When I first started blogging it was a while ago and I found a ton of gratitude in it.
It’s satisfying to write up a page in the books and get things off my mind. As emails go you and I’ve been receiving them for decades! But check out the power in them.
One email that I check daily is that if Jonathan Stark, he fires off an email daily at all times if the day. It’s almost like I’m waiting for them.
Todays was a really good one, something that really resonated with me.
He gets questions from his subscribers and folks all the time which say. Should I be starting a podcast or write an email list.
In the 3rd Quarter of 2021, I was introduced to the book The Big Leapby Gay Hendricks. My friend had just finished reading it and he was so impressed that he decided to reach out to the Author to bring him on his podcast “Inspired Money podcast.”
How this all happened in a matter of days inspired me to go out and read the book to see what it’s all about.
Now the title of the book is self-explanatory take the leap, the most significant leap you think in your mind, and yes, it was enticing enough, but when I read the subtitle ‘conquer your hidden fear and take life to the next level,’ it reeled me in like a fish.
It was a short listen just shy of 5 and a half hours on Audible. I listened to the book through car rides, chores, and lying in bed before sleep.
It not only opened my eyes to possibilities and my thought process, but I related to a lot of the stories he shared through the beginning of the book.
I talked about the book with at least 15 people in my circle and recommended that they read the book. I know a few of them went and grabbed the book immediately, which gave me such joy because I wanted the outcome for them that book provided for me.
Why was I so adamant? Because it unlocked things in my mind that I couldn’t think was possible. See, we’re all born with the capacity to learn and grow into who we want to become, but a lot of the foundational habits are built and solidified in the first five years of our lives.
These years are extremely critical and we absorb everything, all habits, all feelings that surround us. Growing up I have a very vague recollection of how my childhood was. I do know that being the oldest and firstborn in my family and firstborn of my mom’s siblings, I was handled and cared for by a lot of aunts and uncles. My grandmother and aunt watched and tended to my needs a lot more because my mom was carrying my sibling.
Why do these memories surface? Because after being a father to three children and watching them grow, I have data to see for myself the impact of the environment we put ourselves and our children in.
And this book helps resolve and overcome some of the things that might be holding you back. After reading this book and practicing Time Diet, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some fantastic people.
So if you’re on the fence, I’d recommend you take the leap and read this book.
I’m about to start the second reading of the book with a notebook to write down things that stick out for me and help me keep on the course to a fruitful future.
Somewhere out, there is a video where the speaker talks about how hard it is to make your first million. And how easy it is to make the second one because you’ve figured out what it takes. Just like when you bike for the first time, and you don’t know if you’re going to make it to the stop sign. The next time you’re on, you would count the miles, and if you got to the first mile.
But once’s you’ve ridden your bike for 50 miles every weekend, 30 miles every other day. It all becomes much more easier to tackle a 100 miles, 200 miles etc.
Thank you for reading and I’ll see you in the next one.
I bought the book Greenlights recently, maybe a couple of months ago even-though I’d been eyeing it for over a year, when the book came out October 20,2020.
Matthew McConaughey went on tour and how I discovered the book, I even tried to contact him through Instagram about studio setup, little that I knew that he’s been recording and shooting films for years before I even touched a camera.
Here’s the message I sent him over a year ago and finally reading(listening) to the book.
The book isn’t much long to read since it’s 300 pages, read and performed splendidly by Matthew for a good 6 hours 20 odd minutes. That’s been an amazing experience thus far.
Learning about someone from their own mind is something I’ve thoroughly enjoyed specially when I last read Kevin Hart’s book.
The thing I really love are the bumper stickers, note to self, prescriptions he mentions after each revelation from the story.
The mentioning of greenlight at each passing of a paragraph is also something I look forward to and think deeply myself what the story meant.
The deeper the story goes, the clearer the messages are, the more relatable the experience becomes as I walk my path and life.
I’ve gotta go back to the book and write down some of the anecdotes mentioned in the book to help me guide my own life.
The importance of introspection throughout his life gave him clarity when he needed it, keeping journals, learning from oneself what it means has been something else entirely., it was Matthew’s way of cleansing his mind and soul of the past and embracing the future.
I absolutely loved his stories of life on the road, and how ironic that I too listened to the book while driving.
