Chapter One: Meet the Most Important Living Person
Concepts:
- You are the most important living person in the world. Don't forget it!
- Everyone has an invisible talisman with PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) on one side and NMA (Negative Mental Attitude) on the other. In any and every situation, but especially in difficult times, take a moment to make sure the PMA side is face-up.
- Inspirational dissatisfaction is the idea of using PMA to turn a negative result into the fire that drives hard work in the future.
Quotes:
- Every adversity has the seed of a greater outcome.
- Keep your mind on the things you want, and off the things you don't want.
- You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by trying.
Tuesday, 19 August 2014
Saturday, 16 August 2014
Project Home: Update 4
Looking for our next home, somewhere to settle for a while, I had a busy couple of weeks in San Francisco. I've been applying to jobs, meeting recruiters, making new contacts and catching-up with friends.
Overall, the trip was productive, and I hopefully have a couple interviews coming out of it. But, having to head to NYC after only two weeks in SF is a bit soon. The more I think about it, a month would have been ideal, but that's not how it worked out.
Anyway, next week is a high probability opportunity with my previous bank. My boss from London set me up with the interview, so I'm prepping hard and getting ready to impress. Actually, the more I think about this opportunity and being back in NYC, close to family and friends, the more excited I get. Also, Natsuko has been watching Gossip Girl, so I think she's ready for the big apple!
Up to this point, I've been REACTING to everything and just chasing opportunities. But, no more. After the upcoming interview and meeting some recruiters in NYC, Natsuko and I will choose east or west coast, and I'll focus only on that area. It's just too distracting to try the back and forth.
As for working out, it's been sporadic since leaving Hawai'i. No swimming, but got some trails in! NYC will see my first Cross Fit session. Stoked!
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| Golden Gate Bridge |
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| Lombard St., crookedest street in the world |
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| Alcatraz, def a bucket list tri! |
Anyway, next week is a high probability opportunity with my previous bank. My boss from London set me up with the interview, so I'm prepping hard and getting ready to impress. Actually, the more I think about this opportunity and being back in NYC, close to family and friends, the more excited I get. Also, Natsuko has been watching Gossip Girl, so I think she's ready for the big apple!
Up to this point, I've been REACTING to everything and just chasing opportunities. But, no more. After the upcoming interview and meeting some recruiters in NYC, Natsuko and I will choose east or west coast, and I'll focus only on that area. It's just too distracting to try the back and forth.
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| trails at the Claremont Canyon Conservancy |
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| beautiful |
Saturday, 2 August 2014
Weight Management
The topic of weight management came up in a discussion with a friend, so I figured I'd share my experience and thoughts here.
Even at 5'9"/ 174cm, 140lbs/ 63kg, I think about weight management everyday, almost all day. In a world with "good tasting", cheap, high calorie food at our finger tips, this is a topic that is critical for everyone.
For me, I love to eat! For a while, I considered myself part of the recent 'foodie' trend. So cool, right? That is until Natsuko pointed out, "You don't appreciate quality, you just love to eat." A bit harsh, I thought, but after considering it more, I realized she was right.
Thinking back more, from my high school days where I put on 45lbs/ 20kg by sneaking extra slices of pizza or snacks at night, to university where I reached close to 200lbs/ 91kg by downing beer after beer, I had been unhealthy for a long time. But, I was active and lifted weights a lot, so I thought nothing of it.
Then, one summer, working an internship in NYC, it hit me, "I used to be just like you. Fit, lifting weights, running around. Ahh, those were the days." This was a manager at the company where I was working, a rather overweight and out of shape guy who I realized I would become if I didn't change. So, slowly, over 5yrs, I changed.
Maintaining a healthy weight is a simple idea: eat less or the same amount of calories you burn. Simple, right? Yeah. Easy to follow? No.
Below are a few ideas that I followed and still follow today that got me to and help me maintain my weight.
1) "Being hungry is okay."
I recently had this revelation, that seems simple, but I wasn't following. At the first sign of hunger, I'd reach for a snack to fill it. Then, when it came to meal time, I'd eat because it was meal time, not necessarily because I was really hungry. Not healthy.
So, the next time you're feeling hunger pangs, check the time and see how long until your next meal. It's probably not that far away, so remind yourself that being hungry is okay and in a few minutes, you'll probably forget all about it.
If really necessary, I find something with little to no calories to fill the void. Usually, that's black coffee or tea (fresh brewed tea, not Snapple or Nestea which are filled with sugar and calories).
