Global Visions

I was reading an profile about the great chess player Bobby...

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 21:14:58 -0500

I was reading an profile about the great chess player Bobby Fischer one day, and the picture included with it caught my eye. The black and white photograph shows Fischer huddled on a boat, framed against the bleak coast of Iceland, where he was preparing for a match at the time. This is accompanied by a quote from the legendary chessmaster Garry Kasparov, who said the following about Bobby:

Caught between reality and mentality, he tried to convince himself he could prevent any mistake and never lose. The horror!

That quote really resonates with me - partly because I approach life in much the same way I do chess, but also because I am well aware of the inherent risk that such a perspective can carry. Throughout my life, I have had numerous experiences which have demonstrated life’s volatility in visceral ways. As a result, I do not subscribe to Fischer’s rhetoric that “he could prevent every mistake and never lose”. Even if we theoretically could prevent our every misstep in life, we could never avert those of others. Nonetheless, I find myself and others fall prey to this mentality all too often. It is sometimes very easy to lapse into a state of mind which believes cognition alone can solve one’s problems and navigate life’s passages. Unfortunately, this is not the case. It didn’t work for Fischer, and it won’t for us either. Despite all our greatest efforts at planning, life will inevitably throw externalities our way that abide by no set of rules and at times can seem senseless. It is during these moments that we need to think dynamically rather than overthinking ourselves into a state of paralysis. Prayer and seeking guidance from the Lord is also most helpful.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery famously once wrote that “it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.” In chess and life, this couldn’t be more true. Just as the placement of pieces on a board is meaningless without an invisible and potent improvised strategy, so too are our life decisions. Roadblocks and opportunities will be present everywhere we travel, but without good discernment, they will be rendered impossible to deal with. I have found that thinking with an equal balance of heart and mind yields much greater results than simply thinking oneself into oblivion. Something I learned awhile ago, but only in the past couple years have I begun to apply it seriously to my life. I haven’t gotten myself into checkmate yet, so that’s a good sign.

Photos and more, coming sooner than later.

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:46:00 -0500

Photos and more, coming sooner than later.

"The small man builds cages for everyone he knows. While the sage, who has to duck his head when the..."

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 22:43:18 -0600

“The small man builds cages for everyone he knows.
While the sage,
who has to duck his head when the moon is low,
keeps dropping keys all night long
for the beautiful rowdy prisoners.”

- Hafiz of Persia, circa 1352

12 People to Follow in 2012, Part 1

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 09:36:17 -0600

Hello, all! Like many people, I’m starting to use Twitter more and more to consume news and communicate with the world at large. Particularly in the past year, I’ve found more uses for the service than I ever would’ve imagined. Today, I want to highlight some great personalities to start following thus year, as well as briefly talk about what value these people add to my timeline. I’ve decided to separate this up into a two-part series - the second part will be posted here tomorrow. These individuals are all poised to have a big year for various reasons, and they’re well worth following. Here goes for the first six!

1. Elon Musk | @elonmusk

Why: A new entrant to the world of Twitter, Musk is already shaking things up, both on and offline. A brilliant businessman, he was the cofounder of PayPal before proceeding to found electric car design company Tesla. These days, he splits time between running Tesla and managing SpaceX, his aeronautical company that aims to have regular flights to space running by 2013. In the meantime, the company is working on numerous government and scientific contracts. If you’re interested in getting inside the mind of an individual who is a business-minded scientific genius, check this guy out.

2. Lotay Yang | @Lotay

Why: Yang is the founder and chairman of the philanthropic-minded Black Card Circle, an organization that helps wealthy people recognize the power of giving and take action on that realization. He is continually setting up philanthropic events around the world, and seeks to divert as many resources to those in need as he can. An extremely active user, Yang frequently tweets words of wisdom and inspiration that apply to all. This guy is doing big things in the world of corporate giving and social responsibility, and his role is likely to increase in the year to come. A true inspiration.

3. Virgil Abloh | @virgilabloh

Why: As creative director for Kanye West, Abloh’s tweets are an eclectic mix of dispatches from around the world. Heavily involved in the contemporary art world, Abloh collaborated with Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci to dream up the album artwork and stage design for West’s Watch The Throne tour. He also runs RSVP Gallery, a boutique in Chicago, and is currently flying around the world providing creative direction and consulting to various fashion brands, artists on the GOOD Music record label, and of course West himself. One of the most innovative people in the global art and music industry, hands down.

