getting liquid: slow capital is patient capital

5) takes the time to understand the company and the people who make it up.

While reading Fred's piece in "What Matters Most," I was struck by the similarity of capital to talent. Unless you are a progeny, the talent inside of you must be cultivated and nurtured.

I overheard a conversation today. One person was in his fifties. The other, a single mom. He remarked about the daughter of other person and her interest in several musical instruments. He noted that as young man he learned the violin, but only got as far learning the novice peice of Twinkle Twinkle. He doesn't play now. Gave it up a long time ago. The regret humg in his voice.

It takes time to become good, let alone expert at anything. Malcolm Gladwell  promotes that it takes 10,000 hours. Let me borrow from Fred Wilson's tenets for five tenets for slow talent.

Talent...
1) doesn't rush to a resolution to quit nor expects the heart and mind to do so either

2) flows into daily living based on the room offered, not financial needs

3) starts with small projects, doodles, random ideas captured and grows as the talent host takes action

4) has no set timetable for generating revenue; slow talent is patient talent

5) takes the time to appreciate creativity and those that host talent.

Creative expression is not an overnight gig. It is the journey of life.