₿LOG
The Chinese are very good at copying and brute force, but they’re not good with aesthetics and creating things with sex appeal (American innovation).
Asians are good at following directions and being subservient, but Americans care more for individuality and uniqueness. There is still a reason why rich Chinese still prefer Apple and iPhone 10000x more than Huawei or any Chinese technology brand.
American innovation, Chinese production.
when surfaces are uneven, you pay more attention. Whereas, if surfaces are flat, you become overconfident, and ignore potential potholes.
Or perhaps, superficially more dangerous stuff is actually safer.
The good thing about physics thinking is that, besides the rules of physics, almost anything, and everything is possible.
for example, Elon musk, having the vision of creating the grasshopper rocket, something that was very possible from the physics perspective, but a lot of people did not believe that it was achievable.
Then, almost anything is possible. The better question is how badly you desire to strive towards it.
The difference between labor in Asia and America; Asians do not believe in “workers rights“ for cheap labor. Nor do they care for safety.
In America, it looks like the bulk of the cheap labor come from Mexico. For Americans, who partake in cheap labor, tend to be lazy and entitled.
Also, too many regulations in America, means that things get built slower. Compare this with Asia, where there is more overt under the table dealings, which allows for greater speed and productivity.
A simple way to barbell your attention: with other people, either give them 100% of your undivided attention (no phone) or 100% ignore them.
Maybe this is even a better way to interact with your kids, or parenting. Either 100% ignore them, and let them do their own thing, or if you’re actually playing with them or engaging with them, put away all your devices and give them 100% of your undivided attention.
Perhaps the best way to leverage yourself is to know and realize that nobody “needs your helpâ€. Towards a more non-interventionalist approach. Also, this is the best way for you to conserve your physiological energy, to maximize your own leverage of yourself.
My new notion of “hypeliftingâ€, which is essentially hyping yourself up, and attempting a very very heavy weight. Something that you are not certain whether you can do or not.
Failure is not even a concept. Because it doesn’t really matter whether you succeed or not, rather, your degree of courage and manliness comes from how much you attempt, without fear.
Exceed yourself, exceed your own preconceived notions of what your “limits“ are.
For example, mental blocks. When I’m back home in the states, I think I often get psyched out or intimidated by the traditional red 45 pound plates. When I am abroad, where everything is in kilograms, things seem a bit foreign, carte blanche, and uncertain in a good way. Funny enough, because I don’t really understand how to convert things into kilograms, and don’t have a certain sense of how heavy the weights are, actually end up being able to attempt more, and lift more heavier weights. And this is a huge way I’ve been able to level up my strength.
Therefore my first interventionalist thought:
We often limit ourselves, because we put certain mental blocks on ourselves.
Another thought, or some thing I’ve learned from powerlifting (I call it â€hypeliftingâ€), it is better to do bigger jumps in weight, than to be a “prudentâ€.
For example, a technique or a mode of doing things which I got stuck in back in the states is the notion that when powerlifting, one should be prudent and jump in weight steadily, starting with a 25 pound plate, and then jumping up to the 45 pound plates. For example, if you’re warming up with squats, starting with warming up with just the bar, then adding a 25 pound plate on one side, then taking off the 25 pound plate and putting on a 45 pound plate, then stacking on another 25 pound plate on top of the 45 pound plate, etc.
However, I personally discovered that in spending too much time warming up, and doing too many repetitions or lifts, I lose or drain my hype energy. Therefore, better to do as few repetitions as possible, in order to preserve my energy for the heaviest weight I will attempt. For example, with deadlift, starting with one plate on each side, then stacking on another plate, then stacking on another plate, until I get up to five plates.
Maybe this is where numbers, and goals, and limits are bad. For example, we often psych ourselves up with round numbers.
For example, my personal goal of obtaining 10 bitcoin. Why is it that we set goals for ourselves, in round and even numbers? Maybe a better goal is to just indefinitely get more.
Or with money— the goal of $200,000 a year.
Or with men and weight, striving to obtain a certain body weight?
Or with powerlifting, we use the plate concepts to set certain goals. For example, a two plate benchpress, a four or five plate deadlift, or a four and five plate squat. Or a 500 pound that lift, which is hilarious, because it is a 5 plate and 2 1/2 pound potato chip on each side.
Or with social media, first striving to get 1000 followers, then 5000 followers, then 10,000 followers, then 100,000 followers, etc.
Then, maybe a better way to approach things is to just set an insanely high audacious goal for yourself, and steadily truck towards that. For example, I like that idea that before I die, I could do at least a 700 pound deadlift, a 600 pound squat, and a 400 pound (floor) benchpress. Or a even more robust way of doing things is to not even care about the number, but, to just keep testing your limit, and play around your limit, without fear.
For example, I am currently here in Phnom Penh Cambodia, and because I have no idea of kilograms, I test my strength. I just try a random heavy weight, and if I cannot lift it
The simpler design is often the superior design.
On my quest to become a demigod:
Discover and test your limits, then strive to go beyond them!
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As a heuristic, better to be led by the principle; “don’t be foolish†than the positive one, which is “be wise“.
Tallness as a desired thing. Tallness in human beings, and also tallness in buildings. Skyscrapers and hotels and condos.
Also, tallness for our cars and vehicles; the reason why people like SUVs, is that if you’re taller and more superior on the road.
Also, with the “overlanding†trend, the trend is to lift your vehicle, and make your car as tall as possible, instead of as low to the ground as possible (sports and hyper cars).
How is it that we become stronger? Progressive overload. That means, at the week level, you always add a little bit of difficulty or weight, and in the long run, your body learns to overcompensate, and thus becoming stronger.
