Three Ways to Finally Pursue Your True Calling

Odysseus returns to Aeaea for Elpenor's funeral rites. First the Greeks must get past the Sirens whose irresistible songs lure sailors into their island's coastal reefs. Next they must avoid the Clashing Rocks, which only the ship of the Argonauts ever escaped.

As he sets sail, Odysseus passes Circe's counsel on to his men. They approach the island of the lovely Sirens, and Odysseus, as instructed by Circe, plugs his men's ears with beeswax and has them bind him to the mast of the ship. 

Even though he knew that the Sirens would lure his sailors to danger in the island's reefs,
Odysseus was curious and wanted to listen to the Sirens. However, he had plugged the ears of his men, so they would not hear the Sirens songs or Odysseus' requests to turn towards the island's reef. 

The Sirens voice is Resistance. Resistance is the fear of failure or success. It is that seductive voice that lures you away from finally starting to live your dream or what you were meant to do in life.

Learn to beating Resistance and find your true calling.

Have you ever bought one of those abdominal crunch machines and brought it home only to let it collect dust? Or perhaps joined a gym and end up not going to the gym? Or stop short of starting a business you wanted to do? What about some kind of philanthropic thing you said you'd do in the future but never got around to it? What is stopping you is called Resistance.

Awareness of this negative force called Resistance helps you tremendously in battling Resistance. Resistance is that voice in your head telling you that today is NOT the day to do it because it's either not the best time, your kids soccer match is today, or you aren't completely financially comfortable.

Once there is such a thing as Resistance and you realize that it is not a real voice, it is easier to dismiss it at and just keep going.

What happens if you just ignore Resistance and let it win?

You lose your entire life. The resistance is the negative opposite reaction to what your soul's calling is. If you were born to be a warrior or coach then you will feel resistance to that. If you listen to that voice and you don't do it then you lose your calling. How many people work jobs where they are only in it for the money? Then when they look back, they realize they just wasted all that time pursuing something they didn't care so much for.

A well-known therapist has a theory on patients that are diagnosed with terminal cancer. Their whole life image changes and suddenly they focus on what is really important and what isn't. They have some kind of prolific realization of when they were a kid they enjoyed painting or arts. But, instead they put their dreams on the shelf and became a lawyer or got their MBA. The therapist would encourage them to follow their dreams. Surprisingly enough, some  of the cancers actually go into remission at that point. Is it possible that we get cancer because we don't do what we were born to do?

Have you heard of the authentic golf swing? The idea that your golf swing is already there as a kid and is different from everyone else. Take a look at Tiger Woods' golf swing and how it looked when he was kid compared to how it looks now. It's nearly the same style. Similarly, kids are born into this world with their own personalities and everyone is difference from one another.

The idea of that you can be anything you want to be is a bit crazy. If you are 4'11 the chances of you becoming a professional basketball player are slim. But you can be great at a lot of other things. The idea is to become the best version of your authentic self. Find that calling and then get out of your own way. Go for it!

Ask yourself, what is your thing? Embrace that and then cultivate that. What brings you joy? What is your unique ability? What are you called to do? What is your true calling? The answer goes back to is what do you feel resistance to? What activity produces the deepest terror and that's what you need to do.

Learn the concept of turning professional. 

Make that mental shift from looking at something as an avocation and turn it into a vocation. This is the shift from the point of view of a weekend warrior versus a real warrior. The professional attitude keeps you from becoming impatient and taking things too personally failures or successes. The professional goes at it hardcore with a no BS attitude. As a professional, you go at it day in and day out. That's what you do and you are not dependent on external praise. You can fail, but just keep going. Follow your views and stars. There will be a lot of resistance, but embrace it. This is normal and the more you feel resistance then the more important it is for you to do it. 

Stay in a place where you are putting yourself in a place of discomfort. Not a place where you are safe and be like oh I've done this before and I know how to do this. Jump in like you would do when you were in your early twenties and abandon everything, give it your all, and hope for the best. It gets harder as you get older because you know when it's not going to work out. But so what? What do you have to lose? You may have a lot to lose but be willing for the pitfall. 

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Book Review - Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike

About Phil Knight

Phil Knight is best known for being the co-founder and former CEO of Nike, multinational corporation that is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing and worldwide marketing and sales of footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories and services. Phil is a philanthropist giving away millions each year to support health care, higher education, and other causes, primarily in his home state of Oregon. He also the author of Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike.

Overview and Thoughts about the Book

In Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike, Phil Knight takes the reader on a front seat ride through his journey from borrowing $50 from his father to start a shoe company to creating one of the most profitable retail brands in the world. As many others have said before, including Warren Buffet in his 2016 Berkshire Hathaway shareholder letter, "Phil is a very wise, intelligent and competitive fellow who is also a gifted storyteller."

In a time where Adidas and Puma dominated the shoe market, Phil Knight and his business partner and coach Bill Bowerman overcame tremendous odds to create a company to compete on the same level. Phil takes us through with tremendous detail his business negotiations with not only the Japanese manufacturers, but his bankers, employees, how he met his wife, and even chalks up a couple life lessons he's learned along the way.

“What if there were a way, without being an athlete, to feel what athletes feel? To play all the time, instead of working? Or else to enjoy work so much it becomes essentially the same thing.” —Phil Knight

He reveals his secrets of how he become a successful entrepreneur. In the early days while working on Blue Ribbon, Phil juggled working firstly with Price Waterhouse, and then Coopers & Lybrand. Then became an accounting professor at Portland State University (PSU). The reason he did so was so that he could stay on his feet or in effect somewhat hedge his bet against his business, while growing his business at the same time. But, he quickly quit both to focus on shoes.

As someone who has been more curious about how businesses thrive and build competitive advantages, Phil offers enormous insight using Nike as somewhat of a case study. He had a great business partner in Bill Bowerman who was constantly inventing and improving shoes for his Olympic athletes. In addition, his extreme passion for sports and shoes helped him get through the ups and downs. By combining constant innovation from feedback from athletes on the highest levels, athletic endorsements, and shrewd manufacturing tactics, Nike became what it is now today.

