Quick note: I’m sorry it’s September when this is coming out, but I had intended to finish the Story of Peru before publishing this, so it sat on the shelf. In any case, thanks for being here and reading. I hope this brings you some great info (towards the bottom), and some of my reflections from last year bring some good to you.
Just like last year: What a year. Ups and downs. I’m sure we all had them.
In order to not dwell on the past, this quick one is meant to share some stories and learnings from this past year’s history, some of the best things I came across, and to hopefully relay some joy, love, and enrichment.
Daggon, my thoughts from last year are still what I want to say today:
From starting different groups, exploring new places, and genuinely trying to be good I was able to build a lot of new and meaningful relationships. That being said, there were many challenges with relationships all around me; from family and close friends to personal and political. This will almost always be the case for everyone IMO, but using the experiences that you go through, or seeing the situations around you, to better your future relationships, and to help others, is the best thing we can get out of them. Using others’ and your own experiences to learn is invaluable.
Now, onto the new stuff.
Learning from the good and bad, and appreciating both of them, are struggles for me, so I practice them consistently. Another important principle from the great Ray Dalio is:
Pain + Reflection = Progress.
I started 2018 with intentions to do more toward my mission of relaying joy, love, and enrichment. I worked to the best of my ability to do that; focusing on productivity, intelligible prioritized decision making, and sheer effort/will. Sounds great. It was, for most of the year. Or so I thought. More on that later. In 2017 I was asked to manage the back-end sales for my $15mil/yr employer then build a system to replace my position. Then in 2018, I was asked to become the training manager and main-trainer. This job was significantly more simple, even though we beat our sales goal by 199%, and it allowed me the time and space to focus on building things that were meaningful to me. Namely, KleinHaus Gym, KleinHaus Studio, Hockey for Covington (CSHL), and KleanMeals. While the first two projects were solo-run, there were many people involved with the latter two. The relationships and experiences gained from these projects are invaluable to me, and I’m completely grateful for them.
As mentioned earlier on the blog, the ending of 2017 was rough for me in that I was recovering poorly from a very extended period of little sleep. That coupled with a sprinkling of depression and an addictive personality, I drank more alcohol and spent more money at bars than at any other time in my life – all while building these projects. This lasted from January to August or September when I quit cigarettes with two of my brothers. Quitting the smokes, and a personal reason, helped me avoid the bars, think clearly, prioritize, and reinforce certain areas that I felt needed to be focused on.
Even though in the latter part of the year I was thinking more clearly and intelligibly than ever before, I was spread too thin. Close people around me were misunderstanding my reasoning for not ‘being able to’ do certain activities as complaining, and me getting resentful for their words and reactions, I found it most valuable to remove myself from certain leadership roles. The main one being stepping down from ownership of Hockey for Covington (CSHL). I felt confident in stepping down due to the leadership team that was in place, and my effort (described above) for 35-50hrs/wk for most of the year to set up a mission, vision, systems, processes, relationships with partners, leaders, and city officials, and culture. In short, I was confident that I put everything I had, for as long as I could, and as productively as I knew how to help create an organization that would do good and was sustainable. It was more important to me to maintain meaningful relationships than work on (or own/lead) the organization at that point.
Legitimizing and delegitimizing KleanMeals
Also a great experience. We took it from a few people and companies, cooking out of our kitchens, to state and federal recognition and cooking out of an incubator kitchen. We learned and executed the ins and outs of the food industry regulations and business, saw that our timing was off (due to higher commitments to other organizations), that Amazon is working on a similar business model (we don’t want to compete with them), and we got out. We could have done more, and better, had we put more concentration toward it, however, I see it as a valuable experience that positively affected many people (our goal), and the opportunity to get back into it remains.
Every time I think I’m out… They drag me back in
It’s been well over 5 years since working in the service industry. That’s changed since Thanksgiving as I decided it’s better to make money at the bar than spend it at this time in my life; I’ve started barbacking at 16Bit. I’ve found it nice to be back, everyone has been super friendly, and it’s freeing to work at one of the busiest bars in the city while not ‘feeling like I HAVE’ to work there. Cheers to the couple of buddies who put in a good word for me there!
Some personal notes
With some, now obvious, glaring blind spots removed, I found some faults of mine that I can now work on. Namely:
-Communicating with some very close people to me only when I want something. So, I’ll be working on spending quality time, rather than productive time, with more people.
