The inspiration of Jack Dorsey

Inspiration

fb_timeline_template

RIP Adam Yauch: MCA

This feeling was very similar in October when I heard Steve Jobs had died. Though inspirations in many different (yet similar) ways, Adam Yauch (also known as MCA) of the Beastie Boys was one of my heros. Both died of cancer.

I couldn’t help but be in tears when I heard about Adam’s passing. Like many of my friends, I have been listening to the Beastie Boys every since I was a kid. I’ve never lived in a world without the Beastie Boys. The first song I vividly remember is No Sleep Till Brooklyn, which was the song that inspired me to want to live there someday. I now live in Brooklyn.

There are so many memories of the Beastie Boys, such as getting up at 5am for basketball practice in high school playing my tape of Ill Communication in my mom’s van. I listened to that every day, especially Get it Together. MCA was always my favorite Beastie Boy because I loved his lyrics and unique voice.

Even though I’m not a musician, I always felt the Beastie Boys inspired me so much as an artist and designer, particularly in the idea of mixing and remixing…sampling…the idea of taking something and giving it new content/context. The longevity of their genius is something I will continue to look up to. Some can be great for a short period of time, but these guys have spanned so many decades, continued to do their thing and change their style in success.

You can bet every time I’m designing, I am listening to Paul’s Botique.

Rest in Peace, Adam Nathaniel Yauch. There will always be a castle in Brooklyn, where you dwell. I will miss you so much.

“I think every person has the ability to effect change. I think we’re often led to believe that it’s just celebrities [who] have some ability to effect change, but I think that what’s important for us to realize is that everyone of us affects the world constantly through our actions, through our every smallest action, through our every thought, our every word, the way that we interact with other people… we’re constantly affecting the world.”

—Adam Yauch

ginzburg1

Simply Measured. Simply Inspiring.

I could not be happier when I read the news that my friends at Simply Measured raised another round of funding. Read the full article on Geek Wire

I remember the days of Damon and Aviel co-working at Elysian or Murphy’s Pub (still happens though!) and building their product and it makes me so happy to see how much they have grown. Never in my life have I met two guys who are so in love with what they do. They’re not guys who just decided to form a startup because it’s trendy or so they can “go to South By” to network, but love building things.

In a city where it seems that people care about talking about what they do, it is so refreshing to always be around guys who sometimes don’t have time to talk about it because they are indeed, doing it. When I was in Europe, one of the things I missed most was to meet up at cafes and write code, design and talk about work with Damon, Aviel and Colin.

I whole-heartedly believe that part of the reason I had the inspiration to form Xhatch Interactive was through conversations with these guys Even though I’m not in the startup industry per se, I have learned so much from the guys at Simply Measured and am so thankful for all the conversations with them.

Congrats guys, and I am rooting for you guys as you continue your endeavors!

Wolverine…or two Batmans?

Wolverine…or two Batmans?

Starting with the man in the mirror

Every morning I wake up, I do these things: Check the time, take a shower, brush my teeth and listen to Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror.” The King of Pop is my hero and inspiration in everything I do, and I dare someone not get inspired after hearing this song. So often in our society we look at other people to blame, where in reality, we should be looking at ourselves.

Times when I think about this song:

  • When it comes to relationships, is there something I can do better to make it healthy and happy?
  • At work, is there ways I can be a better designer to help clients and give them what they deserve?
  • What is one thing I can do today to be a better person? Can I do it in less than 10 minutes?

Granted, the projections of other people is something we can’t control, and sometimes they affect us. However, I can assure you there is so much we can work on as ourselves as inviduals in our lifetime that we don’t need to worry about other’s problems—can work on ourselves. By improving ourselves, we can help inspire those around us.

Change yourself. Change those around you. Change the world.

Really great use of books. I might do this for my apartment.

Really great use of books. I might do this for my apartment.

My goodness. Every girl needs this dress of Middle Earth.

My goodness. Every girl needs this dress of Middle Earth.

david_monet

Post-Impressionism is most impressive

I always thought I was a Baroque man. Like they say in Beauty & the Beast, “if it’s Baroque, don’t fix it!” My heart belonged to Rome for multiple reasons. However, after being in Paris for an indefinite amount of time, I’m starting to fall in love with the city. The city of lights has given me the opportunity to look, but more importantly, re-look.

Post Impressionism was a movement I never really appreciated in the art history books. Today I went to look at some of Monet’s Water Lily paintings. Damn, those guys could paint. They indeed, captured the essence.

Thank you Paris for making me take the time to look at things and appreciate.

