Upon trying to optimize things, I tried to just do everything 100% on the iPad, or 100% on the MacBook laptop. However, after much experimentation I have discovered the ideal: harness the best of both!
In other words, the ideal is to have both an iPad and a MacBook laptop for your creative work.
Life in Cambodia is pretty darn good.
Why?
Some thoughts:
My life in PHNOM PENH:
Ironically enough, the worst time to drink coffee is when you’re tired
And the best time to drink coffee is when you’re actually already high in energy and vigor.
The ideal stoic entrepreneur.
I don’t like playing it safe, even though it may be the better and more prudent option.
Why copy?
Don’t expose yourself to depressing things. Depressing things depress you also depressing people depress you
Peace for the sake of what?
Asians don’t think for themselves. But then again, who does?
“Think for yourself. No, not like that!â€
The most direct route
The problem with trying to make things “better†is that you just end up copying, or iterating on a past successful design. Best to start carte blanche.
I want to keep moving! I don’t want to sit.
American Cultural capital. Why is it that Chinese people write things in English?
Also, Chinese people love watching American films, but Americans have zero interest in watching Chinese films.
Also, the uber rich would always prefer to drive or have a Rolls-Royce, instead of the most luxury Chinese car.
Chivalry is another form of flex.
Optimize for maximumtime and exposure to the streets, in street life. As close to the ground as possible.
Doesn’t matter to have a certain â€style†or â€iconic look†or not. Just make photos you like!
Some random innovation thoughts this morning:
How do we fail? By looking back. By looking back at our old achievements, our old successes, our old approaches, our old self.
Far better to prefer the NEW YOU, and the OLDER you! Why do all these people say—
This was me back in the day, as a young lad.
Nobody cares about you as a young lad. They care about you NOW!
Also, I’ve never met a power lifter or body builder or weight lifter at their peak. It is always —
Oh, look at this old picture of me when I was able to do x, y, z.
Nobody is at their peak or pinnacle for strength.
For example, my insanely great delight at discovering the new trap bar (hex bar) for deadlift!!
With an open hex bar here in Phnom Penh, I was able to deadlift 496 pounds (225 kilograms). Also, squat 420 pounds. How?
First of all, the trap bar is 1000x superior to the traditional straight bar for deadlift. Why? Superior leverages. You put your body and weight directly in the center (makes sense). And having your two arms neutral on the side (like you’re carrying suitcases) is more natural and makes more sense. Also no need for a mixed grip, you don’t need to worry about the barbell rotating (wasted force). All in all, it allows for a more effective movement which allows you to lift more, to lift a heavier weight!
Also with squat — I started to think more deeply to myself:
Why do people say you must squat “this deep�
For example, at parallel, below parallel, ass to grass, etc.
I think it is because everyone desires to be the most superior.
For example, a lot of petty guys at the gym see other guys far stronger than them, and justify their superiority by thinking to themselves or saying:
Oh, that guy has “shitty formâ€.
Or, they think the other guy is “cheating†because they are not using the “full range of motionâ€.
However, if you’re not competing, form doesn’t matter. With lifts, it then becomes:
Go however low you feel like.
With squats, what is “proper form†or “proper depth� There is none. Just squat however deeply you desire, and what feels good for you and your body.
For me, disregarding traditional measures of “proper squat depthâ€, I’ve been able to squat waaaaay more! And this is great for me and my personal ego.
Also I like at this gym in Phnom Penh, I’m the only guy squatting or deadlifting which means no distractions by comparing myself with others.
Therefore perhaps with innovation, we must become MORE SECLUDED and MORE ISOLATED (creative isolation). We must become more “Asperger’s†and ignore what others are doing.
In some ways, becoming LESS INFLUENCED by others, and LESS INFLUENCED by the outside world. Becoming more stubborn, strange, and unique.
I’ve been far more innovative and turbo thinking while abroad — during my one year in Vietnam, and now currently here in Phnom Penh Cambodia. Why?
When you’re back home, you’re stuck in the old modes of thinking and thought.
Here in Phnom Penh, I feel my mind opening and expanding. For example, to witness the development here is insanely inspirational. To have a non-American distorted notion of the world.
For example, seeing the Chinese-Korean-Japanese-American fusion here in Phnom Penh is hugely fascinating and complex. For example, how Cambodia and Phnom Penh lists everything both in their local currency AND US DOLLARS. Also, how Cambodians are all pretty much bilingual in English. Yet, currently the hulk of the development is all foreign Chinese development. Even seeing the “China weekly†propaganda newspaper in my hotel lobby here.
