Holiday Travel: Avoid the most Common Headaches

I am very fortunate to be able to travel as much as I do. My day job has me traveling every single week, so I consider myself a bit of an expert when it comes to travel. I have about 100,000 miles flown this year, so I've done it once or twice.

However, there is one thing I will not do: Travel during the Holidays!

You may not have that choice, however. Perhaps your family lives in Florida, and you live in Michigan. Perhaps they are in New York, and you are in Texas. Perhaps your family is in Kansas, and you'd rather be in Hawaii.

Whatever the reason, sometimes travel is just unavoidable. The reason that travel sucks during the holidays is not because of the volume of travelers. Summer Weekends actually take the honor of being the busiest travel day(s) of the year. The problem with Holiday travel is the volume of inexperienced travelers.

Frequent flyers have a term for inexperienced travelers...they call them (you?) Kettles. This is after Ma and Pa Kettle, who had a show in like the 20's, and were very very country. It's a bit of an insult, but I actually have a hard time refuting that after having traveled behind a number of these individuals. You know how TSA shouts "Shoes off, belts off, computers out of their bags, take out all liquids, gels and aerosols" constantly? That's why it bothers the heck out of me when someone doesn't take off their shoes and it holds me up!

This is what some Frequent Flyers think of you

The Solution to Holiday Travel

Well, the best solution is to get status with an airline so that you can go to the priority lanes, then get the TSA PreCheck so that you can avoid the main lines. That may not be realistic for you at this point in time.

TSA PreCheck

TSA has a program which allows certain passengers to bypass the main line, and go through a metal detector without taking off their shoes or belts, and keeping their computers and liquids in their bag. Pretty much the only thing you have to do is take metal out of your pockets. For a full description of the program, see the TSA PreCheck Website.

Currently, only those passengers who opt-in will have the opportunity to volunteer to participate.Participating airlines will permit some of their frequent flyers, based on TSA criteria, to opt-in through the airline’s system. Participating airlines have contacted eligible frequent travelers with an invitation to opt-in. Once the passenger opts in, the airline identifies the individual as a participant when submitting the passenger reservation information to TSA’s Secure Flight system.Current members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Global Entry, SENTRI or NEXUS programs are already eligible to participate in the TSA Pre✓™ concept if they are flying on a participating airline at a participating airport. Those passengers need to place their PASS ID in the ‘Known Traveler Number’ field while booking their reservation. Interested passengers who are not eligible through their airline and are not already a member of a CBP Trusted Traveler program may still be able to opt-in to TSA Pre✓™ by applying for one of the CBP eligible programs. Click here to learn more: globalentry.gov.

Track Wait Times 

The TSA has a website which lays out wait times for all the gates at many airports in the country. Sometimes, you can find a "hidden" security gate. For example, for years, at the McNamara terminal in Detroit, the lower level security line would fill up like crazy. However, if you went up one floor, there were two additional security lines which had a much lower wait time. This was a great secret while it lasted! By tracking the wait times on the TSA site, you can easily determine which lines to go to. 

If there are two gates with 1-10 minutes waits...then choose the closest, but if the security screening line near your gate is 50-60 minutes, and another has 11-20 minutes...well, I think you know what to do.

Find the TSA Security Wait Time Finder either on your computer or on a mobile device. While you're at it, pay it forward and submit a more up-to-date report.

Another great story about wait times: I was flying out of DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth) and my line had a 45 minute wait. They were literally busing people to a different terminal so they could get through security, and then take the tram back to their gates.

In the scenario where you must choose the best line to go through...follow George Clooney's advice from Up In the Air. It stereotypes, but I've found that he is mostly correct.

Ryan Bingham uses Stereotypes to move through the line faster

The TSA Agents are Children in their Hearts!

It's Christmas time. I know the PC thing is to say "It's the Holiday Season!" but let's be honest...it's Christmas time. A large number of you are traveling for Christmas, not Kwanzaa (no lost love for Kwanzaa, but it's just not as ubiquitous). I bet you are bringing gifts to the little children you are going to see (Nieces, Nephews, etc.). Here's my tip. Don't wrap them!

The TSA is full of agents who are young at heart. They love opening gifts too. More importantly, they don't like wrapped gifts. My sister used to travel with wrapped gifts...once. They "tried to be careful" when opening them, but they did their damage. She had to re-wrap everything. 

Bring the gifts unwrapped, then when you get to your destination, ask your hosts for wrapping supplies, or just go buy them yourself (they should at least have tape and scissors). You will be doing this no matter what, so it's better if you only wrap the gifts once, instead of twice. 

Carry-On Bags are your Friend

You probably don't want to pay for checked bags. $25 minimum, each way. I highly recommend learning to pack your essentials in a carry-on bag. You are allowed a carry on and a personal item on nearly every flight in the US. Take advantage of this - a roller bag plus an over-stuffed backpack will work. Obviously, gifts may end up being too large, but if that is the case, then you should be ordering the gifts online and having them shipped to your destination. 

If you want a super cheap roller bag for a carry on, and you don't mind looking like an 8 year old girl, here is a $30 bag from Amazon which qualifies for Prime. 

Olympia Luggage Sports Plus 26 Inch 8 Pocket Rolling Duffel Bag, Hot Pink, One Size

So, not only does using carry-on bags save you $50, but it also allows you to move much quicker. Waiting for a checked bag sucks. Plain and simple. Plus, if they lose your bag, then you'll spend your entire holiday trying to track it down. Bring your carry-on's.

Credit Cards - A Free Checked Bag

A number of Airline Credit cards gift you a free checked bag. I know the Delta Gold AmEx does this, and the United Mileage Plus Explorers credit card gives you a checked bag for free as well. I am not providing a link to these cards because the URLs change frequently. Do a quick search on either "Delta Gold AmEx" or "United Mileage Plus Credit Card" and you will happen upon it. Just make sure you cancel within one year, or you will have to pay the annual fee.

Cheat the System

Technically, this violates airline policy, so I can't officially recommend this. I can tell you what I have observed others doing. They bring a bag that they know will be too big for a carry on through security. This is the first place you may get stopped - if TSA tells you your bag is too big (this only has ever happened to me at Newark...even when my bag was a legal carry on size). Bring it on through, then when you get to the gate - about 10 minutes before boarding starts - go talk to the gate agent. Tell them you realize you'll probably have to check your bag anyway, and you'd like to volunteer to check it through to your destination  They will likely be elated at your generosity (and will likely let you board earlier than the rest of the "kettles") and will check it through to your destination (meaning if you are flying Dallas to Atlanta to Ft. Lauderdale, they will take your bag from you in Dallas, and deliver it to the baggage claim in Ft. Lauderdale). 

This is highly risky, as you are technically violating the baggage policy, but usually agents are too freaking lazy to enforce those rules. Those of you who are semi-frequent travelers will know that they will probably ask for people to check their bags through anyway. Boom - you just got a free checked bag. I have no idea what the hassle is if you get caught...hence the "very risky" statement.

Get to the Airport Early

Look, I know it sucks to get there early. Sitting around at the airport can suck. But the problem is all the inexperienced travelers. Even if you know exactly how to breeze through security, Ingrid and Irving (those are my examples of 94 year old names) might not. Old people can take up a lot of time in security. So you need the extra time. So here's what you do...PLAN FOR IT! Bring a game to play, or a video to watch. Bring some snacks. Most importantly, go seek out the comfy chairs. Most airports have them now - there are the standard crappy chairs, then there are hidden comfy chairs. This can be la-z-boys, regular padded chairs, or even massage chairs! Find them...and use them. (DFW Terminal E has some particularly comfy chairs. 

