If you’ve read my writing before, this might not come as a surprise. But let me say it clearly anyway—because sometimes the most important ideas are the ones we hesitate to name aloud.
There are a few things I want to accomplish in this life. Not just for my career, not for recognition, and not even for legacy. I want to do them because I believe they are acts of service—ways of contributing to a world that has given me more than I can repay. These ideas are big. They’re bold. They’re ambitious. They might even sound unrealistic. But that’s exactly why I believe they matter.
I want to build a better Internet.
I want to fix healthcare—everywhere, for everyone.
I want to give capitalism a dose of compassion.
I want to reimagine the creative business model so it can thrive for generations.
And yes—one day—I want to be the Mayor of Portland and show the world what’s possible when a city on the ropes finds its footing again.
Each of these missions sits at the intersection of deeply broken systems and deeply human needs. Each is rooted in lived experience. I’ve seen what happens when the Internet becomes an engine of surveillance instead of a tool for liberation. I’ve seen friends and family lost in a maze of disconnected health records, unexplained diagnoses, and treatment plans that serve systems—not people. I’ve built businesses, and I’ve watched too many incredible founders burn out, sell out, or give up—because there was no one to help them protect what made their company special while still going the distance.
I’ve also lived inside capitalism’s most productive promise—that effort, risk, and courage can create tremendous value. But I’ve seen the trap, too: when that value is siloed, hoarded, and locked behind legal and financial frameworks that make it nearly impossible for anyone other than the founder—or a faceless institution—to benefit. We’ve built a system that rewards extraction and short-term wins, not contribution and long-term stewardship. That can change.
So here’s how I think about it:
For the Internet, I want to help build a foundation rooted in identity, self-sovereignty, and personal control. Our digital lives deserve dignity. We deserve to know where our data goes, how it’s used, and who it benefits. We deserve to decide how we show up—and when we don’t.
For healthcare, I want to pioneer a patient-first model grounded in whole-health intelligence. A system where every piece of your data—from your watch to your genome to your doctor’s notes—can work together on your behalf. We need platforms that serve the person, not the institution.
For capitalism, I want to modernize the transfer of wealth and equity. I want to help reimagine the IRS and our tax code to support the kind of economy we claim to value: one that rewards contribution, not just ownership; one that allows employees, creators, and communities to participate in the value they help create.
And for creative businesses—especially those born from love, grit, and ambition—I want to build an alternative to the paths we’ve been told are the only way out. Not exit or exhaustion. Not selling your soul or giving it away for nothing. A fourth option: one built on partnership, shared value, and the belief that something special is worth protecting and expanding—not just extracting.
And yes, Portland.
I want to lead this city I love. I want to help it find its rhythm again. Its sense of balance and possibility. Because right now, Portland is struggling. But I don’t believe it’s lost. I believe it's waiting—for courage, for vision, for leadership rooted not in politics but in people. I want to help show what happens when we lead with intention, not ideology. With progress, not platitudes. When we act like a city is more than a collection of buildings and budgets—it’s a living, breathing reflection of its people’s hope.
So no—I’m not content yet. But I’m not standing still either.
This is the future I want to build. One piece at a time. I don’t know if I’ll succeed. I only know I’ll try with everything I have.
And if any of this stirs something in you—if you’ve been holding your own wild ideas quietly, or waiting for the moment when someone stood up and said let’s build better—then I hope you’ll join me.
The world doesn’t need more spectators. It needs more builders. More believers. More people willing to give a damn.
The future is up for grabs.
Let’s go get it.
If this message stirred something in you—if you’ve been carrying a dream, a frustration, or a vision for a better way—this is your invitation to stop waiting and start building.
We need more people willing to reimagine what’s possible—and to do the real work of making it happen.
If today’s episode resonated with you, please subscribe on Substack, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Share it with someone you care about, or leave a comment and let me know what future you’re building.
Let’s keep showing up. Let’s keep believing. And let’s get to work.
I’ll see you tomorrow.
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