In some ways, it seems like it was only yesterday when I first had this vague idea about a “thing” that I wanted to build and bring to the world. Of course, as any entrepreneur will tell you, the journey starts not with a dream or an idea, but with action.

Now, as I reflect back on the incredibly insane adventure the past 6 years have been, I wanted to capture some of the more meaningful (and perhaps unexpected) lessons I’ve learned. 6 lessons for 6 years. May we all be insight exporters, sharing what we’ve learned with our friends and colleagues to benefit their journeys - both now and in the future.

An Op-Ed with Neuehouse Member Ben Brooks

I’m sure we can all agree that 2020 isn’t exactly working out like we’d originally planned or pined for.

Upon my holiday return from the sandy shores of the Philippines, I had taken some time to write down my annual goals, anticipating a big growth year. And poetically, it has indeed been a growth year – but in my sense of resolve and resilience, rather than in size or scale. COVID-19 and the protocols surrounding it, the collapse of the economy, justified unrest over systemic racism, and a massive reckoning of uncertainty have proven to be a real series of curveballs for everyone – and many of us in the NeueHouse community have also been forced to contend with finding ways to keep our businesses and ventures afloat, navigate complex financing programs, make tough cuts to staff and vendors, and deal with the absence of in-person events and networking which are normally instrumental in fueling the development of our projects and companies. In other words, navigating the year 2020 thus far has certainly been hard on everyone – and for business owners, creatives and freelancers, we’ve had to face additional headwinds.