If you can make it here, you’ll make it anywhere.

A bulletin from the Hinterlands

When I graduated from college in New Jersey and came back home, it never occurred to me to start my adult life anywhere but in New York City. From Wall Street to Madison Avenue, in publishing, theatre, museums, galleries, or fashion, New York was the place to be.

And over the next 30 years, I built my network in the two square miles of Manhattan. I worked for 10 different New York ad agencies, and there were dozens more still to try. When corporate headhunters asked me if I would be willing to relocate to Chicago, Los Angeles, London, or Portland, I just looked at them like they were crazy. What, and leave New York?

To quote Alvy Singer, “I don’t want to move to a city where the only cultural advantage is being able to make a right turn on a red light.”

I guess the irony is that the biggest changes I’ve made to my life took place in a small garage in West L.A. and this old house in Phoenix.

Two cities in which I barely knew a soul. Where I had no connections. No inside paths to success. No legs-up. Just me.

But these are the places I wrote most of my books. Where I started Sketchbook Skool. Where I made videos and started writing these essays. Where I became the real me.

The internet made it all possible. Now I can reach anyone anywhere. And then I can unplug and sit in my garden, wallow in my hot tub, or take a nap after lunch.

But it’s not just that I can do more here in the hinterlands. It’s that I can also do less.

I can clear space for new ideas and fresh risks. I don’t have the distractions of the bright lights in the big city. I don’t have to compare and compete with my peers. Less need to keep up and stay current with the latest, groovy, trendy things. I’m writing this in sweatpants by my pool. Oh, how my old art director in her Ferragamos would jeer.

And things frankly are different because I’m older. When I was 22, I was happy to race the rats. I could claw my way up the ladder. Now I just don’t see the need.

During the pandemic, we worried that New York was dying, but of course it never was. It survived COVID, but also yellow fever and the Spanish flu. But even though New York will always be the top of the tops, it’s not the only game in town anymore.

Geography is no longer destiny. You can start an art or writing career, become an investor or entrepreneur from anywhere with decent Wi-Fi.

That means that there aren’t just 8 million people who can make it. There are 8 billion who now have a shot.

Including you.

Your pal,

Danny

P.S. Next Saturday morning, I'm teaching Dive into Dip Pens—a 3-hour online workshop exploring this most expressive tool where we will make some gorgeous, finished art together. You can join in from anywhere! It’s on Saturday, March 7th at 9 am Pacific. If you can’t make it live, watch the full recording anytime. If you're up for spending a Saturday morning making art, click here to learn more. If not, see you next Friday.