How does the economy work? Simple: the movement of money and human beings (flesh-based bodies):

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A random entrepreneurial and YouTube SEO idea:

In the description part of your YouTube videos, add a lot of information (as if they are mini blog posts).

Ironically enough I make a lot of YouTube videos, but I never watch videos. In fact, I prefer reading transcripts over listening to interviews (reading is 100x faster than listening).

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Simple ideas to stimulate the local economy:

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Fresh from the ERIC KIM NEWSLETTER >

Dear friends,

Sending you lots of love from sunny Providence Rhode Island. Feeling pretty good, and have a good caffeine buzz from my light-roast blonde coffee (Wink Coffee from Amazon), and had some turbo photo thoughts to share with you:

1. Play around with Google Photos: photos.google.com is quite fun from the desktop. You can also play around with their desktop Google Photos app for auto uploads. Upload your favorite photos, organize, and figure out how to best represent your work.
2. Upload your best photos to arsbeta.com and also start giving real critiques to other photos in the ARS community.
3. If you got a digital RICOH GR I, II, or III, play around with the ‘cross process’ JPEG filter. It looks really good. I think Fujifilm also has one too.
4. Peruse my free BOOKS section, and download the ones which interest you. Just steal an interesting idea here or there. I also encourage skim-reading.
5. Buy a Fujifilm Instax Mini camera (Amazon, or BH Photo) and just start having fun shooting instant photos during COVID or quarantine!
6. Start shooting selfies of yourself at home. Experiment with different lighting, angles, etc. Shoot yourself in the bathroom, hallway, next to the window. Also shoot selfies of your hands and feet.
7. Create your own e-book of your best photos (publish as PDF) in Google Slides or the iBooks Author tool (free for Mac computers on desktop Mac or MacBook laptop).
8. Ditch Adobe Lightroom and start experimenting with the default Apple Photos (I do not like Adobe’s new subscription model). If you got a PC, get Photo Mechanic instead. If you got a MacBook Pro laptop with a Touch Bar, using Apple Photos and the Touch Bar to favorite or rotate or edit your photos is actually very fun!
9. If you got a new iPhone or a new smartphone with an ultra-wide angle lens, only shoot ultra-wide angle for a week!
10. Start your own website-blog. Signup on bluehost.com and install wordpress.org. Prices start at only $3.95 a month … that is even cheaper than Netflix!!! If you want to learn how to build your own website-blog on WordPress, enroll in my online Udemy Course: “Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Photography Entrepreneurship“.
11. Peruse the HAPTIC SHOP for cool stuff. You can also peep our shop on AMAZON >
12. Perhaps use quarantine as a chance to learn how to shoot film. You can learn how to process your own film at home … you got so much free time now!
13. Give away one of your old digital cameras to a friend, family member, niece, nephew, child, or someone who you think can use it better than you! Double-dipping; you feel good about it, and you give them a tool to empower them to make new photos!

What is ERIC KIM up to?

A list:

1. Currently reading Galen on the Natural Faculties (PDF link). Galen was essentially the second-best physician-philosopher of all-time after Hippocrates (we know the Hippocratic oath, “First do no harm”). Now in the COVID-19 time, it seems medical ethics is far more important than ever. My essay: “Growth vs Becoming“
2. Working out a lot at home and in my home gym, trying to maximize my gains!
3. Maximizing my blogging, photo-making, vlogging, video, YouTube, and Podcast. Taking life less seriously; having more fun!

Your photo assignment

Simple photo assignment:

Photograph your own hand.

Make it as artsy-fartsy as you want. Use high contrast monochrome, or color. Use a flash or natural light. Experiment with different angles, or your different hands. Then upload your #1 best photo to arsbeta.com to get (and give) feedback.

Have fun and go shoot!
ERIC

You can subscribe to ERIC KIM Newsletter Here (or subscribe with a new email).

Simple photo ideas to get you going:

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The joy of going out, getting good sunshine, talking to strangers, being out and about in town, exploring new things.

