Can You Smell what The Rock is Cookin’?

It is Sunday afternoon and I’m staring down my final week of TEC. Feelings: mixed. On one hand, TEC really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How will I ever be able to replicate the level of access to the people who are making change, and turning ideas into progress? On the other hand, I’m very excited to take my first flight out of the nest. I’m not sure how soon it will happen, or what variety of entrepreneurial exploits lay on the horizon. However, I do know that my time at Voxpop and with the True team has given me a leg up. It’s more than the connections and knowledge gained; it’s about a positive attitude and knowing when not to compromise. I know that sounds vague, and it is. I guess what I’m trying to say is the ‘Why?’ is always paramount to the ‘How?’ Sometimes there is noting to do but figure out how to locate and source thousands of images of vegetables. Without a view of the bigger picture, tasks like these would be slow and painful. Working in a high-energy startup environment forces me to pick my head up and see where all my work goes. Walling myself off to complete a job is almost impossible.

On Thursday, TEC got locked up. We trekked  to Alcatraz aka “The Rock” for some jailhouse fun. As a San Francisco native, others were surprised to find that I had never been to the island. This is a prime example of how True has opened new doors, and changed my experience of a city I have called home for 21 years. I throughly enjoyed seeing the old cell blocks and listening to the audio tour, complete with expert narration and exciting audio dramatizations. I really did not expect to appreciate Alcatraz like I did. Listening to the many founders talk about their experiences with San Francisco has revealed a new side of the city, and redefined my San Francisco experience forever.

Word of the Week: Proximity. From being in the true office, the offices of Bloomspot of Voxpop, being close to the action creates a total experience. Living and breathing the bay area tech scene has changed me more than any new skill, fresh idea, or amazing speaker ever could. With that said, I’m very interested in how the remote interns connected with their environments, and what impact not being in the Bay Area made on their summer.

Song of the Week: Deadbeat Summer by Neon Indian. not at all descriptive of my summer, I’ve been working really hard. In fact, I did not go to see Neon Indian perform in Northbeach (a neighborhood in SF) this evening because I am working on my various projects.