Life Lessons

Am I high to believe…

That I am not trapped by limitations of out, but self-imposed limitations within. How can I change my reality?What do I want reality to look like?How and who do you want to be? You have many battles? Can you win them all? Some? Which ones are worth winning, which ones are you okay to lose?…

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Fear Drove Me

I didn’t have to be fearful or anxious. I didn’t have to punish myself, this unnecessary suffering, which only added weight, anchoring me to sadness and despair. I played the game on hard, and I didn’t know I had a choice to make it easy. In moments of blissful enlightenment, I realize how unnecessary it…

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Cowards just behave.

Cowards don’t recognize they are cowards. They just behave. As a snake does not identify as a snake, but simply behaves, so does a coward behave cowardly leaving a trail of fuckery, without truly identifying and accepting and acknowledging. Are you able to see the differences in animals?

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Discipline is hard, sans a schedule.

Discipline is so hard to have, especially when a schedule does not exist. I am enjoying the break from my normal disciplined life, for the most part. However, my inability to control my eating is cause for concern.  What haven’t you done in a long time? Meditate bread in the middle of the day. Walk…

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Speed and Trajectory

I have plenty of people in my community who I’ve mentored. Some have been in the country for only 4-5 years and are miles ahead of you. Why?Are they smarter or better than you? No.They’re simply operating on a different OS. You’re not going to get from here to there downloading mental apps. You need…

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My issue with your enlightenment:

So you did (another) hero dose of psychedelics. 👍👍👍 Good for you, buddy.  And how long will you hold on to your newfound enlightenment before you need another dose? As if the wise sages in the past needed deprivation tanks, shamans, energy healing, micro and macro dosing.  For fucks sakes. Get over yourself.  Grow up. Mature. …

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Laying Bricks?

Two men are laying bricks. Somebody asked one of them what they were doing. The first man’s response was, “I’m laying bricks.” To the same question, the other man answers, “I’m building a cathedral.” I don’t want to go through my life thinking I’m just laying bricks I’d much Paraphrased from Founders Podcast episode 347…

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Mental Bondage

“If someone tried to control your body, you’d fight for freedom. But how easily you hand over your mind to those who offend or insult you! By continually stewing over their misdeeds, you make them your master.” Epictetus, The Manual

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Do Epic Things

Epicness, not for this: It’s basic to think that doing some epic shit is a great way to grab attention and increase standing in your social hierarchy. This true. Doing epic shit can give you the fame and admiration your weak little soul may yearn. And with one step in this direction, you’ll have started…

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How to Write

1. Write. Write jibberish. Write stupidity. Write your feelings. Then, write why your feelings are dumb. Write why you love someone. Then, write all the things you hate about someone. Write why liberals are stupid. Then, write why conservatives are dumb. Write about racism, prejudice, and social justice. Then, write why you can’t stand certain…

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Wants, and other questions

What don’t you want? This is equally, if not more important, than what you want.  But be careful not to not-want things that are good for you. For example, suffering.  And what about those you love? What do they (think they) want? In what domains and categories are you willing to help others achieve their…

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New day. New life.

Every morning is an opportunity for a new life. This gets forgotten, often, especially when the night ends in drink and smoke. This is karma. Waking up in debt for decisions of yesterday. Not careful; this can replicate in weeks, months, and years, setting you so far back that no time available to you is…

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The Descent of a Soul: A Journey Through Temptation and Reflection

In many ways, bad ways, I have devolved. Weaknesses have run amok. Coasting. Eating away the good fortune created yesterday.Stealing goodwill from tomorrow.  Where is my soul? Like being trapped by a black hole. Being pulled. I see the disasters, and rather than change trajectory, rather than fly back the opposite way, I flow like the river into…

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Be a white blood cell

If you had an option, to be a healthy white blood cell or cancer, you would pick healthy. The same goes for healthy vs dying or decaying. The answer is clear. The behaviour is simple: focus on serving, fixing, and building. That’s what healthy cells do. Doesn’t matter how you feel or what you think,…

