How wildly errored to allow a child woman to manipulate and create functions within my lifeblood organism with little to no oversight. What a muck she has made, and I have allowed over the years. She will be spoken to and set straight. I expect loyalty.
Read moreRandom thoughts on life
I need writers! Do I?
Sat, Dec 31, 2022, 12:11 AM – HCMC, Vietnam I need more writers. More. Not less. More! I need loyal, loving, dedicated writers. If: the universe wants me and my children to live long, our stories will be written. Documented. Articled. From grandfathers’ to future generations. How much $$$? Pay it. Thu, Apr 20, 2023, 12:18…
Read moreHow It Feels To Kill
A wild trip. One I hope we never have to experience.
Read moreRandom Equations
Culture > Growth Success = Keeping in our ways t > $ Purpose> Passion Truth > Deception Strength > Weakness Soft > Hard Gentle > Forced Open > Closed Debate > Gossip Curious > Biased Support > Attack Seek > Conclude Health = Wisdom = Health Simple > Complicated Anger < Disappointed < Forgiveness <…
Read moreHappy by the street in Saigon
Woke up in a grumpy mood. I know why. Simply, I exhausted my dopamine yesterday up until the late night, knocking out around 1:30 am. So, I chose not to be Zen with her during her anxiousness. Nah. I’ve been pretty Zen throughout the trip, but sometimes it’s okay to open the valve and let…
Read moreDullness through Age
Dullness of the senses can be leveraged for greatness, rather than gluttony. What do I mean?Whether sex, drugs, or rock and roll… our senses become dull to things. We need more and more of the same old to experience the same. Chasing the dragon, is what it’s referred to when you try to catch that…
Read moreReality and Weaknesses
6:16 am, HCMC, VN Reality. Some of you see it more clearly than others in certain domains but not others. Do you know which domains you see clearly?Do you know in what ways your perception of reality is flawed, even dangerous? I have more faith and trust in a person who can articulate more weaknesses than…
Read moreBig Learnings – Reality & Weeds
6:19 AM, HCMC Reality is relative everywhere.Some believe VN youth are lazy. Others build empires on hardworking VN youth. A leader is only in the thick of the weeds when he has not adequately built a team.There is no denying this. Getting out of the weeds, is the first order of business. How, how, how, is…
Read more100%? What if? Why not?
1,000 pushups in one day. What would happen? I don’t know. Let’s go. Extremes. What can be accomplished with 100 percent total extreme dedication to one and only one initiative? 98% means you’re spread thin. 100% is the target. What can you accomplish? Doesn’t matter if you can’t even hit 25% or 50%. And…
Read moreWhat do we value at PD?
What do we value at PD? Is PD right for you? At the end of the day, I founded this company, and so much of the culture is based on my needs, wants, wishes, and aspirations. This is undeniable. To pretend that PD is just another company is missing the point. It’s grossly underestimating the…
Read moreCapitalistic Demands
Dec 12, 2022, 9:00 PM, VietNam There’s a demand for: There is a shortage of supply.This is a capitalistic opportunity.
Read moreThe Stillpoint
“When there is no more separation between ‘this’ and ‘that’ it is called the still-point of Tao, at the still point in the center of the circle, one sees the infinite in all things.” Chuang Tzu
Read moreHaving Tomorrow
If we want tomorrow what we’ve never had,we must be willing to do today what we’ve never done before. The universe doesn’t bend to your wishes or desires. It bends to your ability to bend it. To do this, you need the following:
Read moreThe Game
I am obsessed with the Game. I love the Game. I prefer playing the Game more than any other activity. I love obsessing over the Game, more than thinking about anything else. What is the Game? People call it different things. People keep track of the score in their own, infinitely unique way. Success is…
Read moreFreedom
What use is freedom and liberty if you cannot think freely and with liberty, undistracted by the noise of the machine?
Read moreAI & God
Will AI believe in God? If yes, how long would it take? Will AI be able to have a connection to God? If yes, how long would it take?
