Ahhh. The fresh beginning of a new decade.

Many people I know wish this decade hadn’t existed. It was certainly a tough decade for the world in general, especially for the economy and American politics. The latter hilariously summarized by this video:

Fortunately, I have a condition where I think the last thing that happened was the best thing ever. Well…unless it’s really really bad.

There were definitely some tough personal challenges that’s happened this decade, but from those challenges I’ve furthered myself in many areas. I guess I’m just an optimist. Anyways, I’ll spare you the details and move on to my reflection of last year’s resolution.

Last year’s resolution:

1. Manage my cashflow better

Nope. Didn’t do this at all.It’s pointless to manage any cashflow when you don’t spend that much to begin with.

2. Generate more residual income

A few projects were created for this, but like many web projects they either fail quickly or succeed after a long while. I don’t want to spread my time too thinly on so many projects. This resolution was definitely a dud!

3. Improve my tennis to the point of winning a local tournament

This reflection isn’t turning well. I didn’t win any local tournament, in fact I didn’t even look for any. Most tournaments happen within a club membership but those are expensive for students like me. However, I’m definitely better at tennis now! I would say I’m intermediate level when I’m at my best.

4. Meet more like-minded people

I’ll extend this resolution to this year with a better approach. Read below.

5. Get more involved in organizations, clubs, events or conferences

Yay! One successful resolution.

So, fine. Many of last year’s resolutions flopped, but it’s the awareness and the pursuit of those resolutions that’s important right? ..I guess that’s my optimism speaking again.

Carrying on, here are my resolutions for 2010:

1. Create a good working prototype of an invention (my invention)

2. Better balance between being active (outside frolicking) and passive (inside in front of my computer)

3. Openly share my views and perspectives

An extra note on resolution #3: I’ve connected with a few strangers this year by sharing my views, and it brought me closer to them. Equally important, they understood me and benefited from what I had to share. For the first time in my life, I’ve had a glimpse of what it’s like to be a transformational leader, and it’s a powerful feeling of achievement and purpose. The latter of which I will explain further through my revised Vision, which will exist shortly due to resolution #4.

4. Write in my blog weekly (I can see this being hard already!)

5. Meditate at least once every week

Hopefully, I’ll have positive reflections when I come back to review my resolutions next year. If not, you can call me on it.

- Peter Kao

It’s hard to truly understand someone, especially with all the noises in our own lives that drain our time and patience. If entrepreneurs have their one-liner pitch for their business idea, then why shouldn’t each of us have our own pitches? Something that describes ourselves - our motivations, intentions and our general way of life.

This is what we call a motto. “Italian for pledge, and motti when plural,” as says so on Wikipedia.

I’m pretty sure I derived parts of my motto from somewhere else, although I don’t remember it now. But this motto has been on the back of my mind for a while now, and it guides everything I do with an invisible hand. It goes as follows,

“Understand the past, plan for the future, and just survive in the present.”

The reason for the beginning and middle part is obvious. I won’t bore you by explaining it. The main idea is that the present as we perceive it really isn’t the present. There is a time lapse of when things are happening in reality and when we perceive reality. Putting science aside, the present happens too quickly for us to make good conscientious decisions all of the time.

In other words, don’t bet on making the right decision when you are suddenly given the opportunity, and withstand any troubles you face knowing that you have a solid plan, built on experience and knowledge. Survive the hurdles, and you will continue on your plan – better than what you were before.

Peter Kao

I received an email from a Los Angeles producer about a new reality show they are filming. The producer has developed such shows as Supernanny, Real Housewives of New York and It’s Me Or The Dog for the ABC network.

If you are under the age of 18, you should apply right now!

Check out the PR release below:

[start]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 6/9/2009

Contact: Brian Robles – TV Development : 323/904-4680 brobles@shedmediaus.com

PRODUCER’S OF ABC’S SUPERNANNY ARE SEARCHING ACROSS AMERICA FOR TEEN BUSINESS GURU’S TO STAR IN NEW REALITY SHOW:
Those under 18 are encouraged to apply immediately

Los Angeles, CA – The producers of ABC’s popular parenting series SUPERNANNY are searching for kids UNDER 18 years old that have their own business or help run a family business to star in a new network show!

Producers want kids who run various types of businesses and have become financially successful. Do you consider yourself a mogul in the making? Do you know someone who is a business expert and is only a teen? If so then we want to hear from you!

Those interested may apply by e-mailing brobles@shedmediaus.com for an application. Please include a short note about your business success and why you are perfect to star in your own show.

The producers of this show are based in Los Angeles and also have offices in London and Brighton. The production company is one of the leading independent production companies of high quality un-scripted television programming in the United States and abroad. The international phenomenon, SUPERNANNY, launched the company in the United States where they are building an innovative reputation for creating transformational, critically acclaimed reality based documentary style television.

[end]

- Peter Kao

It’s surprising to see so many people waste away the benefits of the internet. The occasional gaming a few times a week is alright, but nowadays you can do just about anything on the internet. The problem is – some of us do nothing online.

You want to explore a new hobby? Visit Sutree and you can learn to become an expert. Need an easier way to manage your personal finance? Visit Buxfer and setup a budget in minutes. But many remain ignorant and visit solely entertainment websites that only wastes away countless hours. These people were the typical couch potatoes, and now they have evolved into desk potatoes. The only difference now is people are in control of the content they receive, and that may either dilute their general knowledge or increase it tenfold. Take for example, a sport fanatic. He/she will spend majority of their time reading game results online. Or, car enthusiasts who will spend the entire the day watching video reviews. Why? Because they can and they want to.

With TV, you will at least be forced into catching a glimpse of the news or forced to watch something of a new subject when nothing good is on (ditto for magazines and newspapers). But because the way the web is, you can visit a website every day of your life and still learn about the same subject, albeit different subcategories of the subject but still the same general subject nonetheless. That’s alright, however the danger comes when a dumb person likes dumb things.

Now, it’s a whole new discussion to define intelligence. However, I think we can all agree that most people who comment on Youtube are dumb, either that or they are incredibly effective in writing numbingly idiotic comments. So, the dumb will do dumb things, such as watching all ball-in-the-groin videos on Youtube while the intelligent may watch a single ball-in-the-groin video, laugh his/her ass off and spend the remainder of time learning how Bush sucked as a president, which may I dare say effectively explains the dirty core of politics.

But how about easy online access to the news and other lessons? Doesn’t that help “dumb” people engage in learning experiences who would otherwise be wasting their time? No, we’re all spoiled and we get what we want. Just be hopeful that you do more online than reading the entertainment section on Digg.

The internet has so much potential to save us time, educate us on important life lessons or entertain us. Unfortunately, it further grows the gap between differing intellects. The workforce will contain far brighter, well-rounded individuals who will take even more advantage of poorly educated folks.

All in all, the dumb will get dumber and the smart will get smarter. One thing is for sure though: we will all end up knowing more than before. The question is – about what?

For better using the internet, I’ve listed a few sites that I visit regularly to update my knowledge:

Personal finance – Redflagdeals Forums, Buxfer

Investment – Stockhouse, Four Pillars, Million Dollar Journey

Economy and Market – Canadian Business, Business Week

Science and Technology – Wired, Lifehacker, Engadget

Entrepreneurship – Springwise, Trendwatching, Inc.

Overall knowledge – Digg, TED, Flora.tv, Wikipedia

- Peter Kao

Tentacles anyone?