Category: Blog

Well folks, this is it. The beginning of a new year and decade, for many of us a refreshing reminder to reflect, realign and re-motivate. I spent New Year’s Eve amongst close friends, sequestered from the snow in my apartment. It was just the kind of subtle and low-key night I needed to ring in 2010.

This year has been, to use one of my favorite adjectives of 2009, wild. I slept in 28 different cities and visited several new countries:

• Europe: Germany, Belarus, Ukraine, Albania
• Middle East: Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Qatar, United Arab Emirates
• Asia: Kazakhstan, Tajikistan
• Africa: Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Djibouti

Some of my favorite 2009 travel experiences:

• Taking a day tour of Chernobyl, the world’s most infamous radioactive disaster zone.
• Pretending to be Indiana Jones while I explored the Petra ruins of Jordan’s desert.
• Darting across the Syrian-Lebanese border.
• My first bribe in Ibadan, Nigeria – Pringles, Red Bull and yogurt
• My second bribe, and celebrating Halloween in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
• Returning to Nepal for the first time since 2006 and seeing old friends and family.

I took 56 flights and read 6,325 pages in 20 books. Yes, I’m a bit obsessive-compulsive. I think it’s my job. Speaking of numbers, it has been exactly one year since I outlined my goals for 2009. Let’s see how I performed:

2009 Goals

1. Run 5 miles in 35 minutes

Close! In my Thanksgiving Day 5-mile run, I finished in 35:20. My body was in shape, but I made two significant mistakes. 1) I did not wear a watch and therefore could not pace myself, and 2) I wore the Vibram FiveFingers on an asphalt course. My calves couldn’t take it. I forgot that most of my Vibram FiveFinger training was on dirt and grass.

2. Read and take notes on 3 out of 95 books on the Personal MBA reading list.

Done! I read 8 books. This has been a great experiment. Even in a few short books I feel like I’ve learned a lot.

3. Clean up my research paper on vertical farming and send it to Dickson Despommier at Columbia University.

Done! He even sent me a short note back in thanks. Swell guy.

4. Reach conversational level in Spanish.

Fail. I let this one slip by. I think the goal was too broad for my psyche, so I was subconsciously afraid to really dig in. Maybe one of these days.

5. Expand my blogging audience to at least 100 RSS subscribers.

Done! Google FeedBurner has been all over the place this year, but as of January 1 I have 182 subscribers. If we don’t know each other, feel free to introduce yourself below!

6. Compose a photo-journal coffee table book of my abroad experience in Nepal.

Done! A sample copy should be arriving in the next couple of weeks. You can preview the book here.

7. Complete the Hundred Push Ups challenge

Done! This was the most fun goal for me.

Not a terrible performance, but looking ahead at 2010, I hope to be even more productive. Here’s what I have in store:

2010 Goals

—FITNESS
1 mile in under 5:30.
Run a half-marathon.
200 squats without stopping.
25 pull-ups without stopping.
Be able to fall into a push up from standing position, like Christian Bale in Batman Returns.
Cycle 100 miles in one day.
Be able to hold a gymnastics-inspired L-position for 30 seconds.
Hold breath for at least 3 minutes.

—BLOGOSPHERE
the9to5alternative.com

• Redesign and rethink my vision as a blogger. Is this a travel site? A lifestyle design or business site? This needs to be cleared up.
• Write at least 15 guest posts for other bloggers.
• Get at least 500 subscribers.
• Post consistently, at least once a week on Tuesdays. Sundays will be reserved for PMBA and case-study updates.
• Develop a cost-of-traveling blog widget, an idea that I’ve been sitting on for several months.

nepalprints.com

• Redesign and find a cheaper host.
• Sell at least 5 prints.

thecurryproject.com
I set this site up to record my experiences at different Indian restaurants around the world. It could go in a variety of directions.

• Write at least 20 reviews
• Get at least 50 subscribers

—LIFESTYLE
Read at least 15 more books on the Personal MBA reading list.
Put together a long-term goals/bucket list.
Buy a keyboard.
Hike the Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
Score at least a 700 on a practice GMAT and then take the real thing.
Make at least $500 in supplemental income.
Reread I Will Teach You To Be Rich and restructure and optimize my finances.
Track all my expenses. To the penny.
Finish the 21-day No-Complaint Experiment
Score at least $15,000 on Jeopardy! using the Coryat method. So far my highest score is $9,600.
Each quarter I will update my progress to let you know how I’m doing. I look forward to sharing these experience with you over the coming year.

What are your resolutions for 2010?