A life with street photography is the best life!

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1. I go on walks without a phone or headphones. While I walk outdoors, I get new ideas.
2. I read a lot of old school classics. Read Ancient Greek philosophy for the best ideas — to steal and repurpose these ancient ideas in a modern context.
3. Lift weights or workout. Hormonal rush from exercise gives birth to new ideas.
4. Read poetry or listen to music.
5. Play with kids, or have a deep philosophical discussion with an adult.
6. Observe nature.
7. Shoot photos. While shooting photos or videos I come up with ideas.
8. Drink a lot of black coffee.
9. Intermittent fasting during the day to keep your mind sharp.
10. No email, social media, phone, or news to crowd out your thoughts. Quit the news and quit social media.
11. Get to bed early (7:30pm, 8pm, 9pm). Good sleep leads to better ideas. Don’t drink alcohol or smoke weed — it messes up your sleep.

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“That which is, grows and that which is not, becomes.” – Galen on the Natural Faculties

Or in other words:

If you already exist, you grow. If you don’t exist yet, your genesis is a process of “becoming”.

Thus perhaps:

1. We as humans, our task is to keep growing. We are already alive!
2. Entrepreneurially speaking, our goal is to make NEW things, NEW platforms, and NEW ideas which have yet “become”.

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The camera is the ultimate truth, and photos and videos are irrefutable proof, according to the new world religion of today, Silicon Valley, data, and social media.

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Sooner or later, every human being on planet earth (all several billion of us) will have a smartphone, which is just a camera with an internet connection. This will mean:

All human beings will be photographers.

Even look at the modern marketing — the new iPhone Pro and new Samsung and new Google Pixel is all about the camera! Camera is god.

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Before asking others whether something is ethical or not, first go on a long walk and ask yourself:

Do *I* think this is ethical? Yes or no?

If anything best to NEVER ask others whether your actions are ethical or not. My heuristic:

If you’re asking others whether something you did was ethical or not, if probably wasn’t (this is why it is hounding your conscience).

Thus the maximally robust position in life: never do anything (no matter how others threaten or guilt you) which is contrary to your own personal code of morals and ethics.

ERIC

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What I have realized:

Even if I were a quadrillionaire, I don’t like to own things.

Why? More stress, more liabilities, and more crap to maintain. The nouveau riche of today’s age is minimalism, simplicity and having the privilege *NOT* to own anything which weighs you down.

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The basic gist:

Instead of shooting still photos with your camera, shoot a video instead!

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In life, foods, and almost everything in life … bitter is better. For example coffee is sweet and enjoyful to us because it is bitter (small dose of poison, hormesis). Also, bitter greens (kale, collard greens) are only “healthy” to us because it is bitter (bitter substances stimulate our body’s physiological response).

Similar in real life, it is the bitter experiences which make us better and improve us. A life with no bitterness, sadness, sorrow, pain or suffering isn’t a life worth living.

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Talk about others as if you were talking to their face, or if they could hear you in real time. Because sometimes the truth will leak out, or they actually might be in the room with you, or behind your back, unbeknownst to you.

To talk shit is fine— everyone does it. But the question:

If you say x, y, z …. would you actually say it to the face of another human being?

For example before you say anything sexist, racist, classist, or whatever … would you actually say it to that person in real life, to their face?

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Yes, we have self control. We can decide whether to do something or not to do something. Free will is:

I am pressured to do x, y, z or NOT to do x, y, z .. but I still have the ultimate choice to choose.

When in doubt, share more:

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Let us say all the hoaxes, conspiracy theories or whatever is true. Then what? Like Andy Warhol said:

Whenever I was criticized in life, I would just ask myself: “So what?” This fixed a lot of things.

This is my point of interest. Let us say all the isms which exist in America and beyond are true and irrefutable. Then the question comes:

So what are you gonna do about it?

