Form & Flow

Think of a river. Without banks, it risks flooding, its energy dissipating without direction. Like those banks, seasons of structure, maybe even corporate life, serve a vital purpose. They guide the flow, allowing us to build stability, accumulate resources, and feel secure. I'm deeply grateful for those "riverbank" times in my own journey; they've been essential in building the foundation I stand on today.

But a river isn't meant to be static. Sometimes the current calls us to flow, to explore every bend and crevice, carried by the natural momentum wherever it may lead. The past year has felt like navigating these currents, moving between the structured world of big tech and the exhilarating unknown of early-stage ventures. I'm genuinely grateful for the breadth of my experience, from corporate giants like Meta and Strava to the passionate sparks of new businesses.

There's a unique energy in collaborating with entrepreneurs, the brave souls building their visions from the ground up – a journey that deeply resonates. While the immediate financial landscape can differ significantly from corporate structures, the connection to purpose feels incredibly potent. This has often meant balancing passion projects with the occasional larger contract that helps keep my studio humming.

Interestingly, my recent ventures back into the corporate hiring realm – long interviews with companies like Google, Coinbase, and most recently Apple – always led to final rounds, but ultimately, closed doors. Initially, each "no" felt like a setback. But now, I'm starting to see them as more like course corrections.

For years, my creative energy flowed into these massive systems where I often felt like a replaceable part. The familiar frustrations of limited growth and bureaucratic hurdles were present. The allure of large corporate salaries and benefits, especially after years spent in high-cost-of-living cities, is undeniable. They can feel like truly golden handcuffs.

However, my most recent chapter living in Central and South America and working remotely has shifted my perspective. My focus has turned towards a deeper sense of fulfillment. This has led to a quiet but significant recalibration:

The necessity of chasing every high-paying corporate role has lessened. I've realized I don't actually need much money to live a life I love. I thrive in places that regulate my nervous system: moving water, open air, earth instead of concrete, birdsong, starlight.

I choose homes with easy access to regular exercise; I walk everywhere, currently in a town at 10,000 ft elevation where even a stroll feels like a hike. I have a gym and yoga studio nearby and finally have the time to use them.

I'm cultivating personal hobbies – writing, music, dancing, photography, even dabbling in tattoo design. What some see as distractions, I've found are the very source of my creative energy, enriching all aspects of my work and life.

So now, I prioritize work that ignites my passion, even with potentially lower immediate financial returns, and this feels increasingly vital for my well-being.

This means I'm leaning more into the smaller, heart-driven projects and approaching larger corporate opportunities with a more discerning eye. It's a less conventional path, definitely less predictable, but it feels undeniably more aligned with who I am. I'm learning to trust my intuition to guide my choices in both career and life, not just what I think I should do, and especially not what others think I should be doing.

The financial foundation I built over the past decade in tech now supports the growth of my studio. Luckily, my intuition served me well when I decided to sell all my tech stock on inauguration day – a decision that turned out to be the best financial move I've ever made and is solely the reason I can fund my dreams right now.

I've also teamed up with an incredible partner, Zach Seagle, who has brought invaluable operational and financial expertise, providing the structure the studio needed to thrive. And today, we're even expanding our reach into Peru, investing deeply in a team of designers here in exchange for residency – a step that feels both ambitious and deeply right.

To be completely honest, being turned down for arguably the most stable, secure job in my industry at Apple this past week felt like a huge sign that I'm where I'm meant to be, chasing this crazy dream, riding these rapids.

While a part of me, the ingrained pragmatist, hesitated, a deeper knowing already felt this unfolding exactly as it did and was so relieved I didn't have to be the one to pull the trigger and say no. Perhaps the universe was gently guiding me towards the path I might not have chosen otherwise.

This isn't about dismissing the corporate world entirely. There's often a need for that stability, that framework, and those resources, especially for those of us building other important things like families, homes, and local communities. Different phases of life bring different needs. For some, the structure and security of a larger organization provide the necessary foundation, the very launchpad for future endeavors or simply the right fit for their current priorities.

For me, this current chapter is about exploring a different kind of impact, focusing on the individuals and communities whose work resonates with my values – the local chefs, the healers, the artists, the educators who actively work day and night to make their communities and the world a better place, despite rarely being seen or appreciated in the way they deserve. It's about shifting my energy towards building something that feels genuinely meaningful and towards the world I believe in, even if it isn't quite real yet.

I sometimes find myself wondering if anyone else feels this pull between the security of the riverbanks and the call of the open current. The balance looks different for each of us, of course, and on top of that, it changes all the time. This is only natural. But if you find yourself here, at the intersection of form and flow, just know, you aren't alone. We all need both: the security and safety of the banks, and the wonder and awe of the sweeping current carrying us God-knows-where, but hopefully to brighter shores. Thanks for joining me on the wild ride. Here's to taking risks. Here's to riding waves. And here's to brighter shores.

⚡️ B