A Life Well-Lived Is The Rarest Thing Of All

Work hard, Travel Harder!

[mikezimov]

We talk about Bruno… a lot For those of you that don’t know, we rescued a horse back in March. Did you know…Horses regularly get shipped for slaughter. Horsey flesh is considered a delicacy in Asia. Or so they say… I’m pretty sure it is a bullshit story they use to get people to buy horses. It works. We went from slightly interested in getting a horse to wanting to adopt 100s in seconds. Even if the story is BS, his life still sucked in Mississippi. He came to us skinny and stressed out like a crystal meth tweaker in a mirror maze. (Whew, we all need a Xanax after reading that) He’s a really good boy now. Bruno follows Ava around like a puppy. In case you're wondering, I have this parenting-a-teenage-daughter thing down. If I get around to writing a book it will be titled “Buy Her The F***ing Horse”. (Ava does pay half BTW) Now, I know what you're thinking because I was thinking the same thing. Horses are expensive. Yes, they are. Horses require lots of time. Ding. Ding. Horses never stop eating… Like us all during lockdown. But here’s what you might not consider. Horses are not boys. Instead of Ava chasing boys around with shorts up her a$$… She spends all her spare time with me at the barn. I am pretty sure Bruno is on to my scheme, though. I can see it in his eyes and the way he shakes that massive head. If he could talk he’d tell me “I am taking your daughter, your money and you’re going to like it.” Then he’d say “My d*ck is bigger than yours too” He knows he has her heart and I don't. Bruno has clearly won… and Ava is missing him dearly. We talk about Bruno ALL.THE.TIME. on her all expenses paid trip to Europe and Egypt. https://www.instagram.com/p/CiDtnsHrnIz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mikezimov]

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Today marks 10 years since we made South Carolina our home. We moved here not knowing a single soul. We found our Framily in the people of Isle Of Palms. Y’all have made this the best decade yet. Thank you! Here are just a few IOPeople we’re grateful for. https://www.instagram.com/p/CUTvuSvgyfU/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mikezimov]

It was a normal fishing day in our normal fishing hole when something huge emerged beneath the boat. I have many regrets in life. (NOT buying bitcoin in 2010 is one of them) On this day, I didn’t have my GoPro with me last Sunday. I regret it. This is one moment I wish I could show you. You cannot "unexperience" an experience. You will never have access to a COMMAND + Z of life. I had a moment like this happen to me last Sunday An 8-foot tiger shark and his entourage of cobia swam near the boat. Eric and Josh caught a couple of cobia by casting into the school. It seemed like a good time for me to stop spearfishing. Not 20 minutes later, a huge slow-moving spotted giant emerged beneath the boat. A WHALE SHARK. The gentle giant was about 15 feet down. The tiger shark had me still eerie about jumping back in the water, but I eventually did get my mask on and get in. By that time, the whale shark was gone. I didn’t know they were in the area… BUT other anglers have spotted them too! (The image has been altered to protect the identity of the fish and location) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTZ6fPDrVyC/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mikezimov]

Someone redecorated our house while we were gone. Well played @tybowman2 https://www.instagram.com/p/CS44E46LmGu/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mikezimov]

Someone redecorated our house while we were gone. Well played. @tybowman2 https://www.instagram.com/p/CS43qL2Lu08/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mikezimov]

“I hope you get AIDS”.. Those are the words I shouted from the balcony at 6:30AM Saturday morning. I’m not proud of it. I shouldn’t have said them. But, those words, and a few expletives, were the only words that came to my mind at 6:30 AM Saturday morning. As you might recall, I don’t think clearly without sleep. See, Someone in an adjacent complex decided to have a rave on Friday night. We weren't invited. Instead, we laid in bed and listened to “ooonse, ooonse, ooonse” from 10PM till 6:30 AM. I did have some appreciation for their amazing sound system. Alicia and I created all the white noise we could from phones and fans… but nothing, I mean nothing... could drown out the deafening bass. Yeah, we notified security… They couldn't do anything. Neither would the police. Dear Montanita Ecuador, I tried… I’ve tried to make you sound palatable. The problem is… you’re just not. I’ve now been to your god forsaken town twice. Somewhere between the dog shit covered streets, the total disregard for animal life and the littered covered beach, you’ve lost me. Those of you watching my feed for epic travel ideas… This is not one of those posts. Coastal Ecuador is very indifferent towards the waters they rely on. Litter and fish net fragments are everywhere. The highlight of the week is pictured here. It’s as if humpback whales are waving “goodbye”. We’ve missed you IOP… It’s good to be home. #Neverfarfromwater, #bucketlist, #bucketlistadventure, #seekadventure #adventurenthusiasts #exploreourearth #adventuretravel #fulltimetravelfamily #fulltimetravel #adventurefamily #offthebeatenpath #digitalnomadlife #slowtravel #nomadfamily #montañita https://www.instagram.com/p/CS4eX1NrRhC/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mikezimov]

