Understand The Risk And Do It Anyway

New York City Edition

For four generations, my family has lived in a small farm town in Michigan, called Webberville. For context, we have a drive your tractor to school day. I thought that was normal. Apparently, it’s not.

I love that in Webberville, you’re connected to nature. I love the cornfields everywhere. I love that the land is so flat you can see clouds for miles. I love that you can see the stars and I love that if you stay outside long enough, your eyes will adjust enough to see the Milky Way.

I love that it’s quiet and peaceful. I love that all my childhood friends are there and I visit them whenever I’m in town. I love that I can go there anytime and just be comfortable.

But if comfort was the goal in life, we’d never leave the bed.

Moving to New York is a risk.

The instant you’re born, you‘re on the lookout for threats in order to avoid them. The base mode of humans is thinking about threats and avoiding risks.

What if I miss my family and friends? What if I don’t like it out there? What if it’s not safe?

But what if things work out? What if this move is the best thing I’ve done in my life? What if I meet my future best friend? What if I meet the love of my life?

I encourage you to identify risks and take them anyways.

Think of it this way.

You’re one person away from changing your entire life trajectory. A random stranger could turn out to become your best friend, business partner, mentor, role model, or put you on.

So, I figured taking the opportunity to do what I love (making content) in the city with many people I admire, at a company I’ve dreamed of working at would be a good decision.

This piece from Formidia holds a special place in my heart. In the world-building of Formidia as a collection, it serves as a prequel to the city turning into a bustling utopia.

In my personal life, the piece came out two weeks before I moved to the city. It’s aptly named New York, Prequel.

I’m riding to New York City with my parents as I write this.

Much love.

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Side Note: I realized that this newsletter comes through the ‘Promotions’ tab in most people’s inboxes. And yet, with that extra friction, half of the people who have subscribed open it every week. That’s kind of mind-blowing. Thank you.

I’m working on a way to avoid that on my end, but for the time being, if you exit this email and drag it over to your primary box, all future newsletters will go to your Primary inbox every Monday at 7am EST (plus some bonus newsletters when I feel I have something extra to share).