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In times of extreme stress are the best opportunities for you to thrive:

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And *why* think for yourself?

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The epiphany:

More important to have control over yourself, your life, your thoughts, and your body and your own company than to ‘sell out’ to a company for $100 Billion Dollars.

Notta bene:

1. Kevin Systrom who sold Instagram to Facebook for $1Billion Dollars, only to quit the company. My theory — once Kevin and Instagram got bought out by Facebook, they lost all control over the company.
2. Brian Acton who sold What’s App to Facebook for $19 Billion dollars. Brian seems to have profoundly regretted his decision to ‘sell out’ to Facebook. Note Brian Acton wrote: “It is time. #deletefacebook“. What does Brian know that we don’t know? Best to use Signal (his new private messaging company) instead.

Thus the lesson:

Build your company as if you can (or never *WOULD*) sell it!

ERIC

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Instagram — the worst thing you can do for your self esteem, focus, or creativity. The best “via negativa” approach — just delete it.

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Subtraction is often better than addition. For example to become “happier” in life, better to SUBTRACT or GET RID OF things which stress you out or make you miserable. To become more productive, better to SUBTRACT and GET RID OF distractions which sap away your focus. Even when it comes to technology, tools, gadgets, gizmos and certain lifestyle things, subtraction is superior to addition.

However this is the problem— much of capitalism and consumerism depends on adding stuff to our life and buying stuff. To be a minimalist or to simplify or get rid of things is kind of anti capitalist and consumerist.

An idea:

What if you can build a “via negativa” business like Marie Kando in which you can make money by helping people subtract BS from their life?

Or like the great Freedom application which TURNS OFF and DISABLES your wifi on your laptop to encourage more productivity.

For photography to build your self esteem and to augment your photographic creativity, CUT OUT or DELETE Instagram!

Why is it that the rich and privileged kids get so suckered by communism, anarchism, Marxism, and fascism? My thought:

Kids feel guilty and feel the need to self-flagellate themselves for their privilege, wealth, and high class.

Why? Perhaps the Puritanical guilt in America. Perhaps liberal left-leaning radical professors (a lot who are either closet or overt Marxists) which brainwash their high class students in the top UC schools and even liberal Ivy League schools. Perhaps the desire to sacrifice themselves for a cause— the Christian martyr complex?

Simple thoughts and suggestions:

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It seems to be in vogue to be anti-American, or Anti-American government, or anti America … anything, especially if you’re non-American (European) or if you’re part of the Liberal-Left Intelligentsia of America. For example, the funny bias:

If you are an intellectual or part of the elite class in America, you are not allowed to openly say: “I love America, and I love being an American”.

Very strange. Why this bias? Let us unravel it:

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I believe in myself, thus I believe in others:

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I believe in notions of ‘equal access’ and ideas of meritocracy (your merit, effort, hard work and hustle pays off). This is where America is probably the *least bad* nation to climb the socio-economic ladder.

However a lot of people who encourage ‘fairness’ in society is misguided. A fair society … a 100% equal society, a 100% level-even-playing-field-horizontal-no-hierarchy society is not a good one. Why? It kills and saps away all ambition, spirit and soul from the individual.

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What is the root or the genesis of existential dread and nihilism? Some of my thoughts:

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Question:

Would you rather choose the world’s best VR porn experience, or do it ‘IRL’ (in real life) with another embodied flesh human being?

I suspect the second.

Or in other words:

Flesh is the future.

How to make a photo which better connects with your viewer:

Put your hand in it!

Why? It makes the viewer think or feel like it were *their* hand. Similar in video games and FPS when you think the ‘POV’ hands are your hands.

Note Robo Recall or Half-Life Alyx VR:

Seeing the hand of the creator makes you feel like you’re really part of the action!

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I finally understand the Pubilius Syrus quote:

Even a single hair casts its own shadow.

It means even the smallest, most mundane, most everyday thing can be noted as a beautiful, meaningful, and substantial thing!

