Derek Documents

Take the advice you give to others. Detach from your ego and self-involvement. Develop self-awareness. Where are you weak? Where are you strong? Above all, eat your own dog food. Practice what you preach. Take your own advice. This is a note to self more than anything else.

It's important to test your assumptions, and then learn from the feedback you get. In business this is critical. When it's paired with a passion it can be fun, and valuable experience. Right now I'm testing a new Amazon original paperback in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Japan and the Kindle version in Brazil, Mexico, and India via Facebook ads.  Being a fan of human psychology, consumer behavior, and statistics (to a very limited degree!), this is fun for me. That shameless plug aside, it's important that we constantly ask ourselves why we think we're right about something, and test whenever possible.

Words are important. They can be fun--or a real pain in the ass. Self-narratives are built with words. These inner-monologues are constantly playing in our heads. They're how we shape our perceptions of Reality. What stories are you telling yourself? 

Death is something every human has to do. (If/when immortality is achieved, whether through genetic engineering or robot integration, then those beings will not be human.) Yet so many of us delude ourselves with the belief it won't happen to us. It will. Worse, so many people, especially in the US, fear death. Death is a natural function. It's also inevitable. Fear paralyzes. It makes it impossible to have a thoughtful discussion. It minimizes our ability to thoroughly enjoy life. Finally, it's utterly pointless--fearing an inevitability does nothing except dampen the spirit while it still possesses the body. In short, it's stupid. Not being afraid to die is NOT the same thing as wanting to die. Unfortunately, fear can cloud one's mind to the point of not being able to tell one from another. Acceptance, not eagerness. Love every single thing that happens to you and you'll never be disappointed. You're gonna die--do something about it while yo...