Random Chat, Thoughts, Posts, and/or Rants Thread

[Chris25]

For example, I just learned today that an idea I had years ago for an airport valet service is now reality. Not only is it reality, but it is growing and grabbing funding.

The service is EXACTLY as I envisioned it would be.

I was reading a book about this topic a while ago by Elizabeth Gilbert. She describes how ideas are an energetic life-form looking for a human partner. If it thinks that you can do the job, it will pay you a visit. But, if it notices that you won't collaborate to the execution, it will find someone else. It will not wait for you forever.

Now I know that this is magical realism, but it always stuck with me in a way to remind me that if I don't take action, someone else will.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Like to post something but it doesn't need its own thread?

This thread is for you!

Thought I'd create a random thoughts and chit-chat thread for anyone who'd like to post something, but it doesn't need it's own thread.

For example, I just learned today that an idea I had years ago for an airport valet service is now reality. Not only is it reality, but it is growing and grabbing funding.

The service is EXACTLY as I envisioned it would be.

OAK and LAX Long-Term Airport Parking : Never Park Again

Darn it!

The old, "Damn, I had that idea!!" strikes again!

That said, I might invest as they are taking accredited investor money.

 

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[Timmy C]

Random thoughts and rant on how the script has a massive hold on society.

Was at a party last week for grand final day, if your not from Australia you won't get it.

Was speaking to one of my lady friends about investing business etc, we got talking she asked if I read the barefoot investor.

I said is it another ETF circle jerk?

She said no its about a guy who was broke in his 30s and turned it around. I said did he turn it around from writing the book?

She said oh I think he made a bit from the book but Yada Yada.

I started to speak about fastlane ideas indirectly, about having a product or service people want and need making it run separate of my time eventually so I am no longer a slave like everyone else

She says well you'll need to go get a business degree for that and basically told me it wasn't possible....

I left it there and just said yeh I could tell she was just so defeated alive but not living.

The script has a great hold so glad I've taken the red pill.

 

[MTF]

Where has @MTF been? Haven't heard much from him lately, hope he is OK.

Thank you for your concern, @MJ DeMarco. I appreciate it a lot. I didn't want to make some kind of a big post but will respond to this as it's really nice on your part to be so attentive to individual forum members.

As @MitchC has summarized, I decided to step away from the online world a little more than is comfortable for me.

I've unsubscribed from almost all stuff (newsletters, YouTube channels, social media, news) and decided to shut down projects that were taking too much of my time and/or energy. I've also decided to limit to a minimum my time spent on forums unless it's strictly business (as I'm still running an online business).

I found myself spending most of my time consuming or producing (unpaid) content and I couldn't control it well. My default was to go into an endless loop going between a few sites, including this forum.

When I looked back over the last few months, it was all the same every day, staring at a screen most of the day. Nothing memorable and a lot of wasted time that I could have used to go on a walk, learn another skill, or hang out with someone.

I needed to break this habit and prove to myself that I can and will use the Internet mostly for business and education but not so much for entertainment and/or non-productive activities masquerading as productive ones (a lot of my content consumption and production online is like that).

Ever since I made this change I have way more time and spend it in a more rewarding way, even if it's just reading a book first thing in the morning instead of drowning myself in the online world. It's given me a lot of peace of mind so far and has allowed me to reconnect with some Michael A. Singer's stuff you and I both believe in (by the way, I strongly, strongly recommend his new book Living Untethered). And that's been my goal.

Also, as @Fox has mentioned, I arrived in Western Australia yesterday and will travel over the next few months in Australia, New Zealand and wherever else we feel like going so I want to focus on that over spending time online. I get most enjoyment and peace of mind outside, preferably in nature, and I want my everyday life to reflect that.

I'll still pop in from time to time but I'll reduce my participation to a minimum and only when I have something really valuable to say, not just my random opinion based on experiencing 0.00000000001% of the world.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

I guess he comprehended my work and put it into action followed by a commitment.

