How Moving to a New City Has Inspired Me
By: Sophia
If you asked me a year ago if I would move out of New York City, my born and raised hometown, my answer would have been: never! I’m naturally a creature of habit, and the thought of leaving NYC was never in my plans.
So when I got an unexpected chance to move across the country to Arizona (a state I had never even visited!), I wrote it off immediately. But after much consideration, a few tears, and a lot of Googling “Is the Phoenix heat really that bad?” I had a signed lease in my hands.
I expected to be miserable, but my reality has been quite the opposite. The reward was worth the risk, both in my personal life and unexpectedly, in my professional life too. Here’s how moving across the country has helped me grow.
I put down my own roots
Looking back, I see how moving to Arizona presented me with the opportunity to create my own life. As opposed to living in NYC, where I grew up, I didn’t know anyone when I moved here. It required a lot of effort to get to know my new town and meet new people; starting fresh isn’t easy, and it can be really overwhelming. I knew I owed it to myself to push myself further out of my comfort zone and get to know people – after all, I didn’t move here just to sit at home all day!
Stepping out of my comfort zone helped me build career confidence
I didn’t expect that pushing myself out of my comfort zone personally would help me in my work life, but the transition happened seamlessly. My move gave me that nudge I needed to uplevel myself in my day-to-day tasks and meetings, and I’ve felt more confident than ever to get more creative, share ideas, take ownership, and speak up more.
I learned how to collaborate with my team while working remotely
Transitioning to a fully-remote lifestyle was an adjustment, and while I definitely miss the office chats and coffee runs with Cutline’s east coast crew, I found myself really missing in-person brainstorms and working sessions more than anything. Some of my best ideas came from impromptu riffs, and being alone at my desk all day now has given me a reason to kick off quick Slack brainstorms with teammates to get ideas flowing. Staying connected while working remotely is totally possible!
I developed new perspectives and got acquainted with a new media landscape
The desert scenery is stunning – and it isn’t the only new landscape I’ve gotten to know! I’ve learned about local press and have spent time familiarizing myself with new-to-me publications and reporters. Cutline has a few clients with operations in the Phoenix area, so it’s been especially impactful to educate myself about who’s covering what and to be in tune with the issues and topics that are important to our local community. The best part? Seeing some of these clients in action (hi, Waymo and Opendoor!).
Reflecting on the last six months now, I cringe when I think about all the things I would have missed out on if I had stayed in New York. I’m sure one day I’ll head back to the city that never sleeps — but for now, I’m fully enjoying the desert life and everything it continues to teach me.