2) "Veg and fruit are my main dish."
When thinking of meals, I think of veg and fruit as the mains and the protein and starch as sides (probably opposite to how many people think).
My goals are 3-5 fruits a day and as many vegetables as I can stomach (usually 10-15 servings). After this, there's not much room for anything else! I often start with yogurt and fruit or veg and fruit juice or smoothie in the morning (not one with whipped cream on top!). Then, it's a multi-veg salad at lunch and dinner or boiled or stir-fried veg. On top, I'll throw some eggs or a small piece of fish with some rice or bread, and I'm all set!
3) "Always go small."
Eating out or treating myself to something isn't a terrible thing, but it's limited and when I do, I ALWAYS order the small. Likewise, when I'm serving food at home, I serve a little less than I think I need, and after finishing, wait 15-20mins and see if I'm still hungry.
When ordering or serving food, I always tell myself, 'you can always eat more later,' after which I almost never do.
4) Exercise!
Last but not least, move! It doesn't have to be a full out, red in the face, heart-pumping workout, but I make a conscious effort to exercise. How often, you ask? Well, I tell myself, 'Do it more often than you don't.' Simple math: there are 7 days in the week, so to lose or maintain weight, I exercise at least 4 days a week.
Also, for those 35 or above (I'll be joining you soon :), without any weight lifting, you're losing about 1% of your muscle each year. Even with a high level of cardio exercise, i.e. running, cycling, etc, you're losing muscle mass. The only way to fight this is to find some weight lifting exercise that you enjoy.
Even at 5'9"/ 174cm, 140lbs/ 63kg, I think about weight management everyday, almost all day. In a world with "good tasting", cheap, high calorie food at our finger tips, this is a topic that is critical for everyone.
For me, I love to eat! For a while, I considered myself part of the recent 'foodie' trend. So cool, right? That is until Natsuko pointed out, "You don't appreciate quality, you just love to eat." A bit harsh, I thought, but after considering it more, I realized she was right.
Thinking back more, from my high school days where I put on 45lbs/ 20kg by sneaking extra slices of pizza or snacks at night, to university where I reached close to 200lbs/ 91kg by downing beer after beer, I had been unhealthy for a long time. But, I was active and lifted weights a lot, so I thought nothing of it.
Then, one summer, working an internship in NYC, it hit me, "I used to be just like you. Fit, lifting weights, running around. Ahh, those were the days." This was a manager at the company where I was working, a rather overweight and out of shape guy who I realized I would become if I didn't change. So, slowly, over 5yrs, I changed.
left: 2006 at c. 180lbs
right: 2014 at c. 140lbs, my weight for about 3yrs
Maintaining a healthy weight is a simple idea: eat less or the same amount of calories you burn. Simple, right? Yeah. Easy to follow? No.
Below are a few ideas that I followed and still follow today that got me to and help me maintain my weight.
1) "Being hungry is okay."
I recently had this revelation, that seems simple, but I wasn't following. At the first sign of hunger, I'd reach for a snack to fill it. Then, when it came to meal time, I'd eat because it was meal time, not necessarily because I was really hungry. Not healthy.
So, the next time you're feeling hunger pangs, check the time and see how long until your next meal. It's probably not that far away, so remind yourself that being hungry is okay and in a few minutes, you'll probably forget all about it.
If really necessary, I find something with little to no calories to fill the void. Usually, that's black coffee or tea (fresh brewed tea, not Snapple or Nestea which are filled with sugar and calories).
2) "Veg and fruit are my main dish."
When thinking of meals, I think of veg and fruit as the mains and the protein and starch as sides (probably opposite to how many people think).
My goals are 3-5 fruits a day and as many vegetables as I can stomach (usually 10-15 servings). After this, there's not much room for anything else! I often start with yogurt and fruit or veg and fruit juice or smoothie in the morning (not one with whipped cream on top!). Then, it's a multi-veg salad at lunch and dinner or boiled or stir-fried veg. On top, I'll throw some eggs or a small piece of fish with some rice or bread, and I'm all set!
3) "Always go small."
Eating out or treating myself to something isn't a terrible thing, but it's limited and when I do, I ALWAYS order the small. Likewise, when I'm serving food at home, I serve a little less than I think I need, and after finishing, wait 15-20mins and see if I'm still hungry.
When ordering or serving food, I always tell myself, 'you can always eat more later,' after which I almost never do.
4) Exercise!