Read moreLiving with intent
Having a break from the battlefield. What does it mean to live with intent? It means to me, that as much as possible, your actions, words, feelings and thoughts have purpose and intention. Everything. As much as possible. I say I’m going to prepare every night, the next day. But I haven’t, and I don’t…
Read moreBe 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,…
Read moreCloseness [at work]
Yes, yes. I should not be friends with my staff. Says who?What is the reason for this? What is the wisdom? Some: require first-hand distance, yes. Some: deserve closeness.All: will benefit from closeness. How shall I decide?It depends on the individual’s ability to separate work from life; hierarchy from love; when and where. Can the…
Read moreSurrender
Allow this moment to be as it is. Allow = surrender. To what? God. The Universe Perfection.
Read moreHonest truth about abandonment
Am I afraid that people — who I don’t even care for – will leave me, because I have left so many people in the past? “Outgrown” past relationships… What a mindfuck. LOL.
Read moreTwo 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…
Read moreHollowing Out?
A poem. Mae! Young, and naive? How did you find yourself amongst thugs and degenerates? Ageing rapidly from the inside. Soul, hollowing out? How did I find myself amongst your thugs and degenerates?
Read moreHire. Train. Hire. Train.
Hire. Train. Hire. Train. Hire. Train. t > $ t > $ t > $ Hire. Train. Hire. Train. Hire. Train. t > $ t > $ t > $ Hire. Train. Hire. Train. Hire. Train. t > $ t > $ t > $
Read moreIntense 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…
Read moreWarriors
It’s easier to find a warrior and train him to be a gentleman, than finding a coward and training him to be a warrior.
Read moreBuffet Wisdom
A series of quotes from Warren Buffett… How many legs does a dog have if you call his tail a leg? Four. Because calling a tail a leg does not make it a leg. The chains of habit are too light to be felt, until they are too heavy to be broken. What should…
Read moreShine as bright as possible
Want this, because the universe wants it. The universe is never wrong. We miss the mark. All else is less right, than is to honour the universe by shining as bright as it wants, through you.
Read moreConfidence & Competence
Confidence > Competence (massive failure) Confidence < Competence (massive underachievement) Confidence = Competence (Accurate progress) Confidence seesaw. Meek vs arrogant.
Read moreGoddess Fortune
Fortune is a picky and fickle Goddess She gives love to men who are prone to act. Don’t get too comfortable with her praise and love. She is known to switch lovers with no warning, leaving men naked and empty, worse off than when they started.
Read moreTime to get classy
I detest those moments I lose myself and act crass. Be classy. Stay classy. Classy mother-fuckers don’t engage in useless public debate. They watch da-fuck dey say. Dem classic homies don’t fuck with dem soft-nuggets. Ayiite.
Read moreWeak-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….
Read moreMy weaknesses, for the record
I drive like a maniac, is what some people would say. You can say, I’m in denial of this. For good reason. I believe I’m in great control. I can sometimes fuck myself over by falling in love with a person and being unfair to myself, or worse, the mission. I sometimes lose my patience…
Read moreOf course I love video games.
Of course, I love video games. As well as other forms of getting drunk, high, and out of this world. But some forms of pleasure are much more dangerous than others. For example, take working-out in comparison to playing video games. One opens the lungs, blood vessels, and the mind. The other takes us into…
Read moreHitchens, 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,…
Read moreLeaders. Vacancy. pt 2
The reason why there’s a leadership vacuum emptiness is that people DON’T want to be leaders. They don’t want to do what it takes. And they don’t want to fall in love with people. Leadership requires you to fall in love with people. And making the mission (for people) in scope and top of mind….
Read moreEmbrace the virtual! pt 2
Enjoy! Be a character. Make it fun. Be silly. Be crazy. Be wild. So as long as the information gets through, do your thing! May 8, 2020, 5:29 pm Little did I know, JB… Dec 1, 2020, 7:23 am
Read moreEverybody 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….
Read moreHappiness is in short supply and high demand.
Be happy. Spread happiness.
Read moreCelebrate miskates
Celebrate miskates
Read moreThe power of saying no
People respect those who can stand their ground, say no, not beat around the bush. People respect those that can plainly, simply, and directly, say NO. [ I’m an oddball leader who likes to test by trial by fire ] I had a young intern. I encouraged him to shoplift something to test his resolve…
Read moreMarry someone
Marry someone that can thrive with the rich and the poor. He has homes in all places.
