what I'm manifesting in 2026
an experiment in magic
For all the reasons outlined here, I want to share with the world the things I want to manifest—the things I am hoping to nudge the external world into providing for me.
Basically, the exercise of “manifesting” helps you identify your true desires, calibrate your priorities and actually internalize them — while most importantly, letting the world around you collaborate to help you achieve these goals. And by sharing this post, I hope you, dear reader, use this as a gentle nudge for you to think about what your goals actually are — what you want to manifest — and to share this with the world.
More friends to come over for tea ceremony and see concerts with (particularly couple friends). If you are music obsessed and live in NYC (see my concert list here), please reach out!
More friends online and in real life to discuss big ideas with—especially niche blog posts or the kinds of things I end up writing about. If you are reading this and have some weird idea you want to discuss, email me!
Enough readers of my blog that: 1) I will always get at least one critical comment and 2) if I write a great post, it will get enough exposure to reach escape velocity on Substack.
To have one article of mine shared in The Browser or some other link curation website I really admire this year.
I am an exceptionally good tech/corporate lawyer. After my experience being on the board of one of the largest YIMBY organizations, as well as a large EA organization, I would love a job at an organization where I truly care about their cause, that has a culture aligned with my actual life values and where I think my direct contribution helps make the world a better place—working as a lawyer at somewhere like GiveWell, Coefficient Giving, Metaculus, a YIMBY org, etc.
If that job doesn’t materialize, I suspect my next career move will be in a completely different direction, leading my own initiative. To that end, for the world to provide an opportunity for funding, encouragement, or support to pursue any of the following:
Writing a book about Syrian refugees opening up Syrian restaurants in 30+ different countries—to serve as a human interest story but more critically, a cross-country comparison
A flash-frozen food only grocery store (see for details: https://danfrank.ca/why-i-love-flash-frozen-food-and-think-you-should-too/)
A food court in Toronto with food stalls from 100+ different countries
Alternatively, a job at a leading AI company (Anthropic, OpenAI, etc.) where I’m actually involved in making decisions that impact the trajectory of how our society interacts with AI (the most important issue of my lifetime—and one I know a tremendous amount about and spend a large fraction of my time thinking about).
And if I can do one bonus one that has nothing to do with me: A Medeski Martin and Wood concert in New York City.
I wish you luck with your list! You should consider reading about Abdallah, a Jewish mystic that was said to be the guru of Neville Goddard, and a teacher of Joseph Murphy. Interesting stuff.
Good luck.