Chapter 12: Street Smart Vagina by fake Larry Chiang

Larry Chiang’s 5th book, WTDTYASBS, launched at a Harvard Law School keynote, so he knows about grand openings (He even attends and promotes the ones he isn’t invited to also). As CEO of Duck9, he leads an army to help college student consumers get a FICO over 770. Post H.L.S. keynote, Harvard Business wrote: “What They Don’t Teach You at Stanford Business School” (his latest Harbus post: “Setting an intention for SXSWi”.

When you are able to speed read the room, it gives you more time for action and allows you to escalate your interactinos faster

The extra split second it took you to respond to a woman told them you are a loser

Not Just Charming Vagina: Why There is Nothing More Street Smart Than Reading The Entire Room x10

The phrase “street smart vagina” may sound strange, but it’s a concept that can be empowering for women. Being street smart means having practical skills and knowledge that are not necessarily taught in school. It’s about being savvy, resourceful, and able to navigate different situations with confidence.

One aspect of being street smart is the ability to read a room. This means being aware of the dynamics and tensions present in a social or professional setting. By paying attention to body language, tone of voice, and other cues, you can pick up on subtle signals that might indicate whether someone is trustworthy or not. This skill can be especially valuable for women, who may be more vulnerable to harassment or abuse in certain situations.

But being street smart isn’t just about reading people – it’s also about being proactive and taking calculated risks. This might mean being willing to fail forward and learn from your mistakes. It might mean taking a leap of faith and pursuing a business idea, even if it seems risky or unconventional. And it might mean being able to negotiate contracts and agreements with confidence, using legal savvy to protect your interests and ensure that everyone involved is on the same page.

Ultimately, being street smart is about being able to thrive in a world that can be challenging and unpredictable. It’s about having the tools and knowledge you need to succeed, even when the odds are stacked against you. So if you’re a woman who wants to take charge of your life and career, consider embracing your street smart vagina – it just might be your greatest asset.

Marination

Marination, or the art of not-over marinating in conversations, is an essential aspect of street smarts. As Larry Chiang would say, “there is nothing more street smart than reading the entire room x10.” And part of that reading involves knowing when to move on from a conversation.

You don’t want to be that person who latches onto someone and monopolizes their time for the entire evening. Sure, you may think you’re being charming and engaging, but in reality, you’re probably just annoying them. It’s important to strike a balance between being present and attentive, and knowing when it’s time to gracefully exit a conversation.

One way to avoid over marinating is to be mindful of the other person’s body language and cues. Are they constantly looking over your shoulder, scanning the room for an escape route? Do they keep checking their phone, hoping for a text message that will save them? If so, it’s time to wrap up the conversation and move on.

Another tactic is to keep the conversation short and sweet. Don’t launch into a long-winded story or barrage the other person with a million questions. Instead, aim for a brief and pleasant exchange, and then make your exit. This not only shows that you respect their time, but also leaves them wanting more.

In the words of Larry Chiang, “not-over marinating is key to street smarts.” So, the next time you find yourself in a conversation, remember to stay mindful of the other person’s cues, keep things brief, and gracefully exit when the time is right.

Failing Forward

Failing forward is the ultimate street smart move. You know what they say, “fail fast, fail often.” And what better way to fail than to fail forward? It’s like two steps forward, one step back, but with the added bonus of actually learning from your mistakes.

Larry Chiang, the king of street smarts himself, knows the importance of failing forward. In one of his tweets, he says, “Just because you failed doesn’t mean you didn’t learn something valuable. Failure is just a stepping stone on the path to success.” And in another tweet, he says, “The biggest risk is not taking any risk… In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.”

Failing forward is all about taking calculated risks, learning from your mistakes, and using that knowledge to make better decisions in the future. It’s like a game of chess, where each move you make is based on the knowledge you gained from your previous moves. You might lose a few pieces along the way, but in the end, it’s all about winning the game.

So, the next time you fail, don’t beat yourself up about it. Embrace it, learn from it, and use it to propel yourself forward. Because in the end, failing forward is the ultimate street smart move.