Final Word

While Shoe Dog is largely a book about Phil Knight and Blue Ribbon becoming Nike, towards the end of the book Phil parts with some encouraging life lessons over his seventy plus years. For those that are less business oriented, these alone are noteworthy tidbits. He like many other successful individuals highly recommend that men and women in their mid-twenties not settle for a job or a career. Instead, find a calling. The fatigue and disappointments in life will be easier managed and your highs will be much more gratifying. Overall, this is an entertaining and contains a lot of useful business lessons.

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Big Game Hunting - Networking with Billionaires, Executives and Celebrities - Book Review

About Christopher Kai

Christopher Kai is the founder and CEO of KGL, a strategic-consulting firm that helps entrepreneurs build their businesses. He is an international speaker and bestselling author. Christopher is also the founder of Mondays at the Mission, the only homeless youth program of its kind at the largest private shelter in the United States. Their 240 program speakers from 26 states and 28 countries (Elon Musk, Moby, and TED speaker Diana Nyad) have been featured on CNN, People, ABC, Time, the Ellen Degeneres Show and Oprah. Christopher has been featured on ABC, Fast Company, Inc. Magazine, Buzz Feed, and Huffington Post.

Overview and Thoughts about the Book

In Big Game Hunting - Networking with Billionaires, Executives and Celebrities, Christopher Kai shares his in-depth knowledge of how he went from growing up in a middle class home in Woodside, Queens to rubbing elbows with Richard Branson, Elon Musk, Paris Hilton, and many other "Big Gamers".

I first discovered Christopher Kai when he spoke at Google on how to "Catapult Your Career Opportunities". One of the biggest key points he brought up was networking. ABC News Reported in 2012, 80% of people's jobs come from networking.

A friend of mine quit his accountant job in 2012 and started his own e-commerce business. After four years of ups and downs he decided to get back into the accounting industry. How was someone out of the industry for almost half a decade supposed to find a job? Employers questioned his outdated knowledge, qualifications, and feared he would only stay short-term and leave to start another company. Luckily he still maintained his network of people in the industry. Through his relationships, he had a signed job offer letter within a week.

Most people think of networking from a quantity perspective. The more events you attend the more people you meet. The problem with that is, if you attend the same events you are going to meet the same people. Right from the get go of his book, Kai introduces a huge piece of advice on how to meet "Big Gamers" and focus on the quality of relationships. If you want to meet comic book fanatics, you attend to Comic Con. If want to meet people in the electronics and tech space, you attend CES. What if you want to meet "Big Gamers"? Where would you go? How do you approach them? What do you say to them? What do you do after the event?

“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” —Michelangelo, Italian painter and sculptor

Finding where to meet who you want to meet is only part of the battle. Kai goes through a simple four step process of preparation, what to do before the event, during the event, and action items for after the event. The biggest thing he brings to the table is the fact that he's been through it before, so he is able to relate to the reader much more easier. It is one thing for someone to talk about how to meet "Big Gamers", but never having done so and another thing to have someone who has been in our shoes before providing insight and steps. 

While most networking books are rather bland or wordy, Kai uses relevant personal stories and experiences to illustrate his points. For example, he describes how he reached out to Elon Musk and was able to get Elon to come and speak at Kai's homeless youth program. He also provides stories from others who have used similar techniques to meet "Big Gamers". 

Final Word

Let's say you don't want to meet "Big Gamers". If you want to start a business or meet an executive in your field, advice from Kai's book, Big Game Hunting - Networking with Billionaires, Executives and Celebrities, can be used to meet just about anyone you want to meet. Kai's life experiences on networking is boiled down to a concise yet comprehensive 100 pages. He is an amazing speaker and motivator. So much so, that he has inspired myself to aim higher than what I believe I could achieve. 

Life is about living it. Living it means aiming higher and realizing your fullest potential. You can't always do this by yourself. But if you find a mentor or someone to help you along the way, you'll give yourself a good chance to reach your fullest potential. Build your network. 

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Invest with the House - Hacking the Top Hedge Funds by Mab Faber - Book Review

About Mab Faber

Mab Faber is a co-founder and the Chief Investment Officer of Cambria Investment Management. Faber is the manager of Cambria’s ETFs, separate accounts, and private investment funds. Mr. Faber has authored numerous white papers and five books including Invest with the House - Hacking the Top Hedge Funds. He is a frequent speaker and writer on investment strategies and has been featured in Barron’s, The New York Times, and The New Yorker. Mr. Faber graduated from the University of Virginia with a double major in Engineering Science and Biology. He is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) and Chartered Market Technician (CMT).

Overview and Thoughts about the Book

Invest with the House - Hacking the Top Hedge Funds is one of Meb Faber's more recently published books about investing. Meb begins the book illustrating the difficulties in picking great stocks. He cites statistical data such as 64% of stocks underperformed the broad stock market and 25% of stocks were responsible for all of the market's gains. This makes the game of investing seem especially difficult. On top of this, you are playing in a zero-sum game (your gain is someone else' loss) against the top most talented investors in the world.

Suppose you were able to put down bets with the house? In Vegas the house is the casino; in investing, top hedge funds are considered house. Suppose you were able to buy the same stocks as the top hedge fund managers. Faber goes through in-depth how to track the top hedge funds' picks and use that information to create your own portfolio.

One tool that Faber suggests using is reviewing SEC filings of 13F. Large hedge funds are required to disclose their holdings quarterly to the public. Most of these investors have a long-term investment horizon. Therefore, even though there is a forty-five day delay in reporting their 13F, you'd still be able to get a good idea of what stocks they own at a point in time. Here is a sample of LSV Asset Management's 13F.

"I believe in the discipline of mastering the best that other people have ever figured out. I don't believe in just sitting there and trying to dream it up all yourself. Nobody's that smart. " - Charlie Munger

Perhaps one of the most insightful pieces is Faber goes through a endless in-depth discussion of successful hedge fund managers and their stock picking tendencies and styles. For example, you have Glenn Greenberg, who follows a concentrated investment style. He prefers positions where the business has strong management, demonstrates significant competitive advantage, and strong potential at "unjustifiable" low prices. Then you have Ricky Sandler who at age 25 co-founded an investment fund whereby his $28 million of seed money exploded into $350 million with a net annual return of 31%. 