4. Tim Ferriss | @tferriss

Why: A former neuroscientist at Princeton and now successful author, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and marketer, Ferriss is now being hailed as a visionary in the business world and beyond. His philosophies for balancing business, travel, and life are spot-on (check out The 4-Hour Work Week) and his advice on starting a business has been sought after by some of the fastest-growing startups around. Ferriss frequently tweets interesting quotes, links, and thought pieces of his own making. A must-follow.

5. Eric Duvauchelle | @supermorebetter

Why: Currently residing in Amsterdam, Duvauchelle is the head Art Director for Nike’s Global Brand Initiative. Splitting time between his hometown, Portland, and Paris, he tweets about his travels, design aspirations, and upcoming projects with the ever-innovative Nike marketing team. Very forward focused.

6. Michael van Poppel | @mpoppel

Why: This enterprising 22 year old is the founder of BNO News, a wire agency based in the Netherlands that is redefining the way news is acquired, broken, and distributed. Van Poppel uses his extensive contacts and professional network to obtain news before it is broken by major news sources. Quite simply - if you need the latest news before anyone else knows about it, this is where to get it. Succinct, instantaneous, and accurate.

Alright, that’s all for now! Be on the lookout for the second half of this all-star lineup, coming later this week. Got anyone you think is well worth following? Feel free to leave a response in the comments.

2011 Reflections

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:12:00 -0600

Throughout the last week of 2011, I was reflecting on the past year and how much has changed – as well as what has remained the same. Much in the same vein as my thoughts on 2010, I decided to chronicle the highs, lows, and various notable points of 2011. Memories change over time, so I want to preserve these while they’re still fresh in my mind. This is a stream-of-consciousness journey through the past year, with a destination yet to be determined. Here goes.

The past year, I have continued to attend Concordia University here in Austin, and am on track to graduate with a double major in Business Management and Marketing in the spring of 2013. International business remains my focus, so I always strive to put what I learn in the classroom into a global perspective before filtering it back into my own life. I worked hard in my studies and was blessed to maintain a 4.0 GPA. Even more exciting is the clarity that all of my studies have given me what I want to do with my life. This is a process that seems to compound year over year, and it far transcends what any grade or quantitative metric can indicate. I wince when people ask me what I want to do after college, because I am painfully aware of how life can drastically change beyond our control in a short period of time. I know where I would like to be in 5 years, however, I cannot assure that I will be there with any degree of certainty. I cannot predict the future; I can only project it. Nonetheless, overall I am relatively satisfied with where I am academically. God is good.

On the travel front, I was able to get around a decent amount this year, and was fortunate enough to go at least somewhere every month of the year. One of the highlights this year was travelling down to Belize and Guatemala in March to study tropical biology and marine ecosystems with a collaborative class of students and faculty from Austin and Portland, Oregon. It was an incredible experience – not only did I learn a lot about tropical science and history, but I made some great friends and memories. Hiking around the Mayan ruins, diving on the world’s second-largest coral reef, and relaxing on isolated islands are all experiences I will never forget. In July, I traveled up to Washington DC for a week, followed by another week of visiting family in Ohio and Kentucky. It was fascinating seeing the historical center of America as we know it today, and I learned a lot. In early October, I went to Louisiana for an international relations conference – this was a precursor to a competition I helped out with on behalf of Concordia in San Antonio in November. Immediately following that trip, it was off to a business leadership conference in Atlanta as part of the Thrivent Scholars Program. It was a memorable trip with some great friends, and the diverse range of speakers we heard there were fantastic! The next day, I flew up to the Pacific Northwest for a week and visited my uncle and his family in Washington, as well as some friends at Concordia Portland, in Oregon. This was followed by a trip to Minnesota for Thanksgiving, and a relatively quiet month of December. Hopefully there will be more adventures to come in 2012!

Detouring back to school for a moment, it was a good year for extracurricular activities as well. We had another great semester with Concordia’s business club, The Executives, with some fun events and many good conversations. Here’s to another great semester, guys! I continued to co-host Not.fm, a weekly internet radio show with three of my friends at school. It’s shaping up to be an exciting year for music, so I’m sure our show will be as well! Another fun project has been helping to start up Storm Chasers, an on-campus bike-sharing program for Concordia students and faculty. It’s been an exciting process, and I’m excited to see where things will head in the year ahead!