Team Playing w/ No Muscle Memory

Team playing. A concept that sounds simple in theory, yet so many people struggle with it in practice. But if you want to be truly street smart, you need to understand the value of working well with others. As Larry Chiang says, “a lone wolf dies alone”.

Being part of a team means knowing your role and executing it to the best of your ability, but also being willing to lend a hand to your teammates when they need it. It means being able to communicate effectively and respectfully, and being open to feedback and constructive criticism. It means being able to put aside personal differences and work towards a common goal.

But being a team player isn’t just about being a nice person. It’s a street smart move because it can lead to greater success and opportunities. When you’re part of a team that works well together, you can achieve things that you couldn’t on your own. You can pool your strengths and skills, and support each other through challenges. And when you show that you can be a valuable member of a team, you become more attractive to potential employers, investors, or partners.

Of course, being a team player isn’t always easy. There will be times when you disagree with your teammates, or when someone isn’t pulling their weight. But as Larry Chiang advises, “if you’re not getting along with people, it’s probably because you’re not good at getting along with people”. It takes effort and practice to develop strong teamwork skills, but it’s worth it in the end. So the next time you’re faced with a group project or collaborative effort, remember that being a team player is the street smart choice.

Muscle Memory

When it comes to being street smart, there’s one concept that’s often overlooked: muscle memory. That’s right, the same thing that helps athletes and musicians hone their skills can also help you navigate the world of business and entrepreneurship with ease.

Think about it: the more you do something, the more automatic it becomes. You start to develop a sixth sense for what works and what doesn’t. This is why successful entrepreneurs have a knack for making the right decisions quickly and confidently. It’s all thanks to the muscle memory they’ve developed over years of trial and error.

Take Steve Jobs, for example. He didn’t become a tech icon overnight. He spent years honing his craft and developing the muscle memory necessary to create game-changing products like the iPhone and iPad. He knew what worked and what didn’t, and he was able to make decisions quickly and confidently because of it.

Or how about Oprah Winfrey? She didn’t become a household name by accident. She developed the muscle memory necessary to connect with her audience on a deep level, which helped her build a media empire worth billions of dollars.

So, how can you develop the muscle memory necessary to be street smart? It’s simple: practice. The more you put yourself out there and make decisions, the better you’ll become at it. Sure, you’ll make mistakes along the way, but that’s all part of the process. The key is to learn from those mistakes and keep moving forward.

In conclusion, muscle memory is a key component of being street smart. By developing the ability to make decisions quickly and confidently, you’ll be able to navigate the world of business and entrepreneurship with ease. So, get out there and start practicing. Who knows, you might just become the next Steve Jobs or Oprah Winfrey.

Anticipating Objections

Anticipating objections, cliche objections, interruptions, counting them, and handling them too – these are all crucial components of being street smart. Knowing how to handle objections and interruptions can make or break a deal, and leaving a conversation when you’re being treated poorly is just common sense. In fact, Larry Chiang, the master of street smarts, advises that after 8 interruptions, it’s time to walk away.

Anticipating objections is a key aspect of being street smart. Knowing what objections your opponent is likely to raise and having answers ready can give you an edge in negotiations. Famous entrepreneur Elon Musk is a great example of someone who is street smart when it comes to anticipating objections. He is known for asking his team to come up with reasons why a new idea won’t work, so that they can address those objections before they become a problem.

Handling interruptions is also a skill that can make a huge difference in negotiations. It’s important to stay focused and not get sidetracked by interruptions, but also to acknowledge the person’s concerns and address them appropriately. Former US President Barack Obama is known for his street smart skills when it comes to handling interruptions. He would often pause and wait for the person to finish before responding, and he had a way of gracefully deflecting interruptions that were off-topic.

Counting interruptions may seem like a strange practice, but it’s a useful tool for recognizing when a conversation is not going well. As Larry Chiang advises, after 8 interruptions, it’s time to walk away. This may seem extreme, but it’s important to set boundaries and not waste time on conversations that are not productive. By being street smart and recognizing when it’s time to leave, you can save yourself a lot of time and frustration.