Friday, July 31, 2015

Dispatch 138

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Items of Want 029

ITS + Emerson A-100 Folding Knife


“The design of the A-100 is one of Ernest Emerson’s firsts. He often refers to it as the “Father” or even the “Grandfather” of all tactical knife designs that exist today. If you had to describe the A-100 Knife in three words, they would be Symmetry, Grace and Power.”

[Acquired] GORUCK GR2 (Wolf Grey)


"No matter your size, the GR2 travels hard and well and complies with TSA size requirements for carry-on bags. Its simplicity, functionality, and focus on organization take inspiration from Special Forces medical rucks. It is overwhelmingly the favorite ruck of GORUCK Cadre."

[Acquired] Blue Mountain Word. Notebooks


"The Mountain series of Word. Notebooks puts a modern spin on the great outdoors. Think less rolling hills and more sharp cliffs. Both Black Mountain and Blue Mountain are designed for the adventurous and the bold, those who strive for summits, and they look as clean on your desk as they do at a campsite under the stars."

Redux & Co. COURG


I really like how this watched turned out and while it's technically on my "Items of Want" list, I actually don't truly want it. The case size is 39mm and I prefer a larger case but it's too cool to not share.

[Acquired] Best Made Company - The Footlocker (Army Green)


"Drawing from military convention, we fabricated our footlocker in the USA from a powder coated steel, making it lighter and more durable than the plywood counterpart. Like the standard issue American military footlocker, we designed ours with a sliding interior tray, side grab handles, and a locking hasp. With a customizable brass data plate, and a solid brass lock, your personal items will be safe & sound inside the Best Made footlocker. Keep this guy stowed as a soldier would, at the foot of your bed, or use it as a side table, blanket box, or large tool chest. The possibilities for this storage device are universal."

Check out past Items of Want

Monday, July 27, 2015

What do I do well? What should I be driving towards?

I don't know what I'm supposed to be working on every single waking moment of the day. In all of my jobs both past and present, there were/are duties and responsibilities I enjoy more than others but what's the one thing that people would call my "passion?"

I really don't know. It used to bother me but I've learned to not dwell on it and just keep doing what I'm doing until I find it. A video (which I can't find now) from Gary Vaynerchuk got me thinking about it again.

A couple of my creative inspirations are Casey Neistat and Tim Ferriss, for very different reasons. When I look at what they're doing I get jealous, in a good way, but also question where I am in life and if what I'm doing is something I'll be proud to show off.

That's a poor way of saying it though because I actually am proud of what I do. It just seems that my "purpose" continues to elude me. Rest assured however that I'll be going all in once I find it.

"What man needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him." -Victor Frankl

Friday, July 17, 2015

Dispatch 137

  • The Ultimate Nightstand » Gear Patrol
  • Listen to the Goldeneye 007 soundtrack as it was always meant to be heard » Boing Boing
  • I lost 100 pounds in a year. My “weight loss secret” is really dumb. » Vox
  • 8 Things Every Person Should Do Before 8 A.M.  » Benjamin Hardy
  • Beware of Formulas » A Lesser Photographer

Thursday, July 16, 2015

GORUCK Ascent (and other 14er) Tips

A few people have asked if I had any tips for the GORUCK Ascent. I attended the first two years they did it and have certainly learned a few things. I wanted to share some info I've come across and articles I found useful. Your mileage will vary but it's probably worth your time to check this out if you're interested in either doing the GORUCK Ascent or just summiting your first fourteener.


Fun Stuff



GORUCK Ascent Specific Info

  • GORUCK Ascent Loadout: 100 Hours in the Rocky Mountains [ITS Tactical]
  • GORUCK Ascent AAR: Altitude is Everything [ITS Tactical]
  • Ascenting at the Ascent [GORUCK]
  • Fieldcraft at the Ascent [GORUCK]
  • Priorities of Work at Basecamp [GORUCK]
  • Cadre Tips: Dan’s Ascent [GORUCK]
  • GORUCK Ascent 2014 Photos [John Gray]
  • [GORUCK Alumni Private Group] GORUCK Ascent 2014 AAR [Aaron Sarnovsky]


Packing



DIY Tips

  • DIY Single Use Packs for Antibiotic Ointments and More [ITS Tactical]
  • Trimming Weight with Toothpaste Dots for Lightweight Backpacking [ITS Tactical]
  • DIY Rite in the Rain Field Notebook Hack [Pig Monkey]
  • Fisher Space Pen Refill | Ultralight Hack [Brian Green]
  • DIY One Micron Water Filter [YouTube]


Physical Prep



Gear



Skills



Mountain Related



Misc.


