The World is a Museum of Passion Projects

SDS 053: The World is a Museum of Passion Projects

Hey! thank you for reading issue 053 of Startup Definition Sunday (SDS). You can read past issues here.

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This is the final issue of SDS before the New Year, marking two years of writing this newsletter. As I prepared this second annual end-of-year edition (you can read last year’s here), a tweet by Stripe’s co-founder John Collison, which I recently spotted on X (formerly Twitter), kept playing in my mind:

This quote perfectly captures how I came to do what I do: invest in early-stage startups, write one free newsletter (with a paid version launching next year), selectively collect art I admire (and can afford), and build an audience of over 16,000 on X and LinkedIn.

What am I getting at?

Three years ago, I was solely an investor. Back then, I used Twitter mainly to follow Ghana Twitter, St. John’s University Basketball Twitter, and whatever else the algorithm showed me. Then, I decided to pursue a passion project: writing for early-stage founders in Africa.

What I’ve discovered about passion is that it has a way of consuming you—if you let it. For 892 days straight, I’ve published on X without missing a single day.

Passion also compounds. At first, I was writing for a few people I knew. Then, I was writing for many people I didn’t know. Soon after, I launched a newsletter for 50 subscribers. Today, that number has grown to over 2,000 readers.

Passion, however, is unpredictable—and often terrifying. I have deep respect for entrepreneurs who dive headfirst into their ideas. I don’t naturally have that temperament. But passion doesn’t care.

About three months ago, en route to the airport in Lagos, I had a bold (and slightly scary) idea: to write beyond my comfort zone of startups, Africa tech, and investing. That idea has since turned into my upcoming paid publication, which will launch in May 2025.

As I type this, doubt creeps in. "What if no one wants to read beyond my usual topics?" "Why would anyone pay $10 per year for something I write?" But John Collison’s words ring loud:

So, in 2025, I’ll be adding a new piece to that museum. Maybe it’ll get tucked away in a quiet corner, forgotten. Or maybe it will become a centerpiece—a small but meaningful exhibition in my corner of the museum.

Whatever happens, I’ll be sure to share the story with you. Until then, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and I’ll see you in your inbox in the New Year!

If you or someone you know wants to receive our 2025 issues, consider joining SDS to catch exclusive content in future editions.

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That's all for today. As always, thank you for being an engaged reader.

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I'll catch up with you in two weeks with more actionable insights.

Jasiel

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