New experiences unlock a different mind space and mental framework. Gaining new experiences is analogous to being at a higher elevation. When you’re high up in the sky, you see things you otherwise would never have seen before even if they had been right next to you.
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A few weeks ago, a friend took me by plane to the California coast. Along the way, I spotted a large body of water. It was not Lake Chabot, and much too big to be Lake Merritt. Just when I thought I had explored every place within an hour of driving radius from home, I discovered a new place.
On my 30th birthday, I set out to explore the lake I saw from the sky at the brink of sunrise. It was peaceful and beautiful; people were fishing, boating, and relaxing around the lake.
I loved this new discovery, surprised that it was only 40 minutes from home. It was one of those things that I would never have noticed no matter how many times I’ve zoomed in and out of the map. Yet, the moment you’re up in the sky, its existence is obvious.
I think a lot of things in life work in a similar way. When we’re in a comfortable existence, let it be a job, a city, or a specific routine, we tend to be ignorant of the possibility of an alternative. Only when we’ve gained more experience and knowledge, when we’re at a “different elevation”, are we able to see things differently.
For example, before I tried building a company, my views were limited to that of a designer. I valued visual aesthetics, product experience, yet failed to truly empathize with other functions including marketing and business finance. After taking the role of a founder, it fundamentally changed how I looked at the world. I started to question and see the why in things. I started to think in unit economics and became more empathetic with business owners. I started to understand why a product is priced the way it is, taking into account its cost including material, labor, location, and time.
The new experience of building a company added clarity to my worldview. It allowed me to experience the world in a new light.
A friend once told me, building a company is like playing a video game, every time you complete a level and defeat a monster, you gain experience points and unlock a new set of tools.
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Life is about throwing oneself into new experiences because only by doing so, we are able to find a new perspective.
Reaching a different elevation requires deviating from a known path and staying in discomfort. But I think the result is worth it, just like seeing that beautiful body of lake.
I turned 30 in April. This past year, I’ve been struggling whether to return to the world of comfort or continue to carve out a path of my own.
A stronger part of me desires a chance to reach a different elevation. And this desire has become my north star for the next decade to come.
If you resonate, I would love to chat! Just moved to NYC and would love to meet new friends.
I write about architecture and the future of cities here.
Reach me @cocobliu
