After committing to writing more regularly, especially in longer form, I signed up for First Draft while away at FarCon NYC this week. I often begin pieces with energy, only to lose momentum when something interrupts the flow. This writing program is my way of staying accountable and actually finishing.

I’ll admit, I was a little nervous flying into New York. Not because the city is unfamiliar; I lived here for a few years in my 30s. But in the past, I’ve left large-scale events here feeling like I hadn’t gotten much out of them. Maybe it’s confidence, or maybe it’s clarity, but this trip felt different from the moment I landed. I had a purpose.

When I went to ETHDenver last year, it felt chaotic. The chains I spoke with had no interest in Media & Entertainment. Most people seemed more eager to pitch than to learn. Then came Nounstown LA. It was smaller, more focused. I hosted panels, supported others, felt seen, and that experience stuck with me. It made me want something bigger, with more diversity, but the same sense of connection.

When I applied to Summit Day, I assumed I wouldn’t get in. Time passed. No word. Then suddenly, I was accepted. I minted my pass and immediately started planning. My goal for the trip was simple: connect with the builders behind the apps I use, learn from people who inspire me, and help others see what's possible when animation meets crypto.

The conversations I had this week gave me real confidence that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. More than that, they reinforced my belief in the importance of showing up, asking questions, and sharing what you’re building, even if you don’t have all the answers yet.

Looking back, the week naturally split into two chapters: pre-Summit Day and post-Summit Day. Past experience has taught me not to overbook myself, so I was intentional about leaving space between 121s and avoided event overload. Those gaps made the trip more productive. I assumed most of my meetings would run 20 to 30 minutes, but every single one went over an hour. People wanted to share, learn, and listen. I walked away from each conversation more motivated to adjust how I’m taking action.

Even the happy hours felt different. Casual bar conversations turned into deep dives on projects, priorities, and purpose. By the time Summit Day arrived, I was grateful not to be relying on that one event to meet everyone. It gave me room to focus on the moments that mattered.

I had applied to the speaker series and was especially curious about the presenters, many of whom I had followed online but never met. Two talks stood out in particular: Jihad’s and Tayyab’s.

Jihad’s call to action about measuring your impact as a founder through the agency you create completely reframed how I think about presenting my own business. Tayyab’s breakdown of how the direction of acceleration shapes outcomes hit just as hard. His talk carried a quiet reminder: show me the incentive and I’ll show you the outcome. It stuck with me.

If anything, the speaker series left me more motivated to get on stage at the next FarCon.

If we crossed paths this past week, thank you. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into FarCon NYC. But it doesn’t feel like a coincidence that after procrastinating for months about starting my business, I finally followed through the day I got home.