If it's just you, consider buying a one day pass to an Airline Club. It's probably worth it if you get nice and liquored up on the free booze. Just don't drink so much that they don't let you fly - that can happen. 

Sign up for Automatic Updates

All airlines have the ability to have status updates sent to your phone or e-mail. Sign up for this! This way, the Airline will automatically notify you if your flight is delayed or if the gate changes (notorious among American Airlines). If your flight is cancelled, immediately go to a ticketing agent, or call into reservations to change your flight. This gives you about a 2 minute head start on the others, and will allow you to potentially get on a  new flight before the others.

Lastly, Your Security Checklist

I go through security a lot. I mean...a LOT. At least twice a week, sometimes more. Here is a quick checklist for you. Memorize it - it will save you valuable time going through security.

Hand to the first agent:

• Your Ticket
• Your ID (Drivers License or Passport preferred)
• If you have an electronic ticket (on your phone) then use the scanner they provide

When you get to security, take off the following items:

• Hats
• then, Jacket
• then, Shoes
• then, Belt
• then, Underpants (just kidding...but I wonder what they would say if you did)

Take the following items out:

• Laptop out of your bag (tablets stay in the bag)
• Liquids out of your bag
• Everything out of your pocket (if they only have a metal detector, then only take your phone, keys, and other metal out)
• If they are using a backscatter machine (pictured below), ask to opt out.
• This means you do not want an x-ray scan, and that they will give you a manual pat down. This is a safety concern. ALWAYS do this if you are pregnant, old, young, or particularly weak. I recommend everyone opts-out. 

Here's how to use the Bins

• Put in your laptop
• If there is room, you can also put your wallet, phone, keys, etc. and belt in the same bin. Don't put anything on top of your computer
• Jackets can go in their own bin
• Bags go on the belt
• Shoes go directly on the belt
• This is a pet peeve of mine...Shoes don't need their own bin! 
• A purse, if it is open, can go in a bin

I only use one single bin when I travel, and it makes things so much faster! Try to be a minimalist when it comes to the bins!

If you see this machine...ask for an opt-out immediately

So when all is said and done, you can have a fantastic travel experience, despite the Holidays being about the most obnoxious time to travel ever! I'll post a follow-up in a day or two on finding great fares. I am currently looking for a last minute fare myself, so I'll post all my tricks and tools to ensure you get the best price available!

Happy Holidays, and Happy Traveling!

I made a mistake: The AeroPress Coffee Maker Rules!

I made a major mistake on March 3, 2010. I said the following words:

"...the AeroPress looked cheap, and based on reviews is nothing too special..."

Where did I say this, and how do I know the exact date on which I said it? Easy - I said it on my old blog Dorm Room Business and I know the exact date because Blogger is kind enough to put the date on the posts I put out there.

Dorm Room Business has since been pulled into this blog (meaning all of the old posts were migrated over)
The post on which I said this was: Travel Espresso Maker

Why did I say such hurtful things? Well, they weren't entirely untrue. I was looking for an espresso maker, and the prevailing reviews at the time claimed that the AeroPress doesn't make espresso. They said the Aeropress makes "really strong coffee".

Okay, so it didn't make espresso - it turns out I don't need an espresso shot or 7 every single day. Sometimes a nice cup of Joe is what I need.

Here's why I have purchase the AeroPress, and the MyPressi and Handpresso still sit on Amazon's shelves, pining for me to order them.

• The AeroPress can use any coffee at all - the others require pods
• The AeroPress travels very well
• The AeroPress is easy to use
• The AeroPress is ready to drink in about 3 minutes

Now, the MyPressi and HandPresso make great cups of coffee, I'm sure, but the AeroPress is the winner. 

A quote from one of the certified barista's at Kaldi's Coffee in St. Louis (they make some of the best coffee I've ever had)

"I prefer the AeroPress because it is ready in a minute flat, and it makes a coffee/espresso mix. If you want a normal cup of coffee, you just add some hot water, otherwise it's really intense, which sometimes, you really want"

That has been my experience as well. It doesn't make espresso. It makes a coffee concentrate. I have never watered it down, but I'm sure you can.

I cannot say enough nice things about this device. Seriously, if you like coffee, buy one today. You can travel with it, and have really wonderful coffee all day long.


Lastly, if you want a demo on how to use this thing, you have 2 options. Tim Ferris covers this in The 4-hour Chef, under the section titled (rightfully so) "In Search of the Perfect Cup of Coffee"

If you don't want to buy his book (it's a great read...you might as well shell out the cash) then here is a video by one of my subscriptions on YouTube: coffeenate1. It's a bit dry, but he explains very well how to make a proper cup of coffee in the AeroPress. Again, he is not flashy, and is not all that exciting, but dammit  he gives you good information!

Go put one on your Amazon WishList now!

Lose Weight by Swinging your Bowls

Another quick one. My computer (personal one) is still dead, so I can't properly do the next Rut Busters justice. ETA on that is 2 weeks (the doctors are trying to reclaim my data) and then hopefully I'll have all my wonderful data and programs back!

Do you snack? 

Do you like to snack? 

Do you think you should snack? 

Do you remember what your last 5 snacks were?

The point is:

Most people snack.

Most people like to snack.

Most people don't think they should snack.

Most people mindlessly snack.

I bet if you logged your food intake for a day, you would be astounded by the amount of calories you consume just by snacking. Ever sat next to a bowl of M&M's, only to find that an hour later, they mysteriously disappeared? I know what happened to them! [For my slower readers: You ate them]

The Flash Diet

So here's how you fix the snacking issue...and really any mindless eating issue. You use a pattern interrupter. Sounds complicated, huh? It just means that instead of going into a mindless snack, you do something before you start eating. This interrupts your pattern of mindless eating, and tricks you into thinking about what you eat. There is even an entire diet named after this: The Flash Diet.

The Flash Diet is based on research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (I could not find a link to the original study. if you have it, please send it my way!). You can find a write up here (I know it's not the most credible source, but the study they are reporting on is credible) The flash diet: Taking photos of meals helps slimmers lose weight

The Bowl Diet

So that is great. It forces you to really think about what you are eating. It can also be a bit inconvenient. Another simpler method is quite obvious when you think about it. All we need is a pattern interrupter, right? Here's one - plate up everything you are going to eat. Whether it's a bowl, a cup, a plate, a saucer, a platter, a gravy boat, a jug, a crock...plate something up! (Plate it up = Put it on or in a container for serving)

Here's the scenario: You want chips. The barbecue chips have been screaming your name all day long. Instead of grabbing the bag and sitting down (which will result in an empty bag. I promise) grab a bowl, and fill it up. This can be a small bowl, to hold one portion, or it can be a HUGE bowl, which holds the entire bag. Just do it. If you want more when you are done, then fill it up again. 

Example 2: You want some peanut butter cups (yummmm. It's almost Christmas - I can't wait for the Christmas Tree peanut butter cu...trees). Grab some and put them on a plate. Want more? Put more on there. 

First of all, you won't fill up a bowl that takes the entire bag of chips, and you won't put 15 peanut butter cups on the plate. Plating up your food makes you think about it. Sit down with a bag of chips, or a candy dish full of peanut butter cups, and you'll polish off most, if not all of them.

Here's what's happening - your mind has to take a break to figure out how to plate these up, and you now think about what you are eating. We all know we shouldn't eat a bag of chips - but it happens. By stopping and thinking about it, our logical part of the brain kicks in, and says "Hey, if I eat the entire bag now, there won't be any to eat tomorrow!" and you consume fewer calories.

If you do nothing else except start plating up your food, I guarantee you will lose weight. 