As is the case in all of our lives, a unique set of challenges presented itself this year. It was stressful at times balancing a full class load, 35+ hours a week, and whatever else I was involved in at a given time. I’m incredibly thankful to still be working in real estate management and property preservation, as it provides a degree of flexibility for scheduling during the school year. In the latter part of the year, I broke my right wrist and had surgery on it, from which I’m still healing. While not the optimal way to end the year, it’s taught me to slow down (at least a little) to relax from time to time. As an added bonus, I even got a little extra sleep! It’s also given me an increased amount of gratitude for the otherwise outstanding health I do have.

Every challenge is a blessing in disguise.

To recognize the light within darkness is sometimes the most difficult thing to do in life, and it’s something I’ve been working on for years. Currently, I liken it to trying to take a step back and survey the landscape of life while on a speeding train. You can do it, but it’s pretty difficult. Nonetheless, the faster life forges ahead, the easier this gets. Not because I have an ever-expanding canvas to look at, but because I can so much better see how all of the pieces fit together, and this gives me peace. As my mom once told me, “Now I can see some joy through the clouds.” It’s so true. There’s so many little lessons I learned while she was alive that are turning out to be big lessons now, and I’m so thankful for the time that I did get with her on earth. There’s so much I have to improve on personally in life, and I am thankful for the fact that I have had good guidance to direct me along the way. Life has been full of difficult experiences, but I try to use them as catalysts to positively influence others, directly or otherwise. For better or for worse, I’ve been endowed with what sometimes appears to be a slightly different perspective than others, and this brings me to my next thought.

This year has been yet another exercise in patience, and it remains something I need to work on in the year ahead. Too often I try to explain things to people who sound overly judgmental and forget to remember that they don’t know any better. In an ironic twist, the judged becomes the judger. I now realize that no matter how eloquent or concise I may make my words, sometimes the message just isn’t going to get across. There could be any number of barriers to this, and I now know that sometimes it’s impossible to make someone “get the point”. They haven’t lived my life, and I haven’t lived theirs. I am okay with this, for I try to make my words as impactful as possible. Control is retained up the point of dictation, and I will be at peace with whatever reactions may follow.

But at the end of the day, actions speak louder than words, so I am going to focus simultaneously on being even more mindful of my actions and discretionary in my wording, both in speech and in text. Actions are important, but words are immortal – and if your actions are indeed significant enough to be immortalized, then words will be the vehicle for doing that. So yes, words are powerful indeed. Shoot for more than just an epitaph on a tombstone.

I’d like to say thank you to everyone in my life this year. Our paths all intersect for different reasons; I’m not sure what all of the reasons are but I do know that the composite of the story arcs of all of our lives will be a sight to behold when all is said and done. To my family and friends, I’m endlessly thankful for your encouragement, unconditional support, prayers, and friendship. You all are valued more than you know.

One last note to those readers who are detractors of retrospectives. People say to live in the present and look towards the future rather than dwelling on the past, but you know what? Sometimes the past bleeds into the present, which helps to shape our future. Without a proper mental context of where you’ve been, how are you to know where you will go?

Alright, that’s all I have to say for now. I hope you all have a blessed 2012, here’s to another incredible chapter in our life as we know it!

2011 was a huge year in music across all genres. As the internet...

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:32:00 -0600

The Foreign Exchange - Authenticity

The Weeknd - Echoes of Silence

Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra

Ellie Goulding - Bright Lights

Big Sean - Finally Famous

Common - The Dreamer, The Believer

Lil Wayne - Tha Carter IV

Drake - Take Care

Bon Iver - Bon Iver

BT - These Reimagined Machines

2011 was a huge year in music across all genres. As the internet age has continued to permeate every facet of our lives, the music industry has been forced to change. New models of music delivery (such as Spotify) became mainstream, and for the first time, artists have begun to truly attain international success with nothing more than talent and a reliable internet connection. But even more important than the music industry is the art behind it that drives the whole thing - so, without further ado, here are my top 10 albums of the year. They’re well worth a listen.

The Foreign Exchange - Authenticity

Legendary R&B musician Phonte’s pairing with Dutch producer Nicolay continues to be a successful transatlantic collaborative effort. Their latest project features soulful production, outstanding instrumentation, and philosophical musings on life, time, love, travel, and more. Also worth checking out is their live rendition of this same album. Highly recommended.

