To all my friends and readers, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

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I was recently interviewed by a writer for The Silicon Cape Initiative on the topic of doing international startup business development from South Africa.

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I just finished reading "Fantastic Voyage: Live Long Enough to Live Forever" by Ray Kurzweil and Terry Grossman. It's an ambitious book that tries to distill the latest scientific research on health into a practical set of recommendations that most of us can follow.

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Peter Thiel (co-founder of Paypal, investor in Facebook, after tax billionaire) is a very interesting guy. 

"We need science and technology to dig us out of our deep economic and financial hole, even though most of us cannot separate science from superstition or technology from magic. In our hearts and minds, we know that desperate optimism will not save us."

"Indeed, how do we even know whether the so-called scientists are not just lawmakers and politicians in disguise, as some conservatives suspect in fields as disparate as climate change, evolutionary biology, and embryonic-stem-cell research, and as I have come to suspect in almost all fields?"

"We may embellish the 2011 Arab Spring as the hopeful by-product of the information age, but we should not downplay the primary role of runaway food prices and of the many desperate people who became more hungry than scared."

"The single most important economic development in recent times has been the broad stagnation of real wages and incomes since 1973, the year when oil prices quadrupled. "

"The give-and-take of Western democracies depends on the idea that we can craft political solutions that enable most people to win most of the time. But in a world without growth, we can expect a loser for every winner. Many will suspect that the winners are involved in some sort of racket, so we can expect an increasingly nasty edge to our politics."

"Men reached the moon in July 1969, and Woodstock began three weeks later. With the benefit of hindsight, we can see that this was when the hippies took over the country, and when the true cultural war over Progress was lost."

Thiel's concluding paragraph is brilliant:

"However that may be, after 40 years of wandering, it is not easy to find a path back to the future. If there is to be a future, we would do well to reflect about it more. The first and the hardest step is to see that we now find ourselves in a desert, and not in an enchanted forest."

Admittedly, this is pretty gloomy stuff. I'm not sure if I buy into Thiel's hypothesis wholeheartedly, as the evidence he cites is often anecdotal.

While Thiel's argument intrigues me, I still find myself in greater support for the much more positive technological theory of "Accelerating Returns", advocated by serious scientists and futurists such as Ray Kurzweil. 

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A few days ago I had coffee with a friend of mine who works for a large, successful corporation. 

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Lately I've been watching an old Allan Pease body language seminar from the 80s, and I'm startled at how accurate it remains today, almost 30 years later. The reality is that our subconscious movements say a lot about how we are feeling, and these behaviours have evolved over thousands of years!

Often the best communicators have a great intuitive sense for reading body language, but as with most things, this is a skill that can be learned. Using body language effectively can dramatically improve one's performance in sales meetings, business pitches, and staff interaction. 

Here's a quick video from one of his more recent seminars:

If you're more of a ready, the book "The Definitive Book of Body Language" by Allan and Barbara Pease is also a great primer.

Actually, the title is a little misleading. Having a good understanding of body language isn't just powerful in business, it's powerful in life!

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Every time I flicked on the TV to see the local New York City news, there was an update on the state of the protest.

Clearly, there are some upset people out there--and they are trying to bring about a change. It's still unclear to me however what their goal is, or what the general motivations behind the protest are. Are they pissed off at the rich? At their government? Both? Probably, the answer is yes.

I'm still forming my views on the movement, but I do think that it should not be confused or compared with the protests movements of the Arab Spring, where people were trying to overturn dictators in order to win basic freedoms that have long been the norm in the Western world.

Time will only tell where #OWS ends up. For now, I wanted to share a short piece from a recent weekly newsletter written by the American author and success coach Philip Humbert, who's balanced thoughts on this issue I tend to agree with:

"This week, I want to step gingerly around the edges of politics, hopefully without putting my foot in it. TIPS is not about politics. It's about living our values, achieving our goals, and having a great life along the way.

But this week, the news has been filled with events that put these issues in the guise of "political discussion."

I've been struck by the images of the Occupy Wallstreet protesters, first in New York, then in smaller demonstrations around the country. But, I've also been struck by people, folks we might label as Conservatives, who seem quick not only to disagree with the protesters, but to question the value of their actions.

Based on a flip of the coin, I'll address the protesters first.

I like their energy and passion. If only I could generate that kind of enthusiasm and commitment for my own goals! They're up all night, marching all day, carrying signs, arguing, chanting, pursuing their agenda! It's got to be chilly on the streets this time of year, but there they are. Good for them!

I remember as a younger man I had that kind of energy, but now I get tired and I fear I'm much more skeptical. The protesters remind me to ask whether I still believe that my words and actions DO make a difference. One of my core values is to speak out, share my truth, rock my world and shake things up, and so I try to learn from them. I contribute all I can. I try to stay focused on my priorities and make sure my time and actions reflect my values. The protesters remind me of these things, and I think that's good.

But I'm not sure they've thought clearly about certain things.

