Love this. Speaks volumes about acting, but also about how we can affect our own communication by how we carry ourselves.
Product & Startup Builder
A New Kind of Home
They say "you can never go home again". There's a fear that you can't get back the things you leave behind.
For me, while I relish the nostalgia of coming home to familiar things and people (and worry about having missed important moments), it's not the absence of "home" that I fear most. Rather it's getting too comfortable in old habits and ways of thinking/acting - and of losing momentum.
There's a certain gravity in the comfort of home - even if it's never the same as when you first left it. And if allowed to linger without a sense of urgency and discipline - it can be hard to escape it.
Instead, I try to use home as a springboard. Like a swing I go back only to measure how far I've come, and to be pushed higher and faster than before.
Given that I both enjoy being comfortable at rest (i.e. I'm lazy) and have enormous appetite for forward momentum (i.e. I'm also ambitious and hungry to fulfill my potential), It takes a lot of self-awareness and intentionality to ensure I lean into the latter and avoid getting trapped by the former.
The real question that intrigues me now is: is it possible to marry the best of both worlds? Can I bring the hustle, access and insights I've won through hard work (and good fortune) into a setting that is just a little more comfortable and closer to the people that really matter - my family?
So therefore it isn't about coming home again, but rather creating a new kind of home that has the comforts of family with the texture and potential of much bigger, better things.
Final Verdict: San Francisco vs. Brisbane
San Francisco vs Brisbane
Found family vs Actual Family
Great density/opportunity vs Great prices
All seasons in a day vs warm and warmer
Savvy operators vs hungry for SV experience
Global impact roles vs Remote globe trotting
Current Verdict: Draw
My First Startup Event in Brisbane
My first startup event in Brisbane after coming back from Silicon Valley. This is my shocked face at how much was going on. I met Nicole at this event!
Episode 9: My Grandfather's Life Story
The next episode of my conversation with my Grandfather about his life story. In this episode he talks about settling into Brisbane (after moving from Melbourne) looking after his brother-in-law (and his ultimate death), abandoning plans to build a home and much more.
Tips From My Journey
Some of my tricks when taking each step on my journey...
1. Learn from past mistakes (harder than it sounds - we're often wired for certain biases and tendencies)
2. Ensure you're going "up and to the right" in terms of personal growth, lifestyle, value creation and value derived
3. Put aside your feelings of impostor syndrome or anxiety - embrace your unique value and the abundance
What are yours?
3 Kinds Of Relationships
Many relationships feel like 1 - 1. They total 0. Together you are more constrained. The world gets smaller. "You can not. Must not. Will not."
Some relationships feel like 1 - 2. They total -1. Together you are in a downward spiral. Toxic. Drama. Angst.
Few relationships feel like 1 + 1. They total 2. Together new options and experiences become possible. Even some extra-ordinary ones. "You rob the bank, and I'll drive the getaway car."
When you find the third kind make sure you recognize and appreciate it.
Happy Birthday Nik!
I want to say a big happy birthday to my mate Nik.
As I've said before, he's inspired me through his words, actions and lifestyle since I was 10 years old.
Having great, positive friends and mentors in your life can dramatically change its trajectory. Nik has done that for many people - myself included!
Positive Friends
Life Is About Balance
I struggle so much with posts/ideas like these two I just saw in my news feed:
1. "You're allowed to leave" https://thoughtcatalog.com/…/2016/07/youre-allowed-to-leave/
2. "Manage your expectations" http://faithit.com/silent-marriage-killer-derek-harvey/
They are, in a sense, the opposite of each other. And in isolation, depending what you're going through, they can each give you feelings of profound comfort and justify your choices/behavior.
The latter advises you to love what you have and recognize that nothing is perfect. On the other hand the former tells you to never settle - you're constantly and forever allowed to redefine who you are and what you want.
So much of modern life is about balance. We have reasonable sounding opposing "advice" for every situation. Wisdom is knowing which to apply in each situation.
It isn't easy.
The Man From Earth
A wonderful work of speculative fiction. One of my new favorites. A really great device to re-evaluate life and religion. Highly recommended.
A Simple Trick
This sounds great except I've worked to fulfill my purpose and potential for most of my career and happiness still feels out of reach.
I think, instead, the trick is simply being grateful for what you have - even while striving to better yourself and live up to your potential. An impossible balancing act.
On-Demand Model
This article assumes that Washio (or apps like it) will remain premium/luxury services. Like Uber that moved from Black cars to Pool and became a more economical way to travel (potentially becoming cheaper than owning a car and eventually even in the range of a bus), Washio may make the same journey down the cost curve.
The article also doesn't take into account the possibility that this kind of on-demand model may mitigate the need for a washer/dryer in the apartment (and UberEats mitigating the need for kitchens, Uber mitigating the need for Parking) which allows for more density and lower housing costs in urban environments.
Particularly in Uber's case - 30% of city traffic is people circling looking for parking. Also, a LOT of Urban and Suburban space is taken up by parking. Imagine all the reclaimed space that will result in cheaper housing or parks/human space.
(Link to article: “One Tweet Shows What Silicon Valley Really Thinks of the People It’s Crushing”)
Love: Self Expression
"The ultimate reason for all self expression is love. We want to show ourselves and have that be accepted" - paraphrasing Jim Carrey
Culture's Role
How does culture affect your personality and destiny? I think, whether we like it or not, it plays a big role.
I'm proud of my mix.
Australian Born + Lebanese Descent + Raised on Hollywood movies/TV shows.
Laid back/no bullshit + Entrepreneurial/immigrant grit + Liberal Hollywood values
H/t Sam Lang for inspiring the thought
Fan-Made Star Trek
The production values, and the themes, of this fan-made Star Trek are astounding. Better than the original I would say actually. I actually think this might be one of the better episodes of Star Trek ever made
"They are what you would become" - Brilliant.
Your Happiness
They say (at least in the west) that a healthy state of mind is one where you are free of dependency on someone (or something) else for your happiness. Your happiness should be intrinsic rather than extrinsic.
I partially believe and experience this to be true. I'm pretty good at moderating my fundamental/core happiness such that external factors don't affect it too much.
However where I always struggle is with happiness/experiences unshared. I often use the analogy of a tree falling in a forest with no one there to hear it. Success (or experiences - of all kinds) unshared with a significant other have always felt more hollow and, as a result, bittersweet, to me.
Am I alone in this feeling? Does it have a name?
Side note: That's one of about 6 or 7 reasons why I share a lot on social media. I also do it for personal journaling, legacy, serendipity, feedback/advice, helping others and influence (in that order).
Take Nothing For Granted
Take nothing for granted. I'm going to add that to my list of axioms. Most of this will likely prove to be bullshit - but dogma is the opposite of science so regularly questioning established facts in a methodical way is never a bad thing.
If You Had A 10 Year Old
If you had a ~10 year old right now what would you encourage them to focus on so they are prepared for a productive (and profitable) future?
For me:
Fields: Biotech, Nanotech, AI, IoT
Skills: Psychology & Empathy, Grit, UI/UX with a focus on AR, Entrepreneurship, Knowing how to learn and adapt quickly (most important thing on the list)
Literacy: Fluent in English, Mandarin, Code.
What is True Love?
The first 2 years is lust. True love is what survives beyond the 'newness', after life's challenges and misalignments and even post breakup.