2K11 24/7

Doomz tackles a major challenge. A year at a time with daily updates!
 

The 2K11 24/7 CCXXXIX: The Dilemma of Daily Dedication

Sticking to something daily is a huge challenge. Some people try to hit the gym every day. Sometimes it's making sure to make time for a significant other. My daily thing — obviously — is blogging. I can't lie, it takes up a lot of my time. I'll often think that I've wrapped up for the night, only to remember that I have a blog post to get up for the next day. It's those moments that I groan, I gripe, but I write. It's important to me that I keep up with the daily posts — it's the first time where I've made a public commitment and have been pretty good at sticking to it, so I can't be my source of sabotage at this point; things need to get done.

How about you? Is there something that you want to do every day, but you feel that something's holding you back? Do you try to schedule things into your life but often get sidetracked?

It's mind over matter, and your mind is more powerful than you think. The first step is convincing yourself that you have the ability to achieve whatever it is that you're seeking out of life, and then just go for it. My list isn't getting any shorter, and I'm not getting any younger, but I'm still hustling hard, day after day, since I've yet to give up on the dreams that're floating in my head.

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Filed under  //   2k11 247   advice   dedication   problems  
Views // Posted August 27, 2011
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The 2K11 24/7 CCXXIII: Syrious Business

I had a Syrian coworker once who was quite the comedian! In the eight months of planning my wedding, he was rife with hilarious advice and wisdom to keep me going.

But what I would soon realize is that not only were these pieces of advice for how to run a successful wedding — they could be applied to just about ANY social gathering you come across! Here’s a couple of the gems of Syrious (yes, I went there) advice he’s sent my way:

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Filed under  //   2k11 247   advice  
Views // Posted August 11, 2011
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The 2K11 24/7 XLVII: T is for Temptation

"Don't mess with Mr. T
Don't mess with Mr. T
T (he'll get ya)
T (he'll get ya)
T (he'll get ya)
T (temptation...)" -- Big Sean, "Mr. T",

If I were to write a list of the things in life that can be a pain in the ass, temptation would be way up there on the list. All too often, our ids take us down paths we probably shouldn't be taking, mostly due to the Mr. T mentioned above. Whether it's a minor temptation (e.g. "Just one more piece", "It can wait 'til tomorrow" or "Just let me sleep another 10 minutes") or a major one (e.g. "S/he never has to find out", "Just this once" or "What harm could it do?"), they're always there, just waiting to wrench us from our paths.

I'm not even talking about this from a religious standpoint (though, admittedly, it'd be way easier to do so since there's a standard set of rules one must abide by, more or less) — even if you don't believe in a creator, there are temptations you'll come across in life that you might take and REALLY come to regret later.

You've seen some themes repeat themselves in my posts a few times since the beginning of the year — this is because I think that they're important and just good, solid advice that can help YOU through the challenges you're SURE to face in life.

Let me focus on a few of these principles now so we can discuss how you can better manage temptations when they come your way:

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Filed under  //   2k11 247   advice   quest for less   temptation  
Views // Posted February 16, 2011
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The 2K11 24/7 XLVI: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Be Da Bomb

Worrying is so 2010. It's human to worry - we did it pretty well from 2007-2010, with the recession heralded by the subprime mortgage crisis and all. The news says that we shows signs of recovery, and yet we worry.

Centuries ago, the Mayans developed a calendar that predicted the end of the world (as we know it) in 2012. We've had Nostradamus make several predictions, many of which we've interpreted to the true, which seems to add weight to this argument. Add the Christian Second Coming, the Norse idea of Ragnarok, Armageddon, etc.., and you get an event that may or may not happen anytime soon, and for the most part is outside of our control. And yet we worry.

Worrying is a fruitless endeavour. I tell this to Sarah all the time. Then she hits me. (Kidding.) But seriously, what does worrying gain you?

  • grey hairs
  • wrinkles
  • deteriorated health

Yeah, oh man — I really want to worry now.

