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Hello Everyone,
Welcome back.
Thank you to all the new subscribers. I’m truly grateful that you’re here. I know everyone has a full life—work, family, everything else—so it means a lot that you take the time to read this.
This edition is a little different from the usual. Normally these are pieces on things like the realities of remote work, what loyalty looks like in today’s world, how AI is changing creativity, or small observations from my time in Japan. I do share neon content and AI experiments here sometimes, especially when they connect to motivation and creativity.
Today I want to open up more about who I am, why I’m sharing this, and something that has defined my entire path.
My name is Neon. That’s my legal name now. I changed it 2 1/2 years ago. I was born in Oklahoma. Grew up in the early 80s punk and skateboarding scene in Scottsdale, Arizona. Then I lived in Hollywood, California for 15 years. Worked in production companies and for messenger services to get by, and for 2 years as my main source of income I worked as an extra in TV and movies, went to bars and clubs to see bands. Spent 10 years in Osaka, Japan, which changed how I saw things. I’ve moved around a lot since.
I worked 2 jobs at a time most of my life. I moved to each new place with very little money and knowing almost no one. I didn’t go to college at all. There wasn’t time or room for it. But I made it through every time. I didn’t always do great, but I survived and I have the stories.
The neon drawings started in Hollywood in the 90s. I had a terrible job with a terrible boss. I was bored out of my mind, so I drew on napkins with black ink. The drawings were bad. I started covering the mistakes with highlighters from the office. The colors jumped out, bright and alive. I liked it.
Later, in Japan, I saw those drawings that I used highlighters on and they reacted under blacklight. That was it. I began experimenting with fluorescent crayons, markers, watercolor, acrylic, even canned spray paint. It looked rough most of the time, but I loved it. I would draw in the dark, pen in one hand, small blacklight in the other.
Now AI changes everything. Tools like Grok Imagine let me take the pictures in my head and make them real, bright, vivid, many versions fast. No more blacklight needed.
@Neon_on_X
This isn’t really about the art or my name change. It’s about something bigger, and the thing I want to put front and center today is this: I pride myself on thinking differently.
It hasn’t always served me well. It’s gotten me into tough spots, made people look at me sideways, and sometimes left me standing alone. But it has also kept me out of trouble many times. It’s kept me from following paths that would have led to mediocrity or worse.
If you’re in a place where everyone does everything the same way, and you know you see things differently, if you can’t understand how they don’t see what you see, don’t hide it. Don’t stuff it down until it disappears. Be you. You will be the light that leads them.
Sometimes people are mindless about it. They just follow, get led along, do what’s expected without questioning. They need someone good to lead the way, not to take advantage, not to get something out of them, but simply to show a better direction. Be that light.
The best HR advice comes from people who’ve been in the trenches.
That’s what this newsletter delivers.
I Hate it Here is your insider’s guide to surviving and thriving in HR, from someone who’s been there. It’s not about theory or buzzwords — it’s about practical, real-world advice for navigating everything from tricky managers to messy policies.
Every newsletter is written by Hebba Youssef — a Chief People Officer who’s seen it all and is here to share what actually works (and what doesn’t). We’re talking real talk, real strategies, and real support — all with a side of humor to keep you sane.
Because HR shouldn’t feel like a thankless job. And you shouldn’t feel alone in it.
My entire life I have done everything my way, for better or worse. I have never been led. I’m not a leader in the traditional sense, but I won’t be led into mediocrity. Neither should you.
That’s why I’m telling you these things. To show that no matter where you started, no matter how little you had when you showed up somewhere new, you can get through hard situations. I did it over and over, thinking differently each time. You can too.
And here is the part I learned too late: Gratitude belongs to the journey, not just the destination.
I spent years moving forward without really appreciating it. I took the small steps, the survival days, the moments of still being here for granted. It took a long time to realize that what we have right now, the ability to keep going, the next idea, the breath in our lungs, is enough to build on. If the thing we want isn’t here yet, we can still be grateful for the path that’s shaping us.
I hope you don’t wait as long as I did to feel that. Enjoy the process while you’re living it. Don’t take the journey for granted.
Because you are stronger than you think you are. You can make hard decisions when you need to. You can change direction. You can keep standing up. You can become whatever you need to be, one step at a time, thinking differently if that’s what it takes.
That’s why I share this. Not to talk about myself, but to remind you that your story can keep moving forward too, your way. Start today by noticing one thing you’re grateful for, even if it’s small.
What part of your own journey are you grateful for right now, even the difficult parts? Reply and let me know. I read every response, and sometimes your words help someone else feel less alone.
Thank you for being here. Neon @Neon_on_X