Thanks for listening, I’ve got another two hours to finish reading the book, I’ll update as I go this post.
If you haven’t gotten a copy to the book, I recommend it!
I’ve been in love with my MacBook Pro 15″ 2018 model since I picked it up. It has certainly been the most expensive Mac that I’ve purchased to date. It was a custom order with 32GB ram a 2.6GHz 6-core i7 and a powerful GPU.
After using it to do everything I love, graphics, video editing, audio editing, live-streaming, and gaming this has stood pretty solidly, whilst driving a Dell 34″ Ultrawide Screen over a Belkin thunderbolt dock and now the Dell 38″ Ultrawide monitor.
I feel like I need an upgrade. But maybe is it time to completely wipe it clean and start fresh? Just install the apps that I use daily. What’s also crazy is that I’m using Office products, Google products, AND Apple work products. It’s really hard to stick to one platform Because of the projects and people I work with.
MS Products are being used by projects I’m on, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for freelance projects, and the Google Suite for collaboration with folks around the world.
Maybe I just need to simplify.
I’ve been getting that loud fan noise issue on my 2018 MacBook Pro for the past few months. And it’s gotten worse. I did remove a lot of extraneous apps so it’s helped a bit more. But when I’m editing videos or running Ecamm Live or playing a game or two on Steam those fans kick up a storm. Now I did open it up and cleaned out the fans because I thought maybe it’s not able to move that air fast enough. After all, it’s just sat in the same place for almost 3 years. With the new MacBook Pro 16.2″ with the M1Pro/M1Max. I’m almost thinking the MacMini M1 would be an excellent replacement since I already get leaps and bounds more power with the M1 at the fraction of the price.
So maybe get the M1 Mac Mini?
We’ll see.
But the MacBook Pro M1Pro/Max offers 64GB of ram and 3 to 4 large displays (I only use 2) Maybe an overkill. Instead of the MBP M1Pro/Max for 4K.. get a new M1 Mac Mini every year for 4 years.. and it’ll cost the SAME.
The news of the very first mirror-less camera by Canon hit the newsstands back in 2018. Rumors of this device had been flying around and being an avid Canon user, I was plugged into the CanonRumors website that follows all the places where they talk about gear around Canon as well as competing products.
I placed my order as soon as pre-orders were available starting in September 2018. Backtracking a bit here, I’d been dreaming of owning an EOS 5D MK2, then 5D MK3, and then finally the 5D MK4. But the more I learned about cameras and where the technology was going I decided to wait to see when Canon would release their version of the mirrorless.
The Competition Had it
Now mind you, Sony has had the Mirrorless scene all to itself with 4K recording in-camera, low-light performance, and all that jazz! But I wasn’t looking to switch over to a new platform and update all my gear. I’m a loyalist and stand by the quality Canon brings.
It was finally here
Canon EOS R came to the market on October 25th, 2018 and I received my package the same week. I was ecstatic! This was my first Mirrorless AND 4K (on a full-frame) camera. We’ve had 4K on GoPros, iPhones and DJI Osmos for a while now.
A new Camera system also means a brand new Lens Mount placing the lens even closer to the sensor. Here’s a look at how close the lens is from the sensor from Canon USA:
Flange Distance between Sensor and Lens
This meant that Canon had to create a brand new Lens mounting system as well. With the R system of cameras, Canon introduced the RF Mount with some really sharp glass.
How the Camera Held Up
On to how the Camera has done for me. The Canon EOS R has a full-frame and a 30.1 Megapixel sensor is similar to what’s found on the Canon EOS 5D MK4. The Dual Pixel-Auto Focus is amazing and with the latest firmware has Eye Tracking available too. Making my photos super crisp and sharp. It’s enabled me to capture some epic footage of people, animals, insects as well as portraits in the few years that I’ve owned it.
As Covid-19 hit all of us, I started to build-out my home studio and found that this beast was ready to rock without any hiccups. Since then I’ve added a second EOS R to give me multiple camera angles.
