Momentos – Feb 2023

These are my Momentos, short personal diary entries I write daily – since 2013 – and publish monthly. Some links are affiliate links.

1

British mathematician John Edensor Littlewood considered a “miracle” to be a one-in-a-million event. He also figured that a person encounters one distinct “event” per second while alert and awake. In 35 days, that adds up to one million events. Therefore, the average person encounters a miracle about once a month.

2

My go-to snack when I’m out and about now is supermarket sushi. Can eat it quick and convenient and it’s far healthier than most alternatives. Checking the ingredients though, and somehow they still manage to get some sugar in there. Surely that’s not necessary.

3

Been trying to get bank accounts opened and properly set up here for six months. Still not quite right. Amazing how much back and forth it takes. You’d think big institutions that have been around for decades would have simple processes and good customer service, but no.

4

Question posed on Twitter: What is something that’s weird that society accepts as normal? Lots of interesting responses, including…

Expressing love for a loved one by gifting them junk food at their parties 🤷🏻‍♂️

5

One of those days where it’s all too much – even the simple stuff – and I just need a break. Will I eventually look back on days like these and wish I pushed harder through them? Or will I wish I’d gone easier on myself?

6

Me and my silly idealism again. Figured out this task would take about 45 hours of my time to complete, was ready to accept it. Then I asked myself if it really had to be done so perfectly. Of course, it doesn’t. There’s another way that’s good enough and it should take a fraction of the time.

7

Epic work day today, somehow had endless energy for it even though I underslept. Not sure I can take much credit for days like this. Feels like I’m set up better to work well many other days, but end up struggling.

8

Things I loved doing that one time and was sure I’d do again but never did…

  • Run an obstacle course race
  • Own a dog
  • Visit an observatory

9

Woke up to no electricity. Our apartment only. Apparently I was supposed to get something switched over to my name. First I’m hearing of it. Might take a week to get it sorted. Amazed they cut us off with no warning, no attempt to contact us. Sometimes it’s the stupidest little things that cause the biggest problems.

10

My cousin reminded me recently that our grandparents were both orphans. It’s mad how little I know about their childhoods, what traumas they suffered, how that shaped their lives and eventually mine. Will my grandkids know so little about me?

11

This guy says he’s pitched for lots of jobs and never gets a reply, wants me to find him 5 jobs that he can apply for and guarantee he’ll get a response from all of them. I tag his email as doomed and archive it.

12

Part of the reason I’m drawn to sports: the efficiency of movement. I love watching masters of physicality. And I get a buzz out of being efficient with my own movements. Even when I’m in the kitchen cooking dinner or cleaning up after, I like my movements to be clean and lean.

13

Amazes me how many affiliate marketers out there don’t give a shit about the quality of the products they’re promoting. So long as it can make them money, they’re happy to say it’s awesome and promote the bejesus out of it.

14

My sense of fairness is one of my strengths – I try hard to do right by people and not screw anyone over – but it can also be a weakness. Like yesterday, when someone clueless publicly accused me of running a scam and a bunch of commenters assumed it was true. Can’t stop my mind from endlessly ruminating on the unfairness of it all.

15

A common formula on YouTube: tell people about an easy way to make money online, something that sounds plausible, go through the steps but show no proof it actually works or that you’ve tested it yourself. Saw a video like that today with 3.7 million views. That guy has made $1000’s from ad revenue and probably much more pitching his own course at the end. Pisses me off.

16

I stood up for myself and demanded better service, kicked up a big fuss… and now I’m regretting it. Cost me tons of time and energy this week and it looks like I’m still going to get screwed by that company. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

17

Some people say my newsletter depresses them, stories of people with successful online businesses, makes them feel inferior. I feel like that listening to Sam Parr and Nick Huber talking about their millionaire entrepreneur adventures. Sam and Nick probably feel similar hearing about guys the next level up. It never ends.

18

Imagine if you could go back in time 10 years and follow yourself around like a fly on the wall, observing all your actions. How much of it would feel familiar, and how much of it would you have no recollection of? I suspect half the time it would be like observing a complete stranger.

19

New rule: I allow myself to go down a YouTube rabbit hole but only if I raise my desk and walk on the spot while watching. That way I get lots of steps in and never come away feeling like I wasted my time.

20

Barcelona in April. Ireland in May. London in June. Bilbao in July. Ireland in August. Madeira in September. Plenty to look forward to on those trips, but I look at the list and I just wanna go take a nap.

21

Is it just me or are most employees afraid to apologize to clients when they mess up? It’s like they’re worried they’ll get in trouble with the boss if they put their hand up and admit they made a mistake. I guess it’s easier to take full responsibility when you are the boss and nobody can fire you.

22

Sitting here in the dark with the window open listening to a wet snowfall. Thinking about this new rep we got at the bank and how she did more for us in a day than the old rep did in a month. Life is so much easier when you find the right people.

23

Business just pulled in $20,000+ for the third straight month, and $70,000+ over the three. Never did that before. Must hire more help soon. Will have to be someone who doesn’t need much management. I’m already stretched thin.

24

Listening to this guy talking about his house manager. Pays her 6 figures a year, and she basically runs the household and everything related, frees him up to focus on entrepreneurship, hobbies, friends and family. This is something I aspire to.

25

When I sit down to write these each evening, and can’t immediately think of something, I’m tempted to jump on Twitter for inspiration. But that never really serves as inspiration. I just distract myself for a bit then come back here no better off.

26

Up at 6:30 on a Sunday, early into a few hours of deep work. I love being productive when most people are asleep. Feels like a cheat code. Got a ton done before heading off on a long walk along a snowy path to an icy lake.

27

Only took 2.5 weeks to get our electricity back on. We were sharing the neighbor’s connection in the meantime. Such a mess. The agency that manages the property consistently exhibited the worst customer service I’ve ever seen. I should post a big critical review of them online, but that would just drain more of my time and energy.

28

Yeah, the typical affiliate play is to make your top recommendation whatever pays the most. But I don’t do that. If I did, I’m confident my revenue would at least double overnight. I’m also confident that I’d lose all respect for myself.