@Kak would be happy to see that he didn't mention freelancing.

 

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[Fox]

Okay so this will probably ruffle someone's feathers but I'm curious... Why keep struggling like that?

Good question.

It is a combination of a lot of stuff so I'll list them off.

1) I am not in a high-risk group.

I am in good shape, I don't drink or smoke, I train every day, and I am in my early 30s.
My health has always been really important to me.

So right of the gate - I just don't see much need at all.

2) I don't even see it as effective.

If it was 100% effective then maybe my first point wouldn't matter because "I would be doing my part".
But from what I have seen through the effectiveness is not that good and is getting worse all the time.

What was a solid promise of "one dose" is now up to 4 doses in some places. It feels like if I get on the train there is no telling where it stops - in 2025 would they be suggesting monthly doses?

Plus even if I did get it I don't see any data to suggest that I still won't spread it anyway, no matter how many shots I have.

3) I don't see it as risk-free

So even with points #1 and #2, I would still have considered it IF there were no serious side effects.
Again - I would try my best to do my part if it can help others... but only if it doesn't damage me.

I don't see that as the case though - from what I can tell it does come with serious risks.

- I have a close friend who got one dose and still isn't 100%. For months he was super ill.
- I see a lot of social media posts that are suppressed about serious negative side effects to get vac
- The news can't be trusted to report things as they are (more on that later)
- I see there has been a massive uptick in heart-related conditions.

The bottom line is it isn't risk-free, it is hard to get factual info, and I would basically have to roll the dice on my health.

4) Nothing else has been addressed

Let's say I still consider all of the above and felt like "hey - I will still do it to help society"

But what about:
- no government promotion of healthy living or lifestyle choices
- no effort to reduce obesity
- no promotion of things like zinc or Vit D
- no focus on getting people to work out more or be more active
- also add in making people wear masks and stay at home which only makes it more likely people get sick

It is very hard to roll the dice on my life "to help out" when I don't see any of the many obvious other factors being tackled at all. It's not like the vac is the one and only solution to help fix this issue.

If they will go to such extreme measurements to get people vac'd why not also come down hard on the Fastfood industry or have free gym membership/health classes for people at risk etc?

No government has made any effort to help people make real lifestyle changes and/or improve their health.
This could have been a moment to really teach people about health and get everyone fit, active and eating well.

Instead, the approach has been to lock everything down and focus on insane rules and hoping Big Pharm bails us all out. I just can't get behind this mindset/approach - why do my part when the whole approach is BS?

5) No politician takes this serious in private

This adds to the last point but it's worth mentioning separately.

So many politicians have shown that once the cameras are off they don't care less about this nor see it as dangerous.

We have politicians partying on sweaty dance floors, going to and hosting huge events, having huge weddings, travelling all over, laughing it up etc.

But the second the cameras are back on they have their mask on telling you how you need to stay home, make huge sacrifices, and that kids have to wear masks for 8 hours straight at school after being isolated for a year.




6) I like having the right to control my own body

"Section 10(2) of the Human Rights Act specifically prohibits involuntary medical or scientific
experimentation – a prohibition which stems from Nazi experimentation in the Second World War, but
remains relevant today.

However, the protection is broader than medical or scientific experimentation. Section 10(2) provides that
no medical treatment can be administered on a person without that person’s free and informed consent."

I guess everyone has to draw a line where enough is enough. Keeping my basic human rights is mine.

Look at taxes, personal privacy, the right to express your own opinions freely etc. All of these (and a lot more) are only heading in one direction - more rules, restrictions and government interference.

Now what's up for play is the government to decide what experimental drugs get to go in your body several times a year.

F that.

At what point do you decide "nah I am not going with this?"

- When you are on dose number 9?
- When your non-vac neighbours can't make a living or travel freely? (pretty much there already)
- When the government decides in 2024 that the next big crisis also requires some new drug so now you got to get that also?