Ichi-go Ichi-e. One Encounter. One Opportunity

Ichi-go ichi-e (一期一会, literally “one time, one meeting”) is a Japanese term that describes a cultural concept often linked with famed tea master Sen no Rikyu. The term is often translated as “for this time only,” “never again,” or “one chance in a lifetime.”

This Zen Buddhist saying was adapted by Samurai culture: you cannot get any moments back. The lesson being that you should make them all count. It’s a good lesson. One encounter with their enemy, one opportunity to make a strike. The outcome of that one action can determine the fate of his life. It’s quite a beautiful saying. Similar is Japanese style painting, who take one swift brush stroke. The mark they make is forever embedded on the paper.

This is by far one of my favorite sayings ever, and I try my best to live my life this way.

I’m not a “regrets” kind of person. Of course I regret things. I think anyone who says they don’t regret anything is lying to everything, especially themselves. That said, I have accepted my mistakes and missed opportunities in the past. Those marks have been made.

Now we have to make the most of it. We cannot change what has already passed through time, but we can make more marks on the paper to take a mistake and turn it into something beautiful.

I live my life very fast. I cannot wait, and I cannot hesitate. One hesitation can be the difference between a life changing experience and a missed opportunity.

One encounter. One opportunity.

Reading in the midst of inspiration

Inspiration is vital to a creative person—or any person for that matter. Barcelona, Spain is one of the most inspiring places I’ve been to. Perhaps it is the layers of history that has created such a vast resource of creativity. The United States has only been a few hundred years old, so we have a lot of catching up to do. We’ll get there, I’m sure of it.

This photo is of one of my favorite places. It’s a small park behind Sagrada Familia. It’s no bigger than 1000 sq ft but has a pond that is surrounded by park benches. I sat here to get inspired, whether it was reading a book on my kindle, looking at the massive Modernist church in the background or people watching.

I ended up reading here for about three hours before it started raining and I walked back to my apartment.

I have a feeling this place will be a moment of realization and inspiration as I reflect upon my life when it is all said and done.

Sagrada Familia

The inspiration of Jack Dorsey

There is only one Steve Jobs. In the not-too-distant-future, we’ll say “there is only one Jack Dorsey.” Jack is quickly becoming one of my greatest inspirations—simply love his work ethic and the way he seeks inspiration. Because of Jack, I now take daily walks to both seek ideas and try to have them come to me during my walks. I try to look at new things, but just as importantly, re-look at things. For example, I somehow never noticed that you can spell “hi” on one hand on a keyboard, despite typing it all the time:

Here is a great lecture Jack gave on inspiration. My favorite quote is “It’s not what we can build. It’s what we can take away.”

← Older Entries

Tweets

Follow @davidhoang →

My Instagr.am Gallery

Anyone want to be my Polaroid Pal? If you live in Brooklyn we can explore together. If not, we can trade photos. #Polaroid #analog #nyc #newyork #BKLYN #photgraphy #friendsThe entire neighborhood is out watching the sunset. #brooklyn #brooklynbridge #brooklynheights #nyc #newyork #neogothicNumber of f*cks Boba Fett gives...zero. #vadervacation #starwars #bobafett #brooklyn #newyork #nycWhy do we park in driveways and drive in parkways? #wtf #brooklyn #dumbo #brooklynbridge #newyork #nycPerspective. #nyc #newyork #lovenewyork #brooklynheights #brooklynbridge #bklyn #brooklyn #polaroid #analogAnalog. Digital. Convergence. #polaroid #brooklyn #DUMBO #newyork #lovenycSome great architecture. #churches #stainedglass #nyc #newyork #catholic #brooklynheights #brooklyn #bklynMy daily tasks includes cat ear scratching for purrs. #cats #megakitty #gatos😳😳😳😳😳😳😳Dinner in Williamsburg. #Williamsburg #NYC #NY #lovenewyork #Brooklyn #bklynHello! #polaroid #brooklynBBBFFs == Brooklyn Bridge Best Friends ForeverBrooklyn Bridge. #NewYork #NYC #NY #Brooklyn #BKLYN 🏈First attempt with Polaroids with @knitpurl #newyork #nyc #brooklyn #bklyn #polaroidWhen @knitpurl met MegaKitty. #cats #gatosWoooooooo!!!!Longview and Kelso cruising' East Village.No drink till... #Brooklyn #ipa #beer #bklyn #newyork #nycIt's a David + @knitpurl totem pole.1% Jess

Recent Posts

Categories

© 2012 David Hoang | Experience Designer in Brooklyn, New York