Read moreYou seek a lose/lose scenario
If your insults and condemnations regarding my nature and character are true, then our father’s investment in me was in vain. And such a thing brings dishonour and shame to his house. If your comments are untrue, your behaviour is one of a Liar. Such actions bring dishonour and shame to his house. Only a…
Read moreMTP – Solving Problems
Solving major problems. Hypothesis: When more people are empowered through knowledge, they should be able to solve the major challenges. Why it won’t work: Because people may have the right knowledge, but they may not have the discipline, courage, or economic freedom to apply the information. Improved hypothesis: When the right people Right people =…
Read moreStories
2014-06-26 Don’t underestimate the power of stories. This whole world runs on stories. We sell based on stories. We buy based on the stories we believe. Your value, tell a story. Your ‘differentiation’ tells a story. It’s simple. You must craft your story as well as the company’s. Not having a story is profoundly underrated….
Read moreBuy time
Buying Time The number one reason you need to get better at leadership. It’s not about the company. It’s about every area of your life. When you get good at leadership, you can multiple your time. When you understand business and money, you’ll have more money to trade for time. Time = freedom. You can…
Read moreSeek problems
Be a problem seeker. Most people avoid problems. Solving problems require us to see and understand the problems. Solving problems is all about delivering value. The value returned to us manifests in a change in numbers in your bank account. More value delivered and problems solve = more money. More money = greater available options….
Read moreLeaders. Vacancy
The reason why there’s a leadership vacuum emptiness is that people DON’T want to be leaders. They don’t want to do what it takes. And they don’t want to fall in love with people. Leadership requires you to fall in love with people. And making the mission (for people) in scope and top of mind….
Read moreMany stories to tell
How wild is it that we live one life but many stories. Depending on how we view our past, we can become heroes, villains, victims, and even just useless bistandards. Different ways to tell my story include: A love story Fatherhood The immigrant experience Shitty jobs to CEO A dreamer An artist A builder A…
Read moreJoys unimaginable
Within reach Family – Toronto, probably stoned.
Read moreWho’s number one?
I’m a warm person, not a cold person. I take pride in the niceties of civil behaviour. The simple things like warm smiles, warm hellos, kind gestures. I want our kids to be raised to be warm, not cold. How we react/respond to their questions, requests, and needs will impact how they grow up. We’re…
Read moreHow do you answer: What are your weaknesses?
Boldly.
Read moreInteracting 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…
Read morePersonalized Prison Sentences
Wait, what? First off – we need to ask ourselves as a society a very simple but important question. Depending on the answer, our approach to incarceration, jail, prisons, the justice system, the penal system, and every thing courts, juries, defenders and prosecutors may need to change. So what’s the question? See below: What do…
Read moreDesire to live through your children
Okay. Good. So what? When is this not healthy? Probably when your interests and desires outweigh or contradict your child’s. – I love my children so fuck’n much. I could never have imagined joy and love like this. THROUGH my children. Through my children I live on. Through my children I learn to be a…
Read moreIt’s tough living in the future
Waiting for others to catch up. Knowing you’ll be dead long before the rest does catch up.
Read moreSperm boy! You won the race agains trillions. What’s next?
This life. It’s only a reenactment of the life of a sperm. Will we evolve? How can we even imagine such a thing? Imagine telling a little bitty sperm what an apple tastes like. Or the pleasure of taking a deep breath in a cool spring morning. It’s impossible. And so is explaining enlightenment to…
Read moreBi cycle
Make more mistakes, but but the same mistake twice. Study harder. Study harder. Study harder.
Read moreThere is no reason why you can’t be beautiful
But to be congruent, this is a more difficult goal, one that requires honest observation of who you are and are not, and what you do and do not represent. There is no reason why you can’t be beautiful.
Read morePSME – Happiness
PS is where happiness is. Through S can you become fulfilled. There is an opposite correlation between financial wealth and happiness. Homo Deus. Page 33. The Order P: Physical S: Spiritual M: Mental E: Emotional
Read moreOnly one game in town: Happiness
There are many definitions of success. In today’s cynical and constantly complaining society – there’s only one question to ask, and that is: Are you happy? You got one life. ONE. Not two. Not four. ONE. It’s fucking surprising how many people forget this fact. Or bury it deep down. Back to happiness. It’s amazing…
Read moreWeak and faulty. That’s what I am.
We, and especially I, am weak and faulty. My performance is heavily influenced by my environment and conditions. I need strict structure. Without it, I will never realize my potential.
