Wednesday, 30 May 2012

20 Things I Should Have Known at 20

1. The world is trying to keep you stupid. From bank fees to interest rates to miracle diets, people who are not educated are easier to get money from and easier to lead. Educate yourself as much as possible for wealth, independence, and happiness.
2. Do not have faith in institutions to educate you. By the time they build the curriculum, it’s likely that the system is outdated– sometimes utterly broken. You both learn and get respect from people worth getting it from by leading and doing, not by following.
3. Read as much as you can. Learn to speed read with high retention. Emerson Spartz taught me this while I was at a Summit Series event. If he reads 2-3 books a week, you can read one.
4. Connect with everyone, all the time. Be genuine about it. Learn to find something you like in each person, and then speak to that thing.
5. Don’t waste time being shy. Shyness is the belief that your emotions should be the arbitrators of your decision making process when the opposite is actually true.
6. If you feel weird about something during a relationship, that’s usually what you end up breaking up over.
7. Have as much contact as possible with older people. Personally, I met people at Podcamps. My friend Greg, at the age of 13, met his first future employer sitting next to him on a plane. The reason this is so valuable is because people your age don’t usually have the decision-making ability to help you very much. Also they know almost everything you will learn later, so ask them.
8. Find people that are cooler than you and hang out with them too. This and the corollary are both important: “don’t attempt to be average inside your group. Continuously attempt to be cooler than them (by doing cooler things, being more laid back, accepting, ambitious, etc.).”
9. You will become more conservative over time. This is just a fact. Those you surround yourself with create a kind of “bubble” that pushes you to support the status quo. For this reason, you need to do your craziest stuff NOW. Later on, you’ll become too afraid. Trust me.
10. Reduce all expenses as much as possible. I mean it. This creates a safety net that will allow you to do the crazier shit I mentioned above.
11. Instead of getting status through objects (which provide only temporary boosts), do it through experiences. In other words, a trip to Paris is a better choice than a new wardrobe. Studies show this also boosts happiness.
12. While you are living on the cheap, solve the money problem. Use the internet, because it’s like a cool little machine that helps you do your bidding. If you are currently living paycheck to paycheck, extend that to three weeks instead of two. Then, as you get better, you can think a month ahead, then three months, then six, and finally a year ahead. (The goal is to get to a point where you are thinking 5 years ahead.)
13. Learn to program.
14. Get a six-pack (or get thin, whatever your goal is) while you are young. Your hormones are in a better place to help you do this at a younger age. Don’t waste this opportunity, trust me.
15. Learn to cook. This will make everything much easier and it turns food from a chore + expensive habit into a pleasant + frugal one. I’m a big Jamie Oliver fan, but whatever you like is fine.
16. Sleep well. This and cooking will help with the six pack. If you think “I can sleep when I’m dead” or “I have too much to do to sleep,” I have news for you: you are INEFFICIENT, and sleep deprivation isn’t helping.
17. Get a reminder app for everything. Do not trust your own brain for your memory. Do not trust it for what you “feel like” you should be doing. Trust only the reminder app. I use RE.minder and Action Method.
18. Choose something huge to do, as well as allowing the waves of opportunity to help you along. If you don’t set goals, some stuff may happen, but if you do choose, lots more will.
19. Get known for one thing. Spend like 5 years doing it instead of flopping around all over the place. If you want to shift afterwards, go ahead. Like I said, choose something.
20. Don’t try to “fix” anyone. Instead, look for someone who isn’t broken.
Written by: Julian Smith inoveryourhead.netson Spartz

Monday, 28 May 2012

Hike up Long Hill

This past Sunday, my roommate and I decided to go for an adventure and try to climb Long Hill, a large hill right behind out house.  We set out around 4, thinking it would be a 2 hour hike, getting home as the sun was setting.  After almost 2 hours of bushwhacking we were only 3/4s of the way up and had to turn back down rather than being lost on a hill full of baboons and other wild animals.  Luckily we were able to get a couple nice shots, including the Twizza Mansion.  Overall a fun time!
Sunset from Long Hill
Queenstown, South Africa

Twizza Mansion
Queenstown, South Africa

Friday, 25 May 2012

Photo of the Day - 6 days worth!

Been slacking off a bit with the blogging, but I have still be taking the pictures.  So here are the past 5 days in photos!
May 20th, 2012
Two children cheering on Queens College
King Williams Town, South Africa


May 21st, 2012
Ice on a Fountain
Queenstown, South Africa



May 22nd, 2012
Queenstown, taken from Get Ahead College
South Africa



May 23rd, 2012
Sunrise from Get Ahead College
Queenstown, South Africa




May 24th, 2012
Hadida Bird seen from my window
Queenstown, South Africa



May 25th, 2012
Downtown Queenstown
South Africa

Taking a picture every day has been somewhat challenging, since when I remember that I need to take a picture, I don't always have something cool to photograph.  I have been carrying my camera with me which makes it a lot easier.  Can't wait to keep it up!

Sunday, 20 May 2012

Friday, 18 May 2012

Photo of the Day -Jello Shots!

It's my roommate's Birthday party down here in South Africa, so of course jello shots are a necessity.  Really easy to make, all you need is some jello and some vodka. Add 1 cup of boiling water to the jello mix, stir until it all dissolves, and then add 3/4 cup of vodka and 1/4 cup of cold water/ice.  Pour into shot glasses and wait a couple hours for it to set!

Life is a highway...

As I have been writing this blog, it has occurred to me that this isn't just about getting 80 things checked off a list.  This is about living life to its utmost potential.  There's a saying that every man dies, but not every man lives.  So its time to get out there and live it up!
I have decided that I need to pay more attention to all the amazing sights around me, so in order to do this, I am going to try and take a picture each day of something that I think is awesome.  While I may not update this blog each day, I am going to try and take at least one picture each day.  We'll see how it goes!
To get started, here is a collection of pictures I have taken over the past few months while here in South Africa. 

The Sun rising over Long Hill
Queenstown, South Africa

The "Edge"
Hogsback, South Africa

Local Fisherman
Morgan Bay, South Africa

Mother and Child
Coffee Bay, South Africa

Sunset
Morgan Bay, South Africa

The Wild Coast
Coffee Bay, South Africa

Pumbaa
Queenstown, South Africa

Madonna Waterfall
Hogsback, South Africa
Hangklip Hill
Queenstown, South Africa



And finally my first "Daily Picture"
Queenstown, South Africa