Why Balance is key. We are moving towards atomized lifestyles which are expensive. Mentally, physically and commercially. Part of the capitalistic experience is that nothing should be free. If they could figure out how to package air for breathing and sell sell it they would. The innate feature of capitalism is that there should be a an economic value to every aspect of the human existence. But it has consequence if you are not careful.

Some people believe that they can always understand why things happen. They think they know the reasons behind everything, but sometimes they are wrong. They might not realize that they don't know everything, so they overestimate their ability to understand the world around them. This can lead them to ignore the fact that every action we take has consequences, even if we don't intend them. We should always remember that when we do something or choose not to do something, it can have unintended effects. This is an important principle of ecology that we should respect. This isn’t my idea, it’s Nassim Taleb’s. From: Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder

The following are examples of fragilista:

• The doctors who prescribe strong medications that may have severe side effects, instead of letting the body heal naturally.

• The management fragilista who introduces bureaucratic solutions to people problems, manages by following popular trends, relies on best practices without setting reasonable benchmarks for evaluating success, and tries to do everything but accomplishes nothing.

• The policy fragilista who believes that constant interventions in the financial market are necessary to maintain stability.

Why this? Why now? So you can take a pause and understand that you aren't successful by waking up at 5am, nor are you successful by journaling or meditating, you are successful when you can balance life and doesnt have to come from experts. Most days you are better of judging for your self.

This video explains it best. Don't be caught up in some one else's fantasy/ideal life to fine tune your real life. There is a real consequence to that.

How a 5$ bill can change your outcome. It is what you do with the 5$ vs what most people dream they should have done with it.

The Marriott, one of the largest hotel businesses, started as a root beer stand in 1927. You never know the outcome of your first endeavor and the evolution of things to come. Moral of the story. Get started.

This is the best thing Ive read on the internet in recent weeks. Boring things that give you perspective that leads to growth. Doing nothing is the best boring thing you can do to re-set your brain.

Undercover reporters pose as gangsters with up to a billion dollars of black money that need to be cleaned. They gain remarkable access to members of Africa’s Gold Mafia and film closed door meetings with crime bosses. A senior African ambassador offers to launder $1.2 million using the cover of his diplomatic bag.

Criminals offer lucrative deals to clean over $100 million through government gold export schemes. At the centre of it their operations is southern Africa’s biggest laundromat, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

Gold Mafia, a four-part series by Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit looks at how society’s obsession with gold underwrites a global shadow economy. The undercover team infiltrates the rival gangs that turn dirty cash into gold, which is then sold around the world. Through thousands of confidential documents and exclusive interviews with whistleblowers from within the criminal organisations, investigators obtain the blueprints of billion-dollar money laundering operations that service the political elite. And the investigation leads to the highest offices of southern Africa.

Watch this to understand how an entire parallel economy exists that we are not aware of and how to evaluate centuries/decade old businesses that look seemingly legit on the surface

With Humility.

A life lesson in reverse

Lowell's 16 yrs in Peru showcased determination, 60 years experience, passion & modesty. Kept a modest ranch, drove donkeys over Ferraris, tents over luxury hotels even in old age. A father's pride for his daughter in the video: pure joy.

So whats the story...

Virgin gold discovery to $1.1B takeout in 9 monts 

Full story Below

A window into the future by looking at things present today. I read a tweet, the responses to which can be a potential gold mine to those who want to build out future ready businesses today. Or if you venture to take some guesses your self and build towards it. Some times the right question is enough to get you started.

You don't need a life-changing product.

You need to build something to help people win.

What will your product be? What will your service be? Have you thought about improving something, do you have a special skill that can be productized? Have you taken the first step towards asking if others will pay for it?

Your future is linked to the first act in your journey. Its called doing, if you aren't doing much of any thing and a lot of dreaming then the only place you will be successful is your head.

Take your shot. You control your outcomes. The FASTer you get to work, the higher your chances of getting some where.