Celebrating 10 Years in NYC: Purpose, Pivots and Inspiration

This article was first shared at The Elephant in the Window newsletter, co-authored by Fonty, the creative spirit reflecting 10 years of growth and positive psychology in New York City...Subscribe here!

Hello Readers, Fonty here!

Rachana is celebrating her 10-year anniversary of moving to New York City this week!

I thought it would be fun to ask Rachana how New York City inspired the creation of me (Fonty), and what we are doing at The Elephant in the Window. 

Here's our interview together!

Fonty's New York City Interview: Rachana

FONTY: New York City is a famous backdrop for literature, movies, and other forms of creativity. Is this your experience in writing about Fonty (me)? 

RACHANA: Hi, Fonty! Absolutely! I started writing about you (Fonty) as a metaphor for what it means to follow your dreams. It was a story of “purpose” and what happens when we find our purpose…what then? Do we reach a peak? Do we fall off?

New York City embodies a place where people come to follow their dreams. So it was a logical story to tell.

A growth mindset builds when we remain open to life, even after finding those dreams. And New York City also offers that: There are many different ways to enhance your skills, perspective and more, if you commit to being here and celebrating all that the city offers. 

FONTY: That resonates with me! I represent vision by being a window washer for skyscrapers. Morris Mouse, for example, is a Broadway actor; Rhonda is a fashion student at FIT.

It seems that all the characters in my world represent different aspects of New York City. Is that intentional?

RACHANA: Yes! Not only different aspects of New York City, but also different aspects of my own story.

Throughout my 10 years in NYC, I’ve gotten to do a lot of things that I never imagined until I got here. The best way to explore and honor those is to create positive psychology stories, and share the insights with others in a way that might resonate. Here are some of the symbols we use:

• Fonty: Skyscrapers, pizza delivery, urban design
• Maya: Media executive, business leadership
• Rhonda: Fashion, tech, student entrepreneurship
• Morris: Wall Street, Broadway

All of these big themes, and even the smaller details (like pizza!) reflect the variety of the city and of my own experiences.

FONTY: How does The Elephant in the Window reflect business in New York City? We’re a business book, after all.

RACHANA: The Elephant in the Window is the approved title of the book manuscript that takes a powerful fintech executive, “Thomas,” through a fantastic tale of managing change by visiting Fonty’s friends throughout the city, to learn about each aspect of our enhanced change management model. 

My favorite part of the book is when Fonty and Thomas leave Rhonda’s studio in Brooklyn, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge into Lower Manhattan and up Wall Street. It’s Thomas’s first realization that he can blend his high-powered world of finance with this whimsical acceptance of animals, AI and more. 

(Funnily enough, there’s a huge statue of an elephant, right outside the Oculus near Wall Street! I'll share the photo below.)

FONTY: I’ve seen that elephant! That makes me wonder... How do you manage to blend “practical” with “whimsical”? Is it easy, or difficult?

RACHANA: It does not feel easy – partly because I never set out to do this, I am discovering along the way. 

I knew as a young kid (admittedly from Sesame Street) that NYC was a hub for all kinds of people, animals and creative characters. But writing about them requires a lot of artistic openness. You come to NYC as one identity (in my case, a change management executive from Europe) and if you’re willing, you can evolve into something you never expected!

Much of this comes with letting go of “doing,” and instead focusing simply on “being.” 

FONTY: I’ve witnessed this by working with you! How do you let go of “doing” in a city that is demanding and high-paced?

RACHANA: The pandemic helped me shift this mindset. I realized how much compassion and humanity in NYC I had been ignoring in my first 6 years living here. I was too busy climbing the media ladder, going to grad school, and hustling to build a brand.

The pandemic happened just as I turned 40; which was a logical milestone to pivot into something that deepened my journey.

FONTY: Can anyone get inspired by New York City?

RACHANA: New York City is not everyone’s preference to live, which I understand! And yet everyone is impacted by what goes on here. We are still a hub for media, finance, creativity, fashion, and culture. 

Now that we are entering a deeper age of AI, blending of imagination and reality (have you seen the “NPC” TikTokers on the streets of Soho? I love seeing the creative hustle!) and even discussions about the future of work culture (what will happen to Fonty’s beloved skyscrapers?!) – we can celebrate this new chapter of our city with optimism, if we choose.

FONTY: I love the optimism you have for New York City! What’s next for the stories and…for me?

RACHANA: Our workplace fables, book, the new change management model – everything we create is a result of our growth mindset.

We didn't even know what AI was capable of when we started. We just wrote, we became observant of our surroundings, and paid attention to what was going on within us. The opportunities came as we focused on the art, not the outcome.

That's the growth mindset behind our work; and everything we build will continue to reflect that. We are co-creating together, Fonty!

FONTY: Let’s close on a pop culture reference. You mentioned Sesame Street. What other references have inspired you?

RACHANA: I have a very special answer for this! 

“Steppin’ Out” is a pop song from ‘82. I was a toddler when the song came out, but understood it was all about New York City nightlife, and even an awareness of time and reality shifting.

Joe Jackson, the composer and singer, wrote the song to celebrate how New York City helped him during a difficult time. The neon lights, the taxicabs, the club scene inspired him as he retreated to his East Village sublet to compose his music.

I have loved the song for decades, but only during the pandemic did I realize how much this city inspires creators through all stages of personal needs. It’s a perfect reflection of why I became a psychologist. Jackson’s song has a timeless feel, and it resonates greatly today.

Fonty’s Tusk-Ful Takeaway

Thank you, Rachana, for taking time to share some reflections about New York City! Congratulations on 10 years!

And thank you, Rachana, for bringing me to life in this great, expansive place! New York City remains relevant and optimistic as ever, if we choose to lean into the abundance and creativity it offers. 

Cheers to the next 10 years!

Love,

Fonty