The Weeknd - Echoes of Silence

Perhaps thebiggest story of 2011 was the overnight ascendence of Abel Tesfaye, a prolific musician with a work ethic and talent second to none. Combined with the creative genius of Toronto producers Illangelo and Doc McKinney, The Weeknd has begun a genre-bending discography, the likes of which have never been seen before. The final chapter of his album trilogy, Echoes of Silence takes the best elements of House of Balloons and Thursday, and melds them together to create an ethereal, haunting masterpiece. With three solid bodies of work already under his belt, Tesfaye is already being likened by critics to a young Prince or Michael Jackson. The really scary thing? His career started only a year ago.

Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra

Along with The Weeknd, another young prodigy burst onto the music scene by self-releasing his first album against the wishes of Def Jam, his record label. What followed was hundreds of thousands of downloads, remixes, and collaborations with Kanye West and Jay-Z. Not bad for a 24-year old from New Orleans. Nostalgia, Ultra features excellent original songs (“Swim Good” is one standout), and reimaginings of current songs by artists such as Mr Hudson and MGMT. Ocean is currently preparing his now heavily anticipated debut retail album, putting in studio time with artists such as Nas, Tyler the Creator, and Pharrell.

Ellie Goulding - Bright Lights

Already well-established in her native United Kingdom, Goulding also experienced a breakout year with the US release of her hit album, Bright Lights. Using electronic synths on one song and an acoustic guitar on the next, Goulding demonstrated her versatility while using an incredible vocal range. This one is underrated, definitely one of the best albums of the year.

Big Sean - Finally Famous

After years of delays and pushbacks, rapper Big Sean emerged as something more than simply the protege of Kanye West with the release of his first album. With outstanding production by No ID and a diverse range of guest spots and song topics, Sean delivered on one of the best rap albums of the year. Whether the sophomore slump can be avoided has yet to be seen, but as of right now, the Detroit native has a bright future ahead of him. Finally Famous, indeed.

Honorable Mentions

Common - The Dreamer, The Believer
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter IV
Bon Iver - Bon Iver
BT - These Re-Imagined Machines
Drake - Take Care

The Road Not Taken

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:25:00 -0600

There’s this poem I keep coming back to lately. I ran across it one day in a book and
have found the words pretty hard to forget. It goes something like this:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

- Robert Frost

What an incredible piece of poetry, right? I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately and I have to say, Frost hit the nail on the head when it comes to this feeling. I’ve found that especially since graduating high school, I’ve made more of these fork-in-the-road decisions than I can remember. In fact, purely in terms of my own decision making, these past three years have been the most transformative of my life. The ten before that were even more so, but that was not of my own doing. We all have the power to choose which path to take, and though the road less travelled is a difficult journey at times, ultimately it is rewarding - indeed, when looked at with the right mindset, the journey itself can be the biggest reward. However, as the wistful voice of Frost might indicate, the one downside to this notion is that every journey comes to an end.

Let’s use this as a jumping-off point and take this poetry analogy a little further. Though Frost’s poem speaks of the courage of the individual who makes the choice to venture down the path less traveled, that’s the side that everyone knows and talks about. There is an inverse to this approach.

Sometimes, you don’t get to make that choice.

There are times in life when that grassy path turns into a raging river. Right when you get to that fork in the road, a flash flood comes out of nowhere and sweeps you down the path less travelled. This time, there’s a reason nobody travels on this path. It’s daunting, dangerous, and sometimes scary - and you don’t even get a say in whether or not you get to go. These are the unexpected series of experiences in life that are often the most transformative of all. Sometimes those moments turn into days, months, years. Where you do get a say is in how you react to these events, and how you let them shape you.

Because these times in life really are like a raging river. They erode your soul, like a fast-moving, unstoppable river that passes through your life for years upon years. But with destruction, comes rebirth. Like the Grand Canyon, sometimes the end result of life’s trials is more beautiful than we ever could have imagined. After years and years, the river of pain morphs us into a completely different person.

The thing about this river is that, like the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, it never really goes away. It ebbs and flows, but never dies. In life, this is a reminder of pain, loss, sadness…but also of progression, salvation, and renewal.

