In 2018 I was at the early height of my career at 27 in Los Angeles
Everything was going my way- nice apartment in Downtown LA, brand new 2018 Jetta TDI, dream job with great friends and partners.
So what did I do?
Fuck it up, naturally…
Just kidding, but what did happen was that I got a call from a network connection in New York City who was interested in my work and wanted me to come work for their startup.
Ok pause-
Dream scenario, right?
Yeah, except that meant leaving everything behind too..
But I decided I would take that risk, so I had friends come into my apartment to take everything I owned.
I gave my 30-day notice at my apartment (month to month lease at the time) and 2 weeks’ notice at my job.
Luckily my car was part of the infamous Volkswagen “Dieselgate” scandal, so the dealership bought the car back from me and issued me a settlement check… (again- dream scenario, right?)
Did I know anyone in New York? Hardly.
Did I know these people I was going to work for? Also no.
So, I packed up 2 large suitcases and my dog and took a one-way flight to NYC.
That was a huge risk that I didn’t measure.
And when I landed, I found out everything was basically a lie.
The startup was barely up and running, and no it wasn’t like those cool “WeWork” startups that offered all these office perks and incentives while they were fundraising.
It was basically an office just applying guerilla style marketing tactics for an old real estate model that already was crumbling in New York City.
They gave me housing for a month and then told me I was on my own (offer letter stated 3 months of temporary housing).
Huge risk, even greater loss.
But I’m still here, 8 years later.
Because I decided I had one choice: to either accept defeat and go back home to where comfort and stability was. Or I could stay and take the opportunity and let fate determine the rest.
As they say, big risk, big rewards…
And the rest is history.