As it turns out, I’m a huge fan of oxygen. Like our dignity, we don’t truly appreciate it till it’s gone. I’m a sea level kinda guy… There’s plenty of air at sea level and breathing, sleeping, and functioning as human beings is far easier at sea level. Those of you living above 6,000 feet are psychopaths. The brain doesn’t fire right without oxygen. This explains a lot including why you see hallucinations of sasquatch walking around. The Andes mountain range makes the Rockies look like cuddly guinea pigs (sidenote: Guinea Pigs are considered a tasty delicacy in these parts. Ecudorians grab one out of the cage, smack it against a rock and stick it on a rotisserie. They call it “cuy” because of the sound the guinea pigs make (not kidding).. Anyway, These Volcanoes are really freaking tall. Between my lack of oxygen and lack of sleep, I feel like I've had a Mcmurphy lobotomy. We spent our last night in the mountains (Saturday) at the base of Cotopaxi. (remember my anxiety regarding Volcanoes). This giant stands at 19,347 ft above sea level. We were at 11,347. I know this because I sat at the edge of my bed, gasping for air, and looking at the topography map… all.night.long. We had an amazing horseback ride. Have you ever tried taking a picture of a full moon?… It sucks compared to what you’re looking at. Same goes here. The pictures don’t do this place justice. I was sleep deprived, grumpy, and a bit dumb… yet I still really enjoyed this place. We’re back where the air is thick. Montinita is the Ecuadorian surf capital. I’m looking forward to a week of surfing and amazing sleep! #Neverfarfromwater, #bucketlist, #bucketlistadventure, #seekadventure #adventurenthusiasts #exploreourearth #adventuretravel #fulltimetravelfamily #fulltimetravel #adventurefamily #offthebeatenpath #digitalnomadlife #slowtravel #nomadfamily #travelinspiration (at Volcán Cotacachi) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSrKkHYrNvl/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mikezimov]

Get this...Piranhas don’t actually swam-feed and eat anything that touches the water. That was the vision I had when our guide said we were going swimming in a black-water lagoon in the amazon rainforest. (thanks Hollywood) I thought we’d be picked apart like Bieber walking through the mall. About our guide... I’m pretty sure Bear Grylls and Steve Irwin had a love child in Ecuador. His name is Miguel. He’s drunk on nature, catches crocodiles and eats plenty of bugs and random plants for the fun of it. Piranhas are not the most worrisome part of swimming in a black water lagoon. Neither are the 12 foot Anacondas. And believe it or not, neither are the parasites “needle fish” that can swim up the urethra. (Tip: a few Needle fish should keep kids from peeing in your pool. They are attracted to urine.) The animals to watch out for… Electric eels. According to Miguel, they suck the most. But none of that seemed to matter when we jumped out of the canoe into this swamp water. #Neverfarfromwater, #bucketlist, #bucketlistadventure, #seekadventure #adventurenthusiasts #exploreourearth #adventuretravel #fulltimetravelfamily #fulltimetravel #adventurefamily #offthebeatenpath #digitalnomadlife #slowtravel #nomadfamily #travelinspiration (at Cuyabeno, Amazon Rainforest) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSjt53PreMx/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mikezimov]

The Art Of Not Caring

A hook through the ballyhoo heart.

As I learned a few weeks ago, that’s how you catch tuna...

Now imagine your own heart, hooked.

See it snagged not with one but a HUNDRED barbed fish hooks, all tugging the meat of your most essential organ in different directions.

That is the world you and I live in.

Marketers say that attention is the most vital currency.

That’s not true.

It's your CARE.

Only if you care profoundly...

Only if you're swept up in their causes and claims...

Only if the hooks they use are meaningful and pierce your soul ...

Will they hold you captive.

Your attention, your passion, your energy will dilute... You’ll bleed out for everyone else’s causes, with only a dull beat left for your own. This is the biggest lesson I learned in 2019.

So how do you know your own heart is hooked?

The proof is all around.

If you're always in a rush or hurried ...

If your mind and heart are always racing when you lay your head down at night…

If you’re constantly worried or in fear…

If you're worried about judgment from others...

If you feel like you’re always multitasking...

Your heart is on their line trolling through an ocean of distractions.

Your heart is their honey hole.

The answer?

The ONLY way to function in 2020...

Drastic detachment.

To survive mentally, we must drastically shorten the list of things we let hook us.

- The news - (in my case) The Bahamas - The election - The impeachment - Bickering on social media - Feel good charities - Taxing friendships - Mediocre business opportunities

Take all the catastrophes, misfortunes and causes we have no influence over and rinse them from thought.

This isn't selfish or heartless.

We are drawing a line of sanity in an insane world.

We don't have the bandwidth for empathy at scale.

In today’s age, our connection to information drowns us in masses of needs, wants and worries that we literally can not cope with.

We aren't wired for it.

We are wired to care deeply, not wide.

Create your shortlist and guard it ferociously. Your shortlist items will consist of seemingly simple tasks that evoke a large impact. They are the causes that bring you maximum joy.

