I’m flying from Hawaii to San Francisco in about an hour. It’s super last minute, but good things often are. For as long as I care to remember, SF has been a destination for me that seemed more magical than any other place. We’ve been having a long distance relationship for quite some time.
As a designer working in Hawaii, things are … interesting. The ecosystem is starting to take shape and the tech community is beginning to mature. Slowly but surely we will have what other major cities proudly refer to as a ‘startup community’.
Though as an individual, I feel that I’ve personally hit a motivational ceiling. There have been times over the last year that I’ve questioned my place in this community that I love. Almost like I’m desperately seeking some sort of intangible fuel that doesn’t exist. If you know me, you understand that money does not motivate me, amazing offices with eames furniture does not motivate me, ornament, flash, and more cowbell does not motivate me. What motivates me is talent and ideas.
Being surrounded by talented people will always inspire you to push each other and to think differently every single day. The plain truth is, the talent pool is very shallow in Hawaii. I’ve always felt that great talent attracts even more great talent, and ever since I quit my shitty job over 2 years ago I’ve run into some of the most talented people that I never knew existed. Working in proximity with these awesome people has been amazing, and being mentioned in conversation alongside their names is the most humbling thing ever. At the time, that was the motivation that I needed to push me through, to get me to where I am now.
But the formative years are over. The ecosystem is evolving, the talent pool will be growing, and there’s going to be a paradigm shift. I’m finding myself again, craving the push to think differently. I’m now motivated by becoming great at what I love doing. And I love making products. I believe that if you want to be great at something, you don’t do it by being better than everyone else. You do it by surrounding yourself with greatness, with people that inspire you. Or by eating lots and lots of ice cream.
I’ll be looking for a startup in San Francisco that mirrors my perspective.
I’ll be looking to work with people that not only love what they do, but they love the place where they do it, the reasons behind it, and the users they do it for. Because it’s not about us, its about them. Everything that we do as designers has an effect on something greater than ourselves. Every pixel counts, even in illustrator; because the pixels don’t care who you are, as long as you have intention behind your work. And thats a responsibly that is often taken for granted. But I’m truly in love with the craft, and I’m obsessed with making cool shit.
I just wrote a love letter to San Francisco.
And if you happen to know someone who is in the position to help me out, I’d appreciate it if this post somehow crossed their path.
If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, ping me at: jon@umi.io
I’m coming for you San Francisco.
Take me to your leader.