Final Word

Beyond Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger there are a whole host of successful hedge fund managers. Faber breaks each of them down with their background stories, investment style and strategy, and provide a snapshot of their performance. In addition, he shows their holdings and how a cloned portfolio based on 13Fs would have performed compared to the market. Each of which, beat the the market by large margins. Mab summarizes all the great investors and their styles into one compact book. This is a must read for any investor looking to broaden their knowledge and learn from the very best. Most people are not managing huge sums of money and therefore should be able to compound at greater percentages than those managing billions. While I wished he would've went more in depth on the beginning years of the fund managers, he did a great job accentuating their successes. 

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The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck - Book Review

About Mark Mason 

Mark Mason is a star blogger, internet entrepreneur and author of two books titled Models: Attract Women Through Honesty and The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life. The latter of which has become a recent New York Times bestseller. Mark quit his first day job two months in to start his own internet business. He has traveled to over 60 countries and speaks three languages. His journey so far, has led him from living on people's couches to overcoming failures and he now runs a successful blog and is a tremendous entrepreneur.

Overview and Thoughts about the Book

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life is a book about living the counter-intuitive approach to life. We are constantly bombarded with motivational speeches and inspiring stories of how people have overcome deep struggles to become successes. In the root of all of this is "being positive". Manson suggests that some things are meant to be f*cked up and being positive actually works against "being positive". He pulls from philosophers such as Alan Watts eluding to the "backwards law". Watts writes, “When you try to stay on the surface of the water, you sink; but when you try to sink, you float.” In more layman terms, trying so hard to make everything right often causes things to go wrong.

Manson's book is centered around accepting life's challenges and learning better how to deal with the flaws and limits in our lives. Backed by academic research, Manson takes us through a series of powerful "ah ha moments" revealing the truth behind empowerment. The truth behind finding happiness and enjoying life involves embracing our fears, faults, and uncertainties in life. While all of this may seem obvious when brought up, we all know need that reminder to take a step back and look at life from an inverse approach.

"Life is about solving problems. Therefore, learn how to pick good problems. Avoiding problems just makes everything worse."

Perhaps one of the most insightful pieces is when Manson uses the story of the Buddha to illustrate his point of how life is not about avoiding the pain and suffering in life. The point is to embrace all that life has to offer and take life's problems in stride. Manson does a tremendous job in bringing to light and conveying his message through a series of light-hearted jokes and anecdotes. 

Final Word

The world is become more and more globalized and social pressures are more prominent and in your face than ever before. Media and Hollywood paint pictures of what life should be like. Facebook skews your view of reality when people only post their best moments and few of their worst. You start comparing yourself to others and set high expectations to "keep up with the Jones". We all need that guide and constant reminder to be ourselves and to understand the life is about tackling problems and solving one after the other. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life is a book that will teach you how to let go. Manson will strangely motivate you to trust that if you fall it will be all okay. Frankly, you'll just learn how to give less of a F*ck and as a result you'll actually feel better about yourself, those around you, and your life.

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Tap Dancing to Work: Warren Buffett on Practically Everything - Book Review

About Carol Loomis, Compiler of Tap Dancing to Work: Warren Buffett on Practically Everything, 1966-2012

Carol Loomis had the longest tenure at Fortune magazine of any employee in its history. She is noted particularly for having covered Warren Buffett's life since 1966 more closely than any other business publication. For decades she watched first hand as Warren Buffett became Warren Buffett. Over the years she has developed a tremendous relationship and rapport with Warren, so much so that she has been the pro bono editor of his annual letter to shareholders for many years. Incidentally, it was Carol's husband who first met Warren Buffet. In Carol's first article mentioning Warren Buffett, she had misspelled his last name 'Buffet'. Later on, Warren gave grief to Carol about that.

Overview and Thoughts about the Book

Tap Dancing to Work: Warren Buffett on Practically Everything is a collection of articles about Warren Buffet, some of which were either written by Fortune and Carol Loomis herself (13 cover stories), Warren Buffett himself (12 articles), or various other writers. All of which definitely help to contribute to understanding Warren's thought process and principals. The book starts with an article about Alfred Winslow Jones, who is largely considered the father of hedge funds. At the time, Warren Buffett had started a partnership, which he eventually closed in 1969 due to what he believed to be unfavorable market conditions. By that time he had already amassed $25 million dollars. While many of these articles you can probably find online, Carol provides insightful information on each of the articles in hindsight. This includes the aftermath of what had happened in the banking crisis of 2008 and Buffett's temporary seat at Solomon as chairman.

For someone who is looking to gain rare insight into Warren's investment principals, you'd have to go through 368 pages of articles to comb though and pick out the fruit. Evidently he does not lay out his investment procedures in simply easy to follow steps, but each of these articles does provide incredible insight into Warren's thoughts and more importantly his adherence to his principals. In particular, a couple of the articles illustrates Warren's cost management and thriftiness.

I would say about a third of the articles are about Warren's generosity in donating a large portion of his fortune to charities. It goes through how the idea came about, who else he has involved, and his relationship with Bill Gates in all of this.

"How did BYD get so far ahead?" Warren Buffett asked Wang, speaking through a translator. "Our company is built on technology know-how," Wang answered." Wary as always of technology play, Buffett asked how BYD would sustain its lead. "We'll never, never rest," Wang replied."

Perhaps one of the most insightful pieces is "Why Warren Buffett's Betting Big on American Express". While Fortune attempted to decipher the secret formula behind Warren's decision to buy American Express, at the end of the article Carol eludes to the real reason behind Warren's decision to keep it all these years. While Warren was initially concerned with competition from other credit card companies such as Visa, his golf day with Frank Olson at the time CEO of Hertz largely shifted him the other direction. At mid-2012 Berkshire's Amex stock had a cost basis of $1.3 billion and a market value of $8.8 billion. Let's not kid ourselves, Warren did not buy American Express on solely a stock tip. 

But being serious now, the article 'Buffett Takes Charge' by Marc Gunther is one of the best articles that describes Buffett's investment criteria and the degree in which they need to be met. This article is on his decision to invest in the Chinese car and battery company, BYD. Buffett purchased the stock at HK$8 and it is now trading at about HK$60. Even with the recent drop in the Asian stock markets, he still returned about 750% from his initial investment. 

Final Word

Had I had the insight and good fortune of collecting all the articles on or related to Warren Buffett prior to or during 2009, I would probably be sitting on a lot more cash than I am right now. Being able to say that means that there is intrinsic value in all of the articles presented in the book. All the way from how to pass on wealth to your future generations to what to look for in purchasing a business. While all of this is easier said then done, at the very least you will have some kind of background into going about becoming a better person and investor. Not to mention, the articles are very well written in their own right, which makes Tap Dancing to Work: Warren Buffett on Practically Everything an entertaining read if nothing at all.