You yourself become the sports utility vehicle. Strong legs, stout body.
Also, one of the best ways to conquer Jet Lag is during the day just drink lots of black coffee, and walk around as much outdoors as possible. Ideally the direct Sun.
Also, I get power from the sun!
Why travel? Towards what ends?
For me, I prefer to travel and be on the road. Why? The irony —
Things are LESS certain and normal.
For me, this awakens my inner-genius. I innovate and do things new.
For example, wanting to workout. I found a local gym here in Phnom Penh and the entry was only $3USD for a day pass! And, the weights were not like back home — it required me to jump quicker than I usually do. For example, instead of increments of 25-pounds and 45-pounds, I just went straight up plate by plate (20kg plates). This is the road for me to (finally) deadlift my dream — 5 plates!
Once again, if I were back home, my technique is limited via the same old way I typically do things. Traveling, being on the road, or being abroad (foreign, non-home) gives you the opportunity (through necessity) to innovate.
Something else I learned:
Life in America is boring.
Life abroad in places like Asia are far more fascinating, dynamic, and fun!
For example in America, you’re essentially trapped in a car all day, or stuck in suburban archipelagos. Even SF or NYC — you’re stuck in the subway, an Uber, etc.
Asia, like being here in Phnom Penh — so much more fun and dynamic! The people are more open, friendly, curious and engaging. Americans tend too shy, or often stand-offish.
If I had the option, I’d prefer to live long-term in Phnom Penh Cambodia over anywhere in the states.
For me, my personal interest:
To live a maximally fun, dynamic, and interesting life.
Also to maximize my ability for turbo thoughts.
Being abroad allows me to do this.
For example, being able to firsthandedly witness the Chinese influence here is very interesting from a global capitalism perspective. And it isn’t scary — my thoughts:
Globalism isn’t going to be about war, it will just be all about wealth-accumulation and capital-accumulation of all rich oligarchs and individuals.
No way I could have had this thought if I were back stateside.
And another thing:
You must witness it first handedly.
Even the closest thing I can personally do to share my experiences is a GoPro ultra wide lens, but to witness it first hand — your mind will be blown. Mine was.
Close minded vs open minded. Which do you prefer?
I prefer being open minded.
Why be open minded? You make your mind more powerful. To close your mind actually limits you in a bad way.
Assuming we want to become wiser, more intelligent, and more powerful, opening your mind is the way.
By traveling and experiencing new places can only open your mind.
It seems the new millennial thing is the whole “digital nomad†thing. But after COVID, this dream has died down a bit.
However, for me, the ideal I have is having the ability to live freely. To not be restricted. Not being restricted by a house, a home, a car, insurance, consumerism (Amazon prime) and all these other things which hold us down.
I was with Seneca this morning at our hotel, and looking outside, seeing some pigeons and doves hanging out and thinking:
Being able to be as free, and live as freely as a bird.
I would encourage you then to travel or live abroad as much as you can, given your life situation.
Everyone is different, but know —
You have more choice and power in your life than you think you do!
ERIC
Hungry for adventure? Embark on an epic ERIC KIM EXPERIENCE:
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My son as a work of art:
You must come here and witness it for yourself:
Limitless living.
Being boring as the only cardinal sin.
If we were not overconfident in ourselves and our abilities, nothing great would ever be attempted.
Overconfidence good for entrepreneurship, risk taking, powerlifting.
Become the change which you desire to see manifested in the world!
Never stop innovating:
Test your courage and self in street photography.
The worth of a street photographer—
How much he/she tests their courage, to make a certain photo,
Not that everything happens for a reason, but that which has happened, figure out how to leverage it to your personal benefit!
This is wise leverage.
Write it down in order to get rid of your thoughts.
Laziness is a virtue.
Doing more as a sign of weakness or insecurity.
“Work ethic†as a slave morality.
America is boring. Asia is fun!
I love Cambodia, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, India etc:
MY LIFE GOAL—
To come up with thoughts which can move the world!
New thoughts, turbo thoughts, innovative thoughts— deeper thoughts, more profound thoughts, more unique thoughts, also more entertaining and fun thoughts!
I love the way I look, my strength, my abilities, thoughts, and uniqueness.
I’m taller than Kanye, I’m stronger than Elon (I can deadlift waaaay more than him). More handsome than Jeff Bezos.
Even for the guys who can deadlift or squat more than me at the gym, I have zero desire to look the way they do.
Think at the week, not the day level.
More signal at the week level, too much noise on the daily level.
Once a week — one rep max attempt for deadlift, squat, floor bench press.
Perhaps better just once a week, for a 2 hour session than everyday for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Better way to maximize and leverage your time!
Also after one rep max deadlift attempt, your adrenaline and testosterone should be very high— then utilize that hyper energy towards all your other lifts!
My photography, my son, my body, my wife is my art!
The body as the apex thing.
Anything which strengthens your body is good, anything which weakens your body is bad.
Gain more control in your photography, your blog and website, and your life, less influence and power and impact.
Bitcoin as less convenient, but more control.
Tesla is very cool, but you also have less control.
Deunification.
Perhaps everything in sync, and having everything part of a unified ecosystem is bad. Less control for you, even though it may be a better “user experienceâ€.
Capital, growth, power ascending is good!
My extreme joy of the iPad, my extreme disdain of the iPhone.
Perhaps, for my next phone I’ll just switch back to android or Google pixel.
Why? Too expensive, too buggy. Microphone not great.
However, I really like the iPad. Especially the iPad Pro!
I want more control! Control over power?
How to build willpower.