Try it!

You know what? This would be a wonderful opportunity for a 30 day challenge! Maybe you could start on January 1st.

Amazon: The Greatest Gift Giver of All

Looking for the next in the series of Rut Busters? Well, my laptop has died, so I'm delaying the next post. A preview of the title though: "Rut Busters: Preventing the Rut"

This is a longer post. My recommendation: Use Amazon Wish List for your Christmas list. 
Read below for some more specifics, and for details of how I evaluate new tools like Amazon Wish List.

Have you ever dealt with everyone in your family, and maybe even your friends, pestering you for a Christmas list, or a Birthday list?

Well, just in time for Black Friday (I hate that day, by the way)

Every year, it's a constant flow, starting around mid-November for me.
"Can you send a list"
"What do you want for Christmas"
"Do you have a list yet"
"I'm going shopping tomorrow, what do you want?"

I always dreaded these questions, because I never knew what I wanted. Usually, I would pull together a combination of DVD's I kind of wanted, a couple of books, and some gift cards. This was always nice, but it never captured what I truly wanted.

Solutions for Christmas (or other Holiday) Lists
I think there are a few criteria for a good Gift list. Whether for Birthday, Christmas, Hanukkah, Mother's day, Father's day, or any other day on which social protocol dictates that you exchange gifts.

The criteria for a good gift capture device is:

1. The ability to capture the gifts you want (duh)
2. The ability to access the list from multiple devices (sometimes you need it on your phone, sometimes your computer)
3. Easy to send off to family members
4. Easy for family members to read
5. Easy to capture where the item can be purchased

There are, of course, a few solutions for this problem. So, like any good nerd, I have a chart!

Typo: The "Note on your Phone" only scores a 2

As you can see, Evernote comes close. You can capture what you want, access it from wherever you have an Evernote account set up. You can e-mail a note from Evernote easily, and it's fairly easy to read. However, to capture where it can be purchased is a completely manual step, and if you make updates, you have to send out the note again. 

Close, but not perfect.

Enter Amazon Wish List

Amazon has a service which has been available for a long time, but just recently has caught my attention. It allows you to capture a list of items you want, and you can easily send them out to your family and friends (or even Facebook and Twitter) This way, you capture everything you want, all year long. If you decide you want something from your list at some point during the year, you can just buy it. Anything you don't buy is on your list for your Birthday, Christmas, etc.

When your friend or family member orders something from the list, it actually removes it from your list! It works just like a wedding registry. In order to maintain the surprise, though, when you log in, it will still appear in your list for a few weeks, to maintain the surprise. 

But Paul, what if what I want isn't on Amazon?

That's fine! There are widgets (extensions, widgets, etc.) for each of the browsers that let you add items from any online store to your list. Additionally, you can add any item to your list manually, even if you don't have a link! To get these widgets (available for: Chrome, Firefox, IE, Safari, and iPod) go to this link.

But Paul, what if someone buys a gift from another website?

Amazon can still be updated. However, it does require someone to click "buy it somewhere else", and then they can mark the item as purchased.

This gets your friends and family an up-to-date list all the time. Also, as the season moves along, you can make updates to the list, and they will automatically have those changes when they go to check it out. It really is the best solution available!

What does it look like?

Simple enough, my link is below, so you can see what I am wishing for, and also to see how it works.

Paul's Amazon Wish List

There you have it - the newest in my arsenal of tools!

Rut Busters: How to Bust out of the Rut!

This will be the first post in a series on Rut Busting.

Ruts Suck.

They also happen to just about everyone. Some people are so motivated that they rarely get into a rut, but I'm willing to be that everyone out there gets them. (If you don't, e-mail me at paul@padorec.com and tell me about it)

So how do you bust out of a rut? 

I was recently in a bit of a rut...actually, it was a major rut. Here's how I spent my days:

• Grazing in the kitchen
• Going to work and kind of hating it (okay, hating it)
• I watched every episode of Frasier available on Amazon
• I watched every episode of How I Met Your Mother (again)
• I downloaded and watched every episode of Boy Meets World
• I started embarking on a trek to watch every episode of The Simpsons (About 166 hours of time, or 1 week of life)
• I would eat Chinese Food nearly every day from a take-out place

This is a sad, pathetic life!

So, how did I get out of my nasty old rut?

I wrote a journal entry - probably the longest of my life

I spent probably 30-45 minutes writing the longest journal entry I've ever written. It got a lot of the issues out of my head so that I could deal with them, and start to realize what was stifling me. I also realized where my issues and mental blocks were originating, so that I could begin removing impediments to a good life.

I read a book about motivation

The book is great. I literally downloaded and started reading it while in a drive-thru line. The book was 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself and it really showed me the light. I didn't follow every tip (or even read all of them, actually) but it was enough to really get me moving. (Full disclosure: I get a small cut if you click on that link - the non-referral link can be found here) I have since read a number of books which have helped to motivate me. You can find your own books, but I recommend 4-hour work week, Vagabonding, I Will Teach You To Be Rich, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (I'm working on this now, actually)

I started watching a bunch of YouTube videos

I know, this sounds like it's actually part of the rut. Here's the rule: If you are watching Kittens in Teacups, or guys getting hit in the balls...it's probably part of a rut; if you are watching self-improvement videos, then you can count it as a win. Part of getting out of a rut is to have a purpose. Now, if you've been proactive and written a personal mission statement, or defined your life goals (as well as yearly and/or monthly goals), you should be able to develop some momentum based on these. I had not done so, so I actually watched a bunch of Sumo Dojo videos from the guys at App Sumo. I also watched quite a bit on Elon Musk (one of my business Idols) and Tim Ferris (Lots of helpful information, but not an Idol). Shark Tank also really helped me to break out of my mental block! 

I set small challenges

I did a weekend juice fast. This was difficult after eating a bunch of Chinese food, but I did it. 

I began minimalizing my possessions. I realized that I had so much stuff I felt weighed down by them when I was home (I travel weekly for work). This is an ongoing practice. I'm a classic pack rat, so I'm working to get rid of stuff. The key to small challenges is to get momentum. It's hard to go from doing nothing in life to writing a huge novel. It's a different challenge to go from nothing to doing 10 push ups a day, or drinking 8 glasses of water a day, or writing for 2 minutes a day. Any small win builds momentum and is a self-fulfilling cycle.

I had some time with Family and Friends

This sounds so cliche, so I almost hate to put it in here. I spent more time with Family and Friends. There are 3 pillars to life - Health, Wealth, and Love. I was working on the Health, the Wealth was doing okay for my age (but not as well as I wanted it to go) and the Love was sorely lacking. A lot of people take "Love" to mean sex. Love doesn't refer to intimate relationships alone; it can be any sort of relationship - including family and friends. The biggest secret of all is that it can also refer to the relationship you have with yourself. If you are sick of yourself, you need to work on that! I had grown a bit sick of looking at myself in the mirror myself, because I saw an unmotivated guy in a rut! I have since fixed this, and now I look at myself in the mirror and think "Damn, that guys a sexy, motivated, successful guy". 

That was it - how I got out of my rut - it started with small changes which gave me momentum to lead to bigger changes. Simultaneously, I was focusing on the parts of my life which were lacking - namely health and love.

Keep in mind that this did not all happen at once. I started with Shark Tank (I watched every episode from the beginning once I ran out of Boy Meets World), and things grew from there.

So, once you have the momentum, how do you keep it going?
That's going to have to wait for the next post.

Entrepreneurs vs. Small Business Owners

I'd like to clarify something that is a small pet peeve of mine. It's the difference between Entrepreneurs, and Small Business Owners.

