My meat meditation:

A thought I had: how great is it that I can make photos, dump my SD card, download and process my photos, upload them, reformat my SD card, and just re-charge my camera?

I recall as a child how bizarre it was that with disposable film cameras, you couldn’t just open it up again, and stick in another cassette of film.

And I remember my insanely epic enthusiasm in high school when I first saw the Canon “ELPH” digital camera (1.3 megapixels) that had an LCD screen on the back… how you could *INSTANTLY* see and review the photos you just shot!!

The type of clothes I love the most.

Why I really love a lot of clothes from Uniqlo, as they are relentlessly doing the kaizen approach of improving.

My only desired thing in life.

Seneca as my ”mini Goku”— son Goku.

He is my ”mini me”.

Extreme precision in photography is overrated.

When you do some thing selfish, or selfishly, it is honest. I often do not trust people who do “selfless“ things.

Dear friends, some thing that a lot of us are searching for is to discover our life‘s mission. I think a lot of philosophy revolves around this.

1. 1000x

The first time is this: what is it that only you can do, which you think that you are at least 1000 times better at doing than anyone else you know?

For example, for me it is blogging, writing, thinking, photography, teaching, and vlogging.

2. Internal motivation

It seems too much of the talk nowadays is trying to find your strength, in order to maximize your money earning potential. I say, instead, just think about what you are internally motivated about.

For example, study children. They are internally motivated by curiosity, learning, discovering the world, and discovering physics — input and reaction.

3. First, become physiologically strong

I think it is impossible to pursue your life passion without first being physiologically healthy. When I talk about physiological health, I mean sun exposure, time outdoors, fresh air, interaction with fellow human beings, great sleep, and physical strength.

A simple life experiment: just rent an ideal Airbnb or a hotel somewhere desirable for a week or two, and see how it affects your health and your mood.

Also, get into powerlifting. A single one rep max sumo deadlift attempt once a week is key.

4. Zen

Rather than chase the arbitrary notion of “happiness“, I say instead, pursue your own personal Zen. Zen means, empty mind.

For example, get rid of any mental or physical irritants which bother you. This could mean, toxic people, toxic ideas, toxic social media, toxic news, etc.

Also, spend some time for yourself, by yourself. Disconnect from email, your phone, social media, etc.

5. Discovery, and re-discovery

I like this notion of rediscovery, which means that when you rediscover something old, it is almost like discovering it new.

For example, just think about the insane joy and elation of re-discovering your wallet hidden behind your couch, when thinking that you lost it, and the joy of discovering it again.

Always be thinking, and searching.

6. Philosophy

In order to discover deeper life meaning and purpose, study philosophy. Or ask yourself WHY? at least ten times.

7. Teaching and sharing ideas

What does “master” or maestro mean? It literally just means “teacher”.

I like the saying, “When one teaches, two learn.”

The easiest way to share your thoughts and learnings is just on your own personal blog, on YouTube, or make your own podcast (I like the “Anchor” app).

The biggest upside of making your own personal blog is that you have 100% freedom. You cannot be censored.

8. The meaning of your life just might be photography

My number one thought today is that after all of this, my number one Archimedes lever is photography. It is that which I am most interested in and curious about, passionate about, and can never tire of. For me, making photos is akin to breathing, or eating meat.

9. Turbocharge your photography

So assuming that photography is your life mission, how to maximize it? I say go on more trips, adventures. Travel more, whether internationally or domestically. It doesn’t have to be expensive, far, or inaccessible. You can just go on a simple road trip, rent a nice Airbnb, or even go tent camping.

10. What is the end?

The end is your own personal death. But I say, while you’re still alive, keep building your legacy.

ERIC

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LIVE MORE

For the few, the intrepid, and the brave:

ERIC KIM EXPERIENCES

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THINK DEEPER.

1. How to Become a More Motivated Photographer
2. How to Discover Your Life Passion

MORE ON BLOG

If this sparked any interesting ideas within you, feel free to forward to a friend!