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Carol Dweck: "The Growth Mindset" Concept Review

Carol S. Dweck is the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professor of Psychology at Stanford University. She graduated from Barnard College in 1967 and earned a Ph.D. from Yale University in 1972. She is known for her research in social and developmental psychology.

Dweck recently published the Mindset: The New Psychology of Success and has since sold over a million copies. In the book she discusses the idea of the mindset being a contributing factor in fulfilling one's potential in parenting, business, school, and relationships.

Why do some people wilt in the face of danger, while others who are no more talented thrive in challenges? How are people motivated to learn? These are some of the many questions that Dweck answers in her book.

In the Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Dweck argues that there are two mindsets of which are the "Fixed" and "Growth" mindsets. Generally speaking, those who believe talents and abilities can be developed are in the growth mindset, versus those who believe talent is natural born are in the fixed.

However, you can have a fixed mindset in one area and a growth mindset in another. For example, suppose you are great with Microsoft excel and are willing to take on any new challenges associated with it. When you see someone else who is better, instead of feeling jealous, you want them to teach you their skills. That is an example of a growth mindset. On the other hand, suppose you are asked to create a flowchart of your business' processes using Microsoft Visio. You are not particular great with it and are not willing to learn to become better using it. That is an example of a fixed mindset in a different area.

Add the word "yet" to your fixed mindset statement. If you say that you are not "yet" at a certain level, that implies that you can develop and get better. For example, "I am still not able to generate enough passive income to support myself, yet".

When you tell someone he or she is smart and what he or she has done seems effortless, you are in fact communicating another subtle message to the recipient. He or she will start to believe that if it takes effort then he or she won't look smart. Thereby, they start to focus only on what they are good at and instead of challenging themselves and developing their intelligence. Having a growth mindset will allow you to take on challenges and more importantly stick with them.

In growth mindset companies, management values creativity, innovation, and teamwork. Employees in such companies believe that they could develop their skills and thereby felt empowered and more committed to the organization. On the contrary, fixed mindset companies looked to hire talent, but did not believe that those talented individuals they hired had potential to rise and join management. Employees in those companies felt that they had one foot out the door and would leave at anytime if another company offered to pay them more.

How do you ensure that you think in a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset? 

Being in a growth mindset is not just being open minded, it is developing oneself through a life long journey taking on challenges and learning from them. Focus on the process, show interest, ask questions, and most importantly stick with it. When faced with something safe versus a challenge, choose the challenge. When you hit a challenge, ask yourself how can you learn from this and what can you do better the next time. A growth mindset is not a destination, it is a process and a journey.

When is a fixed mindset better than a growth mindset? 

Accepting your sexual orientation and aging. These are two things that you can not change and is arguably biological (one more than the other). Thinking and believing you will get younger as time passes, is not realistic and quite frankly not possible at this point.

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Scott Adam's Template for Success - How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big Summary

Scott has failed 36 times. All failures have something to teach you. 10% of the things he's tried has worked out really well. Most of the things he tried were high risk/high reward kind of things, so he expected a high failure rate. However, one thing that did work out for him was the Dilbert comic.

His book 'How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of my Life' focuses on three core ideas.

1) Goals are for losers - Use Systems
2) Passion is overrated - Get Energy
3) Luck can be manipulated  - Change the Game

In today's complicated world, having a goal is sort of like being on a horse with a bow and arrow shooting a target in the fog and at the same time the target is moving. Sometimes you'll hit the target. But, in this complicated world, the odds are not that good that you would hit the target. When you focused on a goal, you limit yourself. Maybe there are things that you you'll miss by focusing on that goal. Instead Scott Adams suggest that you create a system. A system is something you do regularly that improves your odds and makes you more valuable. Thereby, in the long run the odds of success will be in your favor.

What is a System vs. a Goal?

Scott Adams gave an example of himself and his friend Manuel. Both of them liked girls. Adam's approach was goal oriented. He would find one girl that he was interested in and then try and figure out how to bump into her and what to say to her. Most times he would get rejected and that would be that. Manuel had a systems' approach, he would ask everyone in the room if they wanted to be his girlfriend. Every time he went through his process, he was learning to take rejection and what the best pick-up lines were. Manuel was becoming more valuable as he went no matter what happened.

A friend of Scott's would interview for jobs that he didn't want. Basically jobs that would pay less than he was making now and/or be in lower positions. His friend used it as practice and every time he would improve as an interviewer. At the end of one of the interview, the interviewer said that his friend was overqualified for the job, but the head of the department just left that role would be great for him.

Complementary skills improve your odds of success. You don't have to be the worlds best, you just need to have a working facility of it. For example, Scott was a mediocre artist, not even the funniest person in any given room, not a great writer; but when you combine the skills together, he created the Dilbert empire.

What is the difference between the diet goal and a system? Suppose the goal is to lose ten pounds. Resist the cookie will be difficult. In a system, you could replace willpower with something such as knowledge. For example, most people know that vegetables are more healthy then cake. Now suppose you go to a salad bar and see pasta and white potato; which one would you choose to be healthier. Pasta is healthier and knowledge would let you know that is what you should pick. Learning over time which type of flavoring to make your food taste better is better than resisting foods. Eventually the flavoring and seasoning of your healthy foods will be up to the level or near that of bad foods.

Replace willpower with habits. Habits can be built by doing something on a daily basis every day and giving yourself a reward at the end. If you can't do a full workout, underdo it and do half that way it always feels good and it builds a habit. 

Get energy instead of being "passionate".

If successful people didn't attribute their success to passion, what else could they say about having passion? "I'm smarter than poor people." "I did some insider trader that how I got started." "I was lucky". There isn't a good answer. The winner of American Idols all have passion. Well, have you not seen entire stadiums of people in the first couple weeks? It looked like everyone was passionate. If you go by the numbers, passion is more correlated with failure than success. In the formula for success, if you pick out passion, everything would be the same. Instead of passion, boast your energy and systems. Be physically and mentally alert to power through things you need to. You also end up liking or "having passion" for things that you are good at. In order to be good at things, you'll need to practice and put in the work. 

