If you’re building a life in New York from scratch — this is for you. Or if you’re wildly dreaming about it. I’ve been there and here’s what I actually learned putting this life together: [ 1 ] NYC isn’t hard because it’s fast — it’s hard because you have to make a million micro-decisions a day and stay sane. So you better learn to romanticize your own routines. Your 7am commutes, or productive night hours. Your walk to the train, or morning runs. Your post-shoot grocery run. Fall in love with your discipline. That’s what will keep you here, and makes up 60-70% of your life. [ 2 ] Create before you consume. Before I had an audience, I just posted. It was not perfect—just real. That’s what made people care. Forget aesthetics for a second. Start with honesty. It’ll always land. It