Case Studies in the 9 to 5 alternative: No. 4

Welcome to a series of profiles on alternative lifestyles. If you think that you (or someone you know) would make for an interesting interview, then drop me a line. I know there are plenty of you out there Hope you enjoy!

Meet Marc Elliot. A close friend of mine, Marc was born with Hirschsprung’s disease, a rare condition that left him with virtually no intestines. Think eating bad Mexican food will disrupt your bowels? Marc has probably got you beat. At age nine, he also developed Tourette’s, a syndrome characterized by its physical and verbal tics. From involuntary shouts and racial slurs, Marc has spent the better part of his life learning to adapt and deal with his condition. He’s got some stories.

A year ago, when Marc was passing through Boston to visit family, we had the chance to catch up. I was thrilled to learn that he was about to make a big life decision – whether or not to become a professional speaker.

Over the last year, Marc has spoken in 15+ states and reached 60,000+ people about tolerance. His presentation, called “Don’t Judge a Book by its Noises,” is hilarious, informative, and full of passion. Marc is certainly living ” the 9 to 5 alternative.” I’ll let him tell you more about his decision.

So you’re on your way to medical school.  What happened?

I’m still trying to figure it out.  For twenty-three years I was planning on going to medical school to become a pediatric surgeon.  At some point after spending a college semester in London, though, I decided to take a year off before applying to medical school. Thus the first deviation from my quintessential life plan.

During my year off, I felt compelled to do something different, not to work in a research lab or hospital for the simple reason that I was about to spend my whole life doing that.  Up to that point, I had spoken recreationally and at one point wondered if I could turn pro bono speaking into a full-time gig.  Before I knew it, I had a marketing packet in my hand and a presentation to sell: Don’t Judge a Book by Its Noises. The intent was to teach students about tolerance.  It felt great at the time, but I had one problem – I didn’t have a single engagement!

Over the next five months I tried hard to get gigs, but it was tough.  Around November, schools started to bite, and before long, I had booked just over 20 engagements for that spring semester.   It was exhilarating and exciting, selling a speech that I hadn’t even given before!

Tell us about your first couple of speeches. Has the style of your presentation changed at all?

To compare the speech I give today with my first experiences on the road would be embarrassing.  My first engagement, to a small non-profit in Milwaukee, was preceded by a hypnotist.  It was nerve-wracking and surreal and all kinds of exhilarating.  Though my most memorable presentation those first months was at a prestigious boarding school called Suffield Academy in Connecticut.  It was my first standing ovation—500 students and faculty—and while I didn’t know it at the time, that became the true symbolic beginning of my professional speaking career.  My speech, since then, has evolved multiple times, each time incorporating a lesson from the past.

How do you find speaking engagements? What’s your schedule?

Early on, some of the best advice I received was, “Marc, you need an agent… any kind of an agent!”  Luckily I had one, Andreas Thysseen, who happened to be one of my closest friends growing up. In the beginning, he would cold-call schools and say, “Hi, my name is Dreas and I’m representing a young motivational speaker on tolerance named Marc Elliot…” Now, while I still have some people that help generate presentation-leads, I find myself getting referrals.  I also recently joined Coleman Productions, which is a speaking agency that represents me at colleges across the country.  With my own bookings for high schools coupled with this agency’s efforts, I plan on having 150-200 engagements over the next 2 years.

What about your finances?

Money!  It is still mind-blowing to think that I get paid to speak, especially since this started out solely as an adventurous place-holder before medical school.  What is even more amazing is that I get paid to spread such an important message.

The first few months, pricing my presentation was an awkward and unchartered experience.  With little market research, Dreas and I made up my fee.  I spoke at engagements ranging from $0 to $1,105 this past spring.  As I embark on my first legitimate year of speaking, my fee for high schools is now $1,500 (plus travel expenses), while for colleges it is bit more.  Charging this much seemed daunting at first, but I am beyond confident that my impact absolutely merits that fee.  Compared to other speakers, my prices are quite competitive.

Any funny “growing up” stories you like to tell during your presentation?

That question is like shooting a fish in a barrel—remember, I grew up with Tourette’s and only four feet of intestines!   My entire presentation is filled with stories and anecdotes that implicitly convey ideas of tolerance rather than me explicitly telling students “how to treat people.”

I’ll end this interview with a classic “growing up” interaction.  One time, before boarding a plane, I told a flight attendant, “Hi, my name is Marc Elliot.  I just want to let you know that I have Tourette’s Syndrome.  I sometimes make involuntary noises and I cannot help it.”  She replies, “Don’t worry honey… we’re all a little bit crazy!”

You can get in touch with Marc through his website at Marc Speaks, or ask a question in the comments and I’ll do my best to make sure he sees it!

