Programming · by Mateo Cruz · 2026-09-21
A tiny story about ramen, São Paulo and timing after a tiny failure
The detail that surprised me was how much the corner shop changed the outcome. Same plan, different setting, completely different energy.
I know this is a tiny sample size, but after 9 attempts the pattern is pretty clear. When I keep the setup simple, I actually follow through.
A few notes from my attempt:
- keep the first step visible
- remove one annoying decision
- celebrate the boring repeat
I tried this in Nairobi with a friend and we both noticed the same thing: the social part mattered more than the perfect plan.
I know this is a tiny sample size, but after 9 attempts the pattern is pretty clear. When I keep the setup simple, I actually follow through.
A few notes from my attempt:
- keep the first step visible
- remove one annoying decision
- celebrate the boring repeat
I tried this in Nairobi with a friend and we both noticed the same thing: the social part mattered more than the perfect plan.
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