The problem is— you think you have time.

But if you’re lucky? You get 80 summers.

In your late-30s? You’re already halfway through.

And yet, how often do we say, “Oh I’ve always wanted to go there— I’ll plan that trip eventually.” Or “I’ll start that company one day.” Or “I’m just too busy to visit my parents this month.”

Time is the only currency we spend without knowing the balance.

I learned that the hardest way possible (and earlier than most people do). I was 23 years old when my father unexpectedly passed away.

That profound loss was a wake-up call. I became obsessed with finding practical ways to avoid regret when I’m older. I started defining my version of  “a life well-lived” — largely inspired by the time I lived in Italy (to connect with my father's Italian heritage).

Hence The Quiet Rich was born. A weekly email to build a life rich in real, Italian-inspired luxuries like time, health, a quiet mind, slow mornings, the ability to travel, and a house full of love.

1. I ride motorcycles. Most recently, I was the only woman (and youngest person) to complete a specific motorcycle tour through Morocco.

2. When I’m not writing The Quiet Rich, I’m a marketing leader at Google, thinking about the future of AI.

3. I read 1 book every week. And then I create a “one page cheat sheet” that summarizes the whole book so I never forget my best takeaways from it. Here are my 6 all-time favorites that I recommend to everyone.

4. I’ve never eaten meat or fish. (My parents were both vegetarian and incredible at cooking. They taught me how to cook and I’ve never looked back.)

5. I speak Italian, thanks to living there for a while.

6. I got my scuba diving license 2 days before booking a trip to French Polynesia and diving with 750 black-tip sharks.

7. Growing up, my dad and I would listen to the blues radio station run by Columbia University students. I told him one day he would hear me on it. I only applied to one college. I didn’t join the radio club, but I did graduate from Columbia with degrees in 3 subjects.

8. I don’t drink coffee. But I adore chai — specifically very spicy ginger chai.

9. Every time I travel, I create a list of saved places on Google Maps. Favorite restaurants, world-class hotels, hidden gem coffee shops. And whenever a friend tells me they’re going to that place, I send them a copy of my list. As of right now, I’ve made 102 lists on Google Maps.

10. I used to be a talented artist— and once thought that would be my future career. Here’s the last thing I drew. Bonus points if you knew this was Marcus Aurelius.

11. In 2019, my job had unlimited PTO. So I took 14 weeks of vacation in 1 year to travel the world: Iceland, Sri Lanka, the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert, Mo’orea, Rangiroa, Aspen, Barbados.

12. I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur— because I was terrified of taking risks. I overcame the fear in 2023, started my first business, and truly cannot imagine my life without it.

13. I unknowingly dated two men who were previously in long-term relationships with Emma Watson.

14. I have a surprisingly bad memory. So I currently have 278 lists on my phone of absolutely everything— interesting questions to ask people at a dinner party, favorite new words, inside jokes with my loved ones, things I often forget to pack, recipes I want to make, amazing quotes, places I want to travel, random lessons I’ve learned.

15. My close friends jokingly call me “DJade” because 1) it’s the perfect DJ name, and 2) I always have the right song for the moment. (I even listen to “brain playlists” when I’m doing deep work. Trust me.)

16. I play the piano, and can recreate most songs by ear. I’m also a massive fan of boxing, pilates, and tennis.

17. When I was younger, my mom taught me “how to learn.” And to study for a test, I would actually imagine that I was the teacher creating the test; I’d think about which questions I would ask. Because of that, I was a straight-A student.

18. My grandparents on my mother’s side don’t know how old they are. Birthdays culturally were not recorded where they were born.

19. 5 years ago (in 2020), I started a document called, “My Life in 5 years” and dated it in the future (March 25, 2025). I wrote down exactly what I “did” that day— from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to sleep. And I filled it with my WILDEST dreams. What did my home look like? What was my health like? How did I feel about my job? How were the relationships in my life? What were my finances like? How often did I travel? What was my mindset like? It’s now almost 2025. And eerily, 95% of what I wrote down has come true. 👀 Try the exercise.

20. During the holidays, my mom and I have a tradition of baking approximately 500 very fancy cookies from scratch, box them up, and send them to all our loved ones.

21. I’ve been “digital intermittent fasting” since 2015. I don’t check my phone for at least 1 hour after I wake up and 1 hour before I go to bed. The important thing is to fill that time with something meaningful— like reading a few pages of a book, going for a walk without your phone, or having a good conversation with your partner. Give your brain some space — that’s how you come up with breakthrough ideas.