Save For Later no. 20: Prioritization
Sometimes, plans change.
At the start of the year, I noted that I should give myself a break from time to time from writing this newsletter, and I’ve already taken advantage of that rule - especially over the last month. I’m really glad I did, though, because it has offered me the opportunity to get more of my setup basics down, like a business plan, branding, chasing new leads, and building my portfolio website - which is coming very soon!
Between planned travel, starting this project, my actual job, and everything else, I’ve been trying to decide and juggle where to best spend my time. I originally thought it was best to dive fully into starting a photography business and booking clients, but I realized that I need to figure out my style, what I’m doing, and how to approach it first. This required a step back to look at the bigger picture. It meant more carefully selecting work projects and spacing them out to learn from each one, while practicing street photography in between to keep my skills sharp and understand where I want to take things. Understanding when to pivot is an important skill to adopt in order to stay nimble.
I’m finding that it’s tough to decide what’s important to me at a particular moment. Sometimes, my brain thinks two steps ahead of what I should actually be doing because there are other things that just seem more interesting and exciting. I often look at my to-do list and there are so many things I want to accomplish, which can lead me to pick the easiest thing that isn’t very impactful and doesn’t really contribute to my more pressing deadline. Either that, or I just give up, sit on my phone, and scroll on TikTok and Instagram instead. Just looking at the to-do list itself can be stressful - it happens to all of us.
Small businesses and hobbies can be a grind. If you want the idea to work, you need to put in the time and effort. But at times, it can just be so overwhelming, which leads me to prioritize my life activities over the work because I still want to enjoy parts of my free time. For the last two weeks, I've been staring at a couple of half-finished posts sitting in my drafts folder, trying to figure out when I should jump back into them. My head was either on vacation or trying to finish my portfolio website so I could get back to writing these newsletters after.
I’ve found that the act of prioritization is key to being successful. I’m glad I made the decision to postpone publishing sub-par, rushed work and instead focus my energy on big-picture items that I felt were more important at the time. Writing takes patience, and I typically wait until I’m hit with little pockets of inspiration to sit down and write - when it clicks, it clicks. And I take advantage of those moments. I’ve learned to latch onto them and take quick notes to remember later on, or sit down right away and get all my flowing thoughts out on the page.
I’m figuring out a workflow that works best for me and what I’ve signed myself up for. It has taken some time, but I feel like I’ve made some pretty great strides in the right direction, and I’m excited about it. Now, it's about getting into a rhythm and keeping the excitement of the project going without burning out. Let’s do it.
The Best Things I Ate Recently
Theodora
Fort Greene - Brooklyn, NY
Miss Ada is one of our favorite restaurants in Fort Greene, and their owners recently opened a new restaurant in the area that proves to be even better! Theodora focuses on open fire cooking, which is clearly seen as you are guided to your seat in the back of the restaurant.
Based on our experiences at Miss Ada, we know they handle breads, dips and seafood (raw & cooked) particularly well, so we decided to skip the mains section, and focus our attention there. Here is a full rundown of what we ordered - there was not one miss from this list, so this should pretty much be your exact order.
Toro Crudo
Monkfish ‘Nduja Dip w/ Pita (this is a must-order)
Eggplant and Shallots w/ Seeded Laffa
Winter Greens Salad
Black Cod w/ Shallot Buerre Blanc and Smoked Fingerling Potatoes
Also, I wouldn’t normally note this, but their bathroom is particularly great. Super spacious and unique - I even took photos as inspiration for my future home lol. I couldn’t recommend this restaurant more and am so happy it opened up in the neighborhood. We’ll 100% be back.
++++
Regina’s Grocery
Lower East Side - Manhattan, NY (Multiple Locations)
Anytime I’m walking around the Lower East Side in Manhattan, I love stopping by this area to grab a slice from Scarr’s Pizza if the line isn’t too long. When I arrived around 2 p.m. in the afternoon, the line for pizza almost wrapped around the corner, so I walked just a few steps down the block to Regina’s Grocery, which has been on my list for quite some time.
Boy, am I glad I stopped. Their Uncle Jimmy Sandwich is top-notch - the roasted red pepper and Calabrian chili spread combo brings the flavor of this sando to the next level, and I’m a huge fan. They have 12 signature sandwiches on their menu, with a few daily specials, so it goes without saying that I’ll be back to check out a few more of them. Highly recommend if you’re in the area.
++++
Lilia
Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY
This restaurant is a tried and true staple of New York. I’ve been coming here at least once a year for the last five years, and their food is simply incredible. The Chef-Owner, Missy Robbins, has something special going on here, and I cannot recommend this spot more. Here is our favorite menu rundown:
House Focaccia w/ Seasonal Butter
Little Gem Salad
Mussels w/ Herb Butter
Sheeps Milk Cheese Agnolotti (this is a must-order)
Reservations are released 28 days in advance on Resy, but the real secret to getting a reservation at Lilia is to call the restaurant (+1) 718-576-3095 at 10am 29 days in advance of your visiting day to grab a prime time slot, especially for weekends. Otherwise, the best way to snag a walk-in spot is to go right at 4pm when Lilia opens. You can either have a super early dinner or put your name down for a later slot at the bar, a table, or on the patio - whichever is available.
This is consistently one of my favorite restaurants in the city, and I hope everyone can experience their Sheep's Milk Cheese Agnolotti because it is absolutely life-changing. Happy dining!
++++
Cafe 20 Grams
Greenpoint - Brooklyn, NY
This $2.55 slider smashburger has been gaining popularity on the internet lately, and I’m here to say it’s absolutely worth the hype. I first saw it posted by our friends at @bordertownbk and then again by @righteouseats, which really made it explode. Cafe 20 Grams produces hundreds of quality burgers daily and it’s located on the first floor of Jubilee Marketplace, right as you enter.
I recommend ordering at least 2-3 per person due to their size, but you’ll still enjoy a full meal for under $10. The staff is super friendly - and the best part? There’s no line, even during prime lunchtime on weekends.
They also offer breakfast sandwiches for $3 and Ramen for $5, which look fantastic, so we plan to return for those. Definitely give this spot a try and take the opportunity to do a bit of grocery shopping while you’re there!
Final Thoughts
I plan on publishing my photography portfolio very soon and am excited to put my work out there. I’ve been getting more comfortable with my camera’s settings and recently got a proper bag sling so I can carry it everywhere as I walk around the city. I seem to look up and around more when I have it, keeping my eye peeled for interesting shots and compositions. I’ll be sure to announce it once it goes live!
As always, if you have any recommendations or feedback to share, please feel free to reach out.
My email is matt@saveforlaterrecs.com or DM + follow us on Instagram & TikTok
See you next time ✌️
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