What’s happened since then
Since the launch of the Canon EOS R, Canon also introduced the EOS RP on March 14th, 2019 (a limited model) with a 24-megapixel sensor slower shutter speed at 1/4000s. A great starter camera for those that want to get a full-frame mirrorless by Canon. Then on July 9th, 2020 Canon released a camera that went past everything we had imagined about Canon. The Canon EOS R5 with the capability to capture 8K in-camera and a full-frame 44-megapixel sensor alongside the Canon EOS R6 with a 20-megapixel sensor.
Where you can get it:
The camera has been around for quite sometime and you can easily pick up from Amazon using this affiliate links
RF Lenses, there’s a total of 19 RF lenses as of March 3rd 2021. But these lenses are my top pick and ones that I’ve had great experience with so far.
RF 24-105mm F4.0
RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM
Some lenses that I’m looking to add to my arsenal:
RF 85mm F1.2L USM
RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM
This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Human beings have been living in communities for centuries, from the very first gathering of people to support the common cause of providing food shelter and water as well as protection from foreign harm.
We’ve grown into diverse and focused communities that help us grow in ways we never imagined, with support from individuals and leadership who were able to accomplish tasks much bigger than all of us.
Communities come in different shapes and forms and even different words define them! The smallest unit consists of 3 people and it can also be called a family, group of friends, classmates, school, meet-ups, it can go on an on, with one of the larger ones called movements or a city and country, the human race.
For the past few years I’ve been part of many communities with out realising it’s affect on me and my behaviour.
When you work at a company or are looking to be part of one you’re essentially filling out an application to join a specific community. You tell them your experience, and they evaluate how you’ll behave and finally accept or reject you.
Then there’s social communities that you can come and go as you please depending on your level of involvement shows your commitment and support of others.
Communities are powerful but you have to be willing to give. Yes you have to give the community what you have the most precious and limited and that is time. It’s something that can never be replenished and the more you put of this time in a community the more quality connections you will make.
Here are some of the communities that have helped me grow into my own in the past decade.
Community of Technologists
Tech and hackers helped me to connect with other folks that were also building hackintosh computers using compatible hardware to be able to run MacOS, I joined this community back in 2005. I tinkered and went through hours of understanding the tech that enabled a successful build. I left the community when I bought myself a MacBook Pro 17”, although I continued to use a hackintosh machine well into 2017, when I could no longer keep up with the demands of a changing operating system.
Community of Inventors.
Over the past decade or around the time crowdfunding came to being, I’ve backed over 270 projects on the many platforms inventors go to such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and other inventor communities. They’ve provided me with joy, disappointment, and unlimited grace. I can probably create a list of successful and unsuccessful projects but that’ll have to be another post. What I learned through them is any of the projects that I backed became it’s own community, around each project there’s anywhere from 10-6000 backers all rooting for the creator and the invention they created, it is absolutely fascinating to see these come to being and then ending as they finish with the delivery of the said product/service/software.
Community of Cyclists
I’ve been cycling as long as I can remember, I used to have a banana bike when I was in my youth, then upgraded to a BMX, then a mountain bike and unfortunately, each bike I owned was stolen at one point or another back in Saudi Arabia. When I moved to the US I wanted to get a bike but never really got around to it mainly because now I was driving a car. The main reason and purpose I used my bike for back in saudi was transportation, we didn’t wear a helmet and it was a great mode to get from one point to another, from my house to my friends house and then hang out.
Since 2013 I’ve own the same mountain bike and why a mountain bike? because I was consulted with a cyclist that was a mountain biker, if I had asked a road cyclist I would’ve been persuaded to get a road-bike. Suffice it to say I now own two bikes a mountain bike with swappable road and mountain wheels and a road bike for those long distance rides and physical fitness. In 2016 I caught the road cycling bug when I rode my first 40 miles on a road bike in New York for a cause where 30-40 thousand people showed up for the ride and it was raining! I continued to work at it and in 2017 I was able to ride over 1500 miles, the following few years didn’t amount to as much biking due to other activities, new baby and well other hobbies.
