From The Editor: March 2016
Keep Austin Weird. The live Music Capital of the World. Silicon Hills. The Capital of Texas: These monikers and mottos for the little blue dot on the map of the lone Star State have long endeared Austin’s eclectic collection of cultures to natives and outsiders alike. First christened Waterloo in the 1830s, Austin, with its Hill Country surroundings and the Colorado River coursing through it, struck an independent chord with settlers early on that continues to reverberate through the innovators, lawmakers, academics, musicians, collegians and taco enthusiasts that currently cluster together within its city limits.
Today, that pioneering spirit breeds creativity. It attracts talent. It cultivates ideas. It makes Austin an entrepreneur’s paradise. This magazine itself was an entrepreneurial venture hatched a little more than 13 years ago. From startup to small business to stock options, there are challenges and opportunities in every entrepreneur’s journey. In this city, entrepreneurs discover they are more than just entrepreneurs; they are also mountain bikers, songwriters and craft brewers. They are Austin-preneurs.
This crossover mentality converges in Austin every March, when worlds collide under the collaborative umbrella of South By Southwest. Movers meet with thinkers, shakers cavort with artisans and fans search for celebrities on the streets. It is a time when the next big thing could be hanging out nearby, like the bats under the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, waiting to take off.
Soaring to new or unchartered or higher heights isn’t exclusive to entrepreneurs though. In so many ways, we all want to take flight. Of course, I’m impatient, so I’m always looking for that direct, non-stop option with a couple of drink tickets in hand. But that’s not always possible (both metaphorically and literally. It turns out Charleston, S.C., isn’t as easy to get to from Austin as I would like.) and that’s just fine. The trip might take longer. There might be a few detours. But here’s the thing: Are you going to cancel or postpone just because it’s not easy? No. Why? Because there’s a reason you’re going where you’re going. Entrepreneurs, musicians, filmmakers, writers, athletes, artists, philanthropists, parents, teachers, students, doctors, leaders and Austinites everywhere share this rationale. Whether it’s a plan for the next five minutes or the next five years, we all think about how to get where we’re going.
As for me, in the next five minutes, I plan on gliding to and fro in the vintage roller skates Creative Director Niki Jones acquired during the making of this issue, and which you can see in their full glory in our stunning Style section. After that, I’ll take my cues from Mellie Price and Shayna Brown and the other women who grace the pages of this, our Entrepreneur Issue. After all, they know a thing or two about getting started.
Sincerely,
Emily C. Laskowski
Editor
Join the conversation @eclaskowski @austinwoman #iAmAustinWoman
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