I see them protesting a banking system that, for all its faults and flaws, has allowed millions of us to get loans for education, mortgages for our homes, loans for our cars, finance our businesses and have many of the good things in life. I see them texting and talking on iPhones created by one of the great entrepreneurial capitalists of our time, Steve Jobs.

But most importantly, I see them celebrating the freedoms of assembly and speech, demanding the redress of grievances with no fear of repression or reprisal, and that makes me proud of my country. These are good things! I tip my cap to these people and wish them well, even as I disagree with much of their analysis of America's problems and their prescriptions for a cure.
And what of the other side?

Sure, as we get "older and wiser" it's easy to dismiss the enthusiasm of youth, to point out the weakness of their position or to disagree with their demands. Anyone can do that. We disagree with each other all the time.

What's harder is to hold on to our traditions and the good things of the past while being open to new ideas and new solutions. I see folks "of a certain age" dismissing the protesters because they are dirty or making a mess of the parks and streets. Sometimes they are rowdy and that offends my preference for thoughtful discussion. I get that!

But when we defend the status quo without listening to the demands for change, we miss an opportunity to grow. That makes me uneasy. As an old bald guy who likes our American traditions and mostly stands on the conservative side of things, I haven't been comfortable with some things I've heard from my friends this week. At a luncheon, one friend suggested we "Arrest them all!" On television I heard commentators suggesting the protesters should merely be patronized and ignored. That didn't sit well with me. Over-throwing tradition and abandoning the values that have made America great is not a good thing, and merely revolting in the street is more like the violence of the French Revolution than the idealism of our American Revolution. But when a large group of people go into the street to proclaim their frustration, I think we should listen and try to learn.

Whether it's the Tea Party or the Occupy Wallstreet folks, people who take the time to march and protest do us a favor by speaking their truth. We should listen and try to learn. America has always attracted the best and brightest people, and the best and brightest ideas. It's essential that we keep this tradition sacred because it makes life more interesting, and it makes America strong."

What do you think of the current protests on Wall Street, and other around the world?

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Today I came upon a memorable passage in a fantastic book called The Fighter's Mind: Inside the Mental Game by Sam Sheridan. Driven by interviews with the best competitive fighters in the world (wrestling, boxing, MMA etc), it's chock full of insights on the mindset needed to be a champion.

For a person with no martial arts experience, this book would be interesting, but for others who have spent any amount of time training in the ring or on the mat, it's mesmerizing. (Some years ago I trained in Muay Thai and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and my passionate interest for the sport of grappling and MMA has never left, so Sheridan's book has been a rare treat).

The passage that I found so memorable was about the winner's mindset of continuous progress even in the face of setbacks. In a chapter called "The King of Scrambles", trainer extraordinaire Ricardo Liborio states: 

"Maturity is a big part of success in fighting, because it means that you understand the game--that losing is part of the game. It doesn't mean to let yourself get conquered, but to know that you can win again, at the right time you can be great. The key to doing well in competition is to accept.

Accept that you can lose, you can not perform. Take this big bag of rocks out of your backpack, take the pressure off, and you'll do better. Once you understand that, man, you can do well."

Worth re-reading many times.

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Like so many others, today I was shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of Steve Jobs. He was the da Vinci of our era.

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When observing successful people, it's all too easy to think that their progress went in a straight, continuous upward line, with no hiccups along the way.

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I'm an avid reader. I read mostly non-fiction books, although well written sci-fi novels are a guilty pleasure.

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• Always have something to bring to the table- it helps (i.e. be good at something).
• Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.
• Leadership is a highly valuable skill. In Star Trek, Captain Kirk was far from the smartest officer- but he had the skill of leadership.
• When you want something from someone, try to ask them at a time when they can't say no.
• If you wait long enough, people will surprise you (i.e. if you're pissed with someone now, eventually they will show you their good side).
• When people give you feedback, cherish it and use it.
• Don't complain. Just work harder.
• When you do the right thing, good stuff has a way of happening.
• Be prepared, because luck is where preparation meets opportunity.
• Brick walls are there for a reason. They help us to prove how badly we want something. They are there to separate us from the people who don't really want to achieve their goal badly enough.

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I recently purchased the No. 1 New York Times bestselling book The 4-Hour Body by self help guru Timothy Ferriss, and ended up so engaged that I've read it (well, all the parts most relevant to me) twice in 2 days.

This is the book's cover:

Obviously to me and 75% of the other people who've read this book, the most compelling sections of it are those dedicated to fat loss. Tim goes into detail about the value of starting small, tracking progress, following an effective diet and doing sometimes strange sounding things to add leverage to the whole program. If fat loss or muscle gain are something you are interested in, I recommend that you buy this book immediately.

I've read a lot of books on this subject, and the best books out there (such as Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle by Tom Venuto) are often excellent. The difference with Tim's writing is that not only is it information dense, it also inspires practical action on every page. It fires you up, but also gives you the tools to do something with that motivation. Perfect for that time in someone's life that Tim describes as their "Harajuku Moment".

