Being a Savage (Blog)

[Savage]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

Being a Savage

[James81]

I was expecting you to talk about how changing your username has affected your experience on the boards.

In any case, I think you're setting up a dichotomy that need not even be there. And you've been doing that for years...it's either you go to work at conventional job and be unhappy, or your choose the route of an entrepeneur and be happy and fulfilled and rich and abundant.

It reminds me of those Quizno's commercials where they'd put a Quizzno's sub on one plate, and the competitor's sub on the other plate...but on the competitor's sub would be a huge pile of cash. And then they'd ask someone which plate they choose. And the tagline, which was funny, was: "The only way to beat a Quizno's sub...is to cheat."

In this case, you're putting your financial success on the plate of an entrepeneur, and you're putting your deliquent behavior on the plate of the traditional career route. And I don't think it's that simple.

In fact, other posts you write suggest otherwise. For example, just recently you talked about people pirating your products and how if they want to, they can just buy them and then take on the money back garauntee. And you cited that you can't keep immersing yourself into values such as yours without being transformed by them. Which I thought was powerful stuff.

However, those values aren't hinged on how you meet your needs.

Just to contrast your post, I think I'm currently taking a very traditional route...entering a college program designed to train me to teach in a school. And just the process of APPLYING for that program alone has spurred more growth and contained more insights for me than the previous 10 years combined.

There's more value in doing what inspires you than there is in making sure you aren't being like everybody else.

[Savage]

@James:

If your average forum post took you only 3 minutes to write, and if you spent an equivalent amount of time reading posts here, then you've already invested the equivalent of 1,048 hours participating here.

That's a full-time job for 6 months (26 weeks @ 40 hours per week).

I think you'll agree that these are conservative estimates. I suspect your true investment is probably closer to 12+ months full-time.

You've invested enough hours on someone else's website to make it an entry on your resume. And that's just one forum.

I see no evidence that the "traditional route" is fulfilling you. It seems pretty clear that you're making up for its deficiencies elsewhere.

I did much the same thing when running my games business, investing lots of time on the side working on personal growth. Got me thinking it might be time to make it a more central part of my life.

It's nice to have you here though. You work hard. You get along well with others. And you work cheap.

[marinik]

Cruel but fair!

Originally Posted by Savage

@James:

If your average forum post took you only 3 minutes to write, and if you spent an equivalent amount of time reading posts here, then you've already invested the equivalent of 1,048 hours participating here.

That's a full-time job for 6 months (26 weeks @ 40 hours per week).

I think you'll agree that these are conservative estimates. I suspect your true investment is probably closer to 12+ months full-time.

You've invested enough hours on someone else's website to make it an entry on your resume. And that's just one forum.

I see no evidence that the "traditional route" is fulfilling you. It seems pretty clear that you're making up for its deficiencies elsewhere.

I did much the same thing when running my games business, investing lots of time on the side working on personal growth. Got me thinking it might be time to make it a more central part of my life.

It's nice to have you here though. You work hard. You get along well with others. And you work cheap.

[James81]

Originally Posted by Savage

@James:

If your average forum post took you only 3 minutes to write, and if you spent an equivalent amount of time reading posts here, then you've already invested the equivalent of 1,048 hours participating here.

That's a full-time job for more than 6 months.

I think you'll agree that these are conservative estimates. I suspect your true investment is probably closer to 12+ months full-time.

You've invested enough hours on someone else's website to make it an entry on your resume. And that's just one forum.

I see no evidence that the "traditional route" is fulfilling you. It seems pretty clear that you're making up for its deficiencies elsewhere.

I did much the same thing when running my games business, investing lots of time on the side working on personal growth. Got me thinking it might be time to make it a more central part of my life.

It's nice to have you here though. You work hard. You get along well with others. And you work cheap.

Thanks. I enjoy posting here. I enjoy it so much that I came back early for my ban to do so.

You are right in that my previous traditional route was wildly unfulfilling. The route that I'm talking about is the switch that I have made this year. Making application to a program that will put me into a career that I think is a huge win for me. One that fulfills the parts of me that wants to do work that I think will have huge impacts on both the present and the future, that gives me part of that security that I value, that also allows me the freedom and the time to pursue other ventures on the side (such as a traveling, entrepeneurial work, writing, building websites, etc.) in my time off.

Whereas, it seems, that your posts and others here feel you have to choose between the traditional route or the entrepeneurial route, I'm making my own path that involves the best of both worlds. I don't think my choice is going to make me rich or anything like that, but being rich isn't something I value.