I see this as one big "boiling the frog" experiment.

Right now we are at:
"These people can't pump gas" (Slovenia)
"These other people can't leave the house" (Austria)
"These people have to go to a government camp" (Australia)
"These people can't leave the country" (Canada).

We also have many places requiring your papers or a QR code so they can track everything.

This is 2 years into this with no science to back up any of these crazy rules.

To me it seems like the water is close to boiling but I guess everyone has to decide for themselves.

"I'm just wondering if it's really worth wasting your life like that when the solution is so easy and fast."

The only thing that seems easy is giving up my basic rights.

Gibraltar is one example of many where easy wasn't really that easy.



99.9% Vac yet...


"Health Minister, the Hon Samantha Sacramento, described the increase in case numbers as "drastic", encouraging people to come forward to receive their booster vaccine.

The government has advised members of the public to wear masks, avoid large gatherings and maintain social distancing.

The vaxxination programme for 12 to 15-year-olds and the booster vaxxination programme are now underway, and Gibraltar received 4680 more doses this week.

Everyone who is eligible for a vaccine or a booster is strongly encouraged to take up the offer when they are called."

---

To me "easy" is the carrot to get me to sign over another basic human right I won't ever be getting back.

Look I don't judge anyone who has gotten this shot. For a lot of people, it was the right move.

But I am pro-freedom.

No government has the right to force this on you - that is a freedom we all enjoy because millions of people paid for it with their lives.

I just don't plan on giving that up - no matter how hard it gets.

 

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[theag]

 

[MJ DeMarco]

This gentleman emailed me and said my book (Unscripted ) was instrumental in getting his business started, and that now he recommends it anytime he can. Nice story, warms my heart.

'An hour a day built my million-pound side hustle'

Joel Remy-Parkes of kids tableware company Bamboo Bamboo shares his business advice for CEO Secrets.

www.bbc.com

 

[Mike Partee]

In February, I told the GF "You keep talking about XYZ biz you want to start, when are you actually going to do something about it?!" and boom, a month later a new biz is born.

After being out of the entrepreneur game for a couple years, It's been a lot of fun coaching from the sidelines and seeing this slowly blossom. Of all things, doing freaking picnics for couples has turned into a great business for us...and it continues to pick up steam.

Ladies of the forum: Enjoy. Start one in your area!

 

[MJ DeMarco]

You are right that I’m seeing this from my own perspective.

I have no problem with quitting something you don’t want to do and do something else that makes you happy.

What bothers me through the way I see it is:

A guy was complaining here that he was miserable and almost broke because he started selling door 2 door so he could build another project that he quit almost being a lawyer for.
So he could have gone through with it, take the money from there and put it in his project. Why the extra drama if he’s going to be miserable either way he might as well be paid more.

that’s all I wanted to say

Sounds very similar to my experience. I graduated at the top of my class and refused to get a job. Instead I got low paying unskilled jobs and no one understood why. After a few years I started to get depressed because my vision and identity wasn’t matching my results. My friends all around me were buying townhouses and cars and I felt even more depressed.

Eventually I turned the ship around. Now I’m sure all those friends I had back in those days are still miserably working in their jobs with still enjoying their mediocre townhouses and mid-sized sedans. Their life hasn’t changed but 5%, mine has changed 10000%…. all because I refused to follow the rote Script where your life is planned and predictable.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Been thinking about hiring a house cleaner.

Recently received a direct mail advertisement from a cleaning company.

The ad was effective enough to get me interested to investigate the company, perhaps calling and hiring.

As I wrote in Unscripted , "advertising" more than likely indicates a productocracy doesn't exist and the company NEEDS advertising to survive.

I want to do business with productocracies, not marketers.

In my investigation at Yelp and other places, this company pretty much had the worst online reviews of all the cleaning companies.

