Ben Horowitz

Read about this guy somewhere recently--either in The New Yorker or The Week--he's some Silicon Valley VC bigshot who dispenses management advice via rap lyrics. Not to take credit for what he's doing but I've always felt that way about rap. That it's very capitalistic--people say it's all about boasting but it's more about self-preservation and self-promotion; if you don't believe in yourself nobody else will; like this Kanye line: Now I could let these dream killers kill my self-esteem. Or use my arrogance as the steam to power my dreams.


I've had these emotive moments listening to rap on the treadmill where a line will hit me and I think man, I could be so much more successful if I just believed in myself and trusted myself more. That's what rap is capable of and it can be very empowering.

Horowitz posted a quote from the legendary trainer Cus D'amato:

I tell my kids, what is the difference between a hero and a coward? What is the difference between being yellow and being brave? No difference. Only what you do. They both feel the same. They both fear dying and getting hurt. The man who is yellow refuses to face up to what he’s got to face. The hero is more disciplined and he fights those feelings off and he does what he has to do. But they both feel the same, the hero and the coward. People who watch you judge you on what you do, not how you feel.


Alright--let's not be a coward anymore, DP. Anyhow, here's his blog if you're interested.