dsbatten on Nostr: The time has come for the silent Bitcoiners in the cubicles of corporate life, in the ...

The time has come for the silent Bitcoiners in the cubicles of corporate life, in the halls of academia, in the office blocks, in the news media rooms, and in the corridors of power to show your colors.

Today, Troy Cross and Andrew Perkins published a seminal report showing us beyond doubt that Bitcoin cuts right across the political spectrum. It is a tool for everyone.

Why did this surprise us? Perhaps because some have remained silent. Silent through fear of what showing their true (orange) colors would mean.

I faced a similar fear years ago. I almost stayed silent too. And it almost cost me my freedom.

I wanted to be an actor when I grew up. But I got married early, and in my early 20s while I was doing postgraduate study I had kids. It was like a switch flicked in my brain. I suddenly started thinking about “earning a living” for the first time in my life. I had an Arts Degree and a Diploma in Drama, yet I ended up as a software developer for an early Internet startup.

The whole time I was in the IT industry I felt like a fraud. I felt I was only there because I needed to support a family, but my real passion remained acting.

Years later I started my own tech company which did quite well, then after that I left to start coaching technology entrepreneurs. I wasn’t working directly with technology, but I wasn’t following my passion either.

My coach picked up on it and asked “what do you really want to do this next retreat you’re running for these CEOs?”

I sheepishly admitted “I’d like to do theatre improvisation with them” then quickly added “But I know that I could never do that.”

“Why?” he challenged, as any good coach should

“Come on coach” I said “These are highly left brain analytical engineers and tech gurus. There’s no way they’ll be into improv. They’ll think its weird. It’s a super high risk move, and it could ruin my credibility with a bunch of people I’ve been slowly building up respect with”

He paused and said “What if that’s what everyone has been assuming, but their being left brain dominant is exactly why they need improv?

"Daniel, they trust you. That’s why they’re part of your group. If you love it, they will love it. And I bet its exactly what they’ve been crying out for.

"Besides, you’re encouraging them to take bold moves as entrepreneurs right?"

“Absolutely” I replied

“Well what sort of chance have they got if their leader doesn’t role model to them what that looks like?”

He had me. So, nervously I started planning to do theatre improv with them. Not “give them a book on improv” like some Silicon Valley companies do, but actually do full on body-contact improv like crazy acting students do.

I never forget our first session. We could not stop laughing. I saw a whole new side of them. They saw a new side of themselves. Even the wife of one of them thanked me for the change in her husband.

Not only did we have outrageous fun, but the results of the creative exercises we did flowed directly and measurably into the boldness and creativity of their subsequent business decisions and conversations.

Still to this day, the one thing past entrepreneurs say is “Man I miss improv”.

And … I had a blast too. For the first time I’d found a way to integrate my love of acting into my work as a coach, in a way that enriched the lives of others beyond entertainment.

A part of me would have remained forever unexpressed, unintegrated had it not been for the encouragement of my coach to come forth and declare my true colors.

I'm forever grateful to him.

Today, I encourage you as a Bitcoiner to do the same, as my coach once did. Not because it will help Bitcoin. But because it will help you. It will help you feel more full, more authentic. It will be like a deep outbreath you've been longing to take. And like me, the fear you feel is proportional to the breakthrough on the other side.

Fear is an acronym for “False evidence appearing real”. All those fears I had of how people would react were completely unfounded. The truth was, it was my ego that would scared of “what would people think of me” that was keeping me playing safe and playing small. As a result it was denying both others, and me of growth, and of joy.

I was at the decision point where I could listen to my ego … or I could grow. I could only choose one path.

So those fears of how people will judge you declaring you are a Bitcoiner, how do you know? If people judge, so what? Look back to other times you’ve spoken up for what you believed in. How many times did others thank you for your leadership? And even if they don’t - so what?

As Bitcoiners we talk a lot about freedom. But Bitcoin cannot free you. No technology can. Bitcoin is merely the catalyst that brings you to the point where freedom is possible. But the act to choose freedom is yours and yours alone. If you live in fear of what others may think, you are not free. Conversely, the moment you decide to step forth and bring forth what you believe in, whether it is improv … or Bitcoin - you become free.

The stage is waiting.
The time is ripe.
Show your true colors.
Speak your truth.

And then share with others how you can’t believe you waited so long.