Luck is the elephant in the room. 

Luck can be manipulated. Getting lucky is like being struck by lighting. You can increase the odds by being outdoors in the rainstorm. In addition, you could hold a lighting rods. You can't directly control luck, but you can move to game of bad odds to better odds. People who considered themselves lucky or were more positive had a wider field of perception. They would note opportunities that other people wouldn't see. 

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Book Review - Getting There: A Book Of Mentors

About Gillian Zoe Segal, Author of Getting There: A Book Of Mentors

Gillian Zoe Segal is the author of New York Characters, a tribute to New Yorkers, and Getting There: A Book of Mentors. Her work has received numerous mentions by publications such as Forbes, CNBC, MSNBC, and Business Insider. Gillian is also a freelance photographer specializing in portraits. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts and received a law degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University.

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between successful and unsuccessful people? While Gillian has been successful in life thus far, her search to inspire and provide guidance to her daughter and others led her to share Getting There: A Book of Mentors. Smooth waters never made a skilled sailor. At some point in life, everyone will encounter rough waters. Gillian sat down with each of these thirty mentors to understand their highs and lows. She got as personal as she they would let her get. It's never too late to improve, try something new, find a great role model, and discover something about yourself!

"The road to get there is almost guaranteed to be arduous, but if you love what you do, you'll thrive on the inevitable challenges and have stamina to achieve your potential." 

What is great about the book?

Despite having a background in law and photography, Gillian's Getting There: A Book of Mentors has gathered not only the experiences of a successful lawyer, but experiences of people from various backgrounds. Of which include investor Warren Buffet, Spanx inventor Sara Blakely, Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, and even Mad Men Creator Matthew Weiner.

While it is great reading about the stories of successful people and immersing ourselves in their journey from the beginning, most readers want to know how they can benefit from such experiences. Gillian does a great job pointing out key turning points in each mentor's story. For example, Warren Buffet had a fear of public speaking in college. What he did to overcome this fear was he signed up for the Dale Carnegie public-speaking course. Here Warren identified a fear of his and understood that he couldn't go through life not knowing how to speak in front of people. What can we as readers take from this? If there is a weakness within ourselves that is holding us back, we can look to see what can be done to turn that weakness into a strength. Whether that be finding a course to take or seeking advice from those who have gone through a similar desired transformation.

At the end of each mentor's section, the author highlights key "pearls" or takeaways from the stories. For example, with Warren, he emphasized the importance of reputation and also experiences that may seem to be disastrous at first actually work out for the best. A good example of this was his rejection from Harvard, which eventually lead him to Benjamin Graham in Columbia whereby he learned the fundamentals of investing. For Anderson Cooper, the famous journalist, the way to find your bliss is a three step process. First you figure out gets your adrenalin pumping, next figure out a way to make it a career, and third outwork everyone around you.

"When you're much more interested in what you're doing than going out for a drink with friends, you've found your bliss." - Anderson Cooper

Each of these successful individuals have something you can incorporate in your life or change for the better. If anything, they would reiterate what you might already be doing. One of the most important things, I've gathered from these stories is to keep an open mind so you will be able to take opportunities when they arise and to really follow what you are passionate about. That of course is much easier said than done. Where in society we are pressured to meet other people's expectations, we lose sight of what is truly important in our lives.

Here is a key excerpt from Tom Scott's (Nantucket Nectars Co-Founder) section:

"Over the next two years, six of my friends joined in, and we dramatically expanded the scope of the business. Our slogan was “Ain’t nothing these boys won’t do.” One friend, Tom First, and I shared the same playful personality. One night he blended up a peach juice based on his memory of something he’d tasted in Spain. Within about seventeen seconds, we thought, This is what we have to sell off the boat! It happened that fast. We came up with the name Nantucket Nectars and spent the entire winter testing all sorts of fruity concoctions. We were obsessed."

What is the not so great about it?

Usually, with most books, we can find a couple things that aren't so great about it. In Gillian's Getting There: A Book of Mentors, the only thing I can find that isn't great about it is that the stories were not long enough! As I was just starting to immerse myself in one of the mentor's stories, I found myself towards the end of it! While this is most probably done by design to keep the reader engaged, for those who can really relate to one mentor or another, it would be best to seek out a biography afterwards.

Sometimes, it can become difficult to relate to those outside of our industries, regardless in this increasingly globalized world we live in today, learning about other people's specializations does open your eyes to new and varied experiences. Gillian does a great job showing that there are different ways to be successful and success comes from those with different personalities as well.

What is your final recommendation?

For those young professionals or those who have been working in their industries for many years, day in and day out all we see are those in our particular fields. As we get older, your circle of friends becomes smaller. While we do build strong bonds with our existing friends, we lose sight of what else is out there. Our imagination diminishes and we get sucked into our own little worlds. Gillian's book Getting There: A Book of Mentors is a great read and really lets you into the minds of successful people in various industries. As I was reading the book, it felt as if I was right there next to that person listening to their story. How rare is it that you are able to find a surfer, lawyer, investor, fitness instructor, journalist, all in one room? This is essentially it! All the stories from various background all in one book! You never have to leave the comforts of your own home, Gillian brought all of them to you.

Conclusion: Getting There: A Book of Mentors is a recommended read for those who seek to the wisdom of successful individuals. After all, all of us can use another mentor to help guide us in the right direction in life. 

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Secrets of Power Negotiating: Inside Secrets from a Master Negotiator Book Review

Book Review: Secrets of Power Negotiating

About the Roger Dawson, Author

Before becoming a full-time speaker and training managers and salespeople from all throughout the world in business negotiations, Roger was the president of one of the largest real estate companies in California. The company had 28 offices and four hundred and forty sales associates with over $400 million in volume a year. His previous business training clients include managers and salespeople from companies like 3M, UnitedHealth Group and Oracle.

What is great about it?

Recently I became interested in buying investment real estate due to current state of the economic cycle. However, I felt like a fish out of water when I began submitting offers on real estate. The seller's agent would come back with counteroffers and after six months and numerous offers submitted, I still did not have a house. My boss also offered me a lateral move in the company. I knew I had to come in with a game plan if I wanted to have a chance at a higher salary. In years previous, I just took what they gave me, which had also been below the market rate. I felt cheated.

