Optics

I’m writing this 24 hours after the Plunge Party Grand Finale.

I have been riding high for 24 hours on the euphoric success of the event. Honestly, it feels like things are going my way.

• I just threw my biggest plunge party ever (175 people)

• Got booked to DJ a 600 person event. My biggest show, ever

• One of my videos hit 528k views on my new creator account… with my face on it.

jaredsays

615 followers

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Things are great. I have so much to be grateful for.

And I am

But…

• My anxiety is as high as ever due to financial runway

• I feel “socially confused” in SF surrounded by VC-backed founders while I bootstrap silly health businesses. (Don’t worry, I’m not leaving).

• Every morning I ask myself if this is worth it.

Let’s talk about how this looks from the outside.

I hear it a lot:

“You’re crushing it.”

“Looks like you’re thriving up in San Francisco.”

I love hearing that. I really do. But it’s also wild how easily we assume someone’s “crushing it” based on what we see online like the wins and the curated highlights.

This isn’t a pity post. I don’t want sympathy or validation.

I just want you to know: realistically, that's not necessarily the case.

This shit is hard.

And most people won’t talk about that part.

I didn’t choose this because I thought it’d be easy. I chose it because I wanted to do it. You don’t know what it’s really like until you’re doing it.

One way I’ve learned to handle it? Surround myself with people who get it.

I have a friend I text every other day a robot face. It is our secret word for we're going through bullshit today and then we send each other motivational text back.

Or my small “mastermind” crew where we check in monthly, share wins, losses, and listen to each other’s rants (many coming from me).

Yeah, things aren’t as perfect as they look. But that’s the point. If it wasn’t hard, it wouldn’t be a good story. I want to look back one day and think:

“Damn… I’m proud of where I came from.”

It’s only been 7 months. I remind myself every day that I signed up for this.

The highs will get higher. The lows will get lower.

If you found me early I want to say thank you for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself.

I have more confidence and conviction in myself than ever before.

It’s a beautiful journey. Let’s rock and roll baby 🕺🏼

You’re Awesome,

Jared

Things Worth Clicking

A few gems I found on the internet this week - no digging required

• A cool trick on how to use trials reels to your advantage on Instagram

• How to Tell a Story from the makers of South Park.

  Storytelling Advice from the Creators of South Park

  This storytellning advice centers around a problem that many writers have. Namely, a boring story. A story that lacks a sense of cause and effect, of tension and rising action.

  nathanbweller.com/creators-of-south-park-storytelling-advice-but-therefore-rule

  

• Mino lee on how to win people’s attention

minolee.mp4

400K followers

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