Or as something I said long ago:

Photography is all about capturing ‘beauty in the mundane‘.

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To be rich and poor is mostly a mindset thing:

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The truth:

Necessity is the mother of all innovation.

Which means:

Often having *too many* resources (money, tools, people power) is positively DISADVANTAGEOUS to you.

So what this means is this:

Take economic constraints (not having enough money, time and resources) as a POSITIVE thing. This will force you to become truly innovative.

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The best style of company to build in America is a ‘Sole Proprietorship‘. What is this? Simple:

You are the solo owner, boss, and employee of your own company (of yourself).

Simplest taxes, ways to report income and deductions, etc. You can just do all your taxes on Turbotax.

Also some ideas:

1. Don’t apply for VC funding; become self-reliant. Either do it ‘duct tape’ “ghetto” style. Use your brains, and your own personal labor. Work with friends who are in the same field. Nobody needs to take pay.
2. Don’t take out loans or take out debt. Best to just draw from your own funds. Economic constraints are also creative constraints!

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I am pretty sick and tired of all the petty people who throw shade on America and American values … especially if they weren’t born or raised in America.

Some of my personal thoughts on success and America:

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You’ve aways already been an entrepreneur. To me, an entrepreneur ain’t someone who just wants to build a company to sell for a billion bucks. No — an entrepreneur is someone who has a fun appetite for risk, and is willing to put everything on the line to create, do, and build what they believe in!

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Thought:

A non-stable (anti-stable) life is the best life?

Why am I so productive and prolific? Because I have mastered MacOS — the best operating system of all time (shout out to the Apple team, and Steve Jobs). Some tips and guidance:

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In today’s digital and social media saturated world, photos are king.

It has taken me almost 5 years to finally understand and realize and embody this aphorism by Nassim Taleb:

Absence of evidence isn’t evidence of absence.

In other words:

Just because you cannot see the evidence before your very eyes doesn’t mean the evidence doesn’t exist.

For example:

There is always going to be hidden information and hidden facts which will always be unknowable to us, or hidden from us.

If we understand politics as wrestling, or entertainment then this is the truth:

Whoever is the most entertaining will win.

Boring people don’t win votes. Boring people are not memorable.

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The plainer the better. In praise of “plain Jane”(a plain Rolex or watch without having any superfluous diamonds or stuff added to it).

In other words, don’t add superfluous (non functional) crap to the purity or essence of something.

You can fake enthusiasm but not boredom.

Many intellectuals are actually quite stupid. They lack the ability to think for themselves, lack a historical or philosophical aspect, and are often too cowardly to assert their own opinion without quoting the New York Times, the New Yorker, or quoting “science” and “the data” or “statistics”.

How to master marketing, according to ERIC KIM:

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Greed is not a vice, it is a virtue. Why? A life without gains and wanting more is a degenerate life:

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My thought:

In today’s brave new covid-world… we actually don’t need money as much.

Why? For example:

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Leica was once great, now Leica ain’t so cool. My suggestions and thoughts:

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Why I’m betting big on monochrome:

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Or why I’ve always been attracted to women with pretty faces:

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Why I’m so greedy for the gains:

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I don’t trust all these neo-hippies who want to live “off the grid” and do this strange degenerate “van life” thing. I prefer living on the grid. I like access to hygiene, clean water on tap, WiFi, electricity, and washer and dryer in my tiny luxury apartment. I like having my gigabit internet fiber optic to upload videos at insane speeds. Why live off the grid? Is it a sign of life and societal weariness, exhaustion, and nihilism?

Simple thoughts and ideas how you can become more creative during quarantine:

1. Make selfies of yourself
2. Start shooting videos of yourself and your everyday life
3. Start making workout videos of yourself
4. Shoot topless selfies of yourself
5. Start a website–blog, and start curating your best art works
6. Start a YouTube channel and start uploading whatever videos ad hoc.

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There is no such thing as ethical or unethical behavior. However I do think …

Perhaps we should maximize our transparency .. to openly share our motives.