Roger's book entitled Secrets of Power Negotiating is not just for salary negotiation or how to get the best price when buying a piece of property. It applicable in just about any business negotiation. He goes through real world examples and leads you to shape a deal that ends up looking like a "win-win" situation for both parties. His emphasis is on negotiating everything you want and still being able to convince the other side they have also won. It's an interesting take on the psychology behind negotiations.

Here is an excerpt from the book:

The Vise is a very effective negotiating Gambit and what it will do for you will amaze you. The Vise Gambit is the simple little expression: "You'll have to do better than that." Here's how Power Negotiators use it: Let's say that you own a small steel company that sells steel products in bulk. You are calling on a fabricating plant where the buyer has listened to your proposal and your pricing structure. You ignored his insistence that he's happy with his present supplier and did a good job of building desire for your product. Finally, the other person says to you, "I'm really happy with our present vendor, but I guess it wouldn't do any harm to have a backup supplier to keep them on their toes. I'll take one carload if you can get the price down to $1.22 per pound."

You respond with the Vise Gambit by calmly saying, "I'm sorry you'll have to do better than that."

An experienced negotiator will automatically respond with the Counter Gambit, which is, "Exactly how much better than that do I have to do?" trying to pin you down to a specific. However, it will amaze you how often inexperienced negotiators will concede a big chunk of their negotiating range simply because you did that.

What's the next thing that you should do, once you've said, "You'll have to do better than that"?
You guessed it. Shut Up! Don't say another word. The other side may just make a concession to you. Salespeople call this the silent close, and they all learn it during the first week that they are in the business. You make your proposal and then shut up. The other person may just say Yes, so it's foolish to say a word until you find out if he or she will or won't.

What is the not so great about it?

Without a doubt, Roger offers a lot of techniques to help in negotiations. For example, 1) asking for more than you expect to get, 2) flinching at proposals, 3) play reluctant, 4) use the "vise technique", 5) reference higher authority, 6) never make a concession unless the other side reciprocates, and 7) tapering down concessions. These are all great techniques that frankly if you aren't aware of will put you at a disadvantage. If you are not aware of these you risk them being used on yourself.

In Secrets of Power Negotiating, there is a section on some grey area negotiating techniques. These are techniques that are usually used by sleazy business or salespersons. I'd stray away from these because they can ultimately burn bridges (break trust) with your business partner, employees, etc.

What is your final recommendation?

While Roger may provide tips and techniques for you to employ in the boardroom, many times it is a lot more difficult to execute than you might think. His examples definitely make it seem as if you already have an idea of what the other side might do. When in fact, in real life that may not always be the case. In any event, he does give you a number of counters depending on what the other side might come back with.

Ultimately, if you are willing to walk away from the deal and the other party needs what  you have to offer more than you need what they can offer, in most cases you will have the upper hand. Be prepared to walk away, many times they might just come back with another offer. I can say from personal experience, I've employed many of Roger Dawson's techniques and have had positive results.

Conclusion: Secrets of Power Negotiating: Inside Secrets from a Master Negotiator is a recommended read for those who at some point in their career think they will need to engage in negotiations.

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You Need to be More Courageous

Fear Holds you Back and Courage is the Remedy

It's no secret that we humans have not evolved fast enough to keep up with our technological and societal advances. One such survival technique we've passed on from the Paleolithic days is fear. Fear is a primitive emotion that protects and alerts us when there is imminent danger.

While fear is extremely useful when and if you come face to face with a giant bear or mountain lion, in today's society fear can hold you back. For example, we are might fear being rejected by our peers or are constantly concerned about losing our jobs. The day to day experiences we have often lead us to be more concerned about protecting ourselves emotional rather than pose any true serious threat to our lives.

Psychologists conducted numerous studies to determine how the brain considers risk of loss versus the potential of gains. One such study included a coin toss whereby participants were asked if given a 50-50 chance of winning $30 or losing $20, would they take this bet. Those who are risk-adverse put more weight on the possibility of losses than on the possibility of potential gains. This is to be expected for those who are risk adverse. However, those who gave the possibility of gains and losses equal weight were more likely to take the bet. In general, the psychologists discovered that the brain is more sensitive to potential losses than to potential gains.

"We have to trust in ourselves that what lies ahead for us is nothing compared to what lies within us, knowing we can never become who we truly want to be unless we are willing to let go of the safety ropes that keep us where and who we are." - Margie Warrell

This explains why I myself chose to stay with a Big 4 accounting firm for as long as I did despite the fact that I didn't believe it was for me. Rather than pursing something I truly enjoyed, I rationalized to myself that by avoiding the risk of looking for another job, that was the safest choice to make. However, I failed to consider the potential gains both monetary and emotionally from working at a different company.

How do we start? How do we become more courageous?

Being courageous is not something that comes overnight, but can be achieved through small steps. Do something the scares you everyday. This could be asking that girl you've had your eye on out on a date or asking your boss for a promotion. Each time you step outside of your comfort zone you are working towards building a larger comfort zone. As your tolerance for risk increases so will your confidence.

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway." - John Wayne

One of the best ways to be more courageous is to consider what you have to gain if you take that chance. Too often we dwell on what we have to lose. Every time I'm at a bar and I see a girl I want to talk to, I ask myself what do I have to gain by walking over and talking to her. We can hit it off and/or I just made my comfort zone slighter larger. Yes, we can run a number of scenarios where the boyfriend might come over and try and throw a punch or you are left both physically and emotionally damaged. But, if you worry about that, you won't go over there and introduce yourself. More likely than not, you won't be physically hurt by just talking to the girl.

When faced with a dilemma, ask yourself if you don't do this will you regret it ten minutes from now or a day from now, what a month, or even a year? If you answered yes to any time frame at all, then you need to have the courage to "just do it".

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Redefining What It Takes For Your Small Business to Succeed

Highlights and Commentary on Rework by Founders of 37signals

As a founder of numerous businesses myself, I can vouch for the lessons spoken about in Rework by Jason Fried & David Hansson (founders of 37signals). 37signals provides web-based collaboration apps for small businesses. Together, David and Jason have created sites such as campfirenow.com which provides real-time chat and file and code sharing for remote teams and writeboard.com a collaborative writing tool. Oh I should also mention the company created Ruby on Rails.