Read moreTrips
I get it when I’m in the world whole. I just need to remember when I’m out. Meditate on the messages you receive Don’t take them lightly. – Vietnam, 4:51 am
Read moreOMG. The best women are the warrior women.
Yes. Conquer me. Then let’s go and conquer the world. Mother, I Love you. I promise, 2020, I’ll show you more love, through strength. – Vietnam, 4:49am
Read moreKindness
Popping balloons in Saigon, 2020 the year of Kindness. I got it. But now I really get it. It takes unbelievable strength, courage, and power to be kind, especially to those who are not, but need it the most. Kindness is one of the answers. Love. – Vietnam, 4:28am
Read moreUnderworld
We go into the depths of the underworld to seek answers to complicated questions, not just recreation. Kindness. Love. We only have one life. We must seek kindness. And acceptance. 3:44 am Our annual summer getaway was originally inspired by a mushroom trip. Let’s not pretend it was anything other than a trip creating new…
Read moreComplicated
Sex, life, death, marriage, kids, community, duty. The whole thing is so complicated. Perhaps this is why we need direction, purpose. – Vietnam, unedited
Read moreMen, 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…
Read moreWesley, Riker, Picard
The father, the son, and the holy ghost??? Was Rodennberry sending a message? These realities exist. – Vietnam, unedited
Read moreI’m the leader in so many instances
Am I, I am. Finding compliance to validate my disorders. Compliance -> tribe of like-minded, disordered people… Am I the ring leader of the disorder, or the seeker and seer of truth? We have only one life to live. 12:57 am Truth or my truth? Reality, or my desired reality? 12:58 am – Vietnam, unedited
Read moreCoincidences (and droogs)
My life is filled with coincidences. Time slowing down. This is what I need. Chronos. Katana Zero. Slow down time. This is. Is it? I see to be awake. How can I test myself? 12:21 am No. I can’t be rational. My risk level is off the charts. I seem, and feel like in control….
Read moreMaster reality
Mastering reality. Mastering reality. Mastering reality. Mastering reality. Bending reality. Bending reality. Bending reality. Bending reality. Making reality. Making reality. Making reality. Making reality. The Grand Ho Tram Strip Ven Biển, Phước Thuận, Xuyên Mộc, Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu, Vietnam Dec 25, 2019, 11:58 PM,
Read moreThe more I consume
A break is needed. The more I consume, the emptier I feel. Food. Drugs. Alcohol. Women. Eat, eat, eat. Emptiness. Refrain is needed. I’m hollowing out. – Vietnam
Read moreTrading, 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…
Read moreLooking for peace
Just working through life like the rest of us, looking for answers, admittingly with biases. We need to lay down some basic assumptions and rules. We’re good people looking for truth. There’s never a need to insult or resort the ad hominems. When one does, we will forgive. Why? Because we know that only lack…
Read moreCorporate Leadership is the last stronghold
In an ever morally decaying and intellectual downsizing of humanity. Who else is there left to lead? With the exception of the few, the noble, the anomalies: Governments and their politicians are concerned with elections, unable to think or exercise initiatives further out then 3-4 years ahead when our troubling times need steadfast progress over…
Read moreSo much time wasted on campaigning
The difference between popularity vs royalty training… — Royalty Training Training your entire life to be a model citizen. A person for the people. Etiquette. Manners. Kindness. Popularity So much time is waisted on campaigning. So little time and money invested in solving problems.
Read moreUnderworlds
You must be able to navigate The Underworlds.
Read moreGreat 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…
Read moreBe 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…
Read moreTo say we want diversity is a half truth
We want diversity only if it is profitable. Profitable being defined as something that is good for us. What use is diversity if it negatively impacts ones culture, one’s organism? We call that a virus, which can lead to an eventual mutation of the organism. Diverse thoughts and thoughts that lead to a degradation of…
Read moreShortcomings in choosing your next J.O.B.
A mentor once said to me at a wee young age, “Khalid, you know what ‘job’ stands for, right? Just over broke.” I understood it as not making much money. In fact, it was one (only one) of the reasons why I ventured out to start my own business. Who’d want to be just over…
Read moreCulture Shield
Thoughts running through my mind: Protection. Shield. Empire. Careful entries. Undocumented immigrants. Virus. Infection. Mutation. Assimilation. It’s naive to underestimate the damage that can be caused to culture by not guarding and protecting it. Would you not guard your castle, empire, city, state against invaders designed to wipe you out – cease your existence? How…
Read moreBrain readings
Look into [ ] Locus of control [ ] Bias [ ] Amygdala [ ] Neocortex Part two
Read moreGardening Relationships
Relationships are like a garden of people. Each person, a flower or weed. Your time in them equates to water, sunshine, and fertilizer. You must choose carefully which flowers you want to grow and strengthen, and which you want to starve, let whittle, and die.
