Surfing lessons, the four Cs, and Tinder

I went surfing for the fourth time in my life yesterday and got absolutely destroyed. Three wipeouts in a row. Which somehow turned into an episode about how I made the two hardest career decisions I've ever made, and why I stopped calling myself agnostic.There's also a story about a wave swallowing me whole as a kid and my pants coming off underwater. I share that one for free.It's the most connected these things have ever felt in my head. Waves, career math, and God.Episode SummaryFourth time surfing ever. California waves are a different animal. Wiped out three times and paddled back out every time.Where the fear started. Got swallowed by a massive wave in SoCal as a kid, spun like a washing machine, and my pants and underwear flew off. Caught them and put them back on while holding my breath.Failing forward is still the motto. I'll fall 100 more times. That's the point.Decision one. Interning in Utah, got a full time offer with a one week deadline, right as I hit the final round with an SF startup. Chose Utah and finished school.Decision two. Graduated, all my friends moved to SF, and two weeks after one interview I had an offer out here. Chose SF.The framework that got me through both. The four Cs: cash, craft, connections, calling.Mapped on two axes. Practical vs purpose, internal vs external. Purpose side matters way more.Expanding the surface area of luck. Random yoga sessions. Meeting a guy who sold his company on a random night out. SF is a hub for this.The dream self. Picture who you are on your deathbed, then spend your life getting closer without ever arriving. Sisyphus, but on purpose.The faith story I've been sitting on. Raised LDS, went hard atheist, swung all the way back, then landed on agnostic in college. Now trying to live a Christian life.Being Tongan makes it harder. Religion is family and culture. Saying you didn't serve a mission marks you in a way nobody says out loud."Faith is believing with the evidence and acting as if it's true." Evidence gets you 70% there. The last stretch is a decision.The Tinder connection. The founder came back to Northwestern for a fireside and explained the real insight: the thing stopping you from walking up to someone is fear of rejection, so remove it.The whole episode in one line. Avoiding failure and pursuing success sound identical, but you live them completely differently. Agnostic was just me avoiding failure. 🎙️