When you first mention start-up or starting a business to someone, most people think of Silicon Valley, overnight successes, or something that has been glorified by the media. I know this because that was what first came to my mind when I thought of starting a business years ago. My idea of starting an business was glorified. If you started your own business you would be your own boss. As your own boss you would get to do what you want, when you want, where you want, and everything you did was your own. What I didn't truly realize were the difficulties involved in starting your own business and the fact that the flip side is that you are also equally responsible for the losses. You have to take the bad with the good in its entirety.

If I had Rework before I decided to launch my previous businesses, I probably would have been better off. Here are some interesting tid-bits that would've been extremely helpful had I known about them when I decided to start a business. Having said that, I still think they are helpful for those who are currently running small businesses. The topic headings below are chapter titles in the book, but the paragraphs below are my own.

1) Learning from mistakes is overrated 

We often think that it is important to learn from our mistakes. My co-founder and I made a lot of mistakes, but those mistakes didn't tell us what we should be doing next. They only told us what we shouldn't do again. What might be equally important is learning from our successes. When we do that we can build upon what we already know to be successful and either do it better or more.

2) Planning is guessing

Who knows what will happen in two months, a year, or five years from now. How often do financial analyst's company earnings projections come spot on? Humans are notoriously terrible at predicting the future. So why bother with projections and business plans then? For they are more or less just educated guesses. While it is good to think about the future, just don't go overboard and set up a bunch of excel financial models or lengthy business plans. Decide on what you will do tomorrow or a week from now. You'll likely be changing your direction anyways.

3) Start at the epicenter

When you are running a small business or starting one, it's easy to get lost in the details. We might obsess with trying to put everything we want into the product/business. Start with what is absolutely crucial. For example, if you sell lemonade. Can you do without sugar? Yes, even though it might not be ideal. But, what is a lemonade business without lemonade?

4) Long lists don't get done

The longer something takes the less motivation we have for completing it. How much more difficult is it to finish something that takes five weeks versus an hours? Making long lists makes us prioritize and when we prioritize, we end up only doing what is most important and more often than not we leave the rest of the to-dos alone. This happened when my co-founder and I tried to launch a website. We ended up just doing 1 and 2 and leaving 3,4,5 on the list.

5) Marketing is not a department

The authors of Rework mentioned that marketing is a part of nearly everything that you do in the business. The way you answer e-mails and the way you present your product is all marketing.

6) The myth of the overnight sensation 

There is no shortcut or get rich scheme in starting a business. Also, don't believe for a second that spending money on a PR firm is the easy solution out of this. Who is going to write about a no-name company with a product nobody has heard about. Jason and David also mention that good PR costs upwards of $10,000. It would be a waste of capital to spend that when you are first starting out. There are plenty of companies who spent minimally on PR and became successful. Take for example Starbucks and Google in their early stages.

7) Reasons to quit

Have you started your business and are not sure if you should keep going with your idea? Are you deciding whether or not you should pivot and go a different direction with the business? Ask yourself these eight questions.

Why are you doing this?
What problem are you solving?
Is this actually useful?
Are you adding value?
Will this change behavior?
Is there an easier way?
What could you be doing instead?
Is it really worth it?

Here are some other chapter topics that I found interesting (in no particular order).

Test-drive employees
Take a deep breath
Send people home at 5
Workaholism
Scratch your own itch
Outside Money is Plan Z

Don't confuse enthusiasm with priority
Build an audience
How to say you're sorry
Hire managers of one
Own your bad news

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Insider Buy Superstocks: The Super Laws of How I Turned $46K into $6.8 Million (14,972%) in 28 Months - Book Review

Book Review: Insider Buy Superstocks

About the Jesse C Stine, Author

Jesse self-managed a stock portfolio and took it from $45,721 to $6,845,342. During the 28 months period he was trading the S&P 500 returned 25%. Like many traders, he experienced significant draw downs early in his trading career. However, has since recovered nicely from them. He did not work on Wall Street and is no quantitative financial markets wiz.

What is great about it?

Unlike most stock trading books, Jesse takes a couple chapters to educate us about the importance of personal development. For example, he talks about always learning, living outside of your comfort zone, being more disciplined, improving your thinking, and acting in every moment. Time is infinite and it will be gone before you know it. Because of that, he now almost always tries to take the road less traveled. With anything you hope to achieve, not just in trading, having a solid foundation is crucial.

Jesse then goes into talking about how mass media is a complete waste of time. There is a lot of noise out there about which stocks and where the market is going to go. The bottom line is everyone has their own opinions and nobody can predict the market with 100% certainty all the time. He argues that learning from a mentor or community of successful traders is much more important than following the latest stock tip.

One of the least emphasized things about trading is having a trading plan. This means that you know when you are exiting a position before you enter it and have different action plans depending on what happens.

Finally, Jesse reveals his trading plan. Essentially he is looking for inexpensive stocks that have blockbuster sustainable earnings releases and high weekly volume. Then loading up on the stock when the risk is at its lowest relative to the reward. He goes through several exit strategies which includes whenever there is a parabolic surge. This means it shoots off far away from a moving day average like the 20 or 50 day.

Here is an excerpt:

I vividly remember the day in 2006 when I first walked into the new accountant's office in Palm Beach, Florida. After a few minutes of small talk, he informed me that due to the demand for his services by high net worth individuals, it would probably make more sense for me to seek the assistance of an inexpensive national firm like H&R Block. After listening to his introduction, I handed him my statements from the past few years. I will never forget his reaction when he thumbed through a few pages. He looked up and yelled "Are you kidding me?!" He immediately stood up and walked over to his office door and shut it for privacy. He enthusiastically exclaimed "I have never seen or heard of anything like this." Needless to say, he took me on as a client.

What is the not so great about it?

The core principles to being a successful trader are widely discussed by many people. Most of us know that we should cut our loss and let our gains run. As an experienced trader, one of over 9 years, I didn't find anything that was ridiculously profound that I didn't already know. However, he does go into his trading plan pretty comprehensively. There were some good strategies that I plan to implement in my trading plan. But overall, in order to replicate his results, you would need to be in a bullish market, patience, self-discipline, and some luck would help.

