Simple Discoveries (No. 11)
Upgrades People Upgrades/Shoes/Quote Of The Day
Well… we’re back here again to our regularly scheduled program. Season 2 of I Know A Place has officially come to a close, and it’s now back to what I hope will be weekly short thoughts and reads between now and season 3. I’m currently working on putting the next season of IKAP together, with features for a few more restaurants, menswear stores, sporting goods shops, workplaces, and more. We head back to Birmingham in season 3, but I should also be introducing Charleston into the mix. Part of me hates writing that, just because something could fall through, but sometimes this is the process of getting things off the ground. In the meantime, I’ll be introducing a new mini-series called “Everyday Spaces” that will be dedicated to well-designed spaces to fill the ever-present void between each season. Thank you, dear reader, for coming along on this journey with me, as always. With that being said and spring right around the corner here in Georgia (my allergies say it’s already arrived), here is Simple Discoveries No. 11.
Boston General Store
Springtime is synonymous with cleaning, changing, rearranging, and all other “-ings.” My roommate and I recently brought a little refresh to our space with some new plants that he picked up on a photo shoot. At the same time, I always look to bring other sorts of refreshments into my home around this time of year. I was recently introduced to the Boston General Store. This is a lovely little site dedicated to practical, well-made daily tools. Whether it’s kitchen, home, bath, stationary, or otherwise, it helps provide the elevation you need for your daily routines that make your work simply feel better. I’ll be grabbing a thing or two from their stationery section soon. I always enjoy another new notepad that I never finish using.
Diadora
Recently, Sid Mashburn in Atlanta, GA announced that Stan Smith, the professional tennis player, will be coming by their store to talk about his new book “Winning Trust” that he wrote along with Gary Niebur on 3/31/25. Of course, Stan Smith is known for more than just his tennis skills, but also his signature shoe that he designed with adidas. I’ve always loved the style of that shoe, but Adidas has never quite fit well for me, and I’ve never much wanted to fit in with the denim jacket, black leggings, and white Adidas crowd (you know who you are). To combat this issue, a few years ago, I was introduced to the brand Diadora. It’s an Italian brand of tennis shoes (sneakers for those not from the northeast) that has that perfect fit and feel to me. My personal favorite is the Game L Low Waxed. This shoe is perfectly silhouetted, comfortable, stylish, and not trying to compensate for something by being unnecessarily large. The brand also manages to do what everyone should do when they design a perfect article of clothing, and that’s simply offer it in other colorways versus trying to reinvent it every year.
I can’t recommend this shoe enough. It’s also the best way to add a subtle pop of color and sportiness to any outfit.
“You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.”- Henry Ford
I recently encountered this quote, and it’s remained on my mind. In fact, the topic of “action” has repeatedly come up in conversations with my friends. For much of my life, I’ve experienced words from others but few actions to follow them. I think one thing that many individuals and groups suffer from is simply an inability to make a decision. I spent years taking barking orders and doing what I was told because it was “appropriate to do so.” Just like many, the conversations that I would have at gatherings centered around complaining about why are jobs sucked. Eventually, I had to realize that I needed to make a change from that. The 9-5, or more appropriately, 8-6 nowadays, just isn’t where I could be, and neither were the labor-intensive jobs I had taken on either. Everyone talks, but few take action. The change certainly hasn’t been perfect. I stumbled forward a lot when I changed my career into what I do now with writing, and who’s to say this will go anywhere? But sometimes you don’t need a perfect plan, you just need to take action forward. A lot of people get stuck behind making a perfect plan, which it’s good to plan, but there is no perfect plan, and sometimes you simply have to take a step of action in faith. It’s even harder for groups to do this, especially large ones, because it’s easier to have two individuals agree on where to go to dinner than forty. But it’s moments like these that we need to treat as if someone is drowning.
You see, when someone is drowning, you’re taught a few things. First, you’re taught that it’s the responsibility of the lifeguard to dive in and rescue the individual. There may be plenty of capable swimmers around, yet in most scenarios, folks freeze up to think about what’s going on, except for the lifeguard, because they already know exactly what their job is when they hear someone’s cries for help; so they spring into action. Secondly, we’re taught to designate a singular individual to call 911 in the case of CPR. Often, if no one specifically is directed to call 911, then most will assume someone else will do it; therefore, it never gets done. For most, the thought to call 911 probably entered their mind; in fact, they’ve probably even mumbled “someone should call 911” to one another. Without designating an individual for a particular job, most will simply stop and stare.
Why do I say all of this? Because we should not be people of words only, but people of action. I believe in the notion “if you want it, you’ll make it happen” when it comes to those of us who have been given the authority and freedom to make decisions for ourselves and others. If you actually wanted to grab dinner with that person, then you’d make room in your calendar for them or remember to reply to their text. If you honestly wanted to get in shape, you’d go to the gym, eat healthier, etc, instead of only talk about it. If you truly wanted to make a change in your life, you’d take the necessary actions and sacrifices to do so.
This goes the same for a group of individuals. Stop only talking about going on “that trip” and actually take some actions to make it happen, and assign each individual their role in planning it. Stop waiting for someone to do it for you, stop simply talking about or dreaming about it, and go and do it. It doesn’t always have to be the perfect scenario before you take steps towards it. It’ll likely never be the perfect moment, but you need to take a step forward. Do not only be known for “talking” about something, because no one can build a reputation on what they’re going to do.
I’ll keep creating, taking action, and making mistakes, but at least I can say I have peace and am continuing to move forward. I hope you can say the same.
I’m looking forward to these continued moments with you all. Subscribe to the newsletter to know when Season 3 of I Know A Place releases, or follow me on Instagram: Ian_Spoon.