The other day when going to a ReStore, some sort of random secondhand furniture store, I stumbled upon one of the greatest finds of my life; about 900 pounds of steel; a shitload of 45 pound plates, neatly talked into a container, only $.50 a pound!
I think I counted it and it was around in total 14 45-pound plates, two 35-pound plates, two 10 pounder Rogue bumper plates, two 5 pounders, and two 2.5’ers.
This was such an insanely big deal for me because the last year or so I’ve been toying with this idea of creating and starting my own gym. But the big problem was this;
Getting access to steel plates, or any 45 pound plates is insanely expensive. The cheapest I could find on Amazon was around $90 for a single 45 pound plate!
The true cheapest option which a lot of commercial gyms do is get them produced in China at one of those mega industrial factories, and get them re-branded and shipped directly to the states but via cargo ship, on boat overseas. You can get a good price on this, but the big problem is that it just takes too long; you often have to wait several months before getting your package. And also you have to deal with international commerce which is always a little bit concerning when you’re dealing with credit card transactions, financial international exchanges etc.
Anyways, a thought on my mind:
Is it best for me to continue being the goat at the gym, and continue to keep going to the gym, having fun at the gym, keep making friends and making new friends, keeping in touch with friends and making new friends, hitting your personal records, enjoying the gym life, or, is it more interesting and better for me to start something epic and interesting myself?
I think the simple solution and answer is perhaps it is more important, or more interesting, or more critical to use this opportunity to start my own gym concept.
Or in other words,
When in doubt, choose the more entrepreneurial path!
FIGHT CLUB GOALS
A movie that has made a massive impact on me is FIGHT CLUB. I read the book and watched the movie, I think I actually might prefer the movie. Why? Even though I like imagination blah blah blah, I like visuals.
There is something interesting that I’ve discovered about society;
The bias of how we “should” be versus how things truly are.
For example let me give you example, society, modern day society, notions of chivalry etc. says that if a man wants to attract women, he must be prim and proper, nice kind, and romantic and cartel to all of the desires of the woman.
However based on my true observations, it seems different; the best ways to be loud, rambunctious, some sort of wild untamed beast, happy, good eye contact, smiling etc.
You don’t need to drink beer
Another way to reprogram yourself; don’t drink beer, don’t grow facial hair or a beard or a mustache, don’t wear a hat, a trucker hat, don’t wear sunglasses, don’t drive a big ass car with limo tint, etc.
I think the funny new modern day bias in today’s society is everyone wants to feel dominant, without having to somehow engage with other human beings. Therefore, people always hide behind something; once again people hide behind the tint in their cars, when they’re out in public they hide behind sunglasses, a hat, they hide behind being antisocial etc.
I would say instead, the better goal is to be insanely friendly, insanely cordial, and also insanely kind.
Making money?
What is money? The current thought I have about money is that it is like some sort of legal tender for debt, both private and public.
For example, the other day I critically looked at a $100 bill, after not having looked at cash money for a long time, and I was extremely discerning and read all of the text on it. It read:
This note is legal tender for all debts, both private and public.
There are many theories behind money, debt being one of them.
When we do entrepreneurial things, create businesses, become self-employed, start selling or services and products etc., what are we doing? Technically we’re not making money, assuming that money has to do with that. Instead it seems that we are doing something else; creating new sources of value.
What is value?
What is value? Value comes from valere which means strong. Colloquially, value means that which we care for, what we have heart for.
A simple approach to things in life is simply create things which we value, put yourself on the other side;
How do you know if something has value or not? Use yourself as your own litmus test; that means, if it has value to you, assuming that you used yourself as your own barometer, there is a high likelihood that it will have value for others.
How do you know? Simple; assuming that there are 7 billion people on the planet, 300, million Americans plus, and you’re using the Internet, or website a blog some sort of forward facing platform, certainly there will be at least one human being on planet earth who will drive value from what you create and share.
Why?
The trillion dollar question, and also the supreme task of philosophy is this; why?
I think part of it is just a self entertainment thing; I think personally it is just more interesting to do the more entrepreneurial thing. At least for myself, I don’t desire to live a base life. For me innovation in doing things differently is a pride thing.
Secondly, not to overthink it. Personally, I just put myself in the shoes of when I was a kid, 12 years old, 13 years old, 16 years old, 18 years old, 21 years old, 26 years old, etc.
For example, the reason why I was so committed to the open source idea is that when I was a kid, and I was poor, and cannot afford stuff, the ethics and approach things was simple:
How can I do things that would benefit me when I was a teenager?
Therefore the take away points simple: just put yourself on the other side!
Create which you wish to see manifested in the world
For example, my new current passion with coffee, hundred percent fine robusta. Honestly coffee is not a good business; there’s too much over market saturation, too many options, pretty much no profit margins, yet it is something that I love and I’m committed to. Why? At least for myself, when I drink other types of coffee, it doesn’t make me feel good. But when I drink Eric Kim OMAKASE coffee, the coffee that I innovativer, I feel phenomenally great! And I suppose my passion and interest is striving to share that with others, to also empower others as well!
Level up
POWER GOALS:
- Conquer street photography in Philly oct 14th
- Nov 4th: Discover your creative mission in life in downtown LA
- DEC 2nd— Learn all about stoicism
Now what?
- Create your own philosophy blog! Peter Limburg — rather be stoic than cool
- Start your own photography blog
- Start your own fitness, entrepreneurship, business blog
- Start your own YouTube channel, podcast (anchor.fm)
Also when in doubt,
ERIC