Christen O'Brien (Early Beta Episode #3)
Christen is a Silicon Valley-based writer, marketing executive, and author. She has been at the forefront of promising new startups, and has worked in the earliest days with companies like LinkedIn, Box, Twilio, Jive, Atlassian, AdMob (acq. Google), Writely (now Google Docs), Slideshare (acq. LinkedIn), and more.
Christen transitioned more more heavily into writing after her essay titled What it felt like to almost die went viral, which is currently being made into a documentary and an animated short.
In this episode, we talk about acting from a position of offense instead of defense, finding meaning in work, the pattern she'd seen among the unicorn founder/CEOs she's worked with, why fear is the greatest motivator, and how her life changed after her writing career took off.
Show Notes
Christen’s path to self-discovery started with regularly reading and writing, which she believes are critical for that process, because it allows people to broaden their perspectives.
Choosing jobs based on people was a great move for her, and it also taught her a lot about herself.
Her near-death experience changed her relationship with fear. Because all fear stems from loss; you’re afraid of losing something, someone, or yourself. You can find her essay here, titled “What it felt like to almost die.”
Feeling like dying felt to her like being pushed into a pool; “Okay, we’re doing this!” But she felt neither feelings of fear nor of loss.
After her near-death experience, she changed her default of acting out of a position of defense, to instead a position of offense. Fear became something to pursue, not to run from.
Her near-death experience gave her a “good sense of urgency.”
Christen believes that behind our fear can actually be a pretty strong natural ability.
She believes that people know way more about themselves as children than they do as adults.
She feels a lot of peoples’ efforts are around “defense” - holding onto something - just “trying not to lose,” feeling that if they don’t keep control, their loss will be catastrophic.
Book recommendations: Religion for Atheists, The Artists Way, Reflections on the Art of Living: A Joseph Campbell Companion
When you’re building an innovative company, it might benefit you to try to emulate the passion that a religion would.
Jared’s idea: “What kind of cult do you want to create/join?!”
At the same time that membership numbers continue to decline for religious congregations, we are also expecting more meaning and purpose from our professional pursuits.
When you’re in business, you’re paid to solve problems. But when you’re writing fiction, you’re writing the problems and trying to solve them.
The more you’re aware of the things that happen to you and you’re tuned into yourself, the more you’re able to connect the dots of your life closer to while they’re happening.
Here is the daily practice of “morning pages.”
She believes therapy makes her a better friend, partner, and teammate; it’s not self-indulgent, but selfless.
“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasures you seek.” - Joseph Campbell