Meet TJ Fink | Tech Journalist & Molecular Mixologist

We had the good fortune of connecting with TJ Fink and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi TJ, how do you think about risk?
The most fulfilling parts of my career have always involved some form of calculated risk that pushes me outside my comfort zone/s. As a full-time freelancer for everything I do, my life is a constant cycle of mini-experiments that force me to utilize my favorite skill sets in new ways, and without any risk, there can be no reward.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Stories. At the end of the day, I’m most passionate about sharing stories with my fellow humans, whether that story takes the form of a social networking post, published article, or crafted cocktail. What sets my art apart? A lot of minutiae, I guess. There are no shortcuts to the synapses I’ve been snapping for the past two decades, and true success can’t be acquired overnight. No matter what I set my mind to as a journalist or molecular mixologist, I’m perpetually learning, growing, adapting, and evolving. Here are some lessons I’ve learned on my journey thus far, in no particular order:

-Normality is overrated.
-Start every challenge with cautious optimism.
-Don’t be afraid to put in the work. (If you don’t, nobody else will.)
-An organized home leads to a less cluttered headspace.
-Always give your fellow humans the benefit of the doubt when you can.
-Know how (and when) to set boundaries in your personal/professional relationships.
-Know when to ask for help. (I’m extraordinarily self-sufficient, but going solo isn’t always the best way.)
-It’s OK to be wrong. Learning from your own mistakes leads to exponential growth in the long run, even if that growth is a little painful at first.
-Try things that scare you. My favorite hobbies and skillsets are the result of pushing myself outside my comfort zones; life is too short to be boring.
-Surround yourself with people who not only validate who you are, but also push you to be better.
-Take some time for solitude every now and again. Your soul will thank you later.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
New York City has more greenery than you might expect — and I love the great outdoors, however I can get it — so I might take them on nature walks in Highline Park, Central Park, and Prospect Park, which is right next to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. If said friend is feeling adventurous, I might introduce them to axe throwing before wining and dining them at a beer garden. I love the late-night comedy scene, too, and there are tons of improv and standup shows down in the village. People’s Improv Theater is awesome, and so is the Comedy Cellar; you never know who might pop in to try out new material.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m dedicating 84% of my Shoutout to all the excellent techies I work with over at Tom’s Guide, Laptop Mag, and T3.com. Some of them have been around since the very beginning of my writer’s journey, and I’m ever grateful for their editorial mentorship. The other 16% is dedicated to my friend VV, whose continued love and support over the years has been paramount in my continued momentum.

Website: www.tjfink.com, www.theartisanalalchemist.com

Instagram: @tjfink, @the.artisanal.alchemist

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tj-fink/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/teejmachine

Image Credits
Zac Winokur, Wilson Cabrera, Erik MacMahon-Barkeloo