Some people obsess over they're, their, and there. For others, it's to, too, and two. For others still, it's where, we're, and were. For me, it's Entrepreneur and Small Business Owner.

An Entrepreneur is someone who uses his innovative nature, ingenuity, and creativity to effect major change in business.

A Small Business Owner is someone who owns a small business

Sometimes, an entrepreneur is a small business owner. Sometimes, a small business owner is an entrepreneur. They are not one in the same.

By this logic:

• A McDonalds owner is a Small Business Owner
• The founder of Mint.com is an entrepreneur
• An employee at Exxon who finds a new way to sell oil in a more effective and clean way is an entrepreneur

See, you don't have to be a small business owner to be an entrepreneur!

The reason I bring this up is that I just saw this video:

This video annoys the hell out of me, because it does not make any distinction on the terminology. 

Remember, just because you work in a corporate environment doesn't mean that you can't be entrepreneurial. Being entrepreneurial in a corporation is how you get big promotions, and ultimately how you end up running one. Those "big whigs" didn't get there by playing by the rules and following the status-quo.

Note that I am not bashing small business owners here. Small business owners are greatly helpful to our economy as well, and there is a place for them. Just because you use a model that has been tested to work in the past doesn't mean you are doing anything wrong! Just call yourself the right thing - you are a small business owner.

So, a recap:

• Convenience Store Owner = Small Business Owner
• Convenience Store Owner who offers an innovative new loyalty program = Entrepreneur
• Google employee who thought up gmail = Entrepreneur

Got it? Good. 

Knowledge is power!

How to Get Free Money and Retire a Millionnaire

This is a follow-up to the post Don't be Poor When You Get Old.

I gave an outcry in the previous post. In case you missed it, here is the gist of it:

Invest in your retirement account, right now. No matter what. Even if you can get $50 a month into your account, you'll turn that into hundreds of thousands by the time you retire.

You can literally turn $6,000 into $150k!
(See dinkytown.net to run your own numbers)

But how do you get your 401(k) set up? What should you do?
Well, there are a few simple steps. This is a long, informative post. If you don't want to read all of it, here's the steps in a nutshell.
1. Figure out if you have a 401(k) available, and whether your employer offers a match
2. Sign up and take full advantage of the employer match
3. Invest in a target retirement date fund, or do more research and build your own portfolio
4. Retire in style

1. Figure out if you have a 401(k) available, and ask how to sign up

Contact your HR representative or Manager, and ask if your company has a 401(k) available.
You can use the following e-mail or script:

E-mail

Dear [Insert HR Rep or Manager Name],

I have recently been thinking about my financial future, and would like to begin investing for my future. I have heard that I may have access to a 401(k) through [Your Company], and would like to ask a couple of questions.

1. Does [Your Company] offer a 401(k) program to employees
2. If so, do I qualify to participate?
3. What are the necessary steps to set up my account, and begin having automatic withdrawals sent to the account? 

Lastly, I have heard that some companies offer some sort of match as part of their 401(k) programs - does [Your Company] offer this benefit? If so, I would love to hear more about the options available to employees. 

Thank you in advance for your help.
Kind Regards,

[Your Name]

Phone Script

HR Rep: Good Afternoon, this is Pat

You: Hi Pat, this is [Your Name]. How are you doing today? 

Pat: I'm fine, how are you? 

You: Just Dandy! Pat, I have a couple of questions about some of the benefits available to employees, and wondered if you might be able to help me out. 

Pat: That's what I'm here for! 

You: I have recently been thinking about my financial future, and I was wondering if [Your Company] offers any sort of 401(k) program for employees. 

Pat: Why yes we do! We have a 401(k) set up with a generous match for all employees who work at least 30 hours per week. 

You: Well that is great. What would I need to do to get my account set up?  

Pat: Well, there is a form we will need you to fill out, which will authorize us to begin deducting 401(k) deposits from your paycheck. Once your account is set up, though, the account can be fully managed online. 

You: Perfect! Could you send me a copy of the form, or even better yet, is there a website where I can print it out myself? 

Pat: Well, I can certainly send you one, but the easiest way is to download the form from www.yourcompany.com/401k. Once you have it filled out, you can send it in to the address on the form, and we'll get you all set up. 

You: Great, I'll do that right away. I have one last question - you mentioned a match for employees who work more than 30 hours. Currently, I work 32 hours a week - could you tell me more about the match? 

Pat: Certainly - [Your Company] understands how important saving for retirement is, so we will match 100% of your contribution, up to 2%, and another 50% for the next 4% [Don't worry about what this means - I'll explain a little later in this post] 

You: Well that certainly is generous! Thanks so much for the information Pat. Is there anything else I should know about the 401(k) 

Pat: Nope, that's it, just get the form in to our office and we'll get you set up. And make sure to contribute at least 6% if you want the full match! 

You: Well thank you for your help, I'll get that in to you right away. Have a great day Pat!
*click*

Now, if your employer doesn't offer a 401(k), then you'll want to set up a Roth IRA. The simplest way is to walk into your bank and say "I'd like to open a Roth IRA". They'll take it from there. If you want to have a little more control, understand what a Roth IRA is, and how to handle it yourself, here is a great post from Get Rich Slowly: How to Start a Roth IRA (and Where to Do It)

If they do have a 401(k)...

Step 2: Sign up for your bloody 401(k)

This is an easy one - if you followed the instructions in step 1, then you know exactly how to sign up. Don't do it tomorrow, don't do it next week, just take the 5 minutes and do it today. This is not a thought provoking exercise, so you should not wait to complete it - just get it done already!

You should contribute at least enough to get any employer match that you have available. So what is this employer match, and how do you interpret it. In a few words, an employer match is free money.

If your employer offers 50% on up to 6%, what does that mean? That means that for every dollar you put into your 401(k), up to 6% of your salary, your employer will put another 50 cents in there for free. What does this mean for you? In 40 years, it can mean an extra $400,000 to retire on!

If you get a 100% match instead of the 50%, then it's even better - it means you get a dollar for dollar match. For every dollar you contribute, your employer will give you a dollar. Isn't that incredible!

I recommend contributing enough to get the full employer match, but remember, if you can only contribute $50, or even $10, it's a good start. Begin with that, and then make it a goal to increase by a little bit whenever you can (an extra 5 dollar every month until you are getting the full match, perhaps?)

Step 3: Invest the Money Wisely
Okay, you have a retirement account set up. For starters, you can brag to your friends, and even be a bit snobby. "Well, my retirement portfolio is already shaping up quite nicely" They'll be jealous...trust me.

But now that you have money in there, you can invest it in a number of mutual funds - exciting, right? Scary? Horrifying? Making you wish you had just kept spending that money on video games and beer?

Okay, here's your trick - find the target date fund (this can go by a few different names) that coincides with your age. This is the simplest way to invest, and works for 85% of the population.

Basically, you put your money in a specific fund based on when you want to retire. Since I was born in 1988, then 1988 + 65 years = 2053. I would invest in the 2050 target date fund. Don't pull the "I plan on retiring at 40" crap, just take your birth year + 65, and be done.

What this does is it has the company that runs the fund take your money, along with billions of other dollars, and invest them the way that someone your age should. This means they will invest in a proper mix of domestic equities, international equities, t-bills, muni's, REIT's, TIPS, etc.
If that last sentence made your head spin, then a target date fund is right for you.

If you want to create your own portfolio, then that is beyond the scope of this post, and you will need to do your own research.
Here's a start:
Rebalancing & asset allocation: Critical for investing. So why don't you do it? by Ramit Sethi
Retire Earlier by rebalancing your 401(k) with the Swensen asset model by Steve Mz

If you're lazy...go with the target fund.