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First, start with strengthening your legs. Then your sleep, then your meat consumption, then deleting social media, then blogging it, then just having fun with it!

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PODCAST

What is it that only YOU can do, perhaps 1000x better than anyone else on planet earth?

And don’t do what you don’t feel like doing.

What’s good for you is also good for your kid. BOGO lifestyle.

I really want to like the Tesla Model 3, but ultimately I don’t. I just really don’t like how the back end of the car looks.

In praise of less material. Why? Dries faster, takes up less space in your bag, more flexible.

In praise of short shorts and tanktops.

Optimize it all for photo:

Perhaps max 3 times a week at the gym. Apparently John Cena only works out 3 times a week.

Also anti “high frequency” trading. Low frequency trading (just once a year or every other year) as better.

With food consumption, less frequency is better. Better for your metabolism and hormones to just eat one massive meal day, instead of 3 square meals a day, or even worse, 5-6 small meals a day. Anti “snacking”.

What I love in my photos:

The biggest key to success: just make a photography blog.

Dear friends, some motivational photo thoughts:

1. What is the source of our strength?

What is the most important muscle for us photographers? Our legs. As a simple thought: if you could squat 400 pounds, this should make you a stronger and more motivated photographer. Similarly speaking, if you get deadlift over 500 pounds, with no belt or straps, certainly this will make you a more fearless Street photographer.

2. I need more meat

I cannot say for women, but for us men, it seems that the hormonal source of our motivation comes from our testosterone, or our testes (balls).

For myself, it seems that the more meat I eat, the better. The better I sleep at night, the more powerful I feel waking up in the morning, improved muscle mass, etc.

I wonder if I’m the first person to think this: perhaps if you want to become a better photographer, eat more beef liver, beef short ribs, instead of buying camera equipment or gear.

For example, instead of buying the new iPhone or Apple device or Tesla, use that money to go to the Costco business Center, and buy a shit load of the brisket, or beef ribs.

3. I’m off the grid

Get off of the photo grid. That means, get off of Instagram and Facebook. Instead, build up your own photo empire, with wordpress.org and your own self hosted website.

A question a lot of people asking me is this: what is the difference between a website and a blog?

Well, a website is just like having a plot of land on the Internet. And a blog literally means a web log of your thoughts, and digital artifacts. A log, is literally just like a log, like Captain‘s log in Star Trek.

In the early days of blogging, it was more like a public diary. You just said what you did during the day, and posted some photos. Then when Web 2.0 came along, became more about writing insightful articles. And currently, it seems that blogging is quite dead, instead, public opinion is run by Twitter, the news, and big corporate media empires.

What should one do about this? I say take back the keys. Build your own blog.

4. Break free of routine

Certainly some routine is good, but 100% routine is bad. I say, even if you’re stuck in the same neighborhood, city or area, take slightly different routes. For example, if you plan on driving somewhere, every time you go to the place, just take a different route, even though it may take a little bit more time. I found that even while driving, taking a different route stimulates different types of thought.

The same thing with walking. Strive to break free of your routine to walking. This is one of the best things that learn for my sociology class, that when walking somewhere, always take a different route.

5. If possible, walk to the gym

Always have your Ricoh GR in your front right pocket. And I say, the supreme life is a life without a car. Or a life in which you could literally walk everywhere.

Walk to the gym. And on the way to the gym, make photos.

6. Opportunity cost and money

Let us say that you have $35,000, and you want to buy a new car, or a used car. I say, rather than dumping that money into a car, which will slowly lose value over time, invest in something which will gain value over time: experiences, and yourself.

Example, assuming that a round-trip flight is about $1000, $35,000 is 35 round-trip flight tickets.

Or, let us see you already have a car. I say use that money on gas, and go on a road trip, go camping, and stay at a nice Airbnb. And make photos along the way.

7. High contrast black and white

I love both color and black-and-white photography. Yet, for maximal motivation, it seems that monochrome is the way. Why? We don’t see the world in black-and-white, which makes monochrome more interesting. Also, the difficult thing about color is that if you see something that is not colorful, or the light is not good, aesthetically, the color photos will look ugly. Black and white is more robust to lighting conditions.