Jesse is truly an entrepreneur at heart. He is always looking to become better, learning from his mistakes, and taking risks outside of his comfort zone. His story definitely inspires you to work hard and smart in trading, but don't be surprised if he doesn't hand you success on a silver platter. You still need to do your own homework. His book only outlines parts of being a successful trader. In order to fill in the gaps, I'd recommend adding The Daily Trading Coach for trading psychology and Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom.

What is your final recommendation?

For the novice trader, taking pieces of Jesse's trading strategy and mixing it with your own can prove to be very effective. He also goes into the importance personal development, which is also neglected by the average trader. If you are struggling to get over the hump and feel like you are in a rut, concepts in this book may help push you over the top. It is definitely a must read for the novice and intermediate stock trader.

For the professional trader, many of the concepts will be review. However, you may be surprised to find that a couple new concepts that you've left our of your trading plan or just were not aware of previous. It is always good to refresh your mind and reinforce the core concepts in stock trading. If anything, the story itself is awe-inspiring.

GET THE BOOK!

Here are a few more quotes if you are still not convinced.

Yes, learn as much as you possibly can from others who are successful, but still understand that in the end your priority is to develop your own strategy toward the markets and that path will be unique and unlike any other.

Most “breakout investors” would never consider buying a stock before it breaks out, but I find that a strong base limits downside to such an extent that risk/reward can be highly skewed in your favor.

Remember that you are George Clooney, so the stock WILL come to you. It will eventually trade down to your desired price.

I have been an advocate of the Kelly Criterion in terms of determining my own position size. Developed in the 1950’s, the Kelly formula determines your position size in proportion to the extent of your edge. Take 2 scenarios. In scenario 1, you are 70% sure that your stock will go up 20%. In scenario 2, you are 95% sure that your stock will go up 130%. The risk/reward ratio of scenario 2 would justify a larger position size. If you are 97% sure that your stock will increase 500%, your position size would be larger still.

Buy your stock when everything lines up in your favor. Do ALL of your worrying BEFORE you make the buy decision and then let the stock do its thing. Don’t even think about selling it until it triggers a sell signal.

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One Year Lived - Adam Shepard Book Review

One Year Lived - Book Review

Maybe I need a year to live a little.

About the Adam Shepard, Author

Attending Merrimack College in North Andover, MA on a basketball scholarship, Adam Shepard graduated with a degree in Business Management and Spanish. Serving as a Resident Advisor during his upperclassmen years, he began to take particular interest in the social issues of our nation. Shortly after graduation—with almost literally $25 to his name—Shepard departed his home state for Charleston, SC, embarking on the journey that became his successful first book, Scratch Beginnings.

After a whirlwind journey that took his self-published book to the Today Show, CNN, Fox News, and NPR, he sold Scratch Beginnings to HarperCollins and made appearances on the Dave Ramsey Show and 20/20. He was likewise featured in the The New York Times, the New York Post, The Atlantic, and The Christian Science Monitor, and Scratch Beginnings has now been used on the curriculum or as a First Year Common Read at over 90 colleges and universities in the United States and translated across the world.

What is it about?

A few years back, a North Carolina native left his comfortable home and embarked on an amazing adventure. Not only did he get to see the world, but also brought back countless priceless memories. Having spent just $19,420.68, Adam Shepard visited visited seventeen countries on four continents in just under one year.

He didn't hate his job. He didn't have disdain for capitalism. No, he wasn't looking to escape emptiness nor was he searching for "meaning". Prior to the trip, his life was relatively normal. He wanted to see things and create a few memories before working the rest of his life in a career, getting married, and having kids. 

Shepard's journey took him to Antigua in the Caribbean, Honduras, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Australia, Philippines, Spain, and finally Slovakia.

Throughout the book, the author provides insight into his life prior to the trip and how be became the person he was on the trip. He goes into his family life and his past as a basketball player. In addition, throughout his trip, he offers historical insight on the different countries he was at.

What is great about it?

Shepard inspires the reader to broaden his or her horizon and perspective on life. Through his excellent descriptive writing, the author makes you feel as if you were with him on his journey. Not only did he meet interesting people, but he also shares his greater appreciation for those around him. Although he came back with no money, he came back with a boat load of memories and extraordinary experiences. 

Shepard shares with the audience a number of his experiences including how he got robbed, survived a bull in Nicaragua and a pregnancy scare in Australia; went to the Rigoletto in Prague, danced in a cage at a gay club in Barcelona, got a tattoo in Thailand, rode an elephant, and so much more.

Embedded in this great travel story that started off as a trip volunteering in Central America, is him meeting "The girl", Ivana. He and her embark on the second leg of the trip beginning in Granada.

Here is an excerpt:

As I stepped out of baggage claim, I spotted the shuttle driver standing off to the side. He held a sign with my name on it and, as I approached, tucked it under one arm in order to shake my hand.

“Welcome!” he said in Spanish. “Welcome!” I said, returning the greeting.

He drove me out of Guatemala City in a rusty van that hacked and coughed its way from side street to main artery, bound for Antigua. It wasn’t the dark of the night or the wheezing of the truck that raised my eyebrows. It was the grunginess of this world surrounding me.

Something isn’t right. How did I get here?

I had committed to the trip, to a year that I’d never have back, and I’d bragged to my friends and family: “I can’t be dissuaded. Get out of my way.” I couldn’t back out. I didn’t want to become like everybody else who says they’re going to take a trip like this.

Then came the question: “Where to?”

I bought a world map, spread it on the wall, and peppered the drywall with the pinholes of notes posted and removed. I read this book and that blog post and—oh, my, it says right here in this magazine that I absolutely shouldn’t skip hiking through Patagonia. I quizzed well-traveled friends about their favorite spots; I posted on Facebook, where I got thirty-eight varying responses from twenty-seven people.

This book really makes you want to jump out of your seat and plan your next travel trip.

What is the not so great about it?

Shepard does touch upon the history of each country he travels to, which provides background behind his activities. Quite frankly, the "history lessons" within the book were bland. If I wanted to read about the Aborigine in Australia and what happened in 1869 or the history of the Mayans, I probably would've just opened up my old history textbook. However, to his credit, they were brief and for most readers might be necessary, personally, I didn't care for them as much.

What is your final recommendation?

Not only is Adam's book inspirational, it actually makes you want to go out there and travel. He does a great job detailing his experiences. Even if you aren't an international traveler or don't see yourself as one, a weekend local trip or out of state trip can broaden your perspective. The point is get out there and get the book now!

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