Reflections, from a New York State of Mind
Hello friends and fam!
It hasn’t been much time since my last letter, but sometimes, just a few days of travel is enough to spark a burst of energy. New York City certainly did that for me last weekend.
I saw a Broadway show, took the ferry, saw Harlem, Williamsburg, Long Island City, and ate dollar pizza (if you know me, you know that this is a requirement for any trip to the city).
However, much of my time was spent catching up with friends new and old. It was everything I wanted and needed. And for the conversations I had, I wouldn’t trade a minute.
Some Things I’ve Learned, Felt, and Intend to Do
The following thoughts were inspired by the conversations I had with friends last week, and by the city itself.
The main intention: Stay ambitious. NYC has an ambitious energy, and it has definitely rubbed off on me.
Attend more startup/tech events in Austin. 💻
In the year that I’ve lived in Austin, I’ve only been to a handful of events. Partially, that was because I’ve been very focused on working on my craft. Partially, it’s because I felt that I wouldn’t know what to talk about. After chatting with friends this weekend, I’ve realized that the latter reason is imposter syndrome. It’s time to face that down. I’m excited to check out the scene! (S/O Scott – I’m always grateful for our conversations.)
I’m grateful that I can navigate a large metropolis. 🌃
Years ago, when I first visited NYC, I was absolutely overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude and energy of the city. Several trips later (including a month where I lived in Brooklyn in 2018), I’m confident finding my way around the city. NYC is unforgiving of those who aren’t prepared and those who aren’t resilient. I think many people are right when they say that it’s character building to be there. I’m happy I’ve had a chance to experience a taste of the city grit.
Curiosities create connections. 🎮
Hobbies are not only fun for the sake of being fun, they’re a great way to connect with other people. Between bouldering, video games, books, nature, and anything else that captures my attention, interests outside of work are wonderful ways to bond with friends new and old.
What’s valuable for one, isn’t valuable to all. 💸
This isn’t something I necessarily learned from NYC, but the city certainly made me think about it. The prices of food, transit, housing, and groceries made me wonder why so many people want to live in the city. For those who don’t have well paying jobs, I can’t imagine what it’s like to find a corner of the city for themselves. Yet, I can understand that the city is chock-full of opportunity. Opportunities are life changing, and sometimes they’re worth all the money in the world.
Launch 👏 the 👏 projects.
I have a few projects in the wings at the moment, and I have a desire for them to see the light of day. My intention is to shed any fear of sharing them, and not to prematurely optimize them. I’d like to get into the arena.
Stay picky about those I surround myself with.
This long weekend showed me tangibly that being surrounded with the right people and the right energy makes all the difference in how I show up every day. The condensed learnings in this entire letter are thanks to those conversations.
Thank you Isaiah, Jon, Shiv, Justin, Muvva, Manish, Pooja, Eric, and Scott. I appreciate your friendship more than you know.
A Question for You 🌇
What city has shifted your perspective? It could be one that you’ve visited, or one that you’ve lived in. Maybe its multiple? I’m interested to hear about the places that have inspired you.
Until next time,
Saalik