The lights of New York
I do declare: I’m going to live in New York for at least one chapter of my life
It’s hard to ignore the glamour of a big city like NYC. There are tons of reasons to admire every person, every building, every park, every square and every…thing that composes the New York experience.
And there’s no wonder about why is this city capable of maintaining its shine and its iconic status, even through the test of time, when at every corner there’s a story to be heard and a lesson to be learned. The mere fact of being there trains you for greatness. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, energy, mindfulness or guide, the streets of New York can be of great help.
It was on my recent visit to the city that I realized that if you’re aware enough to listen to what’s going backstage, you’ll find really valuable advice to become a more shiny, more iconic and more test-of-time proof version of yourself.
This is what I listened to. This is the path for en-light-enment I learned. This is what I’m sharing with you:
Light #1 — New York is a workout
New York is a fast-paced environment and to survive, you must be ready for it. This sustained level of physical, emotional and intellectual demand is challenging, but there’s no way you can stop. Everyday you have to push your limits. And just to make it clear: Everyday you have to push your limits.
Being uncomfortable is something we humans normally avoid, but it is also true that being uncomfortable is the only way to become stronger. Do it everyday until challenging yourself becomes the new normal.
Understand that hard things always get easier. Be resilient.
Light #2 — Take a deep breath before making your entrance
So now you’re challenging yourself. You’re about to make your big entrance to the stage in front of a huge number of people. You’re ready to give the performance of your life. Suddenly, a little voice on your head starts making you doubt about your own capability of doing something like that. But you’re in a point of no return. What should you do? You take a deep breath and jump into greatness.
Have control over your thoughts. Know how to relate with them. Be mindful.
Light #3 — Five dollars Rolex
What could go wrong? A five dollars Rolex that’s exactly like the authentic. No one will tell the difference from 45 miles around. You buy it and you feel like the smartest guy in the world, until you don’t. Now, not your friends, nor your family and not even yourself will believe any of your fancy clock chit chat. Now you’re the guy of the five dollars Rolex. Now your conversations won’t be about diamonds and gold but of plastic and foam.
Don’t be the five dollars Rolex guy. Where you put your resources, you put your interests. Where you put your interests, you put your mind. Where you put your mind, you put your future.
Light # 4 — The best pizza in town
Depending to who you ask, you’ll know were to find the best pizza in town. Everybody claims to have the best pizza. The original pizza. The first pizza. The historical pizza. The thinest pizza. The healthiest pizza. The unhealthiest pizza. The most organic pizza. The fastest pizza. The most convenient pizza. The most personalized pizza. And the list goes on.
There’s only one thing we can be sure: Pizza is everywhere and if you want to sell pizza, you’ll have to find your own way to impress. To be referred as the best.
Competition is fierce. Be fierce.
Light #5 — You’ll never find a New Yorker in Times Square
Have you ever thought which brand has had the biggest exposure in Times Square? No, it’s not Coca Cola neither Apple. It’s the Times Square itself. And thanks to this, now that you’re in town, you decide that is a must to visit this iconic scenario. And off you go to Times Square. You and all the other 300 thousand visitors fight for a spot to see the screens and the ads. To watch the famous crystal ball that falls every new year even though we’re not even close to new year. To buy theater tickets. To buy the most expensive souvenirs of them all. That’s what you do because that’s what you must do when you visit New York, right?
Do what everybody does and you’ll become like everybody. And you know what? It is exactly not everybody that achieves their maximum potential.
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Who thought that a place could teach you so much about life? But well, it’s not just any place. It’s New York city!
I’ll let you catch this up. But there’s more to come. Check the second part of these lessons and let this city share its secrets with you.