I'm not a newbie to the health and fitness movement. When I was 16 years old, I competed in my first Under 21 IFBB bodybuilding competition at a low single digit body fat percentage. Here's a photo from that show, weighing in at 62kg:

I didn't place well or anything- but that wasn't the point, and I was by far the youngest competitor there. I did it to prove to myself that I could. Eating primarily fish and vegetables with hardly any carbs for 12 weeks makes for one very cranky teenager.

In the time since then, I kept up my passionate enthusiasm for training, eating right, and looking after myself, generally weighing in at a muscular 71-74kg. Over the last 2 years, though, that commitment to my health and fitness somehow fell to pieces. They say that nobody wakes up one morning suddenly being fat, it's rather the result of repeated bad choices that have compounded over several days, weeks and months. My weight today: 87kg.

Maybe the cause of getting fat was starting a new business, working ridiculous hours and managing stress badly and snacking on "comfort foods", maybe it was getting into a serious relationship (which is wonderful, by the way) and having less idle time available, maybe it was all the travel, maybe it was eating out all the time... maybe it was all of the above. But making excuses and postulating about the past doesn't change a thing. I'm still a whopping 14kg over my regular weight, and no amount of post-rationalization will change that.

Armed with the principles from The 4-Hour Body, I've decided to make the change. Of course I have decided to try to make changes before, and failed. Life happens. As they say in boxing, "Everybody has a plan until they get hit in the face." But this time it's different- this time I'm putting my goal out there in public for my all my friends to see! This idea was sparked by a psychology hack discussed in the book where people who made public bets and faced humiliation if they didn't win were far more likely to achieve their goals.

So here is my bet: I'll wager anybody who takes me up on it 100 bucks that I will drop my weight to 81kg in next 8 weeks, i.e lose 6kg (13 pounds). Any takers? Just email me or leave a comment. I'll be tracking my progress publicly on this cool data measurement site here.

This was a tough post to write, but there's no turning back now. Wish me luck!

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In recent months, I've been taking more and more trips between Cape Town and San Francisco. Now, this a long flight. It generally consists of two legs, one to the Middle East or Europe then the second to the USA. Total time in the air: around 24 hours.

When it hasn't been done in a while, long distance travel is exciting, but it quickly becomes a chore. Crossing 12 time zones, sleeping in airports and sitting on planes forever certainly exact a wicked toll on the body. Lately however, I've grown to appreciate what all that lonely time in the air does for my mind.

Let me explain. If you're reading this blog, you are probably a technophile who spends a ridiculous amount of time in front of their laptop and generally enjoys working more than the average person (just like me). In my case, I fell that The problem with this behaviour is that I rarely give myself the chance to unplug- I thrive on being hyper connected all the time- so constant email, task management, Twitter and RSS are what I thrive on.

Even if you can live like this without experiencing fatigue or productivity losses, I find that a key element of mental balance can easily be crowded out and forgotten: introspection.

Introspection occurs when we spend long periods alone, and delve into our mind to remember what's important to us, what kind of people we want to be, and ask ourselves how things are going. It's a surprisingly elusive state if you have constant access to Wifi or an iPhone with 3G in your hand.

I love it. It's a form of meditation. A session of proper introspection leaves me feeling more centered, relaxed, motivated and in control. It is highly recommended.

Of course, I could do this at home (or in a hotel) once in a while, and I should. But somehow, I always manage to get busy and stay that way. I'll work on improving. For now though, I'll keep appreciating the silver linings of these long distance travel clouds.

And why doesn't this apply to domestic travel, you may ask? Because one can usually get onboard Wifi on local flights of course!

--This post written 11,500m somewhere above the Atlantic. Image credit: Shutterstock.

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This morning I had the pleasure of watching "The Fighter". It's a movie based on the true life story of Mickey Ward, an older down on his luck boxer from relatively unknown Lowell, Massachusetts, who overcomes a barrage of obstacles in and out of the ring to eventually accomplish his dream.

Mark Wahlberg does a fantastic job in the lead role of Mickey Ward, but Christian Bale's portrayal of his drug using brother Dicky Eklund is simply mesmerizing. He is truly one of the best actors out there today. The Fighter is nominated for several Oscars, and I for one hope that it kicks ass on the night at the Academy Awards. Check out the trailer:

I love inspirational movies like this one. The Rocky series, Men of Honour, Iron Will and even The Shawshank Redemption are also great examples.

In these stories lies the truth that, with relentless hard work and unshakable persistence, Man can rise above his circumstances to achieve his dream, whatever it may be. Everybody knows somebody who can attest to this principle personally- the person born in poverty who is rich today, the fat kid in school who is now fit and slim, the entrepreneur who lost it all and made it back.

Movies like these are great as a source of motivation for entrepreneurs and athletes alike, for a few key reasons:

• The odds of success are clearly against them.
• The job requires a huge amount of sacrifice and hard work to get anywhere.
• A dogged persistence toward a beholden idea is sometimes all that keeps them going.

What are you waiting for? Go and watch The Fighter today. And be inspired!

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