As I wrote in Unscripted and explored via the productocracy concept, if your company can't survive without advertising, you're running a marketing company.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Meta launches new features for Facebook Groups to improve communication between members, strengthen communities, and give admins more ways to customize the look and feel.

In addition, the company shares its vision for the future of communities on Facebook, which brings features from Groups and Pages together in one place.

Here’s an overview of everything that was announced at the recent Facebook Communities Summit.

LOL, give me a FN break.

When FB pages came out years ago, I worked my butt off and grew the page to 150K subscribers only to have FB change the rules so the group is now worthless. I post there and it is shown to 50 people.

F*ck FB. F*ck their groups. And F*ck whatever they do, as they will only change the rules to force you into paying. And if your content doesn't meet their Ministry of Truth's guidelines, you'll be censored to.

Not buying it. F*ck FB, I won't waste my time building ANYTHING there.

Fool me once...

 

[Matt Sun]

I did it guys, I escaped commie Argentina and i'm now living by the beach, my business still makes sells, independent of my time and location. I still want so much more but feels amazing to realize the vision I had. Time to enjoy and keep bulding...

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Well I did something today I never thought I'd do in my lifetime... bought a snowblower.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

After living in Chicago for 25 years and subsequently Arizona for the same duration, I never would have thought that I would come to love the snow.

I'm afraid this might be the last snowfall before spring arrives.

I'm guessing when you don't have to DRIVE or WORK in the snow, it truly takes on more magical appearances. When you have no reason to leave and you can just be a witness to the weather, as opposed to a participant in it, the weather has less effect on your mood. Can't believe I'm not ready for the spring yet...

 

[WillHurtDontCare]

hey teenage and early 20s fastlaners - here's a tip for you:

You think that your lives are WAY more dramatic than they really are.

That breakup that you're still whining over? You'll forget them in a few years, or as soon as you date someone hotter.

The embarrassment over spending hundred / thousands / tens of thousands on a business venture? You'll forget about that when you find a venture that succeeds.

Getting fired from a job, getting fired by a client, etc - you will laugh about this in a few months because there are always more jobs, more clients, and more opportunities.

The main reason that any of this seems so intense is simply because you lack experience with it. When you go through this stuff (good and bad) again and again, it impacts you less and less.

And what is the point of this rant? The point is to relentlessly charge towards your goals regardless of how you feel. You'll find out later that your feelings are often annoying distractions from your goals at best and absolute saboteurs at worst.

Don't get caught up in feeling good or bad - the only thing that matters is constantly executing toward your long term goals.

 

[monnffffiiiiiii]

I have saved €10k for the first time in my life!

 

[thechosen1]

 

[MJ DeMarco]

More like a crossroads.

I shall re-iterate... there are (3) groups here.

This forum has three distinct groups.

1. I have no money and don't know where to start <-- freelancing, hustles, "thousandaire fastlane" might appeal to them.
2. I have a small business that I'd like to make Fastlane, but aren't interested in employing 50 people and being the next Jeff Bezos. I just want to be FREE. I don't need no Lambo!
3. I have a business and would like to blow it up huge. Perhaps, become the next 9 figure millionaire, or better, billionaire. I'm starting a global enterprise.

Groups 1 and 2 are probably the dominant group, namely because, my message is for new entrepreneurs. Asking someone with ZERO money and ZERO business experience (or even corporate management experience) to start a $25M business with no experience is a bit of a reach.

These people need to be guided in, kinda like you needed guiding 8 years ago when your first jump at business was designing websites. Perhaps the forum can be re-categorized for each group -- hence, segregating the topics based on everyone's personal vision of "Fastlane". I for one, have no interest in freelancing or side hustles, but I think that content is awesome here because it gets people into their first baby steps.

Fastlane, as well as CENTS, is always up to interpretation for each reader and what they want for the life. I try to respect that ... not everyone wants the Lambos -- and I imagine right now in the world, a lot of people would just take financial freedom in a shed, far away from the current insanity.

