My NYC Small Biz Observations

Big city business owners are built different.

My family left the Dallas suburbs to explore NYC this week.

They call me Koerner the Observer for a reason, so here are my NYC small biz observations.

NYC is the product of combining world class diversity with world class opportunity.

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1. Discomfort is everywhere, so you must adapt

Nothing is easy here. Going 1 mile away is a chore, whether your choose the subway, bike, car or walk.

In Texas, I just throw crap in my truck bed and go. Hundreds of parking spaces await me.

"There's no growth in the comfort zone and no comfort in the growth zone."

Discomfort is amazing, as it hardens us and forces us to be innovative. David Goggins would agree.

I ate in a restaurant that was literally 12' wide by 50' feet deep. Not to mention, the rents are some of the highest in the world and you have 18 direct competitors within 2 blocks.

You think that business owner doesn't know how to innovate? He has to.

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2. Business owners here have a hard crust, but a core even softer than most

New Yorkers have a stereotype for being gruff or even downright rude. Why? Because they live in discomfort and chaos! That changes a person.

Once you get through that crusty exterior, you'll find they are even more kind, helpful and sincere.

A suburbite is more likely to be insanely sweet to your face from the jump, but then make a snide comment as you walk away.

New Yorkers might seem crusty, but they're also more sincere and genuine on the inside.

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3. Diversity further breeds innovation

Forget about diversity as a woke talking point for a minute. Studies have shown that teams that are naturally diverse are more successful and more profitable.

Not just diversity for diversity's sake.

NYC is the diversity capital of the world and it's also a world powerhouse for:

- Art
- Media
- Fashion
- Finance
- Real estate
- Tech (2nd to SV)

There are 30+ cities with over 10m people, but how many of them are known for all of the above?

Diversity means that your team or startup understands all backgrounds and customer types.

They see things in different frameworks and can patch them together in innovative ways.

They're also great at attracting talent.

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Is the American dream still attainable in NYC?

More so than ever.

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Where else can you:

- Walk up to billionaires on Wall St with a pitch?

- Set up a cart and start selling to thousands of passersby?

- Join any one hundreds of tech startups?

- Audition for a play every single day?

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We all know that you can find success by embracing discomfort.

Big city business owners don't even have to make that choice, they're living discomfort.

As a family we choose to embrace discomfort when we come to NYC as well.

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This is our 3rd time here and every time we come we:

- Stay outside of Manhattan (Flushing this time)

- Take the metro everywhere

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- Share 1 hotel room (4 kids - $5 pool floats FTW)

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- Walk 8+ miles daily

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- Sometimes we eat at hot dog stands and sometimes at amazing restaurants

- We visit and eat at Chinatown, Little Italy and other places outside of Manhattan

- Encourage them to talk to business owners and give money or food to the homeless

We live in a very stereotypical Texas home in a Texas suburb, and we like it there, but we like this, too.

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What's the lesson here?

Whether you live in the suburbs or the city, embrace discomfort. Place yourself within constraints and you'll learn all kinds of cool things about yourself.

NYC is thriving and here to stay.