Good question.

Well part is very practical.It’s hard coming up with a name that you can choose which threads is personal but not too inside-joke-ish while being professional enough not to be a job stopper.

That’s a hard needle to thread.

Oh and whatever name you come up with, it has to be available. You know.

So for me, I needed to see what I could add to josh Austin which would make it unique and available.

I thought about “imjoshaustin” or “itsjoshaustin” or “joshaustin123” because that’s helpful.

I landed on next after brainstorming (pre-AI) and came up with next Josh Austin.

And it played well with me. If fit.

The cool kids call that being on “on-brand”

The next me.

I am the next me. Not the next you. Not the next Buffet, Bieber, or Banksy.

It’s helpful to remember that at times.

I am not sure what that next version is but it’s going to be fun to create it!

I asked midjourney for “a photorealistic image of a man looking somehow into the future at the next version of himself”

So why next?

1. Practical - available on the major platforms
2. On Brand - let’s try to be our own selves. constraint begets creativity.

And now it’s stuck. I own the domain and have committed to the handles.

What’s behind your handle?

I love learning about names and titles and their meanings - I believe they are significant.

Have a cool story behind one? I’d love to hear it.