Case Studies in the 9 to 5 alternative: No. 3

Welcome to a series of profiles on alternative lifestyles. If you think that you (or someone you know) would make for an interesting interview, then drop me a line. I know there are plenty of you out there 🙂 Hope you enjoy!

Meet Nathaniel Olson, an avid traveler and certified teacher currently based in Busan, South Korea. Most people (that I know) who teach English abroad end up in places like Europe, Thailand and Japan, so when I connected with Nathaniel through Twitter (you can find him here), I was interested how he ended up in Busan. Did you know that South Korean schools typically have the highest pay rates for English teachers? Upwards of $2500/mo, a free round-trip plane ticket, free housing, and 50% medical? What a deal!

After college, Nathaniel found a job that took him to 48 U.S. states and 5 Canadian provinces. He eventually wound up in Busan after realizing that education was his true calling, likening the city to his hometown of Seattle. I’ll let him tell you the rest:

How did you end up with a Masters in Teaching?

Ever since I was growing up I had a feeling that some day I would become an educator.  Yet, the draw of making a ton of money sounded pretty nice coming out of High School…so I went the advertising route…after a year stint in Seattle, I realized that money really wasn’t that important to me and I needed to figure out what would make me happy.  After small jobs, I got a job with the Bureau of Education and Research.  The job allowed me to have close contact with many well known educators.  I eventually sat down with my sister and decided that is was time to go back to school to become an elementary teacher….

48 states and 5 provinces? Sounds like a lot of travel. What was the gig?

The gig was working for the Bureau of Education and Research.  I was a program manager, yet it’s easier to describe as a tour manager for educational presenters.  I traveled with a new presenter each week traveling the US and Canada…each day a new city.  It was tiring and fun at the same time.  I would have never gone to some of the places that I went without the job.  It also gave me the itch to go back overseas.

How did you end up teaching English in Busan over other world cities?

Actually, I didn’t know much about South Korea or even Busan before I seriously considered it.  I researched many job opportunities across the world.  What really attracted me was the opportunity to live in a port city, teach in a public school, financially be able to pay off my student loans, and a new experience.  I also liked how group oriented the society as a whole is.  I’ve loved every second of it.

Wait, Busan and Seattle are similar? In what sense?

They both are port cities with mountains in the background.  They have world famous fish markets, eco-friendly people, and are large cities, yet not the size of Seoul or Los Angeles.

What recreational activities do you amuse yourself with outside of school?

I love to go hiking, play soccer, relax on the beach, ride my bike, attend concerts/sporting events, fishing, snowboarding, and anything that gets me outside.

Any long-term plans? Think you’ll be hanging out in Busan for the next few years?

I’m done here in March 2010.  Then me and my girlfriend are backpacking around SE Asia for awhile, back to the Portland, OR area to look for a teaching job, then off to Africa for the world cup, and eventually living in Portland, OR by next fall.  Hopefully I’ll be teaching 5th or 6th grade in the public schools by then.

Best of luck, Nathaniel!

If you have any additional questions, feel free to ask in the comments and I’ll do my best to track him back down. He’s a busy guy, romping around Busan and all.

Have you heard the news?

That you can find anything, almost anything online…for free?

A handful of years ago, I came home from high school one lazy afternoon, only to find my mom hunched over our downstairs toilet with the biggest wrench I had ever seen. “Mom. What the HELL are you doing?” Not only had she managed to strip the wallpaper and sponge paint the entire room, but she had also piped open our plumbing and installed a new sink. “Don’t worry, Alan…I looked this all up on Google.”

That’s right folks, there’s no excuse anymore. From bicycle maintenance, recipe search engines and watching guitar lessons on YouTube, you can learn just about any task on the Internet superhighway. It’s pretty wild.

While “distance learning” traditionally refers to academia, I’m expanding the definition with a list of my favorite self-education resources.

Future Learners (photo credit)

Do It Yourself (DIY) Projects

Instructables.com—launched in 2005, user-generated DIY projects with step-by-step picture instructions.
>> Check out: Tetris DVD Shelf, Invisible Book Shelf and the Marshmallow Gun

DoItYourself.com—leading DIY website with thousands of projects, mostly home repair-related.

DIYIdeas.com—best resource I’ve found for home and garden projects.
>> Check out: for home-foliage-enthusiasts, they have a great outdoor section

Academia

Academic Earth—launched in March 2009, a seriously amazing and comprehensive collection of free video lectures from top U.S. universities.
>> Check out: Entrepreneurship

MIT OpenCourseWare—around 2000 MIT undergraduate/graduate course notes online, some with complete video lectures and test banks.
>> Check out: Sloan School of Management for business courses, and for all you rocket scientists out there, Nuclear Science and Engineering

Google Scholar—if you’re looking for specific academic resources, this is a good place to start. JSTOR, for me at least, has been a traditionally better resource, but as a college-graduate I no longer have free access.