When it comes to truly putting forth truly potent and productive work...

When it comes to keeping your powder dry...

The one who cares least... wins.

Cut the lines one by one

Clip the barb, straighten the hook, then back it out.

Select those worthy of your small 10oz heart, then love your heart out.

Let the soul suckers starve.

[mikezimov]

A Sad Story

A sad story.

Tonight, somewhere out there… an innocent girl is a victim of the unthinkable. The abuse will continue, and she’ll keep quiet.

Why? Because of her family.

The ones who help raise her.

The ones who failed to act when they noticed strange behavior.

She’ll keep quiet because she doesn’t want to lose those people.  She’s afraid they will stop talking to her. She’s afraid they won’t believe her. She’s afraid they will shun her.

She’s not wrong.

She’ll keep quiet and her sister will suffer the same fate.

This girl will carry the burden of her secret for years, maybe decades to come.

Eventually, she will have the strength to come forward and her family will fulfill her fears.

They won’t answer her phone calls or return her messages. They won’t call to say “I Still Love You”.  They will keep quiet because they “don’t want to get in the middle of it”  or fear any sort of communication is choosing sides. They will question her motives.

“They” are part of the problem.

“They” have a chance to break the cycle.

[mikezimov]

The dog in the fog. #sailinglife #islandlife https://www.instagram.com/p/BwAimRwBjHX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=sxn5kxd3uk8s

[mikezimov]

Finally had a chance to decompress at sugar mountain some of my favorite folks. #bagstillpacked https://www.instagram.com/p/Buj5E_8A4vX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1xc181m0dx1n8

[mikezimov]

My Good Morning LaLa Land interview explaining how business can use Big Data to dramatically increase revenue of paid advertising campaigns.

[mikezimov]

Dropping marketing media buying bombs on “”Good Morning LaLa Land” (at West Hollywood, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuW28l8BeOh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1f7975db4tv0b

[mikezimov]

It doesn’t get anymore San Diego than this! This dude is taking his fist stab at shaping a board from a blank. #lifewelllived #unsubscribe #familytravel #alwaysanadventure #neverfarfromwater (at Mission Beach, San Diego) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuT2wOzA0gD/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=o6989dheqi4

[mikezimov]

Bahamas called, We answered.⠀ #lifewelllived⠀ #unsubscribe⠀ #familytravel⠀ #alwaysanadventure⠀ #docoolshit (at Treasure Cay, Abacos Islands, Bahamas) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuJqGvwBXpq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1854pga2hr5a4

[mikezimov]

Resolutions worth sticking to according to the dead.

Every year between Christmas and New Years, I stop and think about what I want to accomplish in the New Year. I ponder what I think is possible then scribble down what this fresh start will look like. I even jot down what steps I can take right now to make it happen.

Like many entrepreneurs, most of my goals typically anchor around money. However, this year, I am going about it much differently...I’m letting the dead decide what the year should look like. And since no better teachers exist, here are the top 5 regrets from those who have cashed in their chips and wish they had a mulligan.

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

In unpacking this, I came to the conclusion that this comes down to excuses. We make excuses on why we can or can’t do something, “not enough money” or “that’s not reasonable” or “how this will look to others”. These are all expectations keeping us from living a life true to ourselves. To live a life true to our self, we must be unreasonable with whatever it is that we want…no... NEED.

2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.

I work really long hours. I’ll work a full work day, then work again typically at night after the kids are down. The distraction of work is constantly pinging my phone all day, every day. Any idle moments usually have me reverting back to work.  For many of us, we wear our “work badge” as if it’s honorable. Yes, we need to provide. But if you’re working that hard, it’s likely you’re swimming upstream. Make a pivot or hire someone to help with the workload!

3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

Admittedly, I’m rarely honest with my feelings. This has much to do with the first regret in this article. “What others think of me” is my interpretation of this regret. To be insincere about how someone or something makes you feel creates conflict. That voice inside our head... the weird, strange but honest voice is often buried deep. Go ahead, let go and let your freak flag fly. You’ll create peace within.

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

This all comes back to priorities. I know I need to get rid of something to make space for friends old and new. Friends are the family I  actually get to choose and I feel very blessed in this department. Yeah, there are folks I wish I saw more regularly, but overall, I’ve got some damn good friends and I love them.

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

And this is the “ah ha” moment. This is what we write out our New Year’s goals for, right?

For most of us, our not so public list looks something like this:

I’ll be happy when…(I close the deal, make more money, my spouse does “X” for me)

I’ll be happy if… (I get to travel, I lose 15 pounds, see a unicorn, play bongos on Santa’s tummy-tum)

No conditional goals will ever offer lasting happiness. The key word with this regret is “LET”. Release conditions of happiness and just be… happier.

No dying man or woman ever says,  “I wish I made more money”. Yet that’s exactly what many entrepreneur’s New Year’s goals look like. In fulfilling real meaningful goals, the money always follows.

This year, consider a different approach and take some perspective from the dead. They have a lifetime of guidance to offer.