More currencies than money
An economy is about money. Who makes it, what it's spent on, and through that, what power does it bring to whom? If we want goods or services, we take our money and exchange it for those goods and services. It’s a simple formula that’s easy to understand, yet even easier to misinterpret. One misinterpretation is that because buyers with money can buy, and sellers want to sell for cash, the power lies with the buyers.
It’s this perception of power that has always annoyed me. I’ll give you an easy example: startups looking to raise funding from wealthy investors often find themselves in a power struggle. The potential investors need to be dined and wined. They need to be pleased and humored and have their egos stroked, and then maybe they’ll part with their money and give it to those needy startups. If that sounds embarrassingly stupid, I agree. My advice to startups has always been to change their perspective to a position of power. You’re not ‘getting’ money. They’re not buying shares. Instead, try to imagine yourself buying money and paying with shares. That’s a very different perspective and power balance, but not illogical. Money is a commodity. Money is dumb. Money is infinitely available. Your shares, which represent your startup’s opportunity and ambition, are unique and limited. You can get money anytime and anywhere. You can only spend your shares once, however.
There’s a similar thing going on with your attention. A friend of mine wrote a book about Intentional Living. He argues compellingly against scrolling through your phone as soon as you wake up. A habit that many of us have surely adopted. We do it because we look for some easy distraction and entertainment. What we don’t always realize is that the companies delivering that distraction and entertainment optimize their content to make us jealous, concerned, angry, and unsatisfied. They do that because those emotions make us more likely to keep scrolling, clicking, and buying. His perspective is: why would you give these companies the best hours of your day and life so that they can make more money? You might feel like you’re getting something from them, but it's the other way around, and you’re not getting a good deal.
Now might be a good moment to analyse your business or personal life and see how you can improve things. In what areas do you think you're buying but are actually selling? And when were you selling but actually being bought?
Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten Founder, TNW
What we’re writing about
🛰️ A new pocket-sized Starlink alternative promises secure military communications — safe from interference by billionaire CEOs.
💼 Vibe coding is transforming software for startups and indie developers. Enterprise is the next frontier.
💸 Op-ed: The Hot Crazy Matrix explains why investors get tech deals wrong
🚀 European space tech has data to sell — but where are the buyers?