Other Resources

Lynda.com—great collection of (mostly free) software and coding training courses. Suggested to me by Sean and Colin on the LocationRebel forum. There’s also a great interview on Mixergy.com with Lynda Weinman, the founder of the site. I’ll probably use Lynda to beef up my HTML / CSS / PHP coding skills, as they are currently quite poor.

Design e2 (via Hulu.com)—18-part documentary-style series that explores sustainable living and green design. A fantastic resource if you’re interested in the world of sustainability.
>> Check out: one cool episode, China, From Red to Green?

TED.com—AMAZING collection of presentations (“ideas worth spreading”) delivered by the most talented people in the world. There’s really not much more to say.
>> Check out: Stroke of Insight, Brief Digression and Spaghetti Sauce

What sites do you use for self-learning?

It has been exactly 9 months since I outlined my goals for 2009. Let’s review my progress:

1. Run 5 miles in 35 minutes

I’m on pace. Currently, I can hold out for nearly 4 miles, and come November 26th, I plan on breaking this goal. Registration just opened up today for Nashville’s Boulevard Bolt, a 5-mile, Thanksgiving morning run down and back one of Nashville’s most historic and scenic roads. Anyone want to join me?

Due to a seriously disgusting gash in my right heel (circa July 4th weekend), I put Vibram FiveFinger training on hold. Easing my feet back into them is a slow process, but well worth the pain. I miss the feeling of barefoot running too damn much.

2. Reach conversational level in Spanish

I had a similar response last quarter – yikes. I’m not giving up on this just yet – in fact, I have quite an interesting approach planned. I promise to map out my strategy over the next few weeks.

3. Read and take notes on 3 out of 77 books on the Personal MBA reading list.

Complete!

So far, I’ve read 6/97 books and written up my reviews on 3 of them. My latest reviews are of I Will Teach You To Be Rich and The 80/20 Principle, both of which I enjoyed for different reasons. Again, if anyone else is working their way through this list or has simply written a review of one of the books, please get in touch!

4. Compose a photo-journal coffee table book of my abroad experience in Nepal.

I have started putting it together, but then something amazing happened.

I found out that I will be traveling back to Nepal in November as part of my next work assignment! This will give me a unique chance to reflect on my experience 3 years ago, revisit some of my old photography sites and maybe put a refreshing, more comprehensive spin on the book.

On October 18th, I will be traveling to Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Nepal and Georgia for a cost-of-living assignment. You’ll be hearing more about this trip as the time approaches, trust me 🙂

5. Expand my blogging audience to at least 100 RSS subscribers.

Doh! This graph doesn’t look nearly as clear as I would have liked it too. Sometime in the last two months, my average subscriber account crossed the 100 mark. As of this morning, I’m looking at 122 subscribers.

I updated my Resources page and got rid of the Twitter-update box on the right side of the screen. Originally I wanted to free up room for some targeted affiliate ads, products and services that would help you all out, but I’m not so sure I want to mess with it. As an experiment, I am running two affiliate programs now just to capture impression and click-through data. I’ll most likely scrap the ads in the next few days. Who am I kidding?

I’ve also connected with some very cool people over the last few months that have helped bring my site to a larger audience. People like Nate at the way that you wander, John at JetSetCitizen, Rob at The Life Design Project, J.D. at Wage Slave Rebel and Diggy at Upgrade Reality. There are plenty more people that I have connected with – you all know who you are! I look forward to meeting new people through email, Twitter, TBEX, Location Rebel, and good ‘ole fashioned face-to-face.

6. Clean up my research paper on vertical farming and send it to Dickson Despommier at Columbia University.

7. Complete the Hundred Push Ups challenge

The 100 Push Ups challenge is a six-week program that builds endurance, enough to do 100 consecutive push ups.

Well, it took me awhile, but I finally did it. After doing push ups in countries like Nigeria, Ukraine, Albania, Syria, I completed the entire 6-week workout. Interestingly enough, it wasn’t the workout that pushed me over the top, it was a group of coworkers that agreed to do push ups in the conference room. At 11:30am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, we do 3 sets of as many push ups as we can do, resting for a few minutes in between sets. After just a few weeks with them, I noticed a sharp increase in the amount of push ups I could complete – team dynamics can be quite powerful!

Next update: January 1, 2010. 3 goals left, and 3 months to complete them. Until next time!