The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss - Latest Comments in Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Jocelyn at I TAKE OFF THE MASK — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:06:31 -0000

Wow, great post! One of my favorites is about not trying to impress the people you don't like, or who doesn't like you either. Being authentic is something we should be more conscious of. :)

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Radagast — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 02:01:05 -0000

Hi Tim, hi All!

Short question: is it OK to play with the Rubik's cube during the morning walk? Does it replace the ball bouncing sufficiently?

All the best to everyone!

Radagast

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

wisdom — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:51:12 -0000

From very powerful takeaways in the post. I especially liked your mention of Slow meals = life. I have found that I tend to feel better when I take at least once a week to do this.

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Claudia — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:05:54 -0000

Tim, I'd get overwhelmed by the stuff I have to do then I'd remember your site... it puts me back on track by reminding me that life and work don't have to be such a drag if you are conscious about having other things besides work.

Thanks again.

By the way, please answer Kristie Wolfe's question! :)

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Kristie Wolfe — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:55:06 -0000

Tim love the post . . are you single???

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Gentle Miant — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:33:31 -0000

Hi James,

I think it's possible that you don't see the true value of "a very well put together chair review". Let's suppose that Tim would like to help all mankind as much as possible. And we know that he has a brain. It might even be the "best" brain.

So does that mean his talents should be used to directly help every person in need? Or would they be better used to help other "powerful brains" or potentially PBs get into the position of being as capable of helping others as he is?

To be as capable as he is, he has had to solve problems that any human might face in a similar situation. The importance of these solutions in allowing any of us to become super productive should not be underestimated, and I personally appreciate his sharing deeply.

How about you? Wouldn't your time be better spent increasing your power/brainpower to the point where YOU would have the "energy, intelligence, amount of spare time etc" to add "an incredible amount of value" ... "to an agency that helps people." rather than thinking about what Tim should do?

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

timferriss — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:46:13 -0000

@James from S. Africa,

Hi James! I have fallen in love with helping people, specifically with education. Just search "Donorschoose" "litliberation" or "karmic capitalist" on this blog to see what I mean.

All the best,

Tim

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Gentle Miant — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:24:45 -0000

Hi Tim, It's great to know there's someone else devoted to Benevolence, Truth, and Life. Or Goodness, Objectivity, and Duration. And has a brain. Impressive.

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

James — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 07:02:48 -0000

Hey Tim
I find you interesting.
Ive read your book and found it stretching and liked that.

I was thinking – with your energy, intelligence, amount of spare time etc what an incredible amount of value you could add to an agency that helps people.
Why not volunteer for some worthwhile cause – I think you and many more people will benefit from it than a very well put together chair review.

It would be incredible to see what you could accomplish if you fell in love with helping people.
Saying that - you have definitely encouraged me to work smart and free up time so that i can contribute to lives that need.

All the best
James

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Peace & Love — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:39:57 -0000

Tim, as always thank you for the great motivational insights. I too reflect back on 2008 with many lessons learned, both good and bad, and yet each contributing to my overall growth. I keep up reading your blog and have read through your book more than 3 times, good stuff, especially about theory of time, money & foreign economic strategies. I also signed up for a new virtual assistant service called Red Butler to help me outsource my tasks. They're based in the US and take care of a lot of my day to day tasks. I look forward to seeing what you have planned in 2009, and please keep posting pics. The picture of you and the maids in Japan rocks!

KP -

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Jitendra — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:13:09 -0000

Tim,

You are wrong about leaving the house, unrented. Just sell the house or rent it out. I will greatly increase your energy, you spend in thinking consciously/unconsciously about the house unused.

Also, it voilates all your earlier principles of having less clutter.

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Mike — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:19:54 -0000

This is late and probably one of the last posts but I had to say that I have found Seneca and understand why you have quoted him regularly in your book and on this site. Very good.

After coming to the realization that I need to change some things in my outlook, reading Seneca and The Magic of Thinking Big has been like a big slap in the face. A great wake up call. There are so many great things to look forward to and start today.

Thank you so much for the recommendations.

