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Title details for It's About Damn Time by Arlan Hamilton - Available

It's About Damn Time

How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage

by Arlan Hamilton
Rachel L. Nelson
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
“A hero’s tale of what’s possible when we unlock our potential, continue the search for knowledge, and draw on our lived experiences to guide us through the darkest moments.”—Stacey Abrams
From a Black, gay woman who broke into the boys’ club of Silicon Valley comes an empowering guide to finding your voice, working your way into any room you want to be in, and achieving your own dreams.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY FORTUNE
In 2015, Arlan Hamilton was on food stamps and sleeping on the floor of the San Francisco airport, with nothing but an old laptop and a dream of breaking into the venture capital business. She couldn’t understand why people starting companies all looked the same (White and male), and she wanted the chance to invest in the ideas and people who didn’t conform to this image of how a founder is supposed to look. Hamilton had no contacts or network in Silicon Valley, no background in finance—not even a college degree. What she did have was fierce determination and the will to succeed.
As much as we wish it weren’t so, we still live in a world where being underrepresented often means being underestimated. But as someone who makes her living investing in high-potential founders who also happen to be female, LGBTQ, or people of color, Hamilton understands that being undervalued simply means that a big upside exists. Because even if you have to work twice as hard to get to the starting line, she says, once you are on a level playing field, you will sprint ahead. 
Despite what society would have you believe, Hamilton argues, a privileged background, an influential network, and a fancy college degree are not prerequisites for success. Here she shares the hard-won wisdom she’s picked up on her remarkable journey from food-stamp recipient to venture capitalist, with lessons like “The Best Music Comes from the Worst Breakups,” “Let Someone Shorter Stand in Front of You,” “The Dangers of Hustle Porn,” and “Don’t Let Anyone Drink Your Diet Coke.” Along the way, she inspires us all to defy other people’s expectations and to become the role models we’ve been looking for.
Praise for It’s About Damn Time
“Reading Arlan Hamilton’s It’s About Damn Time is like having a conversation with that frank, bawdy friend who somehow always manages to make you laugh, get a little emo, and, ultimately, think about ­­the world in a different way. . . . The book is warm, witty, and unflinching in its critique of the fake meritocracy that permeates Silicon Valley.”—Shondaland

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    May 5, 2020

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780593208250
      • File size: 171571 KB
      • Duration: 05:57:26

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from May 11, 2020
      In this excellent debut, Hamilton, founder of the venture capital firm Backstage Capital, shares how she went from being on food stamps and sleeping at the San Francisco airport to running her own multimillion-dollar investment fund. Hamilton was an entrepreneur from a young age; as a child she bought candy in bulk and resold it to her classmates for a profit. As an adult, Hamilton worked as a tour manager for bands and, realizing her strength was coordination and entrepreneurial ingenuity, she spent three years researching Silicon Valley investors and pitching start-ups with no success. Out of money, homeless, and relying on help from family when possible, she was finally accepted into a “pilot venture capital education program” hosted by Stanford. Then, after finding return on her investment in a variety of companies (such as beauty products and business analytic applications), Hamilton launched Backstage Capital in 2015. She has since contributed to 130 start-ups, with a focus on funding women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ community. Hamilton discusses her struggles with addiction, depression, and even stage fright, and recommends readers find a healthy work-life balance, engage in hobbies, and practice self-care. Though any reader can use Hamilton’s sage advice, this will be a must-read for anyone interested in venture capital.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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