Read moreThe shift
Shifting gears from the animal brain, to the the alien brain. How to do this on command? Fuck’n amygdala. The size of an almond. Has so much control over us, highjacks our neocortex on a regular…
Read moreFor me to retire…
For me to retire as CEO, I need to replace myself, and in order to do that, I first need to become the CEO that PD deserves…
Read moreReading to Inoculate
Read. It protects you. You don’t know what’s coming for you. You cannot foresee the future. You have no idea what piece of knowledge or wisdom you will need to equip you to tackle the future Dragon awaiting you. You think life is easy? Do you think life will cut you a break? — “In…
Read moreObsessed 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…
Read morePursue 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…
Read moreConquer 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…
Read moreThe Spirit
The spirit you’re born with is the only spirit you will ever know. If you are lucky enough to understand that you must invest in getting to know this spirit. Many will die without ever getting to know this spirit. Walking lost from place to place, one vocation to another, one relationship for another. There…
Read moreThe loving wife – A story from Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai
From the book: Hagakure – The Book of the Samurai Written by Yamamoto Tsunetomo (1659-1719), translated by William Scott Wilson Shambhala Publishing Inc 1979, 2002 Hagakure was a great read. A time machine back to an era of Japan where honour and dignity meant life and death, and cutting heads and committing suicide was somewhat…
Read moreRegarding 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…
Read moreAdmitting 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…
Read moreYou 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…
Read moreWhen 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…
Read morePrioritizing 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…
Read moreYou have an email-open problem. Stop opening them.
You’re not ready to open It amazes me how often people will open my emails, and not actually take an action step like respond. Ever since I installed an email-open tracker, I’m seeing the detriment of emails from a completely new perspective; from the perspective of the sender. This has also enabled me to take…
Read moreIt’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…
Read moreWhat The Matrix got wrong about our future
What is reality? The question what is reality has been studied and discussed for millennia. Despite of our attempts to understand reality through meditation, prayer, philosophy or science, there is still no clear answer. One thing’s for sure: We’re living in a Matrix of sorts. We take in over 400 billion bits of information per…
Read moreHiring, and your company culture
A friend recently posted about his staffing troubles. “It’s about 2am and I cant sleep because our ongoing staffing problem keeps me up all night…” My response Company culture is what will keep a team together, not a big paycheck or prestigious work. You’d be surprised how little people are willing to get paid when…
Read moreMcWhopper: How Burger King is Deceiving You
I saw it. I tried to ignore it. I gave in. I said I wouldn’t write about it. And here we are. The McWhopper story Monday Aug 24: Burger King puts out several full page ads as well as launching the McWhopper.com. “Burger King genuinely wants to unite with McDonalds on September 21 2015, to…
Read moreI’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…
Read moreWhen I die
Dear Mother: if you’ve outlived me, I know it’s tragic to outlive your child. I cringe in fear at the thought of anything happening to Philo or Sophie. But such is life. A few things to consider. I’ve lived long and I have prospered. I’ve achieved so many of my dreams, more than most people…
Read moreInboundCon 2014 – Presenation notes and resources
Preface On Thursday, September 18th, I had the pleasure and honour to speak at InboundCon 2014, Canada’s Premier Inbound Conference. The subject of my talk was on branding, specifically identity and storytelling; topics that are extremely important to me professionally and very personally. In 20 minutes or less Preparing for my talk, I recognized…
Read moreProject managing your workout
I read a long time ago that the most important activity in working out (training) is documenting efforts and measuring results. By far, this outweighs diet, workout regimen, or gym equipment. Simply because, measurement activates us to become more mindful, and thus, not only make better decisions about our workouts but better decisions throughout the…
Read moreBrick by Brick: Inside Lego
Short but packed with valuable data and wisdom, I watched Bloomberg’s Brick by Brick: Inside Lego (available on Netflix) three times this week. Why three times? For one, I absolutely love lego. After the second time, I thought I should record some of the finer points for later reference. Below you’ll find my notes from…
Read moreNo email policy
The policy Don’t check emails until a 11:30am. Emails are the bane of productivity Emails provide an easy magical doorway to the land of Sans Focus. Emails are distracting, giving the illusion of working hard, ensuring you don’t meet your goals for the day. Our Creative Director, Lannie, has been preaching for a no-email policy for years now. As of late,…
Read moreCase study: Re-branding the potato
Market opportunity In the late 18th century, Frederick the Great, of Prussia realized the potential of potatoes to feed his people and his army. The volatility of wheat crops posed a threat to the market and to the people of Prussia. By adopting potatoes, Prussia would decrease the chance of famine and overcome their reliance…
Read moreWu-Tang Clan – Once Upon a Time in Shaolin
There’s only one hand-crafted copy of the Wu’s album, Once Upon a Time in Shaolin. No other copies will be made. Fans can pay $50 to listen to the album as it tours different museums and art galleries. The deets The Clan has been working on this album for well over a year, in secret….