 

[Kak]

Our baby's gender reveal yesterday!
View attachment signal-2020-11-08-160015.mp4

The Gun: Blaser .338 Lapua Magnum
The Marksman: Your's Truly
The Shot: 250 Yards to a 3 inch circle
The Target: 2lbs of Tannerite shaped charge through a 5 Pound bag of colored chalk powder

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Can you share a picture? I absolutely love old school libraries!!! Wood, book shelves, classic leather furniture, heavy desks. Wow!

Here is a picture my library and what's there now, it's sort of pieced together as we've been struggling to find stuff for the house due to supply issues. Haven't found my desk yet, and the "classic leather furniture" is not a consideration as I'm vegan and I try to avoid animal products.

This is where I relax and write, my personal office is where I manage business affairs.

 

[Antifragile]

Saw this fable on LinkedIn, worth a share. Enjoy:

A father told his daughter, "Congrats on your graduation. I bought you a car a while back. I want you to have it now."

Before I give it to you, take it to a car dealer in the city and sell it. See how much they offer.”

The girl came back to her father and said: "They offered me $10,000 dollars because it looks very old"
Father said: "Ok, now take it to the pawn shop".

The girl returns to her father and said: "The pawn shop offered $1,000 dollars because it's a very old car and needs a lot of work done".

The father told her to join a passionate car club with experts and show them the car. The girl drove to the passionate car club. She returned to her father after a few hours and told him, “Some people in the club offered me $100,000 dollars because its a rare car that's in good condition.”

Then the father said, "I wanted to let you know that you are not worth anything if you are not in the right place. If you are not appreciated, do not be angry, that means you are in the wrong place. Don't stay in a place where no one sees your value."

Know your worth and know where you are valued.

A diamond doesn't shine at the bottom of a cave.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Not bad for a book that is 10+ years old, hasn't spent more than $3k in advertising, and has a dogshit website. I'm sandwiched by free books too, via Kindle U.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Facebook and Instagram have been down for a bit ... and I can almost feel the world is already a better place.

 

[Kak]

In the last week, I have witnessed two separate instances of people falling in public.

Just priming you to be useful in a scenario like that. Call 911 right away, don’t ask “are you ok” or “do you want an ambulance” take charge. They always say no. Someone is in clear distress. Your judgement is better than theirs. Don’t be a frozen idiot. Make the call. Get them help and stay with them until help gets there.

Idiots will ask them if they’re ok, no they’re not OK. They just fell.

First guy was in his 20s, probably had a seizure. We were at chipotle. Everyone was just standing around like idiots, and I was like what the hell is going on. They were just watching this guy lay in the floor. I called an ambulance and got down there with him and started talking to him. Let him know help was on the way.

Next guy was 77. Was chasing his little dog and fell hard in the neighborhood. I parked my truck in a way where he wouldn’t get run over, and caught his dog while I was on the phone with the 911. He also said he didn’t need an ambulance. He couldn’t get up and I refused to help him get up because I didn’t want to make a bad problem worse for him. I just hung out with him until, again, the ambulance got there. Helped him call his wife and joked with him about his pain in the a$$ dog.

Folks, take charge if you see this stuff. People are naturally wired to look for a leader. Don’t be one of them. Be the leader. Take charge of the situation. Be smart. Time matters. If it turns out they don’t want to ride in an ambulance that’s on them.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Spent Friday afternoon with @AllenCrawley trolling the desert.

Afterward, Allen echoed how cool it was to spend the day in the desert (to him "business was closed") but his business still made money, because it's truly open 24/7/365.

Fastlane baby!

 

[windchaser]

Based on true events:

Meanwhile in social media:

“I quit my job to start a new business”
10 likes
3 comments: Good luck!

“I will be joining [huge corporation X] next week”
200 likes
100 comments: Congrats!!