Step 4: Retire in style

Need I say more?

Disclaimer: I am not a financial planner. This post is for informational purposes only. You are responsible for any financial decisions you make. 

Don't be Poor When You Get Old

This is going to be a quick post.

You're losing $300,000 by not using a retirement account. 

Many of us are given a phenomenal opportunity by our employers to get free money. That's right...free money.

401(k) Matching
You see, many employers offer a 401(k) match. That means that they will match, dollar for dollar, the amount that you put in to your 401(k). This will be done up to a certain percentage. For example, your employer may match 100% of your contributions for up to 5% of your salary.

This means that if you make $100,000 per year (no, I don't expect you to be making this much, but 100k is an easy number to do math with)
You contribute 5% (aka $5,000) to your 401(k)
Your employer matches it
You put $5,000 into your account, and your employer puts in $5,000 of their own. It's free money!!!

My Dad has told me many times that he always regrets not taking advantage of the match that GM would have given him. He didn't think he had enough money...it's a pity, because even $50 per month back then (from age 23-28) would be worth $100,000 today. That's right, I'm not kidding - $100,000!!!

If you are not taking full advantage of your employer's match, then you are missing out on free money, and need to stop missing out immediately!!!

What if my Employer doesn't offer a match?
First of all, they may well offer a match, and you just don't know it. Find an HR representative and ask them about it, or consider asking a co-worker who has been around for a while. I know that even some fast food restaurants offer a match.

Either way, you should be saving for retirement as soon as possible!!!

I'll spare you the math, but I'll give you the answers.

If you contribute $50 per month (I bet you can afford it), then you will make a ton of money!!!

Example
Let's say you are going to contribute $50 per month for 10 years only (that's a total of $6,000 in 10 years)
If you start at age 20, you'll have $150k when you turn 65.
If you start at age 25, you'll have $100k when you turn 65
If you start at age 30, you'll have $67k when you turn 65

Do you see how just a few years makes a huge difference? You're putting in the same amount of money overall, but you are making as much as 100% more!!!

If you just don't wait, and begin putting something in to your retirement account, you can make an extra $90k by sitting on your ass.

Start now...for every minute (well...month) you miss out, you are missing out on real cash!

What do you do?
Step 1: Ask your HR employer or co-workers if your job offers a 401(k) match (even some fast food restaurants offer this...seriously, just ask)
Step 2: Contribute enough to get your employer's match
Step 3: If you don't get your employer match, at least begin putting in $50 per month ($100 is better, but $50 is fine...if all you can afford is $25, then go with that!)

If you don't have access to a 401(k), then open up a Roth IRA. There is plenty of documentation on the internet about this...I use Fidelity for mine. That is not going to be covered in this post.


Resources:

• If you have questions, e-mail me! Paul@Padorec.com
• A great, and easy to read book is I Will Teach You to be Rich by Ramit Sethi
• If you'd like to play around with your own calculations, use www.dinkytown.net

Like I said, I am trying to keep this short, so that's all!

Why Bother Being Born?

We all tend to focus so much on the present - and that is important.
But it is also important to look to the end, to examine your entire life, including the part that has not happened yet, and think about what you want to have done.

Some people will say they'd like to have raised successful, well-adjusted children
Some will want to have made Millions
Some will want to have helped to elminate poverty
Some will simply want to have survived (not a recommended end of life goal)


Living does not Mean Surviving
Surviving: Not being dead
Living: Experiencing the magic that life has to offer

In the end, will you look back on a fulfilled life, or will you mourn the life you never had.


I've had the thought that we can "finish" our lives at some point for a while now. It always nagged in the back of my mind, but it really came to the forefront of my mind when I watched a documentary by Spike Jonze. It was a portrait of Maurice Sendak (known most famously for authoring Where the Wild Things Are)

Sendak's most famous work

The Documentary

The documentary, Tell them Anything You Want: A Portrait of Maurice Sendak is a wonderful film, full of insight and wonder. I highly recommend the DVD. It used to be available on Hulu, but it appears it was pulled down. I'll let you know if it goes back up. 

While the entire film is fantastic, there is one particular segment which I have gone back to many times to draw inspiration. The title is "Sendak on Death (And Life)" on YouTube. I have to say that this is a man who has experienced so much pain in his life (he died on May 8, 2012 - if you were unaware), and yet he has found happiness. His work was his true happiness.

This segment asks the noted author: Why Bother Being Born? And what follows is a truly introspective journey which we can all benefit from. It is a mere 5 minutes long, so sit back, ignore the world for a bit, and watch.

Motivation You can Draw from Maurice Sendak

I like to watch this video every time I find myself seeking some inspiration. It is a very moving video that drives me to pursue what makes me happy. I have watched it (and listened to it) many many times, and I'm sure I will do so again and again. 

Disclaimer #1: I do find that you need to be in the right mood for the video. You should be in an introspective mood.

Disclaimer #2: It will be better if you first watch the full Documentary...but it is great even without knowing the full context

If you'd like to watch the full documentary first, then you can find it at Amazon, or you can view it illegally on the Internet, but I can't make a recommendation on a site (I truly don't have one for you, or I'd share)

So consider what your life should be.

Ask Yourself: Why Bother Being Born?

When you are this man's age, will you be proud of a life well spent. Will you be done with your life? Or will you mourn never having lived a life in the first place?

Fake it 'til you Make it...NOT!

I take issue with the statement "fake it 'til you make it", because it sounds deceptive. It can be a good concept when you are looking at your personality, and your mood, but it is rarely used properly. Usually, it means you are going to pretend that you are something you are not, and try to deceive others.

This is effective when you look at body language and your mindset. If you force yourself to think happy thoughts (fake it), eventually you will be happier (make it). If you force yourself to take a confident stance (fake it), then you will eventually develop more confidence (make it).

I prefer the term in this format:
Fake it and you'll make it

This more accurately describes what we should do with this age old wisdom, and making this one mental shift can have a major effect on your day-to-day life.

For a more specific discussion, see the video below. I'm excited, because this is my first recorded blog post!!!

Resources:

• TED Talk - Amy Cuddy: Your body language shapes who you are
• The Definitive Book of Body Language by Allen and Barbara Pease

Save Hours a day by Getting rid of Time Wasters

I hate wasting time.

I didn't used to hate it...in fact, I used to love wasting time. I was addicted, and I couldn't get enough of it. And I bet you love wasting time too.

I bet you always say "I just don't have enough time". Uhh, yes you fucking do. You have more time in your life than Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, and a whole host of phenomenal people did. You have the time, you're just not using it the way you should. You are spending a whole chunk of time on stuff that is pointless (time wasters) instead of what you should be spending it on.

We give "time wasters" different names, of course:

1. "I'm staying informed"
2. "I'm just relaxing"
3. "I love this show"
4. "I worked all day long"
5. "I don't want to miss something"

And there's of course a hell of a lot more. Here's the breakdown of some timewasters

1. Watching the news
2. Reading pointless e-mails
3. Deleting unwanted e-mails
4. Watching TV
5. Checking Facebook
6. Reading news articles
7. Reading internet comments
8. 4,264 other things

Watching the news is not staying informed, it is mental masturbation. If something truly important happens in the world, I promise you will hear about it. Someone will tell you about it. "But Paul, I love politics". Politics is pointless - you don't need to follow it unless you are a true uninformed, undecided voter. You aren't going to change your mind, and you aren't going to change other people's minds.

Reading pointless e-mails - People do this to feel busy. They want to feel like they are accomplishing something. You know how many e-mails I get in a day? 5-10, and they are all relevant to me, and I actually desire to read them all. 