But to be concerned; to be proactive; to plan — none of these are bad things. Feel free to prepare for things that may happen so that you're not caught unaware. But when things start to usurp your thoughts and cause you to stress — it's time to rework your mental processes. The future you worry about is like trying to get a date with a supermodel — you can think about it all you want, but it doesn't mean it's actually going to happen. Worrying is like an ear worm that makes it way deep into your conscious, shifting your thoughts away from anything productive.

So I say don't worry. Worrying will only hold you back. The more you worry, the less you get anywhere. Spend that time thinking on happier thoughts — things you'd like to be; places you'd like to go; your dreams; your aspirations. The worries — take care of what you can, and leave the rest to time, patience, and hard work. You'll get where you need to be if it's important to you!

Worrying has been a waste of time since the beginning of it. The Bible can tell you all about it:

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." -- Matthew 6:24, Holy Bible, NIV Edition

Or perhaps if that's not your cup of tea, how about a word from Mad Magazine?

"What, me worry?" -- Alfred E. Neuman, Mad Magazine

So when those thoughts creep up on you out of the dark and you feel overwhelmed? When your world is crumbling around you? When your mind feels like it's going to break apart?

You know what? Don't worry about it.

--case p.

46/365

Filed under  //   2k11 247   advice   worry  
Views // Posted February 15, 2011
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The 2K11 24/7 XXIII: Ultimate Advice

Sorry guys, would've had this up earlier, but I got asked to be a sub (substitue) player in an Ultimate Frisbee game by some friends, so that took up some time. It was good to brush the dust off of my cleats and play on some turf while chasing the disc; but I can never seem to get away from an Ultimate game unscathed - I have a nice scrape on my leg from a missed catch and subsequent slide. Ah well, still awesomely fun - dodgeball tomorrow!

After the game, the team and I were talking about the entire idea of giving advice. As you know, this is a blog about improvement. Self-improvement. Your improvement. The improvement of the society and the environment around us. A pretty grand task, I know, but I feel that it's one that could use some serious contemplation.

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Filed under  //   2k11 247   advice   lists   tips  
Views // Posted January 23, 2011
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The 2010 20K: Day 41 - Busking

http://www.metronews.ca/toronto/local/article/456474--busking-is-like-public-art

So it would seem that busking in the TTC might not be the best idea if I want to reach this goal in a timely fashion. If we consider that:

  • There's a $150 annual permit for busking in the TTC
  • One would need to commit to six-hour shifts three to four times a week, which would definitely cramp on sleeping time
  • I have limited musical talent - I don't think I could very readily pass a serious audition
  • It's a subway station. Those things are COLD.
So maybe we'll look to something more like street performing. Or maybe doing portraits of people - but WAIT!

http://www.toronto.ca/licensing/pdf/rd_allw_fees.pdf

  • If I'm just busking or drawing with chalk on the sidewalk, we're looking at a $35.69 permit fee.
  • If I want to draw portraits of people as takeaway items - it's a $300.00 permit fee. THREE HUNDRED. I'll need to think this over - see what approach might even be good to take care of this =/
  • The application for this is pretty lengthy - and there're a gajillion rules and regulations and bylaws associated with the practice - man. Buskin' ain't easy! I'm going to need more me's just to make this work!
I was going to enter one of those surveys you see on the back of your receipts from the fast food joints - you know - let us know your thoughts and you could win $1,000 - but damn! The recession must've hit Wendy's hard, because their is "tell us about this visit and we'll give you a free Single hamburger"! Wow, Wendy's. Wow. And you can only redeem one every thirty days. You know what - how about I fill it out and give it to a homeless person? Least I can do with this thing. Note: I actually would've done this, but just realized that I needed to fill in the survey within 48 hours of my visit. It's been 79 h 23 min. My bad, random homeless person :( Also, in an amusing side, it appears that Burger King (huh - guess I have fast food more often than I think) doesn't even WANT your two cents - only a portion of it:

Whopper


Still collecting Air/Aeroplan Miles like a fiend - kinda hoping that I'll be able to supplement some of the trips to come with these.
  • Aeroplan Miles to date: 1263
  • Air Miles to date: 609
If anyone has ideas on how to optimize collecting and using these, let me know! I'll post some ideas that I found and go from there - I expect that I have some fellow avid collectors out there!

