3 Things I Learned From Wearing Funky Pants
And two new podcast episodes
Oslo, Norway
2018
Volunteering at a conference.
At the conference pre-party, I got a pair of pants made for me on the spot.
And these days, I pretty much am regularly wearing similar funky pants. 6 years later!
Kind of crazy, right?
These pants have helped shape me who I am today. Maybe it’s a little bit cliche, but here are 3 things I have learned from wearing funky pants.
Ok here is the first lesson: You never know how one decision can stay with you.
Going out to dinner, sending a cold email, calling a friend, going to a party, meeting-up with a friend, hosting an event, starting a podcast, going to a conference, getting a new apartment, moving to a new neighborhood, starting a newsletter, etc.
All of these and many more decisions matter….
And sometimes there are ones, that are maybe even small in the moment, that can really linger and persist… like funky pants have for me!
The second lesson: one early believer in a new idea can make a big difference.
Right after I got back from Norway in 2018, a woman yelled from her car “I love those pants!!!” when I was walking outside of my apartment. She gave me further reassurance that it was OK to wear these funky pants in NYC.
I then felt like I *could* definitely wear funky pants in NYC haha!
We come across moments like this regularly, right?
A friend calls you for advice, someone wants to start something you have experience with, etc.
These liminal spaces are undefined and filled with uncertainty… And that’s where magic and growth can happen with the right kind of support!
Who could you give more reassurance too???
The third lesson: It’s OK to stand-out (literally lol)
In a world with more and more AI, I am here to tell you it’s OK to stand out.
In fact, we need you too. We need your ideas. We need your creativity. We need your leadership.
Today is a good day to take up space!
What is your weird thing like my funky pants? Reply back and let me know!
🎧 Portfolio Career Podcast Episodes
#321: Creating Life-Changing Content, Building A Community Business, and Working At A Fast-Growing Community Business
This episode was recorded live at C3 #2, the Community Builders and Creators Mini-Conference. It’s more like an anti-conference, than a conference though.
You will learn about how:
Dulma Altan talked about the benefits of doing something like posting content online everyday for 100 days. And why you may want to look for platform arbitrage opportunities, posting a new type of content format online
Neil Yeoh talked about how it takes time to build a community-driven business
Nikki D'Ambrosio talked about how she started working at Reading Rhythms by showing up and regularly asking to help out
#320: Music Production, Writing, and Playing To Your Strengths
In this episode, you will learn about creativity across 3 different people sharing on the hot seat. Learn from Johnny, Priti, and Jason in this episode!
Thanks for being weird,
David Nebinski, who posted more about C3 here
PS: feel free to reply back or comment below. it would be great to hear from you!
I love hearing the backstory of the pants! Now you've got me thinking what my 'funky pants' could be.
Great newsletter as always, David!
My "funky pants" is my full undercut and dyeing the hair I do have blue and purple/pink. I think it sounds crazier than it is, because I think it looks pretty normal on me and the whole look evolved naturally from leaning into what I like and what makes me comfortable.
Every so often, I'll enter a space where I'll expect some pushback or "looks", but it's no more than the minimal amount I am already used to (i.e. ones I would recieve due to some form of "ism" regardless of how I look). I am actually pleasantly surprised at the amount of compliments I get.
Even if there was more negativity, I have a hard time caring, because I only want to attract people who like me when I am being myself. When I do that, I believe that's when things work in my favor - and I think that's the true power of Funky Pants!!!