A Love Letter to People Who Believe in People

Summary

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 stu...