💬 Dopamine Hit of the Week
You don’t need to isolate to elevate. Sometimes, a dose of real community is the most powerful productivity hack.
👋🏾 Hey, it’s Mallentino
In a world obsessed with grind, focus, and locking in, there’s one thing high-performers often forget:
Community is part of the system.
Not just for balance, but for actual performance.
3rdplace.co’s Canvas & Cocktail Event
🔍 The Community Myth
We’ve all been there:
“I need to disappear to go to the next level.”
“No distractions — just hustle.”
“I’ll pop out once I’m successful.”
“I can’t come I’m locked in”
But here’s the problem…Total isolation drains you. It doesn’t build you.
Yes, we can all agree that solitude has its place. But so does connection.
We’re human. And no amount of ambition will ever override the fact that we’re wired for community. We are social creatures.
The people you surround yourself with shape:
Your energy
Your creativity
Your ability to bounce back
A good conversation can give you more clarity than a 4-hour strategy session. A shared laugh can dissolve stress quicker than your nervous system ever could.
It’s not hustle OR people. It’s hustle WITH people.
🧠 Why Community Matters More Now
In capitalism, you’re taught to chase:
Independence
Individuality
Personal brand, personal results
But what makes us feel most alive isn’t the number in your account but it’s:
Being seen
Being supported
Building something with others
Especially for creatives, founders, and professionals like us.
Community isn’t a break from ambition. It’s a fuel source for it.
The connection is the drug that roots us.
The less you obsess over how you’re perceived, the more power you gain to shape reality.
I started building micro social routines into my workflow:
Weekly co-work session with a creative friend
One “offline dinner” per week
Monthly art, comedy, or music event (no phones, full presence)
3rdplace.co Events
I also check in with 2-3 friends regularly using facetime but you can use voice notes too. Not only deep convos — just real ones.
That tiny dose of connection? It gives me energy and reminds me why I’m building.
gather around
🏙 Why I Started 3rdPlace.co
This is exactly why I co-founded 3rdPlace.co.
Most young, ambitious professionals in the GTA are either at work… or at home. There’s no in-between. No third place.
So we built one.
3rdPlace is a community and event space for people like us those building, dreaming, growing, who still crave connection. We host creative events, socials, and chill experiences designed for real humans, not just LinkedIn profiles.
If you’re in the GTA, come out to one of our events. Check us out at 3rdplace.co.
💭 Thought to Chew On
You don’t need to choose between locking in and showing up.
You just need the right dose of each.
Real connection isn’t a distraction. It’s a multiplier.
Let’s build with each other — not just beside each other.
— Mallentino