But, it seems a lot of the initial development was Japanese, perhaps 20 years ago? The AEON mall.
But also some Korean influences and banks, etc.
Being in a foreign place is good, as it forces you to rethink your world.
Also, even seeing a “Blockchain embassy†coffee shop here in Phnom Penh is hugely optimistic!
Living abroad, in a studio hotel as very useful to simplify your life. No more Amazon prime, and basic malls. Having fewer concerns is better for innovation. No need to clean your house, maintain it, etc.
For example, looking at the new MAYBACH concept—
The carte blanche off road car design is a quadrillion times more fascinating than the rebranded standard S-Class color scheme.
ERIC KIM EXPERIENCES— engineered to take you further:
Feel free to forward this to a friend!
To get big guns, deadlift 500 pounds
They’re more like fun dining experiences. For real food you must cook at home!
Even when abroad, best to stay at hotel or Airbnb with ability to cook! Frozen beef belly, eggs as a great easy stir fry option.
Perhaps a good idea to not break your personal rules for the sake of an interesting novel experience. For example, drinking a $300 cup of coffee in the evening, for the sake of novelty.
Perhaps with life decisions, figure out —
Which decision will make me more powerful, or give me more power?
I think not.
Car as more of a status symbol, but there are many more practical status symbols. For example, not working for a company, but working for and by yourself.
Why are modern trends so weird?
Luxury is less.
FASHION— engineered to cover up and hide ugliness.
If you’re beautiful, the goal is to actually wear the *LEAST* amount of clothing possible.
Trust no designer who doesn’t deadlift.
For example for the new AirPods, why just rehash the old original iconic iPod advertisement?
Better to innovate carte blanche, totally new.
Think more about your own mother than your grandmother. Especially once you get a kid, and your mother *becomes* the grandmother! And you become the father!
Get rid of all these superfluous menu options!
Get rid of these links:
As time goes on, I like Apple less and less. Too much bloat.
Don’t complicate an already simple workflow with trying to optimize and make things “betterâ€, “more efficientâ€, or lighter. For example trying to force yourself to do everything on an iPad is not good. There are many things which are 1000x more efficient to just do on a laptop.
For me, I prefer to blog and also select my photos on my iPad, but do FTP/server stuff on my laptop, and also use laptop for file management and making slideshows, and uploading stuff to YouTube, podcast (Anchor), etc.
In other words, we are still dependent on owning BOTH an iPad and MacBook laptop.
Not a static city, but a dynamic one:
My hatred of slowness with technology. Also why I would never wait in line for food. Or why I hate waiting in line for gym equipment.
Also, why I would probably hate having a Tesla — having to wait for it to charge!
Towards an ideal of digital ownership.
“Until you own yourself, you can’t be me. Until you own yourself, you can’t be me.†– JAY Z
Never let anyone, anything, any duties or responsibilities rob you of your zen focus:
Having the courage to IGNORE and intentionally be “irresponsible†is a good one.
Just share your visual journey, whether photos, videos, vlogs, slideshows, PDF, etc:
Videos, vlogs, workshops as experiences — become the #1 experience provider!
PHNOM PENH (Cambodia) as my new favorite city in the world.
The best gym (Monkifit), a great mall (Aeon Mall), and a great all you can eat Shabu Shabu (and Sukiyaki) place (MO MO PARADISE) inside the AEON MALL (in Asia, all the best places to eat are in indoor malls, especially in Southeast Asia).
Also with the grocery stores, you can pretty much find any product!
This mall is epic.
The quality of the bar was insanely good! Matte black finish too!
DEADLIFTS ARE GREAT!!
A little more awkward, but found this ‘ChinaKettlebell‘ product quite good! Their bars.
Also found their ‘Multi Use Hex Bar‘ interesting.
I believe the product I used at the Monkifit gym here in Phnom Penh is this one.
How they make their products very interesting:
Machine testing:
Company overview:
Details:
Like running, jogging, exercise machines, treadmills, etc.
Phnom Penh is my paradise!
Don’t start with the concept, and then do something. Rather, just follow your own gut and your own personal taste, and let others figure out what to call it later.
This is why there are no good books on innovation or business; they just rehash old concepts. There is no book or guide that will show you a new concept, because it has not already yet been attempted, discovered, or created.
Also, this is why it is bad to Google stuff, because rather than just thinking about the concept yourself, you rely on the experience of others.
