Research, Retail, and Rashad
I live by those 3 R's as well as rest & relaxation
I write this at Villager Coffee, a cafe in my neighborhood of Prospect Heights meets Crown Heights.
Reflecting from the Wear Many Hats World Tour, I’ve been doing a lowkey sabbatical and brainstorming on new businesses I’m starting as well as taking a month off on recording episodes for the Wear Many Hats Podcast. I’ve been going hard on our show since 2020.
Research
I’ve been buying domain names to feed into my dopamine addiction because I wanted to see what my next project would be. Then I stopped. I don’t believe in budgeting but I realized everything has gotten way to expensive to throw money away.
Researching has been my favorite part of starting a project.
The one thing I’m scared of is failing. If I create something, I’ll be bootstrapping till the wheels fall off. After watching the latest season of Industry, it all worked out in the end.
I’m not supposed to be sharing any upcoming projects because it feeds into the dopamine but I like sharing my projects. I’m a private person but when it comes to special projects with no NDA, I like to share what I’m up to with guests of the show, close friends, medium friends, collaborators, mentors and creatives such as yourself.
I’m big into manifestation and if I speak it into existence, sometimes it will happen.
Information & Research I’ve gathered:
The matcha and wellness industry for Matsar. My new Matcha & Wellness brand.
Been going out to a lot of cafes, trying out their matcha, and seeing what their matcha program looks like.
Excited to be collaborating with my favorite food guests who we’ve become friends from the show: Everything Alex Cooks and Steph Lau.
Trying Yoga and Pilates classes at unfamiliar spaces to get a feel for NYC studios:
For knowledge, trend forecasting and taste:
Taking chances on new experiences in order to share notes for Hattrick Pony.
I have been taking a ton of film photos of cars for Hattrick Pony. Motorcycles included. NYC has creative ways of parking them and you need to capture it.
People have been asking me about thoughts on certain topics and sharing individual moments with friends and acquaintances. The conversations I’m having is what I call Tedx level talks that come across as consulting.
I do think when you create a project or brand it should be able to transition and be versatile. If one day Hattrick Pony wants to be something else it can be. Sports magazine or a senior center. It can.
I go out to events, walk from Central Park to Canal St. and take phone calls to share stories for Wear Many Hats.
Retail
There are a million coffee shops that have opened up everywhere but I’m here for the spaces that don’t have a coffeeshop built in.
Pulling up to:
I met the owner Chris Green and one of the core staff, Casey Sylvan. They have a great selection of brands that I love including Maison Margiela, All Blues, Our Legacy, Tekla Fabrics, The Row, and Salomon. The shop is based in Park Slope.
I haven’t made a move to purchase anything yet because I recently bought 3 Bode pieces and a Balenciaga puffer. No more clothing purchases for me.
Photo Life is the photo development studio where I get my film developed. When people ask me where I go to get my film developed, I also tell them Accurate Photo Shop because it’s Asian owned and quality.
My secret not-so-secret after photographing for brands is that you have to get them developed with high res scans. You never know, your clients or even yourself might print out a magazine ad or poster for someday.
Congrats to them for opening up their brand new location. It’s double the size of their previous storefront. It’s like a coffeehouse that turned into a concept store.
Tina & Ashley has had forecast space, a concept shop & gallery in Greenpoint opened for a year and I’m very excited for them.
I enjoy reading Tina’s newsletter TinaTalk and our conversations on writing and photography. I enjoy running into Ashley and hearing her stories and laughing with friend and guest of the show Elliott Foos at his Love Song pop ups.
I met them on a Treetop Journeys & Usal trip upstate New York.
Go visit them and tell em’ Rashad sent ya.
Rashad
The me generation. Boomers used to be called that but now it’s everyone.
It’s either main character syndrome, Truman Show, but lean into it.
I believe that leaning into it is the new selling out.
Sometimes you got to listen to yourself and do what’s best for you.
People have been falling into lifestyle creep or following the next trend. Try not to do any of that. My modus operandi has always been to keep it simple and minimal.
The new American dream is when you tell your significant other a new idea and they immediately shoot it down but you do it anyway and it becomes successful.
Hopefully all your projects and ideas pull off someday.
I am prone to Shiny Object Syndrome but been finding ways to curb it.
No more starting new projects. Time to build the ones I have now. Get a co-founder, partner, bestie, whoever it is to keep you in check.
Creative Direction, Production, photo, video, ad campaigns, poster, sidewalk stencils, and billboard work for Dahsar. I also want to photograph more weddings, baby showers, bachelor parties. This is my maturity coming in. I am all for capturing your happy moments along with moments that you don’t have anymore, sad.
I want to be a part of video for clients. Produce more ad campaigns. Get into commercials. Shoot more behind the scenes and be part of front of house.
Teaching, learning.
I am a producer and want to help people.