Viral by Vyra · Issue 8
you need people who get it
life is better when you surround yourself with them
By Sulan Zhang · 2026-04-27 · first sent by email
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
pt. 1: Community!
People who understand the path you’re taking, who are there to support you, who act as a sounding board at 3am for your ideas - they will provide your fuel when you’re exhausted, tired, and on the brink of giving up.
Ambition and discipline can only get you so far. Community and people can do incredible things to push you the rest of the way.
Humans are contagious in their energy, love, and passion. When you find yourself amongst those who share your same goals, it multiplies your trajectory.
But the converse is true as well. Surround yourself with people who don’t get it, and it will be utterly draining to convince yourself that your dreams are still worth chasing.
pt. 2: Friendships.
I think there are two kinds of friends that matter, and you need both.
The first is the one who loves you unconditionally; they may not understand your industry or your path, but they know you, and that love is its own anchor. The second is the one who gets the work, who can sit with you in the weeds and push your thinking.
Neither replaces the other, and a good life has room for both.
pt. 3: Mentors.
Cold DM them, find them off the streets, coffee chat them after speaker events - it doesn’t matter how, but reach out to those cool people you admire and learn from them.
Speaking to mentors changed my life. They changed my perspective, opened my eyes to new paths, and encouraged me through seasons of doubt.
The path on the way to your dreams, your goals, and your destiny is a long one. Choose your people with care <3
until next week~
Sulan :)
@sulansart
P.S. My startup exists because I found the right people. Especially my co-founder, who believed in the idea before it was anything. We're building Vyra - an AI video editing tool that handles the tedious parts so you can stay in the creative headspace (join the waitlist!). None of it would exist without the right room of people, including mentors, creators, and friends :)