“My company just raised a $1M round at a $20M valuation”
50 likes
5 comments: Congrats! Great job!
30 comments: With a rich daddy and connections anyone could do it

“I got admitted at Harvard”
300 likes
120 comments: Congrats!!/ You are a rockstar!/ Well done!


Meanwhile at the bank:

- I would like to borrow $20k to start my new business
- Ok, I will need a detailed business plan including sales forecasts for the next 3 years, then we will see what we can do depending on the guarantees you provide.


- I would like a student loan for $200k to attend Harvard
- Congratulations! I will need the admissions offer.

 

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[Mike Partee]

 

[MJ DeMarco]

My cv19 report: feel a bit better, still fatigued and running a mild fever. Was able to sleep a bit overnight unlike the night prior when my temp got up to 101.5 and didn’t sleep a wink.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

But it’s just a mask! Relax.

Relax, it's just 10 days to slow the spread...
Relax, it's just a experimental vaccine...
Relax, it's just a temporary internment camp while we fight this war.
Relax, we're just closing your church for the greater good.
Relax, we just flagged your account temporarily...
Relax, it's just a 3.8% surcharge on your investments...
Relax, it's just 8.5% inflation...
Relax, it's just another lockdown for 20 days while we wait for variant 1,303 to disappear.
Relax, it's just your 5th booster in 8 months...
Relax, it's just a box car...

"Relax" is why most Western Civilizations have gone to shit, and continues to do so.

Too many people "relaxing" and not recognizing when they are being subjected to subconscious narrative framing. The Lowes commercial should headline a class on the subject. Because you choose to ignore it and "relax" doesn't mean it isn't there. As Kak said, you are are wrong, and your wrongness is based on the premise that humans in power (both politically and corporately) are benevolent and with good intentions. Some are, but most are not.

It’s a form of “programming”. It not random either.

And yet the Lowes commercial isn't programming? And not random? Such a contradiction.

This commercial is programming of the worst kind because most people don't see it, the kind of programming that 9/10ths of the world won't see -- It's like that movie "don't look up" which you loved so much, which basically was 2 hours of subconscious narrative framing. Because I observe the sky is blue and then repeat that truth doesn't make it a confirmation bias, it makes it statement of fact. As the old saying goes, you can't unsee what has been seen. You can't unknow what you know.

I think a much better choice for Lowes would have been to have half the people in masks and half without. After all, they were trying to be inclusive of everyone else in the commercial.

Agreed, then this is not even a discussion, and perhaps, if this commercial came out in May of 2021, it wouldn't be either. But it's may of 2022. Clearly Lowes wants to make a political statement and wants a return to mask mandates, lockdowns, and other authoritarian bullshit.

In the Lowes future, everyone wears masks, and is DAMN happy about it! You can even smell flowers in your face diaper!

What makes this worse, is we are at the back-end of his pandemic, but clearly Lowes wants it to continue, or worse, go back to lockdowns ... I'm sure having all the local mom-n-pop hardware stores locked-down and closed was fantastic for business, and fantastic for people who wanted to bide their lockdown time doing home remodeling projects.

But oh, it's just a commercial.

If I saw this ad without your comments, I would forget I saw it 2 seconds after.

That's the beauty of narrative programming that happens on a subconscious level... and yet, here you are, arguing for the normalcy of masks as you shop, as you garden, as you dine, as you worship, as you live...

You're a smart man and I respect your opinion, but it doesn't mean I need to be quiet about it.

It’s just a gay person.

For someone who seems to be so educated in logical fallacies, you certainly use them a lot.

What do other sexual orientations have to do with forcing me to be masked and vaxed? To travel? To shop? To basically function as a normal human in society? Like many people, I want these damn corporations to STFU, sell what you're supposed to sell, and leave me the F*ck alone. Your job is to sell me hardware, not to further propagate, prolong, and then normalize the largest human-rights power grab in centuries.