proximity is power so go where your nerds are

2025-03-20 08:02 Note Type: insight Tags: power, career, proximity

For an amazing article by Shaan Puri,

If you want flowers to bloom, plant your seeds in great soil.

I realised that SF is the only city in the world where startups are normal, and jobs are weird. The high-status thing was low-status here. That’s a powerful motivator.

Paul Graham once wrote that “every city whispers something in your ear”.

  • LA whispers “you’re not beautiful enough”
  • NYC whispers “you’re not rich enough”
  • SF whispers “you’re not ambitious enough”

The whisper isn’t always healthy, but it’s always motivating.

Moving will shake up your routine. It forces you to re-think your routines.  Moving will shake up your social circle. Your pace. Your thinking. Your lifestyle. Where do you move? → Go where your nerds are.  Whatever the thing you’re nerdy about - where is the highest density of like-minded nerds?

If you want to build muscle - go live in a house with a bunch of gym bros. Soon enough you’ll have a gym routine, drink pre workouts, and guzzle protein.

References:

https://www.shaanpuri.com/essays/proximity-is-power

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