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This is for everyone who didn’t make it into @ycombinator AI SUS, @fdotinc Off Season, or anything they poured their heart into, and got nothing back
I recorded this after 3 life-changing opportunities closed on me in 1 day (long story, but one of them was the Off Season)
After a sleepless night trying to get my life back on track, I noticed that @fdotinc extended their deadline 👀 I might still have a shot, but I need your help to make sure they see my application 🙏 https://notes.rami-maalouf.tech/My-Outputs/My-Essays/Founders-Inc.-Off-Season-application---v4
This is for everyone who didn’t make it into Y Combinator AI Startup School, Founders, Inc. Off Season, or anything they poured their heart into, and got nothing back.
Two days ago, I got hit with three brutal rejections from life-changing opportunities that felt within reach. It was just the latest blow in a long streak of “almosts” over the past few months.
That of course really messed with my head.
So, as usual, I went on a run to clear my mind… and ended up recording this video that I absolutely love.
I love it when I can clearly picture who I’m talking to while recording.
I was talking to myself and to everyone who, just like me, is stuck in that strange space where you’re dreaming big but feel like nothing’s working.
The ones who keep showing up, even when the results don’t.
The ones who have every reason to quit, but haven’t.
The ones who start writing poetry… unironically (maybe I’ll share them here one day😄)
This video is for us.
P.S. Some advice I didn’t mention in the video for the pplej still reading:
What you see on social media are people’s wins. You don’t see what it really took for them to get there (unless they’re being transparent about it)
So this is a reminder stop comparing yourself to other people’s public persona.
Instead, learn from the best, the ones who actually share the full picture of how they got to where they are.
You won’t find many of them on LinkedIn, let’s be real.
Book authors, podcasters, and a few YouTubers. That’s where you’ll find them
Someday, I hope to be one of those people. Sharing my rocky journey to success.
But for now, you can follow along (mostly on YouTube) as I continue chasing greatness