Read moreSetting daily priorities
You already know that setting daily priorities is key to accomplishing long term goals. Yet, you find yourself jumping into work and rushing to deal with ‘important’ crap before doing so, only to find at the end of the day, you did not set your priorities. Why is this? It’s most likely because your subconscious…
Read moreMental systems: Staying positive
If you’re like me, you have a lot on your plate and sometimes you are guilty for neglecting to have those conversations with yourself. Leaving things to figure themselves out is a recipe for future misery. Feelings of uncertainty, frustration, and even anxiety are waiting a few feet away. Reminder system Here’s what I do…
Read moreBook review: The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family, by Patrick Lencioni
I bought this book about a year ago, along with three other books written by Patrick Lencioni. I finally decided to read The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family in hopes of finding a few nuggets to help bring balance to my personal (family) life. Not unlike the typical entrepreneur, I have a pretty…
Read moreBook review: Do the Work, by Steven Pressfield
Thank you, thank you, thank you Justin Smith for your recommendation. It took a few days before I made the time to pick up the book from my local Chapters. However, after reading only a few pages, I purchased two more books for my staff and a Kindle version to keep on my iPhone. I…
Read moreHave your cake and eat it too
Contrary to the saying, you can’t have your cake and eat it – I very much believe that eating your cake is not just possible, but necessary. Happiness: At the end of the day – isn’t that what we truly want? I’ve achieved my most important goals in life, and look forward to achieving more….
Read moreThe importance of healthy conflict
For the first several years in business, I was a big wuss. I avoided conflict, and wanted everyone to be happy. Everyone but me. I was a wuss with my clients, my staff, and even my suppliers/contractors. I convinced myself that I was being a nice guy, and that was what leadership was about. This…
Read moreUse Gmail shortcuts
Not using Gmail shortcuts? Shame on you. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t use gmail. Once I found out about gmail shortcuts, my process-obsessed mind made it a priority to learn and implement. Everyone on my team is required to learn and use, at minimum, the basics. They are: ? show…
Read moreLift app. My daily habit tracker.
What does Lift do? Simply, it tracks whatever daily habit that is important to you. Here’s a list of a few habits I track. No snooze button Wake up early Daily affirmations Drink more water Set priorities for your day You can also follow others, get ‘props’, and make comments on your daily activities. …
Read moreNice looking sites
2014 The secret to a really nice website is a combination of three things. Great photography, preferably in that bullshit parallax effect Beautiful typography And cute iconography. Bonus: Instagram your photos. That’s it. Keep in mind: Just because your site ‘looks nice’ doesn’t mean it will be effective. Great looks without strategy is useless. 2010…
Read moreHow brands become icons – Coca Cola
Brand message: Open Happiness Execution: This video. …Iconic brands have been guided by a set of tacit strategic principles that I call the cultural branding model. These principles differ entirely from those advanced by conventional branding schemes. In fact, cultural branding upends many verities by which managers have sworn for decades. To learn how cultural…
Read moreMaking marketing decisions based on psychology
Do you account for perceived value? Businesses often want to spend their marketing budget to increase and enhance the public’s opinion of their product or service. Straightforward? Not exactly. If a few dollars spent here and there could always produce new customers or happier existing customers, marketing would be, well, boring. Rory Sutherland’s TED talk…
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