Evolving is embarrassing

Real talk Wednesdays

Evolving in Public

As you read Work Unseen, keep in mind a post I wrote earlier this year: Rebuilding myself in public. You, dear subs, are seeing behind the curtain.

I’m currently in a moment of transition—a mix of leaving a company that consumed my life for seven years, with a healthy dose of mid-life muddle.

Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library. "Make-Up:Stage" The New York Public Library Digital Collections

Listening to Men Talk

This weekend, while running and working, I listened to a three-hour podcast (which, okay, might be a little embarrassing) titled How to Get Rich. The podcast originated from a tweetstorm by famed entrepreneur and investor Naval Ravikant. At its core, it’s about building wealth. I listen to everything with a critical ear, so I invite you to do so as well. Or at least, read these notes - summary via ChatGPT.

Naval's Approach to Wealth-Building

Naval’s approach to wealth-building emphasizes: long-term thinking, leveraging unique skills, making smart investments.

TL;DL of the Three Hour Pod

• Seek Wealth, Not Money or Status: Wealth is passive income-generating assets (businesses, investments). Unlike money (medium of exchange) or status (social standing), wealth provides freedom and autonomy.

• You Won’t Get Rich Renting Out Your Time: Trading time for money limits income potential. Wealth comes from owning equity in scalable businesses or assets.

• Live Below Your Means for Freedom: Spending less than you earn allows for savings, investments, and the freedom to seize opportunities without financial constraints.

• Give Society What It Doesn’t Know How to Get: Create value by addressing unrecognized market needs, opening doors to significant wealth.

• Play Long-Term Games with Long-Term People: Build relationships and businesses focused on sustainable, long-term success to foster trust and collaboration.

Individuality and Coins

Naval talks a lot about individuality—how everyone has their own skills to offer, which aren’t in competition with others. I don’t agree with everything he says, but I get the gist. The internet has opened the door to wealth opportunities like never before.

Close, but No $$$

If things had gone my way, I could have had a wealth opportunity with Lex, the startup I founded. It was so close, yet so far. I came close to wealth (maybe—the odds were harsh), but I lost it. Working in tech is one of the paths Naval suggests as a way to build wealth, especially for early employees who gain access to funds when companies hit the billion-dollar mark.

What Wealth Means to Me

Yes, I want to have wealth. I’ll say it. But I’m not entirely sure what that means, aside from being able to spend my time however I choose—and, maybe, flying business class. Just like Victoria Paris.

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My Unique Skill Sets

I got into the idea of Unique Skill Sets and spent the afternoon brainstorming with GPT, pulling from past conversations with colleagues, bosses, and collaborators to identify my top three unique skills.

Anyway, when I look at my list of Top 3 Unique Skills, I feel... nothing. Maybe it's just the wording. Because I do love to collaborate, I’m proud of my path (even though it’s been an uphill climb), and I truly love bringing people together. But this list feels like the "high-level" version of what I really want.

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What I Still Love

I made a list to hone in on what I truly still love.

Things I’m Obsessed With

• The internet

• Image archives, photo collections

• Meeting people online, then offline

• Creating content online, then offline

• Personal ads

• Building something from nothing

• Talking/writing about “my story”

• Chat rooms

• Miranda July

• Walking and talking on phone

• The idea of being an artist

• No rules

• Time based challenges ex: make a zine in a day

Things I’m Not Into

• Sales

• Talking to cameras

• Zoom calls

• Algorithms and chasing them

• Looking for jobs

• Interviews (for jobs)

The Thread of My Life

There’s a thread running through my life—always me, the internet, and the people I collect along the way. Faceless beings who become real when we meet and create together.

I want to take everything I’ve been obsessed with (for years) and turn it into something new for myself. I learned a lot from Lex. Now, can I take that knowledge, shake up the mix of obsessions, and find something new that leads to success?

To be continued…

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+ Small update on my About Page:
What Work Unseen is actually about – me figuring out me, evolving out of the grind of running a startup (post acquisition) and discovering what is next.

+ Real talk Wednesdays – a new weekly feature on Work Unseen. I get goopier and messier than normal while figuring out what is next.

+ I joined Perfectly Imperfect, i will sign up for anything anti-algorithm.

+ Advice needed: I left Instagram. I’m apparently “too cool” for LinkedIn. (my content bombs). I’m terrible at talking to cameras and TikTok is leaving anyway.
Do I lean in hard to Substack?

+ freshened up my personal website via Notion today. fyi: you can create your own simple webpage using Notion for $0 and minimal time investment. Do it!

+see ya on Friday!