-Using alcohol to stay present with people when my empathy reserves run out. Also, using alcohol to not address root-cause issues. So, I’ll be drinking way less (for other reasons as well) and continuing to practice presence all the time.
Now onto some of the heavy-positive-impactors for 2018:
Root Car Insurance – reduced my car insurance from Geico by more than %50.
Arcadia Power – reduced my electric bill quite a lot and it’s all green-source.
Brawl Stars – a fun cartoon/shooter game for mobile.
The new Onnit Total Human – This is the reintroduction (with some added stuff) that I’ve promoted for a long time. It’s magic.
Jordan Peterson – He’s blown up in the past couple of years. His message resonates with me due to my religious upbringing, interest in the philosophy of Truth and meaning, and very high-level thinking and communicating.
Quitting cigarettes
I was very fortunate to read, and listen to, a lot of books this year. Here’s a list of the most impactful ones for me this year and I ask everyone read/listen to them (please) (I may start doing book reviews – does that interest you? LMK):
(Again) Principles: Life and Work – R. Dalio
(Again) Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win – L. Babin, J. Willink
Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too – G. Vaynerchuk
The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance – J. Waitzkin
The Lessons of History – W. and A. Durant, details the cycles of socio-politics and religion through history, how they are linked and interact, and how they repeat (cycles).
The Hero with a Thousand Faces – J. Cambell, details the religious and mystic heroes through history and where they come from.
The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy – C. Bailey
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage– A. Lansing, the story of one of the first journeys to the south-pole and the ‘endurance’ and leadership needed to survive through extraordinary circumstances.
The Power of Habit – Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business – C. Douhigg,
The Daily Stoic – R. Holiday, provides a daily passage from a stoic-great and food for thought.
I Don’t Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression – T. Real
How to Win Friends & Influence People – D. Carnegie, the classic.
Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders – D. Marquet
The 49th Mystic (Beyond the Circle) – T. Dekker, My favorite book I’ve ever listened to. It was like watching a movie in my mind. Science, philosophy, futurism, religion, heroes… it had it all.
Six Simple Rules: How to Manage Complexity without Getting Complicated – P. Tollman
The Black Swan: Second Edition: The Impact of the Highly Improbable – N. N. Taleb
Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae – S. Pressfield
-Side note – I went through so many books that I’m limiting the number of new ones in 2019 and revisiting most of the above again this year.
Again, this year, I was fortunate to travel a lot for work and such. Here are a couple spots I highly recommend to check out during the winter for spectacular ocular pleasure ?
Salt Lake City
NYC in the snow
Thanks a lot for reading and sharing your attention! Happy new year, and let’s make this the best year yet!!
If you have any questions or want to talk, please reach out any time.
Best,
Jase
Great weblog here! Also your website lots up very fast! What host are
you the use of? Can I get your affiliate hyperlink on your host?
I desire my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it is time to
be happy. I have read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you some
interesting things or suggestions. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article.
I desire to read more things about it!
Wow, marvelous weblog structure! How long have you ever been blogging for?
you made running a blog glance easy. The entire look
of your web site is great, let alone the content!
mexican pharmaceuticals online: medication from mexico pharmacy – medication from mexico pharmacy
Hello! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was
wondering which blog platform are you using for this website?
I’m getting sick and tired of WordPress because I’ve had problems with
hackers and I’m looking at options for another platform.
I would be great if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
Tremendous issues here. I am very happy to peer your article.
Thank you a lot and I am taking a look ahead to contact
you. Will you please drop me a mail?
Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an incredibly
long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear.
Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyway, just wanted to say excellent blog!
Hi, I think your blog might be having browser compatibility issues.
When I look at your blog site in Firefox, it looks fine
but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other
then that, great blog!
https://indiapharmacy.bid/# buy medicines online in india
This article will help the internet people for setting up new web site
or even a blog from start to end.
buy stromectol pills
cipro online no prescription
certainly like your website but you need to take a look at the
spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very troublesome to tell the reality
on the other hand I will certainly come back again.
http://mexicanpharmacy.ink/# mexican drugstore online
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly donate
to this fantastic blog! I suppose for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account.
I look forward to brand new updates and will
talk about this website with my Facebook group.
Talk soon!
If some one needs expert view concerning blogging after that i propose him/her to go to see this blog, Keep up the good job.
Link exchange is nothing else except it is just placing the other person’s
website link on your page at suitable place and other person will
also do same in support of you.