Community of Muslims
I was born a muslim, am a muslim and practice as regularly as possible, its enabled me to connect with other muslims and find similarities of passions. Of course it is such a broad community that it isn’t always possible to continue a conversation on that specific basis. We always need to find deeper connections that bind us in a much closer connection. This is a topic that will definitely need more research and well time to write about my involvement through islamic communities, studies and the pursuit to be a better muslim
Community of Leaders
This is definitely a new aspect that I’ve come to adore and grow into. See we all have leadership ingrained in us, we just have to dig deeper into the self and find what really triggers or gets our passions to flow. When we step up and take charge of a topic that we’re passionate about we appoint ourselves as leaders without knowing. I recently did this 4-5 months ago when I introduced Tech Talk Tuesdays to a Facebook group that I belong, and for the past 4 months, I’ve been going live in the group talking about technology from software, hardware, and even life in general. It’s enabled me to define my why and my story too.
Community of Filmmakers
I became a filmmaker or a videographer when we were first introduced to a video camcorder back when my dad got one as a gift. It used very specific tapes in it which recorded the image on to a magnetic tape rolled up in an 8mm tape. The rest is history and what gives me the passion to continually learn, implement and teach the techniques.
Community of Drivers
It was late 2013 Conan O Brien went on a ride in a Lyft Car! Along with Kevin Hart and Ice Cube, the video was epic and I was IN! I wanted to be that Lyft car drive and it was probably something pulled together by the folks at Lyft in conjunction with Conans show. Regardless I was signed up and in January I got accepted to be a Lyft driver.
I drove my 2010 Infiniti G37x as the Lyft car and everyone was immediately impressed that this type of car can also be a Lyft ride. Through the Lyft Facebook group I was able to connect with fellow Lyft drivers and they really cultivated a family of like minded folks and drivers. I joined many social gathering events over the following months as I drove for Lyft and talked with other Lyft drivers through FB messenger groups and a Voice based walkie talkie app. Denver was a great place to drive. Since I moved to the east clary I’ve only managed to give maybe 30 rides total because of time spent on family. I still have an active standing as a Lyft drive and own the Fluffy Pink moustache that attached to the front of the car.
Community of Photographers
In 2013 another thing that I did was join a few meet-up groups that focused on teaching photography and go on weekends to choice spots and capture the world around us. I learned how to use prime lenses, composition, and DSLR cameras
Community of Beekeepers
Yup I got into beekeeping end of 2017, took a class in winter of 2018 and started beekeeping in Spring. What really inspired me to get into beekeeping? A few years ago my wife and I took our almost 2 year old to an allergist. We knew he had allergies so we wanted to be more certain around which allergies are affecting him. The doctor suggested local honey to remedy for seasonal allergies. This sparked an idea in my head to discover local honey and where we could find it. Then a friend of mine asked if he could borrow my camera to capture releasing a few bee hives for his small farm.
Community of Speakers
Community of Teachers
Community of Hobbyists
Community of Gadgeteers
Community of Podcasters
Community of Live Streamers
Community of Designers
Community of Developers
Community of Artists
Community of Writers
Community of Authors
Community of Builders
Community of Youtubers
The more I think about this the more communities emerge from my mind.
We’re always growing and each community helps us get to the next level, the next evolution, the next phase, the next chapter of our lives.
It’s fascinating and inspiring to see growth within us and in those around us, what’s really neat is when you get to be the one seeing through to the transformation of others.
It’s been tough to write and post here on a daily basis, but like Seth Godin says it’s going to make you more creative than you already are.
How will it make me creative? Well by simply writing and getting the things out of my head onto paper or a blog is a great way to analyse my own thoughts and feelings
We forget to feel and express those feelings daily. Often scrolling through posts, apps, messages, groups, simply to find meaning or something that’ll ignite the fire to be creative or is it just to pass the time and help where we can.
It’s been 10 months since the last curated post here and there’s a ton of great points regarding siblings and how to communicate. And I haven’t been good at it at all.
I asked a question today on my FB, if folks that I know have a morning writing routine. I don’t have one and I plan to use this space to write down my thoughts.
I’ve been listening, responding and helping those around me that have asked the question.
I’ll sometimes ask questions and get an idea of what’s the lay if the land. But what I really need is a way to integrate all of my efforts to line up to the same direction.
I’ve learned a lot and I’ve implemented a lot as well. Time to keep building and creating is here.
This topic of being closer to my siblings has been on my mind for the longest time, sure growing up I think I got along fine with everyone. My memory is something of a mystery as I don’t really think all that much about the past.
