Collective action is "the" Superpower

Delivered January 17, 2025 @ 5:00pm ET

Happy Friday everyone and Happy Holidays! My name is Gerry Hays, and I’m the Founder of Doriot.

I’m actively in the venture game as a Founder/CEO, investor, researcher, inventor, author, game designer, and professor. I’ve built companies and developed a global venture portfolio entirely from the great state of Indiana, all while teaching over 6,000 undergraduates and MBAs at Indiana University, as well as in Croatia, Hong Kong, Slovenia, and Singapore.

I’m devoting the rest of my career to breaking open the gates of venture capital and expanding opportunity beyond an elite few. The future doesn’t shape itself — we need more entrepreneurs and investors willing to step up and create the world we want to live in. This won’t happen through endless complaints or empty rhetoric. It happens with bold action and strategic capital.

A critical part of this mission is training the mind to both imagine and tolerate calculated risks — the two essential ingredients for innovation. Without mastering this mental game, the foundation of venture collapses. That’s why, in this newsletter, I place such a strong emphasis on developing the mindset required to succeed in this space.

If you’re enjoying this newsletter and think others in your network would too, I’d be grateful if you forwarded it along and encourage them to subscribe. And, with 10 referred subscribers, I’ll autograph a copy of my first book, the First-time Founder’s Equity Bible and ship it to you!

Tribute to Martin Luther King

I am a sucker for courage. Courage moves me to tears whenever I witness it because it speaks to such a deep part of my soul. And today, more than ever, we need to harness our collective courage to mobilize, design, create, and imagine a better future.

There was no greater example of a courageous leader than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His example reminds us of the power of courage in action and the profound impact it can have on the world. Enjoy.

“Every man of humane convictions must decide on the protest that best suits his convictions, but we must all protest”

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be celebrated on Monday, and it’s a time to honor his steadfast commitment to justice, equality, and empowerment. While many may associate MLK Day primarily with the civil rights movement, it represents something much larger. Dr. King’s broader vision was about creating opportunities for everyone to contribute to and benefit from a more inclusive society. His words and actions are more prescient than ever.

What often gets overlooked is that while Dr. King was a major influencer and the face of the civil rights movement, his energy was matched by the millions of “non-influencers” who demonstrated no less bravery. These unsung heros worked together peacefully toward a shared vision of equality and justice, proving that movements are not driven by one person alone but by the collective strength of many.

This example of collective action remains deeply relevant today, as so many people feel left behind by a system increasingly controlled by an elite few.

It’s 2025. Who has a stake in the future? Who gets to decide what kind of future we want?

There’s no easy answer to these questions, and there’s no magic bullet. We are living in increasingly uncertain times, and that uncertainty reaches all the way to the top.

Recently, I listened to an interview with Elon Musk, where he discussed the potential impact of AI and robotics over the next five years. He described a world where rapid technological changes could sideline humans in significant ways. At the end of the interview, when asked what humans would do in such a scenario, Musk likened it to “retirement.” He then grimly pondered, “Will life have meaning for humans?” and answered his own question with, “I’ve often wondered that myself.”

If Elon Musk has questions about where the world is heading, it’s a wake-up call for all of us. It’s time to start forming communities and collectives across the globe to mobilize our capital and power to shape the future we want to see. We can’t leave it in the hands of a few to create a blueprint for humanity in a post-AGI world.

Complaining on social media doesn’t matter. And protests like “Occupy Wall Street” capture headlines for a few days. The form of protest has shifted with the times. What now matters is action and capital. On this front, billionaires can act on their own accord, but everyone else must coordinate their actions and capital to create a counterbalance. As an example, look no further than Gamestop.

In The Fourth Turning by William Strauss and Neil Howe, the "Fourth Turning" represents the crisis phase of a recurring generational cycle, or "saeculum." This phase is characterized by societal upheaval, transformative conflict, and the potential collapse of old institutions, paving the way for renewal. It feels like we’re there today.

However, after the Fourth Turning comes the First Turning, also called the "High." This phase represents a period of rebirth, reconstruction, and renewed optimism. The human spirit shines in this phase through:

• Collective Unity: People emerge from the challenges of the Fourth Turning with a stronger sense of community and shared purpose. There’s often widespread agreement on societal goals and values.

• Institutional Strength: Institutions are rebuilt or newly created to reflect the lessons learned during the crisis. They become effective and trusted tools for governance and progress.

• Optimism and Stability: The High is marked by stability, order, and a focus on building a prosperous future. There’s a collective spirit of hope and a commitment to long-term planning.

In essence, after the Fourth Turning, the human spirit experiences renewal. Society moves from turmoil and fragmentation to cohesion and reconstruction, setting the stage for new cycles of growth and challenges.

And that brings me back to my original point. In times of great uncertainty, such as now, we must draw inspiration and courage from great individuals like Dr. King, who, in the face of absolute opposition, rose to lead quiet yet powerful movements toward a better future in a time of great upheaval. But, just as important, we must also celebrate and draw strength from the millions who joined those movements and played their critical roles. Dr. King could not have done it alone. Collective action is, and always will be, our superpower towards a better future.

A New Deal Analysis Dropped This Week: Jupiter on Wefunder.

Jupiter is on a mission to make it ridiculously easy to get your meals on the table. For the 80M shoppers who use recipes from publishers to build grocery shopping lists, Jupiter is turning digital recipe inspiration into grocery action. Will they get there? We break it down: www.doriot.com/dealreports 

Enjoy the holiday weekend everyone!

Sincerely, -gerry ([email protected])