Detail of Nihonbashi in Edo (Edo Nihonbashi), from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei) by Katsushika Hokusai. Boats and buildings line waterways near Nihonbashi bridge, with Mount Fuji beyond.

Treat place as a set of choices

Your customers, team, and operations need not all occupy the same place.

Different locations can offer different combinations of talent, customers, capital, costs, and practical support. Examine the requirements of each activity. Use evidence rather than a contest over which city is fashionable. A distributed arrangement also adds coordination costs.

Your own home is part of the decision. Where you live can affect motivation, relationships, and endurance. An attractive operating location is not automatically the best place for your life.

Rules and administrative clarity can affect how a model works. So can the speed of decisions and access to necessary partners. Assess the actual requirements with suitable expertise. Do not rely on an old claim that one jurisdiction is always best.

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