MENAIA @menaia-blog - Tumblr Blog

Before you give me shit about "Chris" Ashton Kutcher, I know... Most of the time I can't take him seriously–as an actor, or as an investor. But, then he just pops in and surprises me again with something interesting or inspiring. So, I'm unwilling to write him (or pretty much anyone) off completely. I figure, if I truly believe I cannot learn something from anyone, then I'm the close-minded ignorant one.

This quote comes from his Teen Choice Awards acceptance speech and it is worth watching.

#Ashton Kutcher #changemakrs

I have always been highly motivated by two things:

1. People who tell me I can't do something. 2. People who forgot to tell me I can't do something.

#Henry Ford #changemakrs

I had a pile of miles for one specific airline, expiring soon, and not a big enough pile to book a flight. So, I ordered some physical magazines. We've tried this before, so I didn't really expect them ever to show up at my door. But, this time it worked.

So, this morning I took my copy of fortune out the pool and read an interesting interview with David Geffen. Two things really stuck with me.

(1) Even though he has been asked several times to join Buffet & Gates Giving Pledge, he hates the idea, calling it "grandstanding". Instead he says,

I intend to give every nickel away. I'm just not joining some club of rich people in which to do so. Actions speak louder than words. If you're going to give it away, then give it away. And do it when you're alive.

(2) And, when asked what his epitaph will be, he responded,

I'm not going to have an epitaph. I'm going to be cremated. Because the whole idea of legacy is such bullshit.

For those of you who don't know, I have a manifesto that I try to live by. And, core the manifesto is a belief that we should try an change the world by changing our own immediate world. That we should all step up by learning to love ourselves, and loving those around us. Right now. In our own daily lives. In very small ways.

I have watched too many people put all their hope into a different tomorrow, and day after day live hopeless todays. As if their entire life was one of those silly permanent signs at a bar that reads, "Free Beer Tomorrow".

#Albert Einstein #changemakrs #David Geffen #BrokenHeartManifesto

First things first. If you haven't watched, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, do it. I dream of becoming the master at something. Learning about Jiro and Paul Erdos make me almost want to never sleep again. I don't want to be best for any recognition, but because of my love for the craft. I don't want to be better than everyone else. That just creates a record by a margin. It has an end. What I want to achieve has no end, because my goal is to be the best that I can.

#Sukiyabashi Jiro #Changemakrs #Paul Erdos

This one reminds me of one of my top quora answers, with over 1000 views and over 100 up-votes:

Choose a life worth waking up for.

If I ever realize I'd rather sleep in than get up, I take some time to determine whether I'm living the life I want to wake up to live. If not, it is time to make some adjustments.

/via quora

Also reminds me of my buddy's Tony's stories about hatting his last job (which was being the CEO of his own company) and decided to build his next company in a way that he would always want to come into work. I simply have no capacity to understand why people would spend days (let alone years) of their life doing something they don't enjoy (let alone hate). But, even as I write that, my 'Entitled American White Man' alarm is going off. So, I'm trying to understand my ignorance. But, I still keep landing on a primal need to pursue the things I'm truly passionate about, regardless the cost.

#Steve Jobs #changemakrs

I would much rather believe there is nothing I can do to change the world, or that someone else will take care of that for me. I have an explosion of thoughts in my mind right now about what we're building in Las Vegas... what it is like to live in "StartupBlock"... why the community either needs to step up or shut up... why we need each other and need to stop choosing sides. Some of you are intimately aware of what I'm talking about, others would need hours of catch up. But, I don't have time now to provide the backstory. And, if you don't live here, you won't care anyway. I want to dive so deep into this right now. But, I can't. Or, I won't. I don't place much value on talk these days. I like action.

#changemakrs #Margaret Mead