Essentially towards an anti-sneaky approach.

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Something Nikola Tesla talks about in his essay: ‘The Problem of Increasing Human Energy‘:

We human beings are a human mass (a ball of flesh). The question then arises —

How can we best motivate ourselves (we are a human mass) to move? Some of my personal thoughts:

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Towards a critique of Silicon Valley thinking:

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The goal ain’t for maximal wealth or power, but maximal and apex simplicity .. to augment your ability to stream thoughts, ideas, art work and your life.

What is the future of lifestyle? My thoughts:

1. No travel
2. More time stuck indoors
3. The importance of mental and physical/physiological health
4. Money as less important (why save up for a home, if you know that staying home all day sucks?)
5. Existential dread — more people trying to find a purpose or direction in their life.
6. More people who want to be creative while stuck in quarantine.
7. A great chance to start blogging, vlogging, and just sharing whatever interests you.

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True innovation happens when we got no other options! Therefore rather than bemoaning the fact that you got fewer options … see it as a great blessing in disguise.

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Judge your wealth by what you DONT have or what you DONT own.

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An interesting insight which was spared by reading Chris Dixon on why decentralization matters:

Centralization is bad for humanity.

A life with no choices is communist and bad. Communism means “all is one, and all is communal”. If Facebook becomes the only portal to your friends on the internet, isn’t this bad?

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Generational wealth means:

I made a lot of money in my life and I give it to you, my child.

But the problem:

Rich kids tend to be lazy, get addicted to drugs and have little purpose in life.

Thus perhaps the true generational wealth is then morals, ethics, and certain virtues to our future kids. Teaching them which vices to steer clear of.

Also to transmit wisdom, understanding, anti-sucker-pronnness, and to strive to dispel ignorance.

How to make money:

Provide a service or product which motivates people to move and do things!

And even if we think about fiat currency (money) it is all about using money as a social tool to coordinate trust and movement amongst people for resources (food, supplies, etc).

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The best home workouts are the most simple:

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Why are you so unmotivated? Is it laziness, or fear? Is it because of exhaustion, or ‘paralysis by analysis‘? Is it just because you’re so exhausted because you didn’t sleep enough? Is it because of hormonal reasons? Is it the substances (alcohol, weed, etc) that un-motivates you? What is really the root cause here?

Is it because you are un-motivated because you don’t wanna do the hateful work? Are you unmotivated because you feel trapped or hate your job?

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Contrary to popular belief, most of the (good) internet trolls are actually highly intelligent, motivated, smart, and educated individuals. But why do they troll? Some of my thoughts:

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The goal ain’t work for work sake. The goal is to only work on things you truly care for (what you got your heart in). The goal is purposeful productivity:

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Start Karina Bao from Phone Free Future how the phone epidemic is killing our minds:

I decided I needed a camera when I got rid of my iPhone.The 2MP camera on my flip phone was not enough. I was looking for a camera that was small, light, and shot great photos and videos. I chose the Canon Ivy REC, a solid $79 camera.

This is the perfect camera for leaving your house when you don’t want to carry your phone around.

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My grim and personal thought:

I don’t think COVID will ever go ‘away’.

What I mean is this:

1. Creating a vaccine will take *waaaay* longer than we expect it to.
2. When the vaccine actually is available, it will be very hard to get it.
3. Even if we get the vaccine, it won’t be 100% “fool-proof”.
4. Even if you get the vaccine, there will probably be a bunch of bozos who are ‘covid-deniers’ who will not comply. Then think — would you send your kids to school with other parents who don’t believe in COVID?

Thus my practical thought is this:

Don’t delay living … live now.

Because COVID ain’t gonna go anywhere anytime soon. We have Covid-19 (it started in 2019). What if there is a Covid-20? (mutates in 2020) or a Covid-21, or Covid-22, or something even 10x *WORSE* than covid happens?

Live now.

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