When I first started my journey of raising capital for a startup that I was passionate about, I knew nothing about the startup space, venture capital, pitching, or leadership.
Meanwhile, in the heat of my learning my great-grandmother, my best friend, was dying of Alzheimer’s disease and I was her caretaker.
My fondest memories are of the times that I spent sitting at her feet while she told me stories of her childhood.
So here I am. Watching my best friend and mentor fade away slowly while I gain knowledge at a rapid pace.
When she passed in 2018, the experience came rushing in like a hurricane wind. I lost everything and gained nothing.
I thought this was a painting of failure. But it was the opposite. This is what burnout feels like: loss even when you’ve worked hard and made progress.