Last but not least, move! It doesn't have to be a full out, red in the face, heart-pumping workout, but I make a conscious effort to exercise. How often, you ask? Well, I tell myself, 'Do it more often than you don't.' Simple math: there are 7 days in the week, so to lose or maintain weight, I exercise at least 4 days a week.
Also, for those 35 or above (I'll be joining you soon :), without any weight lifting, you're losing about 1% of your muscle each year. Even with a high level of cardio exercise, i.e. running, cycling, etc, you're losing muscle mass. The only way to fight this is to find some weight lifting exercise that you enjoy.
These are the basics that I follow, if you've got some of your own, it'd be great if you shared them in the comments below.
Wednesday, 30 July 2014
Hawai'i: Update 3
I truly believed this was going to be a much different update, but that's not the reality. The reality is that we're not moving to Hawai'i. I didn't get the job.
Shocked, let down and disappointed would be the best way to describe my feelings. The longer I spent here, the more I saw how the good outweighed the bad, and how we could really settle here. Yes, there are other jobs, and I've applied to a few, but I have a couple of great opportunities elsewhere, and while Hawai'i is our first choice, it's not a 'make it work at any cost' choice.
I drowned my sorrows by going for a swim. In fact, it turned out to be one of the best swims yet, just under 3k in 40mins at a moderate effort. That's a 1:23 per 100m or 53min for the 3.8k of an iron-distance swim. That put a smile on my face :)
With any failure, there is opportunity to learn and improve. So, I'll go back over my preparation and make sure it's better for the next set of interviews. In the schedule are interviews for jobs in San Fran and NYC. I can't guarantee I'll get one of those jobs, but I can guarantee that I'll be better prepared.
With any failure, there is opportunity to learn and improve. So, I'll go back over my preparation and make sure it's better for the next set of interviews. In the schedule are interviews for jobs in San Fran and NYC. I can't guarantee I'll get one of those jobs, but I can guarantee that I'll be better prepared.
As Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude says, "Every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit." So, we move on in search of greater opportunities.
Saturday, 26 July 2014
Hawai'i: Update 2
30/30/30 Challenge
Swim 20
Bike 4
Run 30+
Getting straight to it, I'm having my first experience with "island time." It's been two and a half weeks since my interview, so I followed up and no decision yet. So, I'm waiting patiently (patience is a virtue!) and hoping to hear next week. Keep you posted.
Meanwhile, I've come across a very good, high probability opportunity in NYC. While it's not Hawai'i, there are obviously pluses and minuses to both places. While Hawai'i remains our first choice, if the current situation drags into August, we may have to consider other options.
Other than that, a couple of recommendations if you like looking at awesome photos. Check out a new buddy of mine, Manuel Gonzalez, on Instagram at 'gonzolenz'. He takes amazing ocean, beach and water sports pics, and I think gets a beating from the waves while he does it. You should also go to UnrealHawaii.com for great hiking, beach and generally incredible pics with some short, interesting dialog.
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| outdoor space, Art After Dark pic from honolulumuesum.org |
Finally, a few new Honolulu outings. On Friday night, I hit Art After Dark which is an event with art, music, drinks and some activities at the Honolulu Museum of Art on the last Friday of every month from 18.00 - 21.00. The museum has lots of open air, outdoor space to hang out, chat with friends and meet people, but you can also check out the art inside. It was definitely cool, and if you like dressing up, which doesn't seem to happen on a daily basis here, put on your Friday night best and head on over. If you do go, it's $10 at the door and you'll need your ID.
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| pic from obrhi.com |
Because I went to the museum, I missed Eat the Street, a gathering of local food trucks also on the last Friday of every month. Usually there's a different theme and it all takes place at 555 South Street, from 16.00 - 21.00. So, if we end up living here, I think we'll try grabbing some food from a truck around 17 or 18.00 and then heading over to the museum. Fingers crossed!
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| pic from frolichawaii.com |
Sunday, 20 July 2014
The Latest
30/30/30 Challenge
Swim 18
Bike 4
Run 30+
Feeling the Hawai'i vibe, it's Sunday, and I'm just chillin out. Over the three weeks I've been here, the vibe has really won me over, and I feel like a high pressure finance job combined with this laid back culture outside the office is perfect for us, not to mention the year-round, outdoor training :)
Swim 18
Bike 4
Run 30+
Feeling the Hawai'i vibe, it's Sunday, and I'm just chillin out. Over the three weeks I've been here, the vibe has really won me over, and I feel like a high pressure finance job combined with this laid back culture outside the office is perfect for us, not to mention the year-round, outdoor training :)
That brings me to the job. It's been two weeks since my last interview, and I'm waiting to hear a decision. I'm planning to follow-up tomorrow to see where we stand. Will keep you posted.