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What ruins a community

Having qualms about a member of your community, sharing your qualms with others, but not having the guts to talk to the person directly. This plants seeds of resentment in your own heart, and seeds of doubt and dislike in the hearts of the listener. Some of those doubts and disenchantment are of the person…

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A few notes from Subtle Art of Not Giving a F

What is the value that you hold so dear? What is the (made up) metric that you measure the progress towards that value? Problems may be inevitable, but their meanings don’t need to be. Our values determine the metrics by which we measure others and ourselves. If you want to change how you see your…

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Letting go of people

There is a lack of talent. This is great news for us. Email to myself: Dec 25, 2021, 9:13 AM Why? Whatever the challenge, if it’s market, social, industry, or whatever challenge that other orgs and people face as well, not isolated to PD or a PD member… This is great news. Why?

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Two types of knowledge

When reading and studying, consider, there are two types of knowledge. OS Upgrades App Downloads Sure, sometimes you need to download an app in your brain. Some new technique, skill, or process. But to see real massive strides forward, go for books and knowledge that upgrade your OS. Just like in real life, most Apps…

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Getting out of a funk in 2021 Q4

Notes taken whilst listening to a Queen. Fri, Oct 29, 2021, 10:21 PM I want to feel understood and understood. Fri, Oct 29, 2021, 10:23 PM I don’t need other people to understand me, of I’m willing to understand myself. Fri, Oct 29, 2021, 10:25 PM To ___: 1. I’m so glad I talked with…

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Happenings

9:31 am // A few questions participants should ask. How do you define attack? How do you define defence? What is the relationship between claiming what is and asking what is? How do you stop the spread of suffering? What behaviours amplify and spread suffering? What is Truth if two or more parties witnessing an…

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Stop

Essentialism Stop trying to help everyone. Help only ten that will help ten. Too many projects on the go. We can only close so many projects at the same time. Initiatives: Beachhead Firing too many cannons in too many directions. I don’t want to be like N____l S_____y. Spread too thin. Behaving erratically. I must…

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Intense few weeks

Below are my unfiltered thoughts to myself. Thought I’d share. I’m either a commander, a captain, a ruler, or a commando. When I am a commando, everything seems to be too slow, an obstacle to overcome, an enemy to slice. Nothing is good enough. Things are not good enough. People are not good enough. I…

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Don’t be an “HNR”

Q: What is an HNR? A: Human Network Router Q: What does that mean? A: It means you’re literally moving information from one place to another. You cease to be creative. You are reactionary. Your time is mostly spent in emails, instant messaging apps, and social media. Don’t. Be a person. Live life.

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Opinions

Let’s have less of them. Fewer, but better in quality. Q: What is a quality opinion? A: One that has been thought through, and as close as possible to fact and far as possible from bias.

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Weak-kneed Governments

Our governments are weak-kneed when it comes to the rich, and bullies when dealing with the poor. Look at any courtroom and see how the rich are treated, and those that cannot afford expensive representation. Look around and see how policies are influenced, and by which groups. See how harsh punishments are to the poor….

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Fast, reckless, slow, careful

Move fast, move recklessly. Move careful, move slow. Can you move fast and careful (with precision)? Many cannot. Yes, you can. Also know, how you move will communicate. Sometimes the truth, sometimes fiction. Move fast and with precision. Let it be magical, and fiction.

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I don’t need permission

To be the best leader I can be. Neither do you. I used to think I needed permission to be my best. I’m reminded of the following: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness That most…

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Hitchens, and becoming a drunk

Was well respected, but clearly a drunk. Do I need to drink to be my best? He died young. Perhaps he maximized his value through alcohol. Perhaps he short-lived his potential. Remember Bill Gates. This trip has brought out, created a drunk in me. Remember: you can achieve such nights of euphoria through meditation, exercise,…

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Everybody has a story

Everybody has a magical fantastic story. Everybody. No exception. For some, it’s a sad story. For others, a story of triumph. Regardless of theme, everyone has an unbelievable interesting story worth hearing. Organizations are no different. They have a beginning, a middle, an end. And even a resurrection. We fall in love with these stories….

