Fourteen. / The "New Decade, New Us" Edition
On The Year of Realness, Taking on Illegal Firearms, and Being a Little More Curious.
Happy New Year, everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing few weeks away from the office and got to spend some quality time with family, friends, and loved ones. The holidays were quite wonderful for me, from a bunch of family holiday parties/dinners to spending the last days of 2019 (and first few days of 2020) out in sunny Aruba. I highly recommend visiting the One Happy Island; a warm sun, white-sand beaches, and being able to escape the craziness of life, even if only for a few days.
And while we return to the normal grind, it’s been quite an uneasy start to the new decade (whether you believe it’s a new decade or not) with Australia and Iran. I’ve been an eternal optimist and will continue to do so, so with a hat tip to my idol, Mister Rogers, let’s do something to help, starting with Australia: multiple resources are listed here to donate money to the tireless and amazing firefighters battling the flames.
First responders always have a special place in my heart; some of you know know that I was a volunteer firefighter throughout part of high school and college, but what many do not know if that majority of fire companies and rescue squads are volunteer-driven and operate mostly through (often measly) government funding.
Every dollar donated, regardless of how much, counts, and I recommend taking a look on if your hometown has a volunteer fire department and/or rescue squad (very likely) and if they are in need of donations (also very likely).
What are you currently working on?
2020 is going to be a very exciting year for the fund. Public launch is right around the corner, and it’s going to be a heck of a transition for the consumer world. We plan to be right alongside the leaders of this shift. (More on that below.)
What are you currently excited about?
Along with my (cautious) optimism, 2020 should have a bit of a wake-up call for the direct-to-consumer startup world, in a good way. With paid marketing strategies becoming more expensive than ever, brands should (and hopefully will) refocus their growth on leaning more heavily on their community, building Authentic and Transparent relationships with their current and potential customers. Young brands have the fortunate benefit of building those relationships that feel genuine, compared to larger shops whose campaigns often feel forced and corporate.
If I were to describe 2020 in a few words, I’d say it will hopefully be The Year of Realness.
What’s a story or article that you're currently thinking about?
One of the most powerful stories I read last year was in The Atlantic about toxic masculinity and how we’ve miseducated American boys with a machismo-driven, crying-is-for-wimps mentality. It’s a stereotype that often makes my blood boil, because it’s turned some of the next generations of leaders into cold, soulless shells of human beings that often feel powerless to push back.
If we truly want to fix the scourge that is toxic masculinity, we have to continue evolving what masculinity means. The machismo/tough guy mold doesn't just hurt others around boys; it also destroys their inner confidence, hiding their true selves behind a metal-like shell, a response to "suck it up" or "be a man" in life. This shell destroys the boys from within, leaving them to do terrible things to themselves and others.
Let’s dedicate this decade to changing what it means to "be a man" is about being a good human being who is present, aware, and genuine.
What’s a product you’re currently obsessed with?
I’ve got two fun ones:
One of the most exciting startups I’ve seen, Humanium, melts down illegal firearms into a new metal alloy that can be repurposed for other great uses. The watch brand Triwa worked with them to develop a line of gorgeous watches. I know it’s past the holidays, but these timepieces make great gifts.
(Bonus: Humanium’s website also lists a few other brands that are making products with the metal!)
One of my personal favorite startups in the music world, Artiphon, is launching their second instrument, the Orba. A combination of a synthesizer, looper, and MIDI controller, the half-grapefruit-like device allows users to create fun tracks beyond pressing buttons; you can tap, slide, and wave around the device to change pitches and sounds! Right now, it’s on Kickstarter and they’ve raised over $1MM with an April shipment timeline!
Wild Card: What’s an item you can’t shake your mind off of?
I watched the Golden Globes awards show last night and I can’t shake my mind off of two speeches: Michelle Williams’s and Brad Pitt’s, for two different reasons.
Ms. Williams’s was beyond powerful, showcasing the power of choice, especially with the ultimate call to action to women everywhere to stand up, take action, and carve their own path. If you haven’t listened to it in full, I highly recommend it.
Mr. Pitt’s speech was funny on many levels, but the last line of it stuck out to me:
“If you see a chance to be kind to someone tomorrow, take it. I think we need it.”
2019 all too often felt broken and shattered, where respect and open dialogue got pushed out and acerbic anger, cancel culture, and mob mentality took its place. Mindful conversations got replaced by snarky pundits, regardless if they ultimately believe what they’re saying.
While the year partly ended on a hopeful note (with a small assist from the movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood), I hope that 2020 will bring more people willing to listen, learn, and be curious about the world and people around them.
If we can be a little more open and curious, we can be a little happier, healthier, and better.
~ C O L O P H O N ~
Please send all feedback, both positive and negative, to sumeetshahwork@gmail.com as this project continues to evolve.
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