SocialBias :: a Digital Abstraction of Michael Parkatti

I guess you could say that someone isn’t entirely ready to succeed until they’re willing to risk everything to follow their dreams. In my case, however, that means everything except one suitcase full of stuff… which is exactly what I’ll be bringing to Boston for the YC summer session.

It kind of felt like I was packing for summer camp — but instead of worrying about drinking water that tastes like eggs, I’ll be meeting a bunch of cool people, figuring out what we’re building, and launching a new product. I brought one of everything, just in case.

I won’t take this opportunity to give my rant on our obsession with material goods, but I will say that stripping all of the extraneous ‘things’ in my life felt pretty refreshing. It perfectly summarized what participating in YC will require — cropping out the unnecessary distractions and getting down to work. Not forever, but for a little while. At this point in my life, I need to hide my shame and access the internet… all the rest has been put in storage (literally).

Honestly, looking at this one suitcase was when the implications of what I’m doing really came into focus for me. After all the schooling, all of the jobs I’ve had, all the books/articles I’ve read, all I’ve ever learned, and all I’ve ever accomplished… the only things coming to Boston with me are this suitcase and the reservoir of chaos trapped in the recesses of my brain. Let’s hope neither of them get lost during the flight down… (debatable — I’m flying Alaska Air).