But DON'T just delete the e-mails, unsubscribe, so that you don't spend time and decisions every day to figure out whether to delete an e-mail. Don't worry, if you really miss the e-mails, you can easily resubscribe. 

If you have to login and do work to unsubscribe, just filter it out with your e-mail program.

Watching TV - This is okay, but you must make the conscious decision that you are watching TV. This actually makes the experience better - you are giving yourself permission to watch TV. I highly recommend, however, deliberately choosing a TV show that you will watch. If you give yourself permission to watch a TV show, you will realize that you are not wasting time, but are consciously deciding to relax, and give a mental break. (Just don't let this turn into 4 hours of channel surfing). 

Here's a tip that people somehow don't realize (I went 18 years without realizing this) - It is okay to have the TV off

Checking facebook - You can go on facebook, but don't use facebook as a random excuse to spend time. You need to have a reason to check facebok.

Reading News Articles - See "Watching the News". You don't need to read pointless articles unless there is a real justification. If you are researching something, then sure, read the articles, but be aware of the moments when you are simply doing something to use time. 

Reading Internet Comments - It's an easy trap. Don't fall into it (I still do sometimes). We want people to validate our beliefs, and we want to argue against people that don't agree with us. Don't do this - it's a stupid waste of time, and you are better than that.

So what the hell can I do with my time?

Okay, so it can suck to have actual free time. You know why? Because people don't know how to spend their time. They don't know how to be productive instead of just using up their minutes until they die.

Sit there and think

One super easy thing to use your free time for is to sit there and think. Some of the most successful people in the world do this (Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, etc.) Sit down, get comfortable, and just allow your mind to wander. You'll be amazed at what you realize, and how much clarity you can find in your world just by allowing your mind to find the clarity.

Start a business

So...do you want to start a business? You don't need to get to Point Q, where you have established processes, offices, products, etc. You need to start at Point A, which is the idea...or Point E where you are actually validating your idea (See NevBlog for more information)

Clean

Uhh, I don't know a single person in the world who couldn't stand to clean up some of their shit. Either mentally or physically, clean up your life!

Improve yourself

You could watch videos about productivity, learn a new task, learn a new skill, read a book, spend time with your kids, or even try to begin automating your life.

Speaking of videos...stay tuned for a video by me about this very topic!

Welcome to the New PADOREC

I changed the name of my blog.

It used to be "Life in 30 days" which I LOVED as a name. I had business cards made up (okay, I printed them myself) with the name of the blog, the link, and a QR code (those are those crazy squares that you can scan with your phone that about 14 people have ever scanned)

So why in the world did I change the name of the blog??? It was such a beautiful name, such an elegant concept. Here's why I did it: It was super super focused. It was a blog about one thing, and one thing only, and that's 30 day challenges for self-improvement and general merriment. It's a fantastic motivational tool but as a blog, it can get old quickly.

And here's the kicker: if I were to write about another motivational tip, or a great recipe, or a cool book I read, then it would not fit the theme of the blog. That does not make for good reading, and it gets confusing. So here's the deal - I have not reached monumental blog status yet where a name change is a major issue.

A blog about photography: Great
A blog about photography of the Pacific Northwest in the Winter: Gets old fast

"But Paul, it's good to hit a niche"
I agree - niches are good, but a super niche is not always the right thing for blogs. (Yes, I just invented the term super niche...that's what Shakespeare and I have in common...we both invented words) And here's the issue with a single Niche - my interests are not a single niche, and NEITHER ARE YOURS! I like to read about motivation, I like to read about science, I like to build things, I cook, I brew beer, I start businesses, I do a whole lot of things. Ever heard of the Singularity? Well if I kept this as a 30-day concept, then you never would!!! What knowledge would be missed.


"Okay, I get it, the 30-day concept is dead"
Not at all. I will still do 30-day experiments, and you will still hear about them, but it won't be the singular focus of this blog.

"Okay, so then what the hell will you write about?"
Well, I can write about anything. This blog doesn't have an incredibly concentrated theme. I will find A theme, but I am not going into this blog looking for a single theme which I will write about. I'm going to feel around for a while, and see what comes out of it.

By opening up the reach of this blog, I'm going to allow myself the freedom to write more often. I know, this isn't supposed to be all about me, it's about you. But until I find stuff I like to write about, I can't deliver any valuable blog posts to you.

The reason for the name? Well, I was impacted by Steve Pavlina in his post "Branding is Fear Based B.S."

"Note that I write at StevePavlina.com, not FakePersonalGrowthBrand.com. My company name is Pavlina, and I really don’t care what that means to anyone. "

PADOREC is my brand. It's a unique name, and it is me. I won't tell you why - you can figure out the puzzle.

So there you have it. There is a new game in town, and it's called PADOREC. Lifein30days.com will point to this blog for a while, but eventually it will disappear. 

Look forward to great new content, and awesome, superfantastic, helpful tips on motivation, personal development, new science, and puppets.

Paul

P.S. I probably won't write about puppets, but I could.

Why is Paul not Finishing these things?

Hey, wasn't that 30 day motivation idea awesome?
Didn't you just love that idea?
I thought there would be so much value in that experiment!
Then why did that bum not finish it?

I clearly just got lazy, unmotivated, and didn't want to do anything ever again, so I couldn't even finish a simple 30-day motivational challenge, right?

WRONG!

I ran into a problem of being too motivated. I couldn't contain myself!!! I thought I would learn lessons on how to keep myself motivated, and I did (to a certain extent), but when you are at your peak motivation, then how do you keep yourself from running wild!!!

I've been finding lifehacks, entrepreneurial tips, productivity tools, and have been improving the quality of life. I've found out how to get rid of a lot of the useless crap that used to consume my life, and am now running much more efficiently. With efficiency comes extra mental RAM space (See David Allen's Getting Things Done) and that leads to happiness, and the ability to think clearly. This is all good stuff!

Another issue I encountered - I set too lofty of a goal. I aimed to write once a day for 30 days. Guess what...shit happens! If I asked you to write once a day for 30 days, it sounds easy, if you can write about anything you want.

Here's the issue: I was writing once a day for 30 days, which was a 30 day challenge, and also I was trying to motivate myself once a day for 30 days. I had a 30 day challenge x2. I was trying to cram 60 days of challenge into a measly month! This was just too much for me to handle. On top of that, I had work (we just kicked off a new project, dontcha know) and all of these entrepreneurial things to tend to, that I could barely handle 15 days of challenge in 30 days, much less 60!!!

    Write once a day for 30 days
+ Self-Motivate once a day for 30 days
= 60 days of motivation needed
- 15 days of challenge that I could handle that month
= -45 days of challenge

I was at a 45 day deficit!!! You just can't argue with that math ;)  <<<That's a winky face for those who don't know

So here's my new formula for this blog:

30-day challenge = AT LEAST one post per week.
That's right, you are only guaranteed one blog full of juicy information once a week. I might post more, I might not, but I can safely commit to once per week

Another Change
I know, I know, I'm changing up the frequency of the blog, what else could I be doing?
I may be changing the format of the blog. I love the 30-day challenge as a motivational tool, it's truly a great concept, but I feel constricted. Sometimes, I just want to write about something else. I like to learn about a lot of subjects, and they don't always lend themselves to 30-day challenges.

I'd like to move to a format more like a typical blog, with 30-day challenges thrown in. I could see it being more like Steve Pavlina's blog (www.stevepavlina.com) which has lots of juicy information, and he'll go on different challenges from time to time (My favorite to read was the Polyphasic sleep experiment)

As for the motivation challenge. Well, I didn't finish it, but I'm still riding that motivational high from weeks ago. I'll have a follow up post about that in the coming days, with summaries and tips and all that juice information that I know you're all craving. It's coming, don't worry.

