Prolific Startup Investor Shares How To Discover & Create Magic In Your Life (Cyan Banister)
Prolific Startup Investor Shares How To Discover & Create Magic In Your Life (Cyan Banister)
Hint: We’re More Powerful Than We Think
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I love experiencing magic and pushing the boundaries for what’s possible.
It makes life more fun and interesting.
One of the ways this shows up is noticing extraordinary phenomena. These can be everything from unexplained synchronicities to directly experiencing extra sensory perceptions (ESP).
Most people write these off, chalking them up to random coincidence or flukes.
But for some people, this inspires curiosity.
They wonder if they can recreate that experience in some way. So they start experimenting and exploring new things.
This gradually refines their understanding of what’s possible and results in new approaches to creating positive results in their life.
Today’s guest Cyan Banister brings this type of curiosity and experimentation to exploring consciousness and human potential.
Cyan is one of the most prolific early stage investors of our time having invested in SpaceX, Uber, Postmates amongst many others. She was the first female partner at Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund and now is a partner at Long Journey Ventures.
I was interested in having Cyan on the show to understand how her consciousness journey has shaped her approach to her career and life.
The main thing that stood out to me was Cyan’s openness and curiosity. She tells some amazing stories about consciousness experiments she runs to better understand how reality actually works. For example, she’ll go to parties and just see who approaches her. She often ends up meeting the exact person working on a problem she’s been thinking about.
Another interesting phenomenon Cyan shares is how every wish she has made in her life has come true. In some cases, things she asked for 15 years ago are now starting to happen!? She’s noticed how often her wishes come in forms she didn’t expect due to the lack of specificity.
So is Cyan lucky? Is this randomness?
Or perhaps she’s just tapping into innate, unlearned capacities of human consciousness that remain largely unexplored.
All this experimentation has led Cyan to believe that you attract what you focus on.
She talks about how this understanding has adjusted her approach to her life.
On a high level, much of this discussion reflects the nature of expanding awareness. As you see the true nature of things more clearly, you use this understanding to improve the world around you. It’s why working on your consciousness and awareness is so valuable.
Other interesting things we chat about:
How her consciousness journey really kicked into gear during the pandemic
Her use of visualization and process of experimentation
Thoughts on whether being on the consciousness path impacts whether you’re an investable entrepreneur
The ripple effect approach to investing and creating win-win-wins
How entrepreneurship is a mental game and needs to be supported by the ecosystem accordingly
How her firm Long Journey infuses inner exploration and transformation into their culture and work with entrepreneurs
This was a really fun conversation.
I love that people with Cyan’s track record are coming out and talking about these type of experiences.
It lends credibility to emergent phenomenon and hopefully inspires more people to explore them for themselves. I also think her approach to experimentation is a helpful lens for anyone seeking to do that.
I hope you enjoy this conversation with Cyan!
Much love,
- Scott
If you liked reading or listening to this, feel free to click the ❤️ or 🔄 button on this post so more people can discover it on Substack 🙏
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Episode Transcript
Show notes:
00:00 - Introduction and Background
03:03 - Exploring Consciousness: A Journey of Questions and Answers
06:03 - The Power of Being Present: Finding Contentment in the Present Moment
08:59 - The Ripple Effect: Investing in Others' Success
11:52 - The Connection Between Individuals and the Collective Subconscious
32:24 - Visualization and Synchronicity
36:07 - Suppression of Knowledge and Control
39:19 - The Power of Consciousness
45:43 - The Dark Side and the Light Side
49:03 - Consciousness and Entrepreneurship
52:29 - Expanding Awareness and Creating Easier
56:21 - Leadership and Self-Reflection
58:57 - Being a Better Version of Yourself
Incredible interview — thanks Scott and Cyan. Loved the simple and clear explanations to woo ideas like connectedness. Appreciated learning how you’re a better investor using these tools
Great guest, thanks Scott!