I’ve just been shooting extra small JPEG, on Ricoh GR 3X, in high contrast black and white mode, and I’ve literally been logging at least 500 photos a day.

8. Get constructive critique on your photos

Upload your photos to arsbeta.com

Also, it seems that as you give constructive critique to other photographers, you yourself learn. Why? A lot of us often make the same mistakes in photography, and by giving a constructive critique to another photographer, you yourself learn that lesson for yourself.

9. Real life is the best entertainment

A simple thought: I wonder if we will become more motivated human beings, and photographers, if we canceled all of our digital streaming services. Cancel Netflix, cancel Apple TV, Hulu, etc.

Also, instead of watching porn, just go on a walk around the city, go to a local bar or nightclub, or go to the gym.

The best entertainment is the one in which you’re an active actor. The reason why TV media is often so bad is that it makes us passive. Certainly media should just be a stimulant for us to actually go out into the real world, and do stuff.

10. Even if the thing is at least 1% curious to you, just shoot it

Remember our motto —

JUST SHOOT IT.

ERIC

ADVENTURE AWAITS YOU!

DISCOVER YOUR SOUL IN PHOTOGRAPHY at my upcoming SEOUL travel photography experience this summer >

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ERIC KIM BLOG

Good to do it outside, on a gasoline propane grille.

#MEATLIFESTYLE

My favorite meats

Galbi short ribs are super good.

Also pro tip:

Boil beef ribs before hand, then finish them at very high on the grille.

Also–

Eat Kimchi with your meat, helps you digest and eat (more) meat.

MEAT BY KIM:

1. BEEF BRISKET MUK BBANG ERIC KIM
2. BEEF RIBS ARE KING.
3. CUT YOUR OWN STEAK.
4. The Philosophy of Meat Eating
5. No Meat, No Life.
6. The Anti-Meat Conspiracy
7. Eating Meat Doesn’t Make You Fat
8. If You Want to Gain Muscle Mass and Lose Body Fat, Eat More Meat (and Quit Sugar, Carbs, Fruit, and Starches)
9. No, Meat is Not Bad for You.
10. Alcohol is Okay, but Meat is Bad?
11. Under-Nutrition is the Issue?
12. ERIC KIM EATS
13. Eating Meat Doesn’t Make You Fat
14. Better to Record and Shoot Videos of Your Food than Still Photos
15. Why Eating Fat is Good for You
16. ERIC KIM EATS MEAT
17. Meat is King
18. How I Cook
19. Meat
20. Why I Eat Meat
21. In Praise of Crock Pot Cooking
22. Eat a Lot of Meat *AND* Eat a Lot of Bitter Greens
23. CARNIVORE DIET
24. How I Cook at Home
25. The More Meat You Eat, the Stronger You Will Become.
26. How Much Meat Can You Eat in a Day?
27. Why Meat is Good
28. How to Eat More Meat
29. Why Eat Meat?
30. Cholesterol (Meat) is a Steroid

I want to keep moving! Keep exploring, and discovering more.

How often should I squat? However often you feel like it.

I say–

If you’re in the mood to squat, just do it.

Listen to your body. If you feel any (unusual) aching in your knees or back, just stop for the day, take a few days off, and then attempt your one rep max later.

What is the best use of your time and energy? I say, use that extra time energy you got to review your photos on the daily, and publish them on the daily. Never fall behind your workflow in your photos.

iPad as insanely fun (standing), while outside to review your photos:

A type of street photo I like making:

Urban landscapes >

For example, instead of buying a car for $35,000, use that money on gym memberships, travel, hotels and Airbnb‘s, airfare, clothing, meat, etc.

Or buying a GOPRO, RICOH GR IIIX, IPAD PRO, ETC.

When I cook meat, it is the time for me to zen out.

With strong legs, anything is possible.

TURBO LEGS, TURBO THIGHS is the goal.

Hygiene as having supreme importance.

For example, to spend extra money to NOT have advertisements, or TVs in front of me