I would like to let you know though, that in May I will be reducing my posting here considerably because that's when my new program starts. I wanted to give you plenty of notice so that you can find my replacement and I can get 'em trained before I do it. Not only am I a hard, cheap labor for ya, I'm also considerate.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by James81

Thanks. I enjoy posting here. I enjoy it so much that I came back early for my ban to do so.

You are right in that my previous traditional route was wildly unfulfilling. The route that I'm talking about is the switch that I have made this year. Making application to a program that will put me into a career that I think is a huge win for me. One that fulfills the parts of me that wants to do work that I think will have huge impacts on both the present and the future, that gives me part of that security that I value, that also allows me the freedom and the time to pursue other ventures on the side (such as a traveling, entrepeneurial work, writing, building websites, etc.) in my time off.

Whereas, it seems, that your posts and others here feel you have to choose between the traditional route or the entrepeneurial route, I'm making my own path that involves the best of both worlds. I don't think my choice is going to make me rich or anything like that, but being rich isn't something I value.

I would like to let you know though, that in May I will be reducing my posting here considerably because that's when my new program starts. I wanted to give you plenty of notice so that you can find my replacement and I can get 'em trained before I do it. Not only am I a hard, cheap labor for ya, I'm also considerate.

Are you trying to B.S. me or yourself?

All I see in the above is delay. Why wait till May to do anything? Why get into a program and then use that as an excuse for more delay?

Education is all well and good, but you could be doing what you want to right now, as in today, professionally.

What is it you want to do? Teach people?

You don't need a degree for that. You can do that right now, professionally, starting today.

You're already doing it. You've been doing it for years on the side, right here, doling out help and advice. You obviously like it. You're so positively addicted to it you can't even tear yourself away from it with a ban. Maybe you're not supposed to tear yourself away from it.

Maybe you already have everything you need to start today, not in May or years beyond that.

Why not go pro and start getting paid for it?

May is 2 months from now. That's 2 months of delay. If you want to teach, then why not go pro now? What's stopping you?

If you were really committed to teaching, what force on earth could stop you from making that a reality this week? All you need is willing students, and students are everywhere.

If you want security, you're crazy. There isn't any on this planet. The dinosaurs felt pretty secure after 100 million+ years of thriving. Now they're all fossils.

You could die in the next 2 months.

The entrepreneurial vs. employee route isn't something I actually wrote about in my blog post. If you read it carefully, you'll see that you projected that into the post. But I can see why it's an issue for you.

You're using the employee route to massively slow yourself down. Meanwhile you're already doing the work you want to do. You're just doing it for free. You could be getting paid for it much sooner than May or beyond. You just have to recognize your value and realize that it's worth something and that you could be getting paid for it right now.

You've certainly put in enough hours of training.

You're already doing the work. You're already a teacher.

Waiting till May is beneath you.

You're a Legendary Member. What more do you need on your resume?

[James81]

Inspiring stuff. I don't think that it's a coincidence that I'm hearing this message the day after someone has approached me and asked me to teach a Sunday School class for them, telling me that I'd be a valuable asset to them if I were to do it.

Nor is it a coincidence that your post came just days after I've decided that I'd like to start trying my hand at an audio-blog, doing some podcasting....and also after wondering if I could create a website that is based on education/tutoring/etc.

Nor is it a coincidence that I feel I'm in a "waiting" period where right now I'm still right where I've always been (in this job) waiting to hear someone's approval as to whether I get into an education program or not.

Not a coincidence at all, actually.

I still feel this program is a great route for me (or at least applying to this program has been a great route for me thus far), but you are so right that I don't have to *wait* to start doing it. I could be doing it right now.

Thank you.

[Savage]

So I guess it's no coincidence that a little voice came to me this morning and said, "Push on James. He's about to tip."

You're emitting a pretty loud "help me tip" vibe.

Intuitively I sense that the education and training you're going for is fine. I don't see any reason why you shouldn't do it.

The caution is to be careful not to use it as a delay tactic. You're more than ready to go pro now and to begin racking up experience on the professional side.

That's all I have for you -- just a "you're ready now" message.

It's fun being a part of other people's synchronicities.

[James81]

Originally Posted by Savage

So I guess it's no coincidence that a little voice came to me this morning and said, "Push on James. He's about to tip."

You're emitting a pretty loud "help me tip" vibe.