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Imitation

Imitate Why do what someone else is doing or being, when we are all One, anyway. You are him and he is you. Now be you, uniquely You. Open yourself to the UniVerse. Let it move you freely, ungrudgingly. MESSAGE TO J_____: A message to myself. Perhaps relevant in your life when you admire others…

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Only one

There is one mission. No other missions. Raise I+C high enough to reach Escape Velocity. There is one war. Fight against those that intentionally or unintentionally decrease I+C. There is one war. All other conflicts are battles. Some matter. Most do not. Winning can be measured. Individuals. Families. Communities. The world. Strategies not accounting for…

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The 15 second workout

Ridiculous, but effective! Let’s create an infomercial-style call-to-arms for those who don’t work out. What are we selling? The 15-second Workout! Super easy to do! Only takes 15 seconds! We dare you to NOT do more!

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Interacting with people comes with a risk, another song maybe?

Every time you speak to another person, you are at risk. Risk of what? Oh so many things. Risk of talking too much talking too little interpreting incorrectly interpreting correctly, and wishing you didn’t acting like a fool saying things you regret miscommunicating creating a new frienemy creating a new enemy sowing doubt, anger, hostility…

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The case for organizational health

Homo Dues page 132 …lacks flexibility. Bees cooperate in very sophisticated ways, but they cannot reinvent their social system overnight. If a hive faces a new threat or a new opportunity, the bees cannot, for example, guillotine the queen and establish a republic. Social mammals such as elephants and chimpanzees cooperate far more flexible than…

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The Courage To Be Disliked, a song

I’d like to create a song. Sorta like a children’s sing-along song. One on the importance of not giving a fuck, and being okay to be disliked. Something fun, cheeky, but also critical. Cast of people the song can refer to include Jesus, Galileo, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. Perhaps even a few non-people like…

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Men, and the West

The West is pushing hard for men to be more feminine. Cool. But other countries (our enemies) that look to devour us, are not feminine. They are not fair, equitable, beautiful, and complicated. They are masculine. Fierce. Dominating. Looking to devour its prey. Let’s not forget. For centuries, men were the protectors of women and…

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Trading, for what?

We’re always trading. Trading time, friends, experience, and so on. But for what? How often are our trades making us richer? Not often. North American culture of consumerism, individualism, and atheism is what is being sold. Sold to us in trade for what? In trade for minimalism, essentialism, and wealth? Individualism at the exchange of…

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The Cult Elephant in the Room

Are we becoming cult-like? Yes and no. We must be careful. We must be inclusive of different people and ideas, while maintaining and adhering to our core values. We must know the difference between cult and not. Cults require blind Faith. Healthy organizations consist of curious people who question and engage in healthy conflict. From…

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Great power

Uncle Ben said, “Peter, with great power comes great responsibility.” True. But you know is truer? With great responsibilities, come great power. Choose to take on more. Choose to be responsible for more. Choose to be a leader, a motivator, a champion of goodness. The greater your responsibilities, the more power the universe will give…

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Be okay with getting shed, and shedding friends

We will grow apart. This is a non-negotiable reality. If you’re working hard, studying, learning, and growing – there’s a very high likelihood that you have friends that are not keeping up with you. This is normal, especially when you’re young. Or perhaps, you have a friend or two that’s really pushing themselves, and you…

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Fail fast

How can we learn fast, if we are not failing fast enough? We cannot, based on the understanding of nature. By avoiding micro failures, we position ourselves for the black swan failure…

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Obsessed with Death

Yeah, I’m obsessed with death. By consciously being obsessed with death, I free my subconscious self from being obsessed with death. Do you not think your soul, your cells, your whole body knows it is in the process of decay, and that death awaits us all? It is the first thing your body is aware…

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Pursue the pain

Pain. Go where pain exists. That is where growth exist. Pursue the pain. Follow it. Chase it. Continue to conquer each little pain demon, one at a time. But do not wait idle, lax, thinking that demons and dragons don’t exist. Just because you don’t see them now, doesn’t mean they’re not waiting for you…

