thoughts, ideas && signs of a struggle

1 box of chicken and rice

1 unmemorable protein bar

1 glass of Tang

since all of you care about my diet, i’m going to lay out the causal chain -

in no particular order these are all the projects i’ve told at least one person i’d work on:

• weekly networking event for media / entertainment / fashion professionals
• streamlining / web design / marketing a camera rental business
• creating a robust video-editing network
• assisting the branding and development of an international energy drink, clothing, and battery brand
• video production of a WMC afterparty
• video production of a PSA for a prominent cancer research charity
• event production / sponsorships for the same cancer research charity
• sub-executing a recently deceased woman’s estate
• creating a weekly flow of Wall St money into SL
• selling and organizing college comedy shows
• develop innovative comedy show formats
• helping Mahmud pursue his dreams
• writing, directing, and potentially participating in 3-4 youtube videos
• developing an animated series based on recorded dreams
• promise to connect people to (investor, employee, industry expert)
• developing business between a co-working space and a club/lounge
• retry standup comedy
• rebooting Amex black card to reward philanthropic behavior
• marketing a hideously logo’d filmlanthropic event
• arrange weekly pickup of farm-fresh vegetables (thanks LK)

if anyone can help me with any of the above, please let me know. food donations are appreciated.

fish burrito

publicizing my erratic diet in an attempt to shame myself into eating healthier. please yell at me if possible.

today I consumed:

1 slice of pizza

1 bag of Snap Pea Crisps

1 glass of vanilla almond milk with raw cane sugar

1 Twizzler

1 glass of Tang

On Wednesday I met Mahmud at the coat check of a popular club in NYC. 

Lacking common social graces, I asked him, “Are you in school? What do you do besides checking coats?”

Mahmud replied, “I’m not in school. I give up on my dreams. I’m working to make money so I can send home.” 

At that moment, I knew it was no accident that I was in front of this man crapped out on bottles of cheap wine. It was my moment to deliver one of the most unmemorable incoherent tirades about opportunities, dreams, and possibilities for someone who’s in his early twenties.

I told Mahmud I would call him the next day and help him figure out his dreams. “Or at the very least I can help you find better paying gigs” He nodded.

—-

Almost a year ago I attended TedX UChicago under the pretense of academic curiosity and business development.

I met a very remarkable man - Mark Inglis, who is the first person to climb Mt. Everest as a double amputee. Mark started an organization called Limbs4all, which supports over 400 million disabled people all over the world by giving them access to prosthetics and other aids. 

Mark’s message is simple. Disability means lack of access. When you provide people with the resources to overcome their physical handicaps then you solve disability. In a first world country where everyone is resource-rich, true disability is rare. 

—-

A few nights ago I had another conversation about dreams and motivation.

My friend talked about her problems with low self-esteem. Especially when she measures herself against the famous directors, actors, artists, and entrepreneurs in her life - while contempting the Snookis and “Hunger Game girls” who are somehow undeserving of their success.

Add to that the ability to live in comfort without struggle - and offers and propositions from people who claim they can pull her straight to the top - equates to a certain kind of existential paralysis - an assnumbing case of getting-by…but fabulously. 

My advice to her was:

1. Tell everyone you’re going to do something, and then do it.

2. Don’t compare your accomplishment to anyone else’s

3. Roll one small accomplishment into another 

In my mind I was thinking something like putting together a Lego set. What else constitutes a small accomplishment to get someone off their ass?

More importantly, how’s that for some untested advice?

(more to come)

If you’ve ever been my friend, you’re used to being left in the dark for months to years at a time.

This was the last 6 months.

I almost need to start a separate blog to go into the last six months. It’s midway between generic drama and Rounders.

The Updates:

1. I’m no longer working on Lean Startup Machine. Not going to be rambling about lean methodology for indefinitely. Ask me anything about lean though, I’ll point you to the people who know better.

2. Focus shifted from tech to entertainment + fashion. More on this later, once I figure out how to explain correctly.

3. Having a lot of trouble answering what I do, but the goal is building the business, growing the business, and keeping three businesses running. Concretely that means business development, social media marketing, buying giant boxes of tampons, and other fun projects.

4. Accumulated a huge backlog of creative projects. Let me know if you can use a camera or look good in 720p.

Franky the Pomeranian parked himself right next to the toilet.

I try to scoot him out so I can use the bathroom.

I start using the upstairs bathroom.

The End.