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Avni Patel Thompson
Seattle
Chronically curious entrepreneur. Living life forward; connecting the dots backwards.
Recent Activity
let's be the one percent that changes the world
I have a thousand things to do this morning. Between our move and everything and work and the Peanut's 1st birthday, my to-do list runneth over. But the only thing on my mind right now is how we, we Americans and Canadians, need to do more about what is happening... Continue reading
Posted Sep 4, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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the privilege and the responsibility of hiring your first employee
There are days and there are moments when I can't believe that we're actually going to do what we're trying to do. Like last week when I met the perfect person as the first hire for our team and they said "Great. You just say the word and I'll give... Continue reading
Posted Sep 2, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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praying for the children that have no beds tonight
We have a lot of stuff. I know this. It's a function of being a modern, well-to-do family living in North America. But it's never as apparent as when we're in the middle of one our our umpteenth moves. Because that is when I come face to face with the... Continue reading
Posted Aug 29, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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baby no longer - saying hello to the next year
My baby is about to turn one. One. I'm at a coffee shop, watching these women with their 3 month-olds and a little part of me feels... what? A pang of sorts. A pang that I won't have another little one that fits just so in the crook of my... Continue reading
Posted Aug 28, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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making a mission out of the dreaded
This may come as a surprise to all but the closest to me, but I'm naturally an introvert. My happy place is curled up in a cozy corner with a good book and an even better sandwich. Oh sure I love my parties. I live to plan and throw them.... Continue reading
Posted Aug 26, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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finding the words to say goodbye
I loved my first startup. And like many first loves, it was a naive but a simple love. I poured myself into something that finally merged my professional and personal passions. But it was not meant to be. I've had enough time and distance that I can say this without... Continue reading
Posted Aug 14, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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in search of that elusive nanny unicorn
We're at it again. Looking for yet another nanny. Our summer nanny is due to return to school in a couple of weeks so we need to finally find that elusive unicorn that is perfect for both the girls and us (read, me). Like soulmates, I'm worried that you're only... Continue reading
Posted Jul 31, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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there is no pleasing anyone
I might as well get used to it - I am officially never going to be able to make everyone happy. Not even close. Not all of my advisers and mentors and partners and team members. Everyone has different advice, a different take. Their own reasons why something must or... Continue reading
Posted Jul 28, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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savoring the nuzzles while wishing the tantrums away
Parenthood is such a disorienting experience. How can you want the minutes to fast forward and pause at the same time? To jump to the time when it supposedly "gets easier" but also linger in the magic of these moments? It's a crazy feeling. But I always want to be... Continue reading
Posted Jul 23, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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raising resilient children through community and connection
"Mama, can you help me?" I looked down to see the Bug with one leg in her pants, the other pant leg dangling woefully behind her. "Sure Bug, in a second, after I finish this. But while I do, why don't you sit down and try to put the other... Continue reading
Posted Jul 21, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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the pain of turning down what is not right in timing
We are told, taught and conditioned to seize every opportunity that comes our way. That if the door opens, to confidently and unequivocally walk through it. But nobody tells you that sometimes, some opportunities are right in theory, but wrong in timing. That accepting them actually does more unintended harm... Continue reading
Posted Jul 20, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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the truth of HBS: the ties that bind us
You know, everyone talks about 2 years at HBS like they're the point. The reason you do it. The education, the pedigree, the famed network. And you delude yourself into thinking it is. That those months of class and cases and trips and parties and outrageous opportunity are the sum... Continue reading
Posted Jul 10, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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the terrifying truth about projections
It's impossible in your head. Thinking you'll ever be big enough to bear the weight of those numbers. Just staring at the figures that we will need to grow to, to make the impact we must make. I'm continuing to learn that the little trick about start-ups that help it... Continue reading
Posted Jul 7, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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The cruelty and the reality of training your child to sleep
I'm sitting here at 9:16pm in parental agony. My sweet little Peanut is in the next room, wailing her little lungs out in protest. There are 4 minutes and 32 seconds that remain between me and picking her up again. All of you parents out there know what's going on... Continue reading
Posted Jun 29, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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when an A- isn't good enough
It hurts. It doesn't matter if it's inevitable. That the more you grow the harder it will be to please all people to the same degree. That even if you deliver the same exact impeccable experience, you're still going to be rated an 8, because an 8 is the top... Continue reading
Posted Jun 29, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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in search of my village
It never fails. It doesn't matter how many sitters and nannies we introduce to our children, it's never easy to walk out that door. Because they're not you. And they can never be. In time, if you're lucky, they become people that love your kids and your kids love. But... Continue reading
Posted Jun 23, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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stop the madness - start-ups are not a game
There I sat, faced with what start-ups have become, too stunned to say anything. I was literally speechless. (And for those of you that know me, you know that takes a lot.) I wanted to shout "You're not listening! Please listen to me!" But it didn't matter because they weren't... Continue reading
Posted Jun 22, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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the thing about timeless friendships
The past couple of days have been a wonderful treat. I had the chance to see some dear friends of mine that all just happened to be in Vancouver this week. One, a family that is our nomadic doppelganger, another a friend that I've known for 14 years(!) since our... Continue reading
Posted Jun 9, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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navigating a new kind of heartbreak from moving
My heart has been breaking over and over today. But not because I'm experiencing some great pain, but because my precious Bug is. It's the first full day of our new life in Vancouver. New nanny, new apartment, new routine. And it's been so very hard on the Bug. You... Continue reading
Posted Jun 1, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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sweating the details
Every. Single. Word. I agonize over every word. Every sentence. Every sentiment. Is that what I meant? Is that the best way to say it? Will people understand what I mean and be interested in what I'm selling? It's so ironic and surprising, but after spending more than 12 years... Continue reading
Posted Jun 1, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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so much to tell, no time to write
There are periods in your life where there are an incredible number of things going on. Personally, professionally, with your kids, with your friends, with your spouse. They will be the times that you usually need a way to process and capture all of the changes going on. But they... Continue reading
Posted May 30, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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the price of power couples
It just doesn't work. All this balancing and kicking ass and being bold. It just doesn't work without my other half beside me. It just doesn't happen. It can't. After this past week I'm terrified of how very tenuous all of this is, how much it all hinges on having... Continue reading
Posted May 5, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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the next chapter in the Thomptel book of adventures
image: Flickr Bruce Irschick For those that know J and I know that we may have gypsy blood coursing through our veins. Because we can't seem to stay in one place for longer than 2, 2.5 years. Toronto, Cinci, Boston (HBS), Boston (South End), Shanghai, Boston, Seattle. It exhausts me... Continue reading
Posted Apr 11, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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stop wasting your potential and figure out where you fit
You know what I hate above all? Wasted potential. Especially if it happens to be a young person that is stuck doing less than they might be able to if they just had the encouragement, the advice or the access to education. I was talking to a young woman last... Continue reading
Posted Mar 30, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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Teaching faith or shielding reality?
How do you explain to a 3 year old that not everything is fixable? The bug is going through a serious princess phase and like pretty much every little girl under the age of 7, that obsession is squarely centered around a little indie Disney film titled Frozen. And like... Continue reading
Posted Mar 23, 2015 at curiously imperfect.
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