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Yavor Marichkov — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 12:18:39 -0000

I started swimming again last year and find it an excellent exercises.
Really profound comments right there about not having to be nice.

Regarding a walk outside - I do that during the summer and spring and its a fantastic way to start the day off.

Happy Belated New Year

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Richard Prest — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:54:04 -0000

Tim,

Thank you for helping me to enjoy 2008. Your tips on speed-reading, batching and following the 80/20 rule helped me to carve out more time for enjoying the slow lane and watching my three year old daughter laugh and learn.

The big highlight for 2009 is shaping up to be the altMBA - a virtual non-MBA where we teach each other over 26 weeks and 26 great books and get behind the highest voted big ideas. Of course, you're on the curriculum (http://altmba.pbwiki.com/Co... - week 20 - starting June 1st, I'm facilitating that week) and we'd love to interview you for the course. LMK! (BTW, registration closes tonight, if you want to join in)

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

CS Thompson — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:26:25 -0000

That list looks like a lifetime of wisdom!

Thanks for thinking different and speaking your mind. Your unconventional writing has been an inspiration and helped me improve my life in so many ways. Still got a long way to go to the 4 hour work week.

You know that saying "do something you love and you'll never work a day in your life"? My day job is like that 80% of the time, because I get to help young people most days. But I'm still working on my own projects to be able to keep doing it for the love and not the money.

Your efforts blogging are hugely appreciated.

Cameron

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Fernando Imperator — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:41:58 -0000

best post ever.

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Matt Ellsworth — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:57:42 -0000

I concur. I have had a thing for Chloe since Kids.

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Huey — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:46:48 -0000

Isn't it better to exercise before breakfast to maximize fat-loss? What are the benefits of eating then going for a walk?

Thanks

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Scott — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:14:18 -0000

Tim,

Forum site on the back end could be a powerful tool, but it's completely misguided. I'd like to throw some ideas by you how we could turn it into a braintrust for entrepreneurs and developing business people. There is a need for greater specialization in the topics and clearly defined goals for each section so that the information is clearly categorized as it is in your book. I'd be happy to send you a sample design, let me know.

Scott

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Niall — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:13:32 -0000

Tim you're a constant source of inspiration and you do it with humour - refreshing to say the least man!

"There are no statues erected to critics" - this is becoming my mantra from now on!

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Rich Webster — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 18:12:00 -0000

Good stuff. Who need Jesus? (joke)

I like the one best about trying to impress people you don't like.

My favorite variation of the Adversity line: People are like teabags. You don't know how good they are until they're in hot water.

Another idea: You always do better in job interviews when you don't want the job. Maybe honesty and a "why worry?" attitude comes out of that. So that might be a good thing to cultivate.

All good thoughts.

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Scott Young — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 01:03:24 -0000

Tim,

I have listened to your book 20+ times, each time letting the paradigm shift inside of me, finding new methods in my life all around me. Thank you.

There is one thing about happiness I'd like to add to your NR community. At first I was in opposition to your definition of "happiness = excitement." I'm a spiritual man, and the truest happiness in my decade of energy work has been the revelation that happiness is who we are at the deepest levels. When the wounds, bad paradigms, and bad energy is healed, we get to who we really are, which is just unconditionally happy. Keep healing and happiness springs to life.

What "excites us" can open a window into who we really are...kind of, but it is fleeting because who we are not, will keep rising up and we get bored, or irritated, or whatever, and we have to do something else. We will run from those wounds for the rest of our lives unless they are healed.

Sure this can lead to a fantastically complex and refined life of many talents and experiences which is better than mediocrity. But if you can heal first, and find your true self (which I've seen is unconditional happiness) as the reward, you will find that you can be excited by just breathing. The moment itself is so full and rich that the mere thought of chasing something that excites you is so very funny. It is all exciting!

I'm not dogging the book or the idea...just trying to add to it. This leads to a strong debate though:

Should one...

Go for the healing first and find happiness and excitement in everything? or...
Go for the excitement, find yourself in it, and hope that you eventually heal and don't just have to keep on the excitement treadmill your entire life? Which I will add is still going to be one hell of a good life!!

