Inspired by Derek Sivers’ Now page. What’s been happening and top of mind.

~August 2025

Surface Area of Luck

My last update came in December last year, as my parents were winding down their medical practices, my sister just had her baby, I was still working at Retool, unsure I was to do next.

There’s a strange balance in letting life ‘happen’ while trying to dictate the right direction. I was in a bit of job paralysis for many months - anxiously debating options, flexing into conversations for late stage venture recruiting, founding something myself, transitioning into product, or just taking a break. I was fortunate in timing, as an old coworker reached out with an intro to Clay. I knew little about the company at the time, but knew some very smart friends having moved over.

The process came together quickly → I had a talk with Varun (who has a way of selling a strong vision). I went through a swift interview process determining role and fit - either join on the Enterprise team, working with a smaller book of higher ARR accounts, or helping to build out the scale motion (supporting the longer tail of SMBs/startups). I took a bet on Scale, with the hypothesis I’d get a broader exposure to companies using Clay, including startups still building out their early GTM motion. I also felt this to be a stronger avenue to help shape product, with more patterns and learnings from a larger pool of accounts.

It’s now been 6 months at Clay, and I’ve since stepped into my first ‘lead’ role, overseeing our scale book and starting to help build out technical services. I made an early bet on Scale and have found it to be extremely rewarding and opportunistic. I quickly started writing up product feedback and patterns, figuring out what success could look like, and getting hands on with a very cool product. In our last GTM celebration, I was given the ‘Voice of the Customer’ paper plate award. Yes, everyone received a small award, but this is one that means a lot to me and my work 🙂

I owe a longer post on the learnings from the last six months (I did so at Retool!), but it’s been a very honest mental test of decision making and learning people management. I try to be honest in my thoughts and actions, but also know there is still so so much I don’t know. I’ve tried to do more of both

• Leaning into my natural way of being. Being vocal, asking for things across teams, sharing thoughts as they come
• Continue to expand my surface area of luck

I’ve often swayed back and forth between roles. I wasn’t the strongest engineer nor did I enjoy it the most. I didn’t get into some of the APM programs that I once yearned for. But i do love startups, working with customers, writing, and getting somewhat technical when required. I do find this has been hugely valuable in ways, especially in times of change and growth.

I also do believe in continuing to create and expand the surface area of luck. Clay was the outcome of a confluence of factors - writing for Justin was my entry point to Clay, working at Retool helped to establish startup operations chops, writing online has continued to showcase my express my own thinking. This has proven more helpful as I continue to shift between roles (consulting → deployed engineer → solutions architect → growth strategy).

TLDR - joined Clay, having fun, we’re growing quickly!

Other

I took my first shot at a podcast (do you really work in tech if you haven’t started one?). I wrote a spec here and shot my first video with our PM on the growth team. Lots to learn and being in front of a camera is hard. I aim to continue playing in this space.

I started reading more (books)! I just finished Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime and Andre Agassi’s biography - both were fantastic. More examples of success not equating to mental peace.

I decided to buy a reading bean bag chair for the apartment.

My family and newly walking newphew visited NY earlier this month. We spent the weekend running around Brooklyn and trying new foods. Kai is often busy - usually taking items out of containers and promptly putting them back in. He’s also learned to celebrate those wins and proceeds to clap for himself.

I’m glad we got some time to relax amid his very busy schedule.

Pics

Cuz why not