You see, sometimes this process works both ways. If you spend enough time inside one of these rivers, eventually you become an outsider. This is because the longer you gaze into that looking glass we call perspective, the more you realize how different everything really is. The river is now nothing but a memory, and though you may wish you could go upstream in time and change things, you can’t. It’s bittersweet, because now you live every day thinking about what happened in the past while anticipating a brighter future.

You have become part of the story, and the story has become part of you.

What do I see when I look in the mirror? Well, first and...

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:58:30 -0500

What do I see when I look in the mirror? Well, first and foremost, I see myself. No surprise there! But as I begin to take a closer look, other things become more prominently visible. The first thing I see is more years than such a youthful complexion would seem to suggest. I see eyes that have seen too much sadness, lips that have whispered more than their fair share of prayers, and ears that have heard too many messages of bad news. Those are just the first impressions. I look closer, and more begins to emerge. I see hope behind those tired eyes, and a refreshed perspective on life. Behind the sadness, I see rays of positivity bursting out. Sometimes one masks the other.

I try to look at myself through another person’s eyes - but that’s not hard, because when I look in the mirror, I don’t just see myself through my own lense, but through the viewpoints of every other person in my life. Every emotion they feel, I feel. I sense the doubting, the disbelief, and the cynicism of others. The very next second though, I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of encouragement, faith, and investment of others in my life - something I am truly blessed to have. The doubters motivate me and the encouragers sustain me. I wouldn’t trade either group of people for anything, as they both have been integral in charting the trajectory my life is currently taking.

I see a crystal-clear past and a cloudy future. Sometimes I wish I could reverse the adjectives on those two. Ironically, the very last thing I recognize are the physical attributes. Looks aren’t important, but they remind me of where I come from. I see the facial features of my dad, and am reminded of what a great role model I have for a father. The last thing I notice is my mom’s smile. It hurts me to realize that I will never see this smile outside of this mirror and the occasional photo album - but then I am encouraged by the fact that this means she’s not totally gone, and that I will always have the opportunity to further her legacy. In some ways she is still with me (and within me), and that gives me the energy to keep going.

In the mirror, I’ve found myself. I am an amalgam of people, places, and experiences both good and bad - all of which have made me who I am, and will continue to define my future in ways yet to be seen. Then my brain resets, and I look at my reflection with a renewed sense of clarity. Internal reflection is important, but today I’ve found that reflection in the literal sense can be even more revealing.

The mirror clears, and my mind follows suit.

Faceless In The Interest Of Money

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:33:00 -0500

Something that’s been on my mind recently is the over-saturation of unnecessary professionalism in the workplace. I realize this may seem like a shocking statement, but allow me to expound upon this notion.

It seems like the two should go together hand-in-hand, right? Business and professionalism have always been linked, and rightly so. Every person deserves respect within the corporate world, regardless of rank or pay. However, there comes a point when professionalism becomes the redundant, and I believe this has the potential to hurt any organization. In this context, what is “professionalism”? I define it as, in short, business formalities. Dress code, syntactical guidelines for corporate email, and any number of human resources mandated policies are all included under this umbrella. This argument comes into play in regards particularly to communication. Want an example of how vague and indifferent communication can actually hurt business? Look no further than the infamous catchphrase of the faceless corporate behemoth, “Please advise”. From my experience in the business world, I’ve seen that the usage of this phrase is a pretty standard phenomenon. However, not only is it grammatically incorrect (‘advise’ is a transitive verb that requires an object), but it comes off as demanding, pretentious, and needlessly vague. Inexplicably, it’s become a staple of corporate emails and inter-office communication.

This is but one example of a corporate universe that is quickly losing its identity. Instead of encouraging individuality, businesses prefer to squelch it with inane guidelines, perhaps in hopes of being “kosher” and fitting in with every other 9 to 5 employer out there. Unfortunately, this does more harm than good. As I’ve seen firsthand, it is the rare business that can scale without losing its unique culture (one notable exception is Google). I look around the current business landscape and see rolling hills of cube farms that serve their utmost master; the ever-venerable employee handbook. There is hope for the future though, and times are changing. The recent startup boom in the technology sector has spawned a rash of companies that are eager to promote their passions through their businesses, remaining unencumbered by unnecessary formality. Want a great example? Check out the blog of 37signals founders Jason Fried and David Hansson. These guys know what it means to do business their way, while still remaining a powerful force in the industry.

