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I used to think optionality (the ability to keep as many options available as possible) was a unique strength of mine.

This made me aloof and evasive on my position on many topics. The fear of offending somebody (and burning bridges) was real, and to some extent made sense when I was the least knowledgeable person in the room.

Once I had knowledge, however, an optionality preference meant that I was never convicted in my beliefs or actions. This made it easy to change my mind, but also eroded trust with people (professionally and personally) looking for decisiveness and reassurance.

The ability to change your mind is sacrosanct. The inability to make up your mind is cancerous.

Once I recognized this pattern in myself, I started seeing it everywhere. In leaders who hedge every decision through endless internal debate. In people (myself included) who stay quiet about their personal goals for fear of commitment or judgment. Preserving optionality feels safe, but it’s a slow leak of momentum and trust.

These days, I strive to lead with conviction and have confidence in my beliefs and actions until such time as new evidence presents itself. 

This has created a snowball effect with my career, personal interests (focus on Bitcoin-led projects) and fitness goals (shredding and lifting my own body weight) where conviction builds on conviction and accelerates growth.

Being convicted also means saying no a lot of the time. A quick no – with a rational explanation – is way more effective most of the time than a long deliberation to preserve optionality.

Less time making decisions means more time working and building on what matters most.

Still a work in progress. I will change my mind a lot!

I’m experimenting with short form articles here and on socials. Check out https://linktr.ee/davidrolls

• Bitcoin gave us a unique opportunity to think about things on a truly global, decentralized scale.
• Most humans have some form of bias based on their geography and direct use case. Americans and Europeans (on the whole) are not bothered enough about debasement and payment frictions to care about crypto.
• Bitcoin has found a more captive audience as a store of value and medium of exchange in countries with rampant inflation and capital controls. Think Venezuela, Turkey, etc. It is the ultimate form of currency that is independent of governments and institutions.
• Emerging markets set the trend and developed markets follow. This is the reverse adoption curve for almost all existing products. As someone with experience developing global products it is still counterintuitive to establish PMF in small developing markets.
• Stablecoins (I hope running on Bitcoin rails) are the first large (yet boring) use case that could be truly global in adoption. Most users care about being 24/7, fast and inexpensive more than they do about immutability, decentralization and security.
• The more developed a market the more this is true.
• Product builders need to make the case for the real benefits of blockchain technology (or not).

Personally, I care about the philosophy of Bitcoin, but there will be periods where getting a product into as many hands as possible is more important 📈

I’m experimenting with short form articles here and on socials. Check out https://linktr.ee/davidrolls

• Current quantum tech can’t even crack factor-15 problems, let alone SHA-256. We’re talking orders of magnitude away.
• The “secret quantum computer” theory doesn’t hold up. Given the public $Bs in quantum R&D, a similar shadow program would be nearly impossible to hide.
• Here’s the kicker: Bitcoin devs aren’t quantum experts. BIPs are in progress, but nobody knows the real timeline or threat level.
• Game theory matters too: even IF quantum breaks crypto, why target Bitcoin first? There are bigger fish (banking, military, etc). You’d get one shot before defenses mobilize.

The takeaway: Quantum concerns are real but years away. Bitdevs are moving deliberately, not panicking. Most current “quantum will kill Bitcoin” takes are FUD.

Nobody knows for certain. Stay informed, not anxious.