Quality articles or reviews is the crucial to interest the people to pay a quick visit the
web page, that’s what this web page is providing.
Very rapidly this site will be famous among all blog visitors, due to it’s nice posts
These are in fact enormous ideas in regarding blogging. You have touched some
fastidious factors here. Any way keep up wrinting.
http://indiapharmacy.bid/# canadian pharmacy india
Hello there, I found your blog by way of Google at the same time as looking for
a similar matter, your website got here up, it appears great.
I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hi there, simply become aware of your blog via Google,
and found that it’s truly informative. I’m
going to be careful for brussels. I’ll be grateful if you proceed
this in future. Lots of other people might be benefited out of your writing.
Cheers!
It’s very easy to find out any matter on web as compared to books, as I found this article at this web page.
Hey there I am so excited I found your blog page, I really found you by mistake, while
I was looking on Yahoo for something else, Anyhow
I am here now and would just like to say thanks for a
fantastic post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I
don’t have time to read through it all at the minute
but I have saved it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be
back to read a great deal more, Please do keep up the awesome work.
Superb website you have here but I was curious about
if you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics discussed here?
I’d really love to be a part of community where I can get suggestions from other knowledgeable individuals that share the same interest.
If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Thanks a lot!
Excellent way of telling, and nice post to get facts concerning my presentation subject matter, which
i am going to deliver in college.
buying from online mexican pharmacy: purple pharmacy mexico price list – medicine in mexico pharmacies
Hello, I do believe your website may be having internet browser compatibility problems.
When I look at your website in Safari, it looks fine however when opening in I.E., it’s got
some overlapping issues. I just wanted to provide you with a quick heads up!
Other than that, wonderful blog!
Hey there! I’ve been reading your weblog for a long time now and finally got the courage to go
ahead and give you a shout out from Atascocita Texas!
Just wanted to say keep up the good job!
medication from mexico pharmacy: mexican pharmaceuticals online – mexico drug stores pharmacies
Hey! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest authoring a blog post or vice-versa? My website covers a lot of the same topics as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from each other. If you happen to be interested feel free to shoot me an email. I look forward to hearing from you! Excellent blog by the way!
It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy.
I have learn this put up and if I may just I
want to suggest you some fascinating issues or suggestions.
Maybe you could write next articles regarding this article.
I wish to read more things approximately it!
Have you ever thought about writing an e-book or guest authoring on other websites?
I have a blog based upon on the same subjects you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information.
I know my visitors would appreciate your work. If you’re even remotely interested,
feel free to shoot me an email.
Thanks in favor of sharing such a fastidious thinking, paragraph
is nice, thats why i have read it entirely
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your website.
It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes
it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit
more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your
theme? Fantastic work!
I’m curious to find out what blog system you are working with?
I’m experiencing some minor security problems with my latest website and I’d like to find
something more risk-free. Do you have any recommendations?
https://mexicanpharmacy.ink/# buying prescription drugs in mexico
Hi! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after reading
through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.
Nonetheless, I’m definitely glad I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking
back frequently!
Hi, this weekend is fastidious in support of me, as this point in time
i am reading this wonderful informative paragraph here
at my home.
My relatives every time say that I am killing my time here at web,
but I know I am getting familiarity all the time by reading thes fastidious content.
stromectol liquid
Hi! I could have sworn I’ve visited this site before but
after looking at many of the posts I realized
it’s new to me. Regardless, I’m certainly delighted I came across it and I’ll be bookmarking it and checking
back regularly!
great submit, very informative. I wonder why the opposite specialists of this
sector do not notice this. You must continue your writing.
I’m confident, you’ve a great readers’ base already!
You can certainly see your skills within the work you write.
The sector hopes for more passionate writers
like you who aren’t afraid to mention how they believe.
Always go after your heart.
propranolol 80mg
What’s Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It
absolutely useful and it has helped me out loads. I
am hoping to give a contribution & assist different customers like its
helped me. Great job.
I got this web site from my pal who told me about this website and now this time I am visiting this
site and reading very informative articles
or reviews here.
Thanks to my father who informed me on the topic
of this web site, this webpage is really amazing.
My page; http://superpremium2.premium4best.eu/
http://mexicanpharmacy.ink/# mexican mail order pharmacies
What’s up colleagues, how is everything, and what you desire to say concerning
this piece of writing, in my view its genuinely remarkable in support of me.