Thoughts from LGA in New York

1. The end physical product represents 5% of the design process. Making that part of business work is a highly specialized and small trade.

2. The steps necessary to get a product to a shelf (the other 95%) is best learned through experience or intense study because most of the tool/methodologies used are "behind the scenes". The major exception to this rule is people. 70% of communication is visual. A lot of it comes down to body language and tone.

3. America is an aging nation. The % of the population in the 55 - 75 age range will have more purchasing power over the next 20 years. Comfort will be more important than contemporary.

4. I have never seen so many beautiful women before in my entire life. In particular and most importantly, lots of foreign women. Move to New York? Teach English?

5. I got positive feedback from a mentor. It felt got. I also got negative feedback from a mentor. That felt less than good. Its important to trust the people you ask for feedback from and that they themselves are in the top 10%. My mentor was both. These people are valuable and important to hold on to.

6. I love great service with a fanatical sense of passion. Danny Meyer's restaurant Union Square Cafe absolutely blew me away. The waitress was smooth in her approach, a star example of off the cuff humor and flawless in her execution. At its core I find great service extremely good for this world and useful.

7. Art comments on society. In particular, MOMA talks about the last 50 years. Thinking in different frameworks can be fun, frustrating and useful all at once. Mostly fun though.

8. New York reaffirms that people are time poor.

9. Too much of the world is about the visual and it frequently doesn't reflect reality. This is not inherently bad, but without a compass can be destructive.

10. While it sounds cheezy, family is the foundation of many critical aspects of life. Always remain thankful and let them know it.