But as I grow older, a lot of these thoughts come back to me, and anytime that I had tried to create a safe space for and be close to my siblings I just never know what to say.
Sure there are the occasional squabbles we have between siblings, but there’s always an elephant in the room of some sort.
So what are some of the ways you can try to get closer to your siblings?
1. Be Compassionate
As we grow older we start closing ourselves off by beating about the bush and creating barriers in our minds, we simply need to treat ourselves as we would a small child like a 1-2-year-old kid learning to crawl or walk or run. We give them a lot of leeways and are super patient with them. WE have to remember that we’re not all alone and that we need to let your siblings into your life and treat them with patience, support, and mindfulness.
How To Be More Compassionate!
2. Be Nice to Each Other
Just like we’re being compassionate to ourselves we need to treat each other how we’d like to be treated. Afterall because your siblings are your blood it’s extra painful when we hear back something that we weren’t expecting. So be nice to each other and give them room to speak and tell their stories.
Why Be Kind?
3. Lend a Hand When you Can
The hardest thing for any one person is to ask for help. It’s something either you’re not taught this in school, but it is ok to ask for help and a lot of the times we’re not able to ask for help because of our own ego and intuitions and the backlash and rejection that comes with it. So as we grow up we stop asking for help. So when you have the ability or not lend a hand to your sibling.
Interview of Bill Gates| Someone ask to Bill Gate, "Is there anyone richer than you in the world?"
Someone asked Bill Gates if there was anyone richer than him, the story he tells is captivating and shows us the depth of human intuition because he shares that he was helped monetarily by a person that had nothing. And after years Bill wanted to help him (after he was wealthier). It makes that person richer because he was able to give when he had nothing.
4. Always have time to listen
We’re given 2 ears and one mouth for a reason, and then one month we have our tongue is enclosed between our teeth so we can better protect it. To find the time to listen to your siblings and let them vent and tell their stories enables them to have a deeper connection with them.
5 ways to listen better | Julian Treasure | TED
5. Take time out to have deep conversations
It’s super easy to have short bursts of conversations with your siblings, sharing a post here and there, sharing what’s happening. But when you actually take out the time to listen and talk about the stuff that really matters. This is when you really build that connection and get closer to them. It’s the same as taking the time out to listen, but now you’re having a discussion that means a lot to each one of you.
6. Discuss a topic that your sibling is deeply passionate about
Each of your siblings and if you just have the one they’ll have one specific thing that they’re super passionate about and willing move mountains and take the extra time out to actually go and make it happen. Talk in detail about these topics. This can be fitness related, food-related, sports-related or something that just lights them up. Again we’re just trying to get closer and yes sometimes there will be stuff that’s going to turn you off or something you said will turn them off. But when you’re talking about passions something in your mind clicks and you strengthen the bond.
7. Share a recipe or hack you recently discovered
I’m all about hacks, life hacks, food hacks any kind of hacks. And when I discover something new I want to run out and share what I learned. So if you’re an explorer go out there learn something new and bring it back to share with your sibling(s) and you’ll be amazed if they hadn’t already learned about it. If that’s the case you can always learn how they’re using it and what progress they’ve made.
I’m sure there are a lot more ways to get closer to your siblings, if you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear about them. Because guess what, blood is thicker than water, hence why it hurts when your sibling says something that’s true. I love all of you and I totally care about you.
Thanks for reading and sticking around 🙂
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I’ve been a fan of this band since it came out back in 2003. I know it very well because we spent a considerable amount of hours listening and practicing the songs from the album.
The album has a total of 12 songs and full of emotions and love.
I came up with a little 5 verse poem, I know should’ve broken it down to 4 or move up to 6.
Wow isn’t that a marketing term? Besides also being a restaurant with the same name.
It’s kinda appropriate because majority of the workforce in the US look forward to the weekend. Thanks God it’s Friday! To mark the beginning of the weekend. After 40-60 hours of work folks can relax and spend two days doing nothing or having fun with the families. Unfortunately we only get 52 weekends.
Which means we’re limited to about 104 days where we can plan out what we want to do. And guess what some weekends the weather isn’t right to go out and play with the kids. Other weekends we gotta go visit families and events. So now those 104 days get reduces down to an even smaller number.
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