A Love Letter To People Who Believe in People

Tina on the transformative power of enthusiasm

When I was eight, I made a big, hand-drawn poster that said, “Do you want to join my fan club?” and put it up in the small Swiss town where I grew up.

Neighbors would ask me, “What are we going to be fans of?” and I’d say, “It doesn’t matter—it’s just about being excited.” Eight year old Tina.

Decades later, I’m still convinced that being a fan is a state of mind.

Being a fan is all about bringing the enthusiasm. It’s being a champion of possibility. It’s believing in someone. And it’s contagious. When you’re around someone who is super excited about something, it washes over you. It feels good. You can’t help but want to bring the enthusiasm, too.

This, to me, is the real transformation. Confidence is impressive, but enthusiasm can change people’s lives.

If I trace all the defining moments of my life back to their beginnings, I can always find a person with this fan state of mind: someone who believed in me, opened a door, or illuminated a new path just by being who they are.

This is a love letter to all the people who believe in us and nudge us in new directions with their enthusiasm.

To the person who showed me you can live life your way—my beloved, eccentric Aunt Hugi

She was the most creative, unique, stubborn, wild Swiss woman I have ever known. I grew up in the Swiss countryside and visiting Hugi in Zurich was always an adventure. She was a fashion designer, artist, and a true original. As I got older, I really started to appreciate how she didn’t care what people thought. She lived a courageous, creative life and inspired me to be bold, forge my own path, and break rules.

To the person who opened up a different future—my first boss, Matthew Waldman

After I earned my graphic design degree, I convinced my parents that I wanted to go to New York to find a three-month internship. I arrived on a Monday night and had an interview lined up the next morning with Matthew Waldman—the CEO of a small, now defunct design studio. Within five minutes of talking to me, he offered me a job and predicted that I would never leave New York.

Not only was he right, but his instant belief in me taught me that your boss can be enthusiastic, kind, and caring. This set the tone going forward—I would not accept anything other than a loving work environment.

To the person who nudged me to ask myself, “What am I waiting for?”—my daughter Ella

While working as a Design Director at a digital agency and pregnant with my daughter Ella, I found myself inspired to think bigger. I always wanted to run my own design studio and an urgency suddenly hit me—I was making a human, and I wanted to be a role model to them, so what was I waiting for? I started my own design studio the day she was born.

To the person who helped me realise “I can do this too”—the inspiring Jim Coudal

My blog swissmiss became quite popular, but when I had other ideas, I’d second-guess them. I’d think, Who am I to do this thing? A real epiphany came when I was watching Jim Coudal at SXSW. As he was describing his fun side projects, including The Deck Network, Layer Tennis, and Field Notes, I realized I could put my ideas into the world, too. Seeing someone create the things they want to create can give us permission to do the same.

So I did it. I knew intuitively that the people you surround yourself with change what you dream about, which led me to start the coworking space Studiomates (now known as Friends Work Here). It has been magical to see what unfolds when you gather creative, kind, driven humans in a physical space. We often find ourselves in deep, engaging conversations over coffee or lunch, which in turn has led to the founding of multiple companies, magazines and conferences. We believe in each other, and we make each other brave.

To the person who encouraged the momentum of CreativeMornings—co-founder of Mailchimp, Ben Chestnut

After experiencing the power of my coworking community, I felt inspired to share the magic. I was in a city of eight million people, but the creative communities felt fragmented and disconnected. I knew there had to be more heart-centered, creative people looking to connect. So, I decided to invite people to the space for a free breakfast and a talk. I vividly remember being made fun of for inviting people to an event at 8:30 a.m., and assuming no one would show up. I am proud to say we had 50 attendees at the first ever CreativeMornings in October of 2008.

Just four months and four events later, I received an email from Ben Chestnut, co-founder of Mailchimp, saying he and his team were big fans and he wondered if they could sponsor future events. I had never dealt with sponsors before and clumsily invited them to pay for breakfast, which turned into the most supportive and encouraging 15-year corporate partnership and friendship.

Mailchimp consistently reminded us to focus on what we do best: serving and growing our community. Having more people say, “We just want to make sure you can do your magic,” is what the world needs.

To the person who helped CreativeMornings think bigger and bolder—Ruth Ann Harnisch

When I first met Ruth Ann, a former journalist and the visionary philanthropist leading the Harnisch Foundation, she told me she believed in CreativeMornings’ potential to change the world, one friendship at a time. In an act of radical generosity, she pledged $1 million and became our first ever patron—the ultimate fan!

Her support isn’t just financial—it’s a reflection of her deep belief in people and their potential.

With her donation, we’ve been able to pilot Clubs: intimate, community-led gatherings built around a shared passion. In just one year, NYC Clubs brought together 6,000 attendees, further propelling the CreativeMornings friendship-engine.

To all the people who transform our lives

Every time I meet someone with a fan state of mind, I am transformed—my limiting beliefs are challenged, and possibilities are expanded.