Oops, I forgot. Motivation Day 6

Well, I missed a couple of days. I have an excuse, but the truth is that I simply lounged a bit too much this weekend. I was active, but not too active.

I had a friend come out, and we had a grand old time - skyping with my sister while we had a few libations. It was a great time, and was good for the soul...so I don't feel guilty about it :)

Now, on to the challenge. Remember, I was supposed to find things that I finished, and start writing a list of them to show that I have a track record of completing things.

The problem is: I looked at my huge projects and said "I'm going to finish those". Then, I didn't finish them, and I started to feel like I was failing. Well, when I thought about it, I realized I had missed the point of the challenge entirely!

I should not have tried to bite off the big challenges in my life to make a list of completions - I needed to take small steps, to show that I do finish. That then becomes motivation for the bigger tasks.

My completions list:
1. Completed the expense report I was putting off at work
2. I decided which tires I want for my car (have to wait a couple of weeks before I can get them put on)
3. I finished watching all of the episodes of Boardwalk Empire (okay, that's an easy one, and no motivation was necessary, but still, I finished it!)
4. I finished making my cinnamon snap liqueur (it's delicious!)
5. I finished scanning in all my filed documents to Evernote 

So there you have it. I'm well on my way to having a rich, full, completions list, and you can too.

Tips for you

• If you are looking to set a track record of something (for me it was finishing, but it could be anything for you: Starting, thinking, being kind to strangers, etc.) don't necessarily set lofty goals and set out to achieve them.
• The goal is not to change your behavior right now - the goal is to recognize that you already do whatever action you are interested in increasing in your life
• Don't let any achievement be too small - see completion #3 for me up above.

Day 7 Challenge

Embrace Your Willpower (Tip #29)

This is a simple concept, but one that everyone can benefit from.

First of all: Know that you do have willpower. It exists in all of us, but we need to strengthen it. 

"If someone were to put a large barbell weight on the floor in front of you and ask you to lift it and you knew you could not, you would not say 'I have no strength', you'd say, 'I'm not strong enough'"

We always have willpower, but if it is weak, we need to work it. If you wanted stronger arms - you would work them out, if you wanted stronger legs, you would work them out, so if you want a stronger willpower, you will work it out.

The first step is to acknowledge that you have willpower - done. I know that I have willpower. I have utilized it many times, so I know it is there.

Step two is to know that your willpower is yours to develop. I've done this before, and it worked pretty well. I would put a brownie, or cookie, or whatever, in front of me - and just stare at it. I would want it, but I would not eat it. I was testing my willpower, but also strengthening it.

My challenge, therefore, will be to take at least 5 challenges tomorrow in which I push my willpower. Perhaps it will be with a delicious treat, or the desire to sit back and watch TV, or to browse Facebook. I'm not sure what form it will take, but I will show that I do have willpower. 

I invite all of you to join me in this challenge, and post in the comments the 3-5 things you have done to strengthen your willpower!!!

This 30-day challenge is to use one tip per day from the book "100 Way to Motivate Yourself" by Steve Chandler. The goal is to find great methods for self-motivation which can be used in the future.

Me, Myself, and I - Motivation Day 2

Day Two
Day 2 was also a success. I was traveling most of the day due to travel delays (hence the post coming today instead of last night)

The goal was to allow myself to sit there, in solitude, and to allow the universe to reveal itself to me. Specifically, the challenge was to "not just do something". This means I was not supposed to allow myself to give in to pointless distractions - I didn't sit and read the news, I didn't start playing games on my phone, I didn't start watching mindless videos. I sat there, and let my mind go free.

Not only did I spend time on the plane, in solitary, allowing the universe to reveal itself, but I also spent some time in the morning, and also ended up in the bathroom at work at one point, sitting for longer than usual, allowing my mind to work. Further, when I had dinner at the Airport (St Louis Lambert Field), I was truly in my element.

Did I have some crazy revelations, and understand the universe in its fullest? Are you crazy? No one could come up with that in one day. I did come up with a new business idea, though, and I felt quite confident, and comfortable in my skin.

Dinner was a great experience - remember yesterday (well, 2 days ago) when I was living into my future self. Well at dinner, it was never better. I was sitting there, enjoying a Knob Creek with air (that means "neat", "up", "straight") and some Truffled chips, and my mind was clear, and it was working. Every input was processed much faster than usual, causing everything I saw start to make much more sense, and everything to connect in its own weird way. It did feel like I could see so much more, even though I was in my own head.

So now, what do you need to do to reach this point of clarity? You need to obviously meditate every day, and give yourself at least an hour of peaceful serenity with no distractions, and no worries, right? Hell no - if you can spare 5 minutes, you can get a benefit out of this. Many of the worlds most powerful people do take time, say an hour every other day, or every few days, to just sit there and think. When you take this time, you will see your mind start to take care of things that it wants to. Your problems will find solutions, and all you have to do is get out of the way, and stop drugging your brain with distractions!

Your challenge: Just try it, for 15 minutes today. Take 15 minutes, and turn off the TV, put your phone on silent, turn off the radio, get into a comfy chair. If you have family, tell them you need to be left alone for 15 minutes. Just see what happens. I bet you will get addicted to the immense understanding that only 15 minutes will give you.

On a side note: I remembered an old memory game last night, and on my drive home, I was able to memorize 70 words in a row, and recite them. I have never done more than 30 before, so this was a huge feat. The biggest benefit of this, however, was that I began to re-learn how to focus. I can still remember all 70 this morning, by the way. It's a very powerful game (and you can use it to almost instantly memorize a list of ten, which is a great party trick.

Day 3 Challenge:
Build a Track Record

This is a simple one, and a concept many of you are likely familiar with. It's simply establishing that you can do X, because you have done X.

The example in the book is of a gentleman who wanted to be better at finishing things. He was looking for affirmations that would make him better at finishing. The answer was not to use affirmations, but to build a track record of being a finisher. He bought a notebook, and wrote down everything he completed. By the end of the first page, he had a track record of being a finisher. He didn't just say "I'm a finisher, I'm a finisher, I'm a finisher" which your mind knows is a lie. He was able to look at his list, and say "look, I'm a finisher!"

Many of you know this concept as writing a list of things you've done. I remember filling out a to-do list, and adding some things I had already completed, then crossing them out. That has worked before, so I'm trying it again.

So here I go, I'll follow the same track as the gentleman in the story, and I'll go ahead and finish 2 things today which have been on my to-do list for a while. So here we go!

This 30-day challenge is to use one tip per day from the book "100 Way to Motivate Yourself" by Steve Chandler. The goal is to find great methods for self-motivation which can be used in the future.

Oh My God I'm so Motivated!!! Motivation Day 1

Day One
Day one is nearly complete. As a reminder, my challenge was to imagine my future self, and then live into it.

Obviously, I can't complete all of that in one day. I can imagine my future self, but I can't "live into it" in a single day! So I bit off the do-able piece: Imagine my future self.

Now, the gold standard for imagining the future is the "home of the future" videos from like 50 years ago, so I'll try to follow that style!

The Paul of the Future

The Paul of the future is a sleek model, wearing the finest bespoke Italian suits. He is surrounded by friends as he tours the world, learning new cultures, and expanding his incredible business empire. Since he first began his meteoric rise, he has been adored by many, and envied by more.

Today, he is setting up a new production plant for the newest model of human interfacing neural driven synthetic upright motor vehicle. Since the original model of his genius device was first developed, humanity has changed forever.

