Lessons for the day
Its Saturday, its summer, and we are behind where we planned to be. No customers, product, investors or funding. No car. Startup statistically have a 90% chance of failure. These where the thoughts as I decided to push our idea forward this morning. What we do have, is the determination and resolve to see our startup reach its full potential.
Goal for the day: do some data collection for increasing the accuracy of our computer vision models.
I’m going to say the following quote wrong, but you’ll get the idea. If you can’t fly, drive. If you cant drive, ride a bike. If you can’t ride a bike, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl. Whatever you do, do something! Don’t just sit there waiting for things to happen.
So despite the challenges, I got on a bike and set out to find a forest with a bark beetle infestation. Even though the data showed there was hardly any reported infestations in this area, I was determined to find an outbreak.
I had faith the day would turn out well, but with no evidence if it, I enjoyed the sun and kept cycling. Then I got the message I had been waiting for. Mathias Karlson wrote, saying he would drive us to our friend Richard Olsson’s forest. The night before, he had been out late attending three graduation parties. There was absolutely no way I was going to cycle there in the summer heat, so this message was a lifeline. Cycling uphill and back to town was a breeze, knowing we where going to somewhere worthwhile.
The drive there gave us some time to vent and refocus on the next steps ahead. I think having a friend to talk to is better than a psychologist ;-)
Tip 1, when walking through the forest during summer. Always wear long pants. You might hate it, but so to the the mosquitoes and ticks. Not to mention how cut up your legs look due to little branches and twigs.
Tip 2, don’t wear your fanciest white shoes, as Mathias found out. Mud and moss tend to get your socks wet.
Before deciding to help me out, Mathias actually had plans to clean his deck and varnish it for summer. There is no better way to end a hot day than helping a friend out…with a smile