The corporate landscape is changing, but that doesn’t mean change will happen overnight. It truly makes me sad when I see companies that are successful, but have no real culture. So many founders create inspiring ideological foundations for their companies, only to have them negated by the gradual invasion of what I like to call “prim and proper syndrome”. Overtly formal and indifferent communication will only lead to the breeding of workers who will carry these same habits over into their personal lives outside of work - and what an awful thing that would be! At the end of the day, I believe that the facts are as follows. Faceless formality is not necessary. Respect is. I think it’s time more companies embrace this philosophy, in hopes of bringing eclecticism back to the workplace.

Adventures in Language Acquisition: Summer Edition

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:44:32 -0500

With the end of another year of school coupled with the advent of summer, I’ve found myself with a windfall of spare time. So, how have I been spending all these newfound hours? Well, working full-time, for one thing. But more importantly, I’ve been trying to invest my time into productive ventures that will yield a lasting return.

This summer, I am focusing on my continued learning and mastery of the Dutch language. Why Dutch? Two main reasons. First, some of my closest friends are Dutch and reside in the Netherlands, so I am naturally inclined to learn more about how they communicate in their native language (and who knows, maybe one day I’ll be able to join in the conversations too!). In addition, I am researching careers in international business (in Europe and South America specifically) to pursue after graduating, and I’ve found that knowing the official language of a given country is a huge asset when conducting business abroad. There’s probably more positive side effect of attempting to learn this language, but that remains to be seen. Today, I’m going to share the top three things I think all people should use when tackling a new language, based on my own hands-on experience. Here goes!

Livemocha. The name may give you visions of sleepless caffeine binges, but in fact, it’s one of the most useful language tools out there. This free service offers courses in dozens of languages that are relevant, practical, and useful. But here’s the kicker: in addition to this, a social component adds feedback to the mix, as your exercises and writings are reviewed and constructively criticized by native speakers of your language of study. Even more useful, you can submit vocal recordings of yourself as you read passages in a given language, and your pronunciation can be improved as others give you feedback. I honestly am amazed that a resource this invaluable is available for free, but it is. Highly recommend!

A good textbook and good notes. This may seem like a no-brainer, but both are necessary. The former is important, the latter is absolutely critical. I’ve found that textbooks are most useful as a secondary resource, especially for those nagging questions about sentence structure and grammar. Right now, I’m using the Colloquial Dutch textbook, and it’s worked out great for me so far. Find a reading format you like, and stick with it. However, perhaps the critical weapon in your linguistics arsenal is your collection of notes. Find a good notebook, keep it organized, and write down what you learn - be it phrases, definitions, or any other related information. I’ve found it most effective to use a tandem of Moleskine notebooks - one large and one small - as my tool to chronicle my learning. You can check out what I mean below.

I use the larger notebook for grammatical rules and sentence structure, while using the small notebook for keeping track of phrases and vocabulary. For me, this has been an invaluable asset to my learning as it both forces me to think through information actively as I write it down (which serves as a memory aid), and acts as a tangible way of tracking my progress. It might work for you, too!

Pimsleur’s Language Learning Resources (CD or mp3). This isn’t 100% essential when just starting out, but it is definitely an asset. These audio files help you learn the language by first listening to it, and then comprehending it. This learning style may seem backwards initially, but in fact it’s rather intuitive, and highly useful for learning correct pronunciation and practicing conversational skills. If you’re serious about totally immersing yourself in a language in hopes of learning it, check this out.

As you begin to learn and discover more about your chosen language of study, you will inevitably come across myriads of resources to learn from. My advice? Take a minimalistic approach and pick a core group of two or three solid resources, and stick with them. That’s what I am doing with the aforementioned resources I listed just now, and it’s been working pretty well for me so far. But hey, there’s always more to learn and do, so I’m tweaking this formula as I go. Is anyone else out there learning a language independent from school? If so, what do you use? If you have any suggestions or thoughts, feel free to leave them in the comments! As for myself, I’m off to study my sentence structure rules and declensions. How about you?

This is a short movie I made that summarizes my recent trip to...

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 11:50:00 -0500

This is a short movie I made that summarizes my recent trip to Belize and Guatemala. Photo credits / shout-outs to everyone on the trip who took pictures and helped contribute to this video! This trip was short but sweet, and I already can’t wait to go back. I learned a wealth of information while down there (both about the biology of the tropics, and life itself) that has proven to be immensely valuable. And that’s what it’s all about. It’s the journey - not the destination - that makes all the difference in the world.