But once this plant is set up, the day is not over - Paul will be sleeping on his private Jet as he heads to his private island in the Caribbean, where he will be meeting with a world leader (Mr. Recchia could not disclose the identity of this world leader to us for security reasons). When he isn't courting business relationships, and cultural relationships, Mr. Recchia is enjoying his favorite relationship - his wife and two kids - Paul Jr., and Satorica. *I'm guessing girls will have really weird names by then* He enjoys spending time with his family at their home in the United States of North and South America.

Paul Recchia - the perfect combination of health, intelligence, creativity, relationship builder, and family man.

And scene.

I think that's a pretty damn good life to aspire to live. That's a great Paul to become. So the way I see it, that is a long term goal. The problem is, that could be a long way off - where do I start? Well today, I began eating healthier for a start (to get to that "sleek model" status) and I felt like I was carrying myself differently - standing up straighter, speaking with a stronger voice, taking charge. I began feeling like my future self.

It is said that when Michelangelo came upon the huge piece of Marble that would become David, that he could see David in the marble - he just needed to reveal him. I feel like I have this great new self within me - I just need to reveal him. Right now, at this very moment, I have my future self sitting here - I just have to give him a chance to get out. When I got my salad today, I felt like that other Paul was getting that salad. It's a very cool, yet bizarre feeling.

For some other methods for picturing your future self, here are some resources:
Weight Mirror - If weight loss is your game, you can see what you will look like!
Guidelines for imagining your future self
100 Ways to Motivate Yourself by Steve Chandler




Day 2 Challenge
Don't Just Do Something...Sit There (Tip #18)

The point is to take time to just sit there, and let the Universe reveal itself to you. When you remove distraction, your mind is free to run wild. Instead of finding something busy to do, just sit there, and enjoy the time. You don't need to actively "think", you need to break down the wall and let the world bring the solutions to your doorstep.

This is one that has echoes in many of the most successful people ever. Bill Gates is notorious for taking time to just think (See Lifehacker for a nice article about this)

I've known this for a while - but Steve does identify a great point:

"Sometimes, in my seminars on motivation, a person will ask me, 'Why is it that I get my best ideas when I'm in the shower?'
I usually ask the person, ' When else during your day are you alone with yourself without any distractions?'
If the person is honest, the answer is never."

This is a fantastic point, and I had recently noticed that when I drive, I have absolute clarity. I can think on unprecedented levels in my car. I have personal insight, and when I stop driving, it stops!

So tomorrow, I'll be finding some time to just sit and think, and try to ignore all other distractions. Maybe in the morning, maybe in the evening, maybe in the bathroom during work, who knows. I will do it, though!



This 30-day challenge is to use one tip per day from the book "100 Way to Motivate Yourself" by Steve Chandler. The goal is to find great methods for self-motivation which can be used in the future.

At long last, motivation, and how you can too

Reading note: The new challenge is at the bottom of this novel of a post.

If you haven't noticed: I have not done more than one damn post in the past, I don't know, 32 years! You see, it was a question of motivation, or rather the lack of it. Now I'm not talking about monetary motivation, or career motivation (let's be honest, this blog won't help me with either of those things) I'm talking about good old self-motivation. I used to have plenty, but then it dwindled, and then it disappeared.

I have a tendency to go through motivational cycles. Sometimes, I'll have no desire to really do anything, and the next moment, I'm incredibly into reading, or working out, or cooking, or learning piano, or...you name it. But inevitably, that motivation dies down, and I fade away. I usually go back to it at some point, but there's a dead period in between.

Some of the "motivational cycles" that I've had:

1. Chocolate Making
2. Reading
3. Working out
4. Learning Piano
5. Learning Guitar
6. Making Pasta
7. Making Bread
8. Becoming a pick-up artist (that one worked out real well)
9. Eating Healthy
10. Losing Weight
11. Living Long Enough to Live Forever (See Transcend: Nine Steps to Living Well Forever)
12. Roasting Coffee (currently)
13. Brewing Beer
14. Writing Music
15. Computer Coding
16. Starting a Business
17. Being Stylish
18. Being Perfectly Groomed
19. Mixing Drinks (Mixology)
20. Writing a Blog

And there's more, but I just wanted to show you that there are a number of things for which I've become highly motivated. The problem is: I almost always will lose interest, lose motivation, and not finish what I started.

In fact, I was recently in such a bad slump that I feared I would never come out of it. I was on a project at work which sucked the life out of me. It had me searching for a new job even (I have since moved on to a new project, and have restored my faith in my company) I felt in a rut, and I was finding myself escaping, whether into music, news, politics, or, mostly, TV shows. I watched all 3 seasons of Arrested Development...twice. I began watching Cheers, I watched every episode of Shark Tank more than once. Finally, Shark Tank pulled me out of the slump. 

Problem: I go through motivational cycles in which I am intensely motivated, but soon lose interest and at the same time, the motivation.

Solution: Figure out what motivates me, and keep doing it!

I had an epiphany during my recent kick of motivation (actually, while sitting at a Chinese restaurant waiting for food - I was going through a Chinese food kick. The benefit being that I learned how to make some kick ass fried rice). The epiphany - if I am not always motivated, then why don't I figure out what is motivating me, and make sure I can recreate those conditions. 

It's simple, right? Well it took me 24 years to figure that one out. The exception is at the gym, where I had a playlist specifically designed to motivate me. It started out fun, but then towards the end, when things got tough, it got incredibly spirited and energetic. 

So, I thought to myself:

Me: Well, what typically motivates you?
Paul: Hmm, I'm not sure - Shark Tank motivated me because I want to be like the sharks - not ruthless necessarily, but stylish, well spoken, and highly capable

Me: What else?
Paul: Hmm, I'm not sure, but I bet someone has written a book about this.

Me: You're right! Let's search Amazon :) 

So I found a book which had great reviews, and promised to help me motivate myself. I bought it for Kindle, and just started reading it yesterday. I must say, it is quite handy so far. It is an easy read, and is organized into 100 tips for self-motivation. A tip from a reviewer was to read this multiple times (spaced out, of course) and soon the actions will become part of your habit.

I am currently on #27: Create the Way you Relate. However, I had a great idea - why not take on some of these challenges. Maybe even one per day. Maybe even for a whole month!

Challenge: Follow one tip from the book: 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself: Change Your Life Forever (Link at the end of the post) per day for 30 days

Each post will have a breakdown of the progress in the current day, and a preview of what is to come for the next day. As I go along, hopefully you'll get some helpful tips, and maybe even decide to buy the book for yourself (If you go through my link, I'll get a few pennies, so that's always appreciated)

Day #1: Stay Hungry*

This stems from advice the author received from Arnold Schwarzenegger (before he hit it big). "'It's the same process I used in bodybuilding,' he explained. 'What you do is create a vision of who you want to be, and then live into that picture as if it were already true'" (Chandler Loc137)

So the goal is to picture yourself how you wish to be, and then strive towards that goal.

"A major part of living a life of self-motivation is having something to wake up for in the morning--something that you are 'up to' in life so that you will stay hungry" (Chandler Loc137)

"The vision can be created right now--better now than later" (Chandler Loc143)

So tomorrow, I will set out to create a vivid picture of who I wish to be. And even better, I'll write it down here, so it will be here to stay, as a reminder. 

*Though this will be tomorrow, I will plan out the challenges the night before, so I'm not forced to think something up in the morning. 

If you'd like to check out this book, please see the link below (note that a new edition is due out Nov 22. of this year)

If you'd like to pre-order the new edition: 

100 Ways to Motivate Yourself, Third Edition: Change Your Life Forever