I’ve felt super guilty about spending so much time focused on crypto to what I believed was the detriment of more productive endeavors.

How could I justify not only investing money but time into such speculative assets? It’s easier when wallet balances are increasing. During those times, it feels like I'm part of a magical not-so-secret society. But once that inevitable bear market comes, the doubts return and it’s hard not to wonder if all will be for naught.

I’m naturally introspective - sometimes to a fault. This year, I decided to stop second-guessing and overthinking so much. To be okay with mistakes and remember that mistakes add value. And to follow the good vibes.

The vibes keep leading me to this space.

I’ve dreamed of FIRE for a while; and never thought I’d be mining fiat for this long. To escape the rat race, I launched businesses that experienced enough success to pay bills, but nothing to support the 4-hour workweek-type freedom I craved. Not even close. I understood that creating value that was leveraged into a business could build FIRE sooner, but as with most things, it’s not as easy as it sounds.

At a shared space for new and small business owners, a group of people introduced me to the world of crypto. One of them was launching a token and, in my curiosity and desire to support other small businesses, I made my first investments.

This was in 2017. When the bear market started, I abandoned my small investments as fool’s gold. Until the next bull market and supporting news cycle brought me back.

When I checked the balances, I was amazed at how much the BTC and ETH had grown. The other tokens, including those of various ICOs, were virtually worthless, but that wasn’t a deterrent. I’d only invested a bit, not enough to feel the loss, and I focused on the coins that were doing well. They’d grown more quickly than my tradfi investments and with the wind of the bull market, they looked unstoppable.

Crypto felt like a way out of cubicle city, but I’m realizing it’s so much more.

There's such potential in how this technology will change our lives. I’m genuinely excited and interested in it beyond a way to make money.

I learned my lessons and improved my engagement in this space through the highs and lows, scams, uncertainty, hopium and FUD. I focused on what I understood and what offered value, and from there expanded slowly into other narratives.

My daydreams take me to a world greatly improved with people empowered by crypto technology, while my ever-patient partner endures endless blockchain use case ideas. I want to be in the middle of everything that’s going on. And with so much happening, the best financial investments result from spending time to understand the fundamentals before spending money.

So, I’m going to trust my gut and keep at it.

My DCAs have grown to a not insignificant portion of my take-home pay as greater understanding led to greater risk tolerance. If I make Web 3 my business – by exploring broadly, learning deeply, and making informed investments of time and money – maybe I can have a business that experiences success over time. I’d be following that age-old adage about doing work I love as an asset manager of my portfolio.

With enough success, that would be enough.