Video

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 08:29:00 -0500

"I am a multinational soul on a multinational globe on which more and more countries are as polyglot..."

Sat, 28 May 2011 19:00:00 -0500

““I am a multinational soul on a multinational globe on which more and more countries are as polyglot and restless as airports. Taking planes seems as natural to me as picking up the phone or going to school; I fold up my self and carry it around as if it were an overnight bag.””

- Pico Iyer

As I begin to get into the summer swing of things, I’ve...

Sat, 28 May 2011 18:02:00 -0500

One of the more peaceful days!

Kayaking, gondola-style.

As I begin to get into the summer swing of things, I’ve found myself with an abundance of free time, even with working full-time every week. I guess that just goes to show me how much activity I was squeezing in during school this past spring. Amazing how a little time management can transform things! Anyways, I’ve been trying to find time every afternoon to get outside and do something. For me, that usually means running or biking, but I’ve also started using my kayak a lot more often. Lately, I’ve been paddling the backwaters of Brushy Creek, near my house, and exploring the full extent of Lake Travis. I’m currently contemplating taking the Colorado River from south Austin all the way down to the Gulf Coast - would probably be a 3 day trip or so, but a memorable adventure for sure. I’ve found this is a great way to see wildlife, get some exercise and plenty of sun, and just find solitude in general. I love living in the city of Austin, but the introvert in me loves the peace and quiet sometimes. Anyone else out there a kayaker as well?

God Bless America! Meetings down at Randolph Brooks headquarters...

Thu, 26 May 2011 16:05:15 -0500

God Bless America! Meetings down at Randolph Brooks headquarters this evening. (Taken with Instagram at Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union)

Nobody Likes Plastic Flowers

Sun, 22 May 2011 20:52:28 -0500

The business world is full of “professionals” who wear the uniform and try to seem perfect. In truth, they just come off as stiff and boring. No one can relate to people like that.

Don’t be afraid to show your flaws. Imperfections are real and people respond to real. It’s why we like real flowers that wilt, not perfect plastic ones that never change. Don’t worry about how you’re supposed to sound and how you’re supposed to act. Show the world what you’re really like, warts and all.

There’s a beauty to imperfection. This is the essence of the Japanese principle wabi-sabi. Wabi-sabi values character and uniqueness over a shiny facade. It teaches that cracks and scratches in things should be embraced. It’s also about simplicity. You strip things down and then use what you have. Author Leonard Koren gives this advice: pare down to the essence, but don’t remove the poetry. Keep things clean and unencumbered but don’t sterilize.

It’s a beautiful way to put it: Leave the poetry in what you make. When something becomes too polished, it loses its soul. It seems robotic. So talk like you really talk. Reveal things that others are unwilling to discuss. Be upfront about your shortcomings. Show the latest version of what you’re working on, even if you’re not done yet. It’s okay if it’s not perfect. You might not seem as professional, but you will seem a lot more genuine.

- Jason Fried, “Rework”

The Catalytic Nature of Solitude

Wed, 11 May 2011 19:02:00 -0500

I recently finished Frank Brady’s book “Endgame”, a fascinatingly evocative account of the life of Bobby Fischer - one of (if not the) greatest chess player of all time. The writings encompass Fischer’s entire existence - from conception, to death, and finally- to legacy. Though I am but an amateur chess player myself, there were a plethora of parallels that I drew between Fischer’s life and my own. As such, I felt prompted to write a few words about them. And no, I don’t support or condone the man’s shortcomings - certainly, I don’t aspire to be an exclusionary anti-Semitic revolutionary as Fischer became in his later years. However, like all personalities, there are certain characteristics that I identify with.

One thing that I did appreciate about Fischer after reading his story was his acceptance of solitude as a creative space. As he prepared for tournaments all over the world, the grandmaster would frequently lapse into seclusion as he analyzed moves and contemplated potential strategies for use in matches. As I progress through the academic world, I too have found that solitude most effectively facilitates creativity and higher thinking (for me, at least). That’s not to say I admonish group learning - indeed, at times it is most effective for accomplishing ambitious goals. However, I do find that when I am trying to learn or accomplish something (particularly in academia), the peace and quiet of being alone often affords greater clarity of thought, and higher results as well. Also familiar to me was Fischer’s reported propensity for overthinking everything in life, so as to “eliminate the odds”. For him, this behavior had its roots in an absolute resolve to become the best chess player on earth - and to do so, failure could simply not be an option. As much as I hate to admit it, I fall victim to overthinking as well from time to time. I get so caught up in planning and working towards the “future” that I sometimes fail to recognize the externalities beyond my sphere of influence that may influence the final outcome of whatever decision I happen to be making. I am improving in this area, but like all things, it’s a process.

