October 2024 Updates
The value of monthly updates, optimizing little things, and pattern interruptions
You’re receiving this monthly newsletter because you’ve been a valuable part of my life in some shape or form (or I’d like for you to be 🙂). See this video for context.
Hello everyone. I’m writing this update from 35,000ft in the air, on my way back to Toronto for the first time in 5 months. It feels like ages since I’ve been back.
Before diving in, I want to sidebar and say thank you to all of you. I received a lot of heartfelt messages from friends, family, mentors, and past colleagues in response to my last personal update, and am reminded of the incredible community of support that I have around me.
This has also made me reflect on the strength of this medium, a simple monthly update, in regards to sharing personal updates and staying in touch with all of you. It is a privilege that should not be taken lightly.
I’m grateful to all of you who’ve been part of my journey thus far. Now, onwards.
My updates
My platelet condition (ITP) has improved, and I’ve been off medication (Romiplostim + dexamethasone) for the past few weeks. I’ve recently had 3x/week blood draws, and it’s a welcome break to have weekly counts instead. Knock on wood that the worst is over, and I’m on the road back to remission.
At Biogenesis, we’re working hard to build out tools for clinical research sites. We have a site advisory board whom we’re speaking with several times a week, and getting lots of customer feedback on a very frequent basis.
My partner Shiri and some friends came over to visit NorCal. We got to spend some time in beautiful Sausalito, Monterrey, and Carmel areas. My dad also had the chance to visit, and we were able to check out the Santa Cruz mountains and coast.
On my mind
On writing, and writing concisely. Paired with my grateful reflections on this monthly update, I’ve been thinking a lot about writing: [1] to write more intentionally (I do this through an internal weekly reflection), and [2] to write more concisely.
On pattern interruptions. What are the “weird” things that you’ve done as a kid that may offer unique advantages to your activities now? I’ve been thinking about attributes in others, and myself, that easily go against the grain. The unique blend of interests, hobbies, and eccentricities attract lucky events into your life, that make people seek you out. Invest in this more.
On building with quality. Since discovering Linear a year ago, I’ve been obsessed with their craft and taste. Karri, Cristina, and team spend a lot of time talking about quality, and often sacrifice speed and scale to uphold this. I’ve spent several hours just pouring over their product and company-building philosophy, and have used their frameworks to refine my own.
On optimizing the little things. My pattern interruption is my obsession for making things more efficient. Things like removing the delay for revealing the Mac dock (shaving 0.4 seconds every time) or learning shortcuts for frequent path names are worthwhile investments in my opinion.
defaults write com.apple.dock autohide-time-modifier -int 0; killall DockOn defining your own success. Needless to say, I’ve gained lots of perspectives since moving to Silicon Valley, enduring a critical medical condition since moving, and trying to reconcile these seemingly opposing realities. I’m reminded of how we’ll never feel successful unless we create our own definition of success. Craft your utopia, on your own terms. Very top of mind for me now.
Lmk if you are (or know someone who is) working on or thinking about the above!
Personal asks
I’d like to chat with any healthcare folks to learn more about current operational problems and inefficiencies in clinics and hospital systems.
Looking more to chat more with other early employees / members of founding teams.
Any conversations or intros would be very appreciated! Find a time here.
Next month
Catching up with folks in Toronto in early November
Building out a (wholesome) community in South Bay
Exploring clinical operations systems and their fallbacks
Thanks for reading this month’s update. Would love to hear how I can help you this month (maybe I can make some intros, work through some thoughts with you, or otherwise). See you next month 👋
Tweet or reply, or find some time to catch up. Subscribe here if this was forwarded to you, or read my past updates.