As an aspiring microinfluencer, I can’t thank you enough for actually clicking my link and joining me in my first ever blog post. Today marks my first day working full-time in Web3 and I truly couldn’t be more excited. In this article I’ll share a bit about how a kid from DC ended up living in Miami and working in Crypto. Depending on what time of day it is, grab a coffee or a glass of vino, and find yourself a comfy seat.
It’s no surprise that life never really goes as planned, but I think that’s what makes it so exciting. Some people enjoy comfort and stability, while others are invigorated by novelty and get a sense of euphoria from unpredictability. While I can appreciate both, I’m definitely more of the latter.
(Turp stop being dramatic and get to the point).
Alright alright fine. Let’s talk Crypto.
The first time I ever heard about Blockchain was in 2017 during my Senior year at the University of Maryland when a guest speaker from IBM came in and spoke to my Information Architecture class. I was intrigued, but at the time I was probably (definitely) more focused on trying to grow a really pathetic mustache.
My first real exposure to crypto was in 2018 as a grad student when I found my way to a Georgetown blockchain event. This is when my wheels started to spin a little bit. My brain working a little bit, but still not fully grasping the value.
Let’s fast forward a little bit. ⏩
The year is 2019. We’re ~6 Months into the pandemic and I’m working a fully-remote job in Big Tech. I have friends traveling (safely) and grabbing airbnbs in really cool places. So, in true snowbird fashion, I decided to make my way down to Miami seeking gleaming sunshine, white sand beaches, delicious cuisine, and the allure of elegant blue water.
Wait Miami… the culture capital of the world - Miami? You sure you can hang there?
Yes. This gringo has flavor and is not afraid to move his hips. Carry on.
At first, I wasn’t planning on calling this new place my home, but we all know how that story goes. I (very) quickly fell in love with the city of Miami, its people, culture, tech innovation, and an unexplainable energy floating around in the air.
Basically, I felt like like this ⬇️
Yes this story is about crypto, hold on I’m getting to it.
Through attending countless #MiamiTech events and making many new friends on Twitter (s/o @mayorsuarez for some critical retweets) I started to build up a little network. I found myself having lots of conversations about crypto, and realized that I was really enjoying learning. Maybe for the first time ever? Against my own will, my brain started to crave more and more. Enter Twitter, Discord, Conferences, Dinners, Podcasts, and Countless Articles.
Outside of my Web2 job, I began working on BitcoinHub and was one of the first members of Miami Tech Runs DAO which has now expanded to Los Angeles and grown to over 250 people! 🤯. I also joined a NFT group called J.PΞG Morgan full of extremely vibrant and amazing people. We had a mural painted on a wall. Even got shouted out by some island boys. It was fun.
Time in Web3 moves fast. Like really fast. So, while struggling to keep up, I came to the realization that I needed to be working in this space full-time in order to not miss out. The FOMO was real. Luckily, at this point I had met some really dope people and was able to interview with some amazing companies. But, I ended up exactly where I was supposed to be.
Today, 1/18/22 marks my first day with QuickNode, a Miami-native startup rocketship providing Blockchain infrastructure for Web3 native builders and developers. They have an amazing team and it just feels so right to join a Web3 company born and built right here in the 305. Read more about them here.
I’m beyond excited to get started. Let’s Build!
WAGMI.