Intuitively I sense that the education and training you're going for is fine. I don't see any reason why you shouldn't do it.

The caution is to be careful not to use it as a delay tactic. You're more than ready to go pro now and to begin racking up experience on the professional side.

That's all I have for you -- just a "you're ready now" message.

It's fun being a part of other people's synchronicities.

I'm a little tea pot, short and stout.

I'm thankful for the push. It's inspired me, but I think your push is going to like quadruple my workload if I follow through on the ideas I'm tossing around in my head.

(And interesting enough, your own decision to create audio products has also synced with my decision to be a more auditory communicator. Syncs out the ying yang there. )

[James81]

Speaking of auditory communicating....

Any recs on creating a quality audio recording? (What do you use for podcasting? It's not as simple as having a computer microphone, is it?)

[Harmonium]

Any comments on whether or not you think our system is ♥♥♥♥♥♥ by design or unintentional flaws, Steve?

Also, have you ever had internal conflict about letting yourself make money? I have a friend who is conflicted on the subject, he sees it as somewhat evil, because of the state of this country/world. The belief for him is deeply ingrained, whatever belief(s) that is, sickens him when he envisions a rising bank balance.

Seems like delay to me I guess. I think Buddhism is a big influence to him, but I don't think he's very fulfilled or happy. I tell him what he could actually use the money to accomplish to do good in the world, to me it just makes perfect sense, fulfill your own needs and when you have overflow use it to help others.

I would like to help him move through his limiting belief(s) if he even has them. I don't want to be too quick to judge though because maybe he isn't just delaying/avoiding, maybe he's just being true to himself?




I'm interested to hear your take on it steve, have you considered doing a 30 day trial of maybe going homeless or moneyless? What do you spend your money on? Are there things/comforts you would miss? Do you think your comfort zone could be expanded for the better without money?

[Savage]

Originally Posted by James81

Speaking of auditory communicating....

Any recs on creating a quality audio recording? (What do you use for podcasting? It's not as simple as having a computer microphone, is it?)

I use a Behringer condenser mic, which was around $200 when I bought it several years ago. The capture quality is much better than what you'll get with a cheap dynamic mic (like the kind that comes with your computer). But for podcasting, a regular computer mic should work fine since you'll end up compressing the files to a lower quality anyway -- CD quality makes for big files. Or maybe spend a little more to get a higher quality dynamic mic (Shure is a good brand). I got the condenser mic because I wanted to invest a bit more for better quality.

For the recording device, I use an Edirol R-09. It's a small portable device that can record at CD quality (or better) onto SDHC cards. I prefer to use this device because it's totally silent. The mic is so sensitive it will even pick up the fan noise from my laptop at 10 ft away. I think this recorder was around $300, but I'm not sure. There are probably cheaper options today.

And lastly I have a $50 mixer, mainly to provide power to the mic.

I bought these items either on Amazon or at MusiciansFriend.com.

My brother is a musical performer in Tokyo, so he helped me figure out what to get.

[carenkh]

Originally Posted by Harmonium

Also, have you ever had internal conflict about letting yourself make money? I have a friend who is conflicted on the subject, he sees it as somewhat evil, because of the state of this country/world. The belief for him is deeply ingrained, whatever belief(s) that is, sickens him when he envisions a rising bank balance.

Seems like delay to me I guess. I think Buddhism is a big influence to him, but I don't think he's very fulfilled or happy. I tell him what he could actually use the money to accomplish to do good in the world, to me it just makes perfect sense, fulfill your own needs and when you have overflow use it to help others.

I would like to help him move through his limiting belief(s) if he even has them. I don't want to be too quick to judge though because maybe he isn't just delaying/avoiding, maybe he's just being true to himself?

You could direct your friend to this powerful article: Lightworker Syndrome

[Andrew Brunelle]

I had some times like that in my past. I was a shoplifter, although not to the extent that Steve was. I started doing it after I went to college, and actually lost a job because of it a few years later. I did a lot of other rebellious things, and sabotaged myself, but I learned from those things, and realized that first, I didn't want to go to jail. Secondly, I wanted to live a life I could be proud of, so I started working on myself. Then I started writing and performing stand-up, and I've become a very well-rounded person, at least when it comes to certain aspects of my life and character.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by Harmonium

Any comments on whether or not you think our system is ♥♥♥♥♥♥ by design or unintentional flaws, Steve?

Also, have you ever had internal conflict about letting yourself make money? I have a friend who is conflicted on the