On a purely objective note, Brady’s book was nothing short of fascinating. I have always been intrigued by the grandmasters of chess, Fischer in particular. His incredible memory and relentless ambition pushed him to become the greatest chess player the world has ever seen. According to Brady, however, this success came at an incredible price, as it drove Fischer into an ever deepening state of isolation. Not only was Fischer tired of the attention and press, he was also sick of being commoditized. He recognized that people were profiting off of him without his consent, and this acted as a stimulus that pushed him further into seclusion. After winning the world championship against Boris Spassky, arguably at the pinnacle of his career, Fischer began to drop off the face of the earth. Months passed by with no news on his whereabouts, other than random sightings in and around Los Angeles. Fischer was becoming a ghost. Improbably, however, Fischer resurfaced in 1992 to win yet another world championship, again against Spassky. Sadly, this preceded another lapse into obscurity, as soon after Fischer renounced his American citizenship, intensified his anti-American remarks, and became an international fugitive after violating United States federal trade guidelines.

The juxtaposition of Fischer’s massive success with the rapid unraveling at the end of his life is striking. The amount of stress contributed to his psychological decline, no doubt - but even so, the terms on which his life ended are nearly surreal. The man went from being an international superstar that fateful day in Moscow, to stepping off his private jet for the last time in Reykjavik, Iceland, a fugitive of his own country. If one positive thing can be gleaned from the situation, it is that Fischer still managed to close out his life on his own terms, maintaining his fierce sense of independence all the way to the end. Perhaps it is this attribute I identify with most and see in myself and others. The ability to fashion one’s own creative space and think independently within it is a valuable skill indeed. With such a mentality, positive results can be extracted from even the most negative of situations - whether that be the act of masterfully escaping the endgame of checkmate, or simply managing to come up with an innovative idea for a business plan, it makes no difference. Fischer’s talent for this lead to massive amounts of success, but in many ways, it was also his downfall. He lacked a sense of balance; chess was his life, and nothing else was a priority. For the “rest of us”, this should be one of the lessons learned. Balance is key to achieving success - but it is also integral to maintaining it. Something to think about…

Endgame is now available at Amazon and other online retailers.

Lunch at work today. Loving this weather! (Taken with instagram)

Fri, 06 May 2011 11:47:39 -0500

Lunch at work today. Loving this weather! (Taken with instagram)

Working and studying, a good way to start the day… (Taken...

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:44:22 -0500

Working and studying, a good way to start the day… (Taken with Instagram at Starbucks)

This song is short, sweet, and to the point. It does a pretty...

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 22:49:00 -0500

This song is short, sweet, and to the point. It does a pretty good job of summing up how I feel right now, too. It is a very “summer”-type of a song, but it’s a sad one too.

I’m about to drive to the ocean,

I’m going to try to swim from something bigger than me.

I’ll kick off my shoes and swim good, swim good…

I think deep down, we all want to be free. For each one of us, freedom is defined in a different way. Some people want fame and fortune. Others want to be free from the responsibilities of society. I just want to be loved unconditionally. To me, that’s freedom. The ability to be myself, without worrying about whether I’m adequate, or whether I’ve changed the world for the better. It’s true that sometimes I work too hard for earthly approval, but don’t we all at times? I think so, but hey, I’m human. To be loved for being yourself is the greatest freedom. Unfortunately, this concept is elusive and nearly impossible to attain. Most of the time, I don’t subscribe to this particular definition - but every once in awhile those familiar feelings of inadequacy seep in and bring me down. They shouldn’t, really. I know who I am. But they do anyways. I might add that this is but one definition I have for the concept…there are many others, each applying to a different time and place and situation. For now, this is the one that fits my present state. If nothing else, at least I can be at peace knowing I haven’t compromised myself in the course of this journey called life. This release of thoughts, these words…this is me. Nothing added, nothing taken away. And by doing so, I am free…