Ilana

Oh, and I love that, Nick. And right before we start recording, we talked about when we came here to the U.S. about a decade or two ago, we felt like it was completely a desert of really good espresso drinks. So we welcome you with... Big arms and you actually have an incredible Bluestone Lane coffee shop here in Los Altos, right next to my house. And I'm very excited and a lot in San Francisco.

Oh, and I love that, Nick. And right before we start recording, we talked about when we came here to the U.S. about a decade or two ago, we felt like it was completely a desert of really good espresso drinks. So we welcome you with... Big arms and you actually have an incredible Bluestone Lane coffee shop here in Los Altos, right next to my house. And I'm very excited and a lot in San Francisco.

But take me back in time when you started. You started from sports.

But take me back in time when you started. You started from sports.

Incredible, Nick. But I want to take you back in time for a second, because most professionals or most people, when they're kicked out once, they're done. What made you, and there's a reason why I'm asking, because I think it's a theme here, right? It was entrepreneurship too. What made you go back and try again and give your all, I assume? So what was it?

Incredible, Nick. But I want to take you back in time for a second, because most professionals or most people, when they're kicked out once, they're done. What made you, and there's a reason why I'm asking, because I think it's a theme here, right? It was entrepreneurship too. What made you go back and try again and give your all, I assume? So what was it?

I mean, it feels like that's exactly the muscle you needed to build in order to create what you're creating and Blue Stone Lane and beyond. It sounds like it's exactly what needed to be built. So you're going and you're leaving Australia and you're moving to New York, which is a whole different network, a whole different thing. What is that like, Nick?

I mean, it feels like that's exactly the muscle you needed to build in order to create what you're creating and Blue Stone Lane and beyond. It sounds like it's exactly what needed to be built. So you're going and you're leaving Australia and you're moving to New York, which is a whole different network, a whole different thing. What is that like, Nick?

That's incredible. So what are some of the differences? Because again, you kind of push your own luck or make your own luck there, right? You get somehow into New York, but it is a new network. You kind of need to build yourself there.

That's incredible. So what are some of the differences? Because again, you kind of push your own luck or make your own luck there, right? You get somehow into New York, but it is a new network. You kind of need to build yourself there.

I love that, Nick. So you're going into the finance world again, you know, investment, banking, etc. Like it's a very lucrative place in New York. But what takes you from that to entrepreneurship? That's a really hard move. It pays well. It's comfortable.

I love that, Nick. So you're going into the finance world again, you know, investment, banking, etc. Like it's a very lucrative place in New York. But what takes you from that to entrepreneurship? That's a really hard move. It pays well. It's comfortable.

What makes you leave such a fraternity?

What makes you leave such a fraternity?

I love the idea of not just being driven almost like product-led versus experience-led, right? Really giving a whole experience to coffee because that's how I grew up. But I mean, fear can be numbing, right? And most people, even if they have this great idea and they have whatever, all the background or all the things that you're mentioning, right?

I love the idea of not just being driven almost like product-led versus experience-led, right? Really giving a whole experience to coffee because that's how I grew up. But I mean, fear can be numbing, right? And most people, even if they have this great idea and they have whatever, all the background or all the things that you're mentioning, right?

But they'll still not go ahead and open the first shop because there's a light years away between thinking about it and actually taking action. Take me to those days when you're contemplating, yes, no, the fear is numbing. Where is that taking you?

But they'll still not go ahead and open the first shop because there's a light years away between thinking about it and actually taking action. Take me to those days when you're contemplating, yes, no, the fear is numbing. Where is that taking you?

A few people?

A few people?