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Conquer her dragon

On the subject of woman: I conquered. What does that mean? Did I conquer her? No. Her dragon. Did I save her? No. I joined the party and saved her some time. Princesses become Queens that can conquer their own dragons. Sure. Just like a Lady can open her own door. A Gentleman takes pride…

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Regarding Lannie and Marriage

Regarding Lannie and Marriage

The first person that’s gonna scold me after reading this is most likely my wife Lan. She’s advised me time after time, not boast, especially about my marriage. And you know, she’s right. For the most part, I’ve stopped. That said, this is my first time writing about my marriage. Sorry. Point being – this…

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Admitting to my complacency

Admitting to my complacency

True or false: we resemble tiny insects with roles and hierarchies, fate is almost certain, with little to no actual ability to maneuver our positions and change our directions in life, let alone do grand things that we’ll be remembered and be immortalized for. Those who have are celebrated, and become celebrities, and for good…

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You are being attacked

You are being attacked

There is an attack on us. Don’t be fooled. It’s everywhere, and at the same time, nowhere. It’s prevalent in our lives, quietly hidden under our beds, in our knapsacks, and in the shows we watch and the sites we visit. The attack is on your brain. Their weapon: Distraction. The booty, the bounty, the…

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When should I get a mentor?

When should I get a mentor?

Part 01: When? Now. – End of Part 02: Why? What? Where? Who? Why should you get a mentor now? Simply, because a mentor will drastically increase the speed of your development and growth. You shouldn’t wait until you have a crisis before you seek out mentorship. Your crisis will most likely kill you before…

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Prioritizing your dreams

Prioritizing your dreams

In our youth, we are filled with dreams and aspirations. As we age, dreams we once held sacred and critical to our identity slowly begin to dematerialize. There are many reasons for this, none that really matter. What matters is, that as the possibilities of obtaining our dreams begin to fade, so do our childhood…

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It’s your responsibility to grow

It’s your responsibility to grow

It’s a privilege that your employer creates time in your workweek for you to study and learn new things. However, don’t get this confused with the responsibility you have for your own growth and prosperity. For far too many, this new-age-hippie tech industry has created this false idea that it’s the employer’s responsibility for you…

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Doing the uncomfortable

Doing the uncomfortable

Change is the only constant I love the uncomfortableness of change. It’s such a beautiful feeling. I fucking love diving into a cold lake knowing very well the ice-hell that awaits. I love public speaking knowing I’m about to lose my shit right before going up – and possibly throughout. I love being amongst those…

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Rituals that make my day awesome

Rituals that make my day awesome

“Rituals are a form of structure that makes life flow more easily. They’re mindless — you do them without thinking. Perhaps most important of all, they orient you as to where you are and what you should be doing.” – W. Doyle Gentry, Happiness For Dummies[01] I choose to have an intense life My life…

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We are all crazy. Let’s deal with it.

We are all crazy. Let’s deal with it.

We’re not crazy. We’re batshit crazy. There’s no doubt about it. The best among us know it and have quietly acknowledged their craziness, while the rest live in denial. Personally, I’ve acknowledged this – and that there’s a finite time before my craziness gets out of hand. Broken brains How fucked up would it be…

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I’ve fallen back in love again

I’ve fallen back in love again

Young love At the beginning, there was a lustful obsession; an intense infatuation. A desire to impress and a willingness to be impressed upon. The relationship was new, and like all new relationships, I was blindly optimistic, romantically hopeful, and expected nothing but eternal bliss – forever. Like all relationships – the honeymoon stage ended…

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Paint your project: Avoid the black-hole

Paint your project: Avoid the black-hole

Problem: Creative’s Black Hole Often times Creatives (artists, designers, writers, speakers, and entrepreneurs) get stuck in what I’d like to call The Creative’s Black Hole. Similar to a blackhole, the Creative’s attention and focus is trapped in one small area of a project. So much that the rest of the project’s completion is threatened. I’ve…

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