:We were the midst of planning an intimate dinner for Unexpected Connections just a few days ago and I was thinking, what’s something that has really moved me as of late? I remember the moment vividly. I was taking some time to think to myself about how everything seemed to be going really well and perfect.

I figured, wow, I think I’ve figured “life” out. After going through multiple paths both satisfying and utterly disappointing, being “right” or having access to the truth can never be achieved. We can look for opportunities and decide on outcomes that benefit us for this moment in time, but the world never stops. Things out of our control are continually changing directions both above and under the surface.

The things I thought I knew to be true in the past? At best they were true for the moment. The complexity of this world never ceases to amaze me. Sometimes we try so hard to make sense of it, and I agree it’s something that allows us to live our lives with a lot less surprises. We’re often seeking the answers and the truth, but the truth and the answers, much like culture, is a by-product of many variables that never occur in a vacuum.

You often see people that have found initial success who try to do something new. It’s a challenge to make it happen again. Times change, people’s goals change, and culture changes. Every step of the way, I’ve wondered if I was doing the right thing because I was so scared that without research and validation, it’d be a failure. But the real question I now ask myself is, am I seeking an answer for now or looking further and building a thought process to see me well beyond this ephemeral solution I’m seeking?

Both allow you to develop a model that provides reassuring clarity, but the bigger approach? It’s about actively removing any bit of complacency, for the answer for today is not the answer for tomorrow. A big thanks to Megumi, Tokotah, Tanya, and the whole InterTrend team for helping out with the dinner. Thanks to World Sake Imports, Dropbox, and Namu Stonepot for their help in sponsoring the event. Without all of you, this idea would have remained stuck in the blocks.