If one person can change the trajectory of my own life, imagine what entire communities can do?

I believe heart-centered communities can create a cultural shift towards generosity, kindness, and curiosity.

A central agreement for CreativeMornings is: “I believe in you, you believe in me.” We celebrate with each other. That kind of mutual uplift changes you—it helps you step into your potential and work towards a better future.

And that’s the power of enthusiasm. In a world that sometimes feels like it’s waiting to discourage you, we need to find and become uplifting, optimistic, heart-forward people more than ever. People who ask, “What if it turned out better than you ever imagined?”

This is a love letter to the people who inspire us to be bolder and braver, but also an invitation to show an unwavering belief in someone else.

People show us what’s possible every day—and each of us, in our own way, can be those very people. To be a fan is to open your heart, stand courageously in your enthusiasm, and help transform the world.

So be the eccentric Aunt Hugi to someone.

Share your ideas with the world to inspire others.

Contribute to the things you love and would miss if they were gone.

Believe in people. Be a fan.


This blog series is our love letter to everyone who’s ever been part of a CreativeMornings gathering. Since our start in 2008, our remarkable volunteers have hosted over 15,000 events across the globe. As a community, we have become experts in what it means to create spaces that allow for deep, loving, human connection in an increasingly disconnected world. With this series, we’re sharing what we’ve learned hoping it will encourage you to join in or create your own meaningful spaces. The future is not lonely. It’s communal and hyperlocal.


Renegade Grief

Last month Carla Fernandez gave a deeply inspiring and uplifting talk on grief. As someone who grew up with a dad who studied death and past lives, I am grateful for humans like Carla who so open-heartedly talk about a topic that is so often avoided in our society.

Givers

“The most successful givers aren’t doing it because they are being told to. They do it because doing it is fun. It gives them joy.”
– Seth Godin

(This sums up our CreativeMornings Clubs hosts)

A Book Wheel

The Bookwheel, invented in 1588 by Italian engineer Agostino Ramelli, was a heavy, 600-pound wooden rotating bookcase that let scholars easily use up to eight open books at once. It had a clever gear system to keep the books upright as the wheel turned by hand, saving time for readers who didn’t have to fetch books from shelves. Featured in Ramelli’s book of machines, it was a creative Renaissance tool for studying, though it’s uncertain how many were actually made.

What Are We To Do

“I suppose,
is to hope the world
keeps its balance;
what we are to do, however,
with our hearts
waiting and watching—truly
I do not know.”
– Mary Oliver

Make Differently

“The ultimate, hidden truth of the world is that it is something that we make, and could just as easily make differently.”
― David Graeber

mi:nu:ti:ae

Mi:nu:ti:ae is a global art project where strangers from around the world simultaneously capture what’s happening in their life, at the exact same time. It’s not new, has been around since 2017, still wonderful.

(via)

Bravery

“No one ever tells you that bravery feels like fear.”
– Mary Kate Teske

When Asked To Do A Project..

“Whenever I get asked to do a project, I always think of it as an opportunity to promote my values.”
Rick Owens

I think the same thing when I give a talk, like this last weekend, at WECode Harvard.

Musclewiki

I love the internet, because it has sites like Musclewiki.

Haiku Vandal

My daughter (18) carries Haiku in her pockets. She sprinkles them in random places or gifts them to humans she encounters. This makes my heart happy.

4 Years

Last week, I hit 4 years of no alcohol. 2-21-21

(I have written about my journey before.)

Destruction and Renewal

“Destruction and renewal are part of the same cycle. Indigenous knowledge has always understood this. It’s not about avoiding collapse-it’s about preparing for regeneration.”
Mellisa K.Nelson

A Confession Of Character

“People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Stoops

I am ready for warmer weather and stoop hangs.

The Perfect Ai Prompt

OpenAI’s President Greg Brockman just shared the best way to structure the perfect prompt.

The framework originally from Ben Hylak, is built on four key pillars:

1.Goal – Define what you want clearly.
2. Return Format – Specify exactly how you want the response structured.
3. Warnings – Highlight any important details the AI should double-check.
4. Context Dump – Provide background info to improve the response.

Explanation in this video.

Just So You Know

Just so you know–
everything in the entire
universe is always about love.
And when it is not about love,
it’s about the absence of love.
Hope this makes sense.
Unknown

My Friend Brendan is Building Internet Tubes

My studiomate Brendan is building new internet tubes with number0. He is a deeply wonderful and smart human.

There Are A Hundred Paths

“There are a hundred paths through the world that are easier than loving. But, who wants easier?”
– Mary Oliver

Coldplay All My Love

Well, this was delightful.

(via Joe)

Love is The Revolution

Agreed.

The Antidote to Doom

“The anditode to doom is curiosity.”
Ezra Klein

The Art Life is a Good Life

Darkness Of The Womb

“What if this darkness is not the darkness of the tomb but the darkness of the womb?
What if our America is not dead but a country that is waiting to be born?
What if the the story of America is one long labor?”
Valarie Kaur