In the meantime, I've picked up a few other opportunities that I'm talking to people about (both in Hawai'i and on the US mainland) and made some time to check out the local scene like the Honolulu Night Market.
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| pic from www.streetgrindz.com |
The Honolulu Night Market is a cool place to hang out and check out local designers, artists, musicians, and grab some local grub from the food trucks. If you find yourself in Honolulu on the third Saturday of any month, head down to 449 Cooke Street for this open air hang out. Being 31, the vibe is a bit younger, but I didn't feel out of place.
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| lots to do! |
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| good entertainment |
Other than my life, there's tons going on around the sporting world.
First, a shout out to my buddy, Nikos, who won his age-group in the sprint race at the New Jersey State Triathlon this weekend! Superbly done! He took first in his group and finished top 10 out of 1,600 people. Excellent!
Second, sticking with triathlon, the fastest iron-distance event, Challenge Roth, took place on Sunday in Roth, Germany. Known for the huge crowds, 200,000+ spectators, Tour de France like support on some of the climbs and very fast times (recent years have required a sub-8hr finish for the overall win), it's considered one of the most important iron-distance races around, and is definitely on my bucket list. Click to read about the MEN'S and WOMEN'S races.
Speaking of the Tour de France, it's going on right now! Through about 15 stages, Vincenzo Nibali, Italy, from the Astana team is wearing the yellow jersey. There have been a number of notables crashing out including Mark Cavendish and Alberto Contador.
Also, the Badwater Ultra-marathon, 135mi across Death Valley in the USA, was recently held. And, as if 135mi/ 217k with 17,000ft/ 518m of climbing through some of the harshest conditions on earth isn't enough, acclaimed ultra-runner, Lisa Smith-Batchen, took on and completed the "quad," which is four crossings back-to-back-to-back! She took this on in the name of Badwater4Goodwater, a charity she created to help increase the availability of clean water around the world. Read more about her amazing feat HERE.
All this, not to mention all of the Ironman races including the European Championships which saw some great performances and shorter distance ITU Series where the Brownlees are getting back on track and American, Gwen Jorgensen took her fourth victory in a row! All great stuff!
Monday, 14 July 2014
Perseverance
Had a tough swim yesterday, but broke it down into small pieces and slowly finished. It felt great!
Being new to ocean swimming, I'm still getting comfortable being out there in the waves, in the vastness, sometimes all alone. It's getting better, but there are still some fears (slightly unreasonable, I know) of being swept out to sea or bitten by something. Anyway, yesterday was a mentally off day. I wasn't 100% focused but had already decided to go for a 2k+ swim.
I got in the water just fine but within a few hundred meters my mind was battling, 'why are you doing this?' 'is this really enjoyable?' 'why don't you just quit?' To fight off the negative thoughts, I decided to swim to the other end, 1k, and then stop and see how I was feeling.
Made the 1k and was feeling better, more relaxed. So, I picked out a buoy and decided to swim there. Got to that buoy, felt good, 'okay, let's go for the next buoy.' After the next one, I decided to pick up the pace, 'wow, this is great!'
Finally, the shore where I started was within sight and the full 2k+ was completed.
Physically, exhausted. Mentally, ecstatic!
Moral that I'll take from the day (also applicable to my job search), just keep going. Break it down into little goals and pick them off one at a time. You'll get there :)
30/30/30 Goal
Swim 15
Bike 4
Run 30+
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| Ala Moana Beach Park pic from www.to-hawaii.com |
I got in the water just fine but within a few hundred meters my mind was battling, 'why are you doing this?' 'is this really enjoyable?' 'why don't you just quit?' To fight off the negative thoughts, I decided to swim to the other end, 1k, and then stop and see how I was feeling.
Made the 1k and was feeling better, more relaxed. So, I picked out a buoy and decided to swim there. Got to that buoy, felt good, 'okay, let's go for the next buoy.' After the next one, I decided to pick up the pace, 'wow, this is great!'
Finally, the shore where I started was within sight and the full 2k+ was completed.
Physically, exhausted. Mentally, ecstatic!
Moral that I'll take from the day (also applicable to my job search), just keep going. Break it down into little goals and pick them off one at a time. You'll get there :)
30/30/30 Goal
Swim 15
Bike 4
Run 30+
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