The Philosophy of Expansion
Dear friends, a thought on my mind, expansion. Why is expansion important, and how does this apply to us?
What is expansion?
To spread out. â€Pethâ€.
To fly. Imagine the image of one spreading their wings. I think this is also the appeal of the gull wing doors on the Tesla model X, or, “billionaire doorsâ€, in which when you’re about to enter your vehicle, your car doors expands their wings, making a great grand opening for you.
Or, think about how LeBron James does infamous chalk clap above his head. This is him spreading his wings.
So the first thought is this: why is it important for us to spread our wings?
First of all, my personal thought is that nobody likes to feel restricted. Nobody likes the idea of a glass ceiling. And I think this is what drives entrepreneurs, and companies; ever expansion.
What do bodybuilders want?
For example, I think what bodybuilders want is for them to ever expand their muscles. The bodybuilder has no interest how buff they currently are, they are interested in how buff they can become.
Where is this most conducive?
So the question that is this: is there an ideal place, state, country, nation or city which best promotes the opportunity for expansion?
Typically, the best places to be are the up-and-coming areas. Emerging markets, emerging places.
For example, the place you do not want to be is a place which is already tapped out. You do not want to be in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, etc. If you’re a developer, it is wise to go to where the puck will go, not where the puck currently is.
For example, there is actually a lot of space still in Southern California. It looks like new emerging places might include Victorville, and Placentia.
Or, Asia and Southeast Asia. I am currently here in Phnom Penh Cambodia, and there is still lots of opportunity for development and growth in Cambodia.
Economic Leverage
Also, one of the good thoughts about expansion in emerging markets is this; economic leverage. For example, Cindy and I currently have the benefit of living in a four-star hotel, for only about $50 a night. I think back in the states, the equivalent might be at least 200 or $300 a night.
The why I am able to see the “purchasing power parity†is this; figure out what a local service industry worker earns a month, and do the math. For example, here in Phnom Penh, it seems that the average restaurant worker might only earn $100 USD a month. And even an elementary school teacher here— university educated, only earns $250 USD a month. Therefore out of my personal math, your US dollar goes at least 10 times as far here in Cambodia.
This makes sense. Why would you live somewhere in which your dollar doesn’t go as far?
Creative expansion
In the context of creativity, I like the idea in which you could expand your mind, and also expand your avenues for creativity. This means, do not silo yourself into a single creative ghetto.
For example, why is it that photographers pigeonhole themselves into such a small category? This is also the same for all artists.
Also the bad thing is that certain artists feel like they need to look the part. For example, if you want to be well regarded as a poet, it seems that one feels pressure to look the part. For example, a poet; somebody who looks scraggly, emaciated, addicted to drugs and alcohol, long hair, And has this aura of being perpetually distressed.
also, kids are getting to skateboarding. Why is it that you must wear vans sneakers, where baggy pants, garage your hair, have a bagged T-shirt etc.? Why not wear Lululemon tights, and under Armour compression T-shirt?
Also some thing I’m starting to realize that streetwear is the new emo; kids who get into streetwear feel like they all need to look antisocial, always have their head stuck down on their phones, and be incommunicable.
Also, women who are into yoga; why are they all pressured to wear Lululemon tights, and sports bras? Why not baggy pants instead?
How to expand yourself creatively
Become more creatively promiscuous. This means, sleep around creatively.
For example, dabble in any sort of creative endeavors which has personal interest to you. 3-D sculpture with nomadsculpt on iPad or iPhone, digital illustrations with procreate, digital calligraphy with zen brush 2, making beats (GarageBand), etc.
Also, dance.
What are you so scared of?
Success is a trap. When you become successful, you are afraid of losing your success. Also, you are afraid of losing your views, followers, fans, and identity. Truly creatures artist an elevator is not afraid of self cannibalization.
Even Steve Jobs, one book he was very interested in was the “innovators dilemma;†once you’ve innovated and become successful and on the top — what traps do innovators fall into?
The innovators dilemma is this:
The way you were initially able to innovate, and become wildly successful, is that you ignored all conventions.
However, once you’re on the top, you are afraid of losing your foothold. Therefore, rather than continually doing radical innovation, you become more risk-averse, and stick to the tried-and-true, and focus on iteration instead.
For example, consider the new iPhone Pro. There is nothing really radically innovative about it; the form factor is the same, only big innovation is the “dynamic island“ concept, which essentially means just creating a little bit more space for the display to breathe, something that technically Samsung has had forever. Also, a bad sign; when corporations start to use old marketing lingo; talking about how design and engineering meet.
Is iteration bad?
Question: would you rather be a Tesla, or a Toyota?
Toyota has worked with a kaizen approach; making their cars 3% better, indefinitely. The downside of this is that it creates generally boring cars.
Far better to be a Tesla, when you start carte blanche (vlog), from scratch. Podcast.
Radical innovation
What does it mean to be radically innovative? It means you think very very deeply about first principles, and create your own idealized thing.
For example, my initial vision for arsbeta.com; a double blind experiment for photos.
Also to think philosophically:
Rather than how to do something, should you do something?
Should you expand?
There is an interesting story about this mystic from India who was talking to Alexander the Great.
The story was this: when Alexander the great asked the mystic for some advice, the mystic simply took out a piece of dried calfskin, the one that crawls upwards, and pushed down on every single side. As the mystic pressed on other sides of the calf skin, other parts would raise, and other parts would fall.
Essentially the just was this; in trying to over expand, you lose it all.
Even if you think about history, colonialism doesn’t seem to work. “Great†Britain lost her foothold all around the world, in trying to overexpand into India. Also, even if you think about the French; their expansion into Southeast Asia, in Indochina, might have indirectly led to their demise. France should have simply taken care of matters back home.
It seems that it only makes sense to expand if back home, you’re already wildly successful and solid. Otherwise, expanding into other places will only weaken you.
For example, do not try to fix someone else’s house, if your own house is in shambles. In direct terms:
First focus on the well-being of your own direct family, a.k.a. your kid and wife, before trying to “help†other people.
This is where I get very very suspicious of people who do missionary work; are you leaving your kid and wife behind back home, in order to do evangelize abroad? This seems foolish.
When is the right time to expand?
Once you’re on top, expand.
For example, once I became number one on Google for Street Photography, I realize that it was wise for me to expand into other topics. For example, expanding into photography entrepreneurship, and also photography philosophy.
Even now, I’m very interested in photography innovation, photography motivation (video), and other pursuits. Creative photography.
Expand yourself
Self expansion means:
Once you’ve become insanely solid yourself, then you can continue to expand and help empower others. Why empower others vlog.
But first —
Prioritize yourself, THEN focus on others.
ERIC
Expand your horizons
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Other random things on my mind
- GarageBand for iPhone great for kids!
- Purple color for new iPhone pro very cool.
- Gopro hero 11– needs to market themselves as “the strongest camera on the planetâ€. Seneca loves the GoPro and throwing it around!
- Phnom Penh is the new prime spot on the planet.
- Defense.gov — funny how the military for America is the “department of defenseâ€, not offense.
- Are you allowed to hate dogs in America?
Also really like the new http://balenciaga.com stuff.
Share the ideas
If this sparked any creative ideas within you feel free to forward to a friend!