I chose liberation from the excitement treadmill, and ironically, found myself in a constant state of happiness and excitement.

But...I could only have done this by reorganizing my life through the paradigm shifts I achieved through your work, because for the healing that I'm talking about you will definately need the skills to acquire more time, money and mobility. To heal the wounds to get to "The field" which Rumi talks about, one needs to heal a lot of judgment, poor-man's ways, emotional energy/trauma, etc, to get free enough to see who they really are.

My daily gratitude for your work is the result of my liberation which is in part the result of your work. Thank you so very, very much.

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Paul — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:28:30 -0000

Hi Tim,

Thanks for a great summation of your learnings & lovings this year. Not only a resource for me, but also a reminder to reflect on the what worked over the past year, as well as what I can improve on. So easy (for me) to focus on the faults.

Couple of responses to commenters...

@Alvin, Re: Karmic Debt for downloads... If you're an info-marketer, expect to be treated in kind! :)

@Joan Atin, Re: Karmic Neutrality... I have often wondered the same thing and read an interesting article by Robert Ringer on this subject in Early to Rise (http://www.earlytorise.com/.... He shows some interesting examples of how it can actually be compounding, but also points out that we can't know what the experience of their lives are like... there is a quote on the above link from Elbert Hubbard that puts it quite nicely... "Men are not punished for their sins, but by them."

@Joshua Blank, Re: Renting TIm's House... I think Tim "CAN" rent his house... and probably could find great tenants if he wanted to. But that's the point - he doesn't want to! Let's all drop our preconceptions (me included, and at the top of the list!) about what others "should" or "should not" do.

@Dave, Re: Book Recommendations... I highly recommend Paulo Coelho's (http://www.paulocoelho.com.... first book, The Pilgrimage, which is Paulo's account of his own pilgrimage and lessons learned through the Pyrenees. He also wrote The Alchemist, which is also good. Any Coelho book will teach you something if you read with an open heart & mind. :) (Note: I am actually not a "religious" fellow, although Paulo's book all have very spiritual overtones and he self-identifies as a Christian.)

@Tim & @All, Re: Something I Have Loved... There is a poem/prose called The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer that I very much love and use to reconnect me back to what is truly important in my life. It has been distributed widely on the internet and Oriah herself has published it in its entirety on her website here: http://www.oriahmountaindre....

Enjoy!

Paul

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:05:03 -0000

Hi Tim,

I agree 100% with what you said about investments. I never liked the stock market. I always thought of it somewhat like gambling in Vegas, there were just too many things out of my control that could happen. I did get a little Starbucks stock for Christmas from my boyfriend (who used to be a stockbroker). It never actually made money on the stock. The one good thing is since I live in Seattle, I got invited to all the Shareholder meetings. I
enjoyed listening Howard Shulz speak (plus they give you free coffee and other starbucks swag). There were some great surprise performances at the meeting such as Tony Bennett and K.D. Lang which alone made worth it.

I always loved Real Estate (although that is not my day job), so I did really well at investing, renting, and fixing it up. What I love about it is that it is tangible and if I do my research on pricing and negotiate well, I can influence how much money I make. There is alway opprotunity in a good or bad market. I will never be a big stock investor because it is not as much fun for me. I always ask myself in any investment "How will you feel if you don't make money at this or even worse, lose money"? I have passed up alot of good investment opprotunities because I just was not interested in them enough to persue them.

So about your house in San Jose (I am not sure if it is still on the market). I remember you mentioning having a contest to see who could raise the most money for a education charity and had contestant create web pages. What about a contest for your house?

Either A- you offer the house as a prize in a contest and find a way for your accountant to write it off based on the appraised value.

Or B- Have a contest to sell your house and offer a prize (commission) to the winner. I am sure you have many fans that are up for the challenge.

I sold my condo on Craigslist not too long ago without a real estate agent- I just had to pay an attorney $500 to do the paperwork. It took 2 weeks to sell it (with a nice profit).

Re: Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008

john the forerunner — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:04:48 -0000

The bread you store up belongs to the hungry; the cloak that lies in your chest belongs to the naked; the gold you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor.

--------St. Basil the Great