Monday, July 13, 2015

The Day the Sky Caught Fire

A few weeks back, a large storm rolled through Delaware and the surrounding area and gave us an incredible sunset. It was truly bonkers as everything was completely bathed in an bright orange glow. Hopefully you got to see it in person.




Friday, July 10, 2015

Dispatch 136

  • 2015 Ural Sidecar Review: WWII Soviet Tech On (And Off) The Road Today » IndefinitelyWild
  • How to Make Room for Solitude » Vital Magazine
  • Omega Speedmaster Professional, the Watch That Saved Apollo 13 » Huckberry
  • 38 Priceless Nick Miller Quotes That Will Feed Your Grumpy Soul » Thought Catalog
  • The James Brand » She Explores

Thursday, July 09, 2015

2015-07-09 Everyday Carry

I've updated my Items Carried recently so I took a new photo for the occasion. Click here to check out all of the Stuff I Use.



Oh and here's a scanned version that was hastily laid out:


Wednesday, July 08, 2015

Recommended: Chris Brogan's Newsletter

I’ve never taken one of his courses before but I've been subscribed to his newsletter for awhile and it often has these nuggets of wisdom in them worth sharing. If you like this, definitely subscribe to his email newsletter. Below is just one of those nuggets of wisdom that I copy/pasted from my email inbox to share with you.


No One Is Reading


I’m not saying that to whine, Mike. But it’s important you know this. No one is reading what you’re writing. I have proof. Mountains of it.

I’m drinking some amazing organic pomegranate white tea that someone was kind enough to send me (and I totally lost the card, so I have no idea who!) What are YOU drinking? Hit reply and say hi!

No One is Reading

One of the “unique” aspects of my business is that I’m the front lines of customer service. I like it, most days. What better way to know how things are going than to hear people’s questions, challenges, and complaints.

But I can tell you this: no one is reading.

I got an email from a guy saying, “I want to buy your course. How do I do that?”

It was a reply to an email that had three (3!) links to the shopping cart to buy the course. The only three blue underlined parts of the mail (thus making it even more obvious) were somehow not obvious to him.

Plus, he missed the deadline. Plus, I’d sent him five (or six?) emails inviting him to buy the course. So he was late, and couldn’t buy it, even if he’d found the links in the previous five or six emails.

I’m Not Complaining About That Guy

I’m saying NO. ONE. IS. READING.

They’re not reading me. They’re not reading you. YOU are not reading.

You’re skimming. Maybe not you specifically. But “you” at large. And by “you,” I mean me. Us. We. All.

We are not reading.

We are “Hurrying” Because we are “Busy.”

I wrote about being “too busy” in February and in April of this year. I’ll probably write it another two or three dozen times. Because 1.) I have to because no one is reading, and 2.) because we’re all doing this THING where we are just “grazing” our way through life.

Your attention is a valuable asset and you (me, us) are wasting it. You’re diffusing it. You’re turning the same power that can burn through two inches of steel into the soft and diffuse light that warms a field of daisies.

And it’s one reason that you’re not as successful as you want to be.

Focus isn’t the answer

I know that might have rushed into your head. In a guilty way. “I know. I have to focus.” (First off, the phrase “have to” means you won’t.) Second, focus isn’t the answer.

Find a path. Stick to the path. Do what’s germane to the path.

Do the work that moves you ahead. Stop “checking out” all the other things.

Every time I see another person say they’re “trying out Periscope,” I cringe. Not that I care or don’t care about that particular technology. I just know that it won’t grow your business. It won’t get you a new customer. It won’t help you land another sale.

We have to dust off our internal compass, empty out our mental backpack, and only put it in those things that will move us forward. We MUST ignore all the superfluous things, so that we can focus on what needs doing.

And if my newsletter (or anything else out there) isn’t part of that path, stop it. Get off that path and get on yours. Be merciless in this process and you’ll see the growth that’s eluded you.

Action

Quit it. Quit the cult of “I’ll just see if THIS will change anything.” When people want to lose weight, they pursue a whole lot of diet plans. Know which plan works the best? The one you can stick to and maintain.

Stop looking for new things, new programs, new systems, new books. Look for where you can keep growing what you’re already trying to do.

Start with your wants and needs around those areas you’re trying to develop. Let NOTHING in that doesn’t fit that development.