And now, observe as I forge out into the snow to try and get to work on time!

Plus I have another couple of resumes to look at - commuter reading! Woo!

Digits:

The 2010 20K Running Total = $192.14

Have a great day, y'all!

--case p.

Filed under  //   2010 20K   advice   opportunities  
Views // Posted February 23, 2010
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The 2010 20K: Day 40 - From Pocket Change to Potential

I love pay day - seriously love it. New possibilities, new options - it's like waking up and unwrapping a new present to do with as you wish.


As of late, though, my pay days mean more that I get to see my credit card balance reduce at an accelerated rate moreso than getting the shiniest new whatever's out there. With my regular income, I've devoted myself to getting rid of the invisible shackles that hold me down and being able to go into the future a bit more carefree and content :)

I remember the days of living cheque to cheque - I mean, I'm 26 with no kids or mortgage, so thank goodness I didn't really have anyone else relying on me to feed or clothe them - it would've been a horrible situation. No, oftentimes it was because of that desire I just mentioned. To be the best dressed. Have the new toy. Eat the finest foods. It was really just me valuing all the wrong things and doing whatever I needed to do to get them.

On one hand, I think that these are the kinds of lessons we all need to learn in our lives at one point or another - and for me, I'm glad that it's something I came across early on - but at the same time, one would hope that people are given enough teaching that they can avoid falling into similar pitfalls. Not everyone gets the same opportunities in life, as we can often see from the disparity between the rich and the poor in our world. I can remember from my time spent as a Financial Sales Representative that I'd often have to counsel people twice my age on their finances, simply because they were never given the same access to knowledge about investing, credit, budgeting, etc. that I had. Now that I'm at a point in my life where I'm purging items more than I am collecting, I can see the benefits of all this and hope that I can eventually pass on what I know to others in such a way that it very practical and easy to follow.

Some easy tips come to mind:

  • Don't spend what you don't have - if you must do so, find the method that costs least (borrowing interest, especially) and/or can be paid off the quickest
  • Try to make do with what you have - mend a tear if you gotta - make notes on envelopes - reuse jars like crazy - do what you gotta!
  • Shop smarter, not cheaper - cheaper isn't always better - example: dollar store batteries versus a solid set of rechargeable batteries, ESPECIALLY if you have a charger! Over time, the money you save from not having to dash out to the store repeatedly to replace those batteries will start to look pretty good once you keep using quality rechargeable batteries through their lifespan - they can last a VERY long time. There are a number of instances like this in life where what seems like a massive investment compared to alternatives in the beginning may turn out to be the better option.
Just some food for thought.

In other news:

  • I did sell that RAM, but my friend discovered that their computer won't actually accept anything higher than what they already had, so we're trying to figure out what we can do to fix the situation
  • The last chart I released in my other blog (chart is NSFW!) became more widespread than I'd expected - about 240 diggs, 70 total comments, 40 notes on Tumblr and 3,250 views on Huffington alone. I'm pretty encouraged by that, despite the rather embarassing nature of the chart itself, lol - I'd like to create something Olympics-related, but nothing's come to mind just yet that really knocks my socks off. If anyone has something they've always wanted to see in chart form, please let me know!
  • I got those three resumes that were on my plate out of the way, and I'm happy to say that the clients are all very happy with the new products I put together for them. I got one person a job in two months after years of looking - maybe I can do the same for you? Let me know!
Otherwise, it's been your regular sort of week - I have a cousin getting married this weekend, so the work time will be reduced significantly, but other than that, the hustle continues as per usual. I have noticed that I haven't quite made it easy to share my blog posts on Facebook, Twitter, what have you - so worry not; new functionality will be on its way!

So, in closing, thanks for joining me once more - please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns or ideas - they're always welcome in the 2010 20K. I can't wait till this cold is over and it gets dark later so I can get out in the world and REALLY do some stuff!

The 2010 20K Running Total: $192.14

Winter, you can't stick around FOREVER, homey!

Have a great Friday, y'all,

--case p.

Filed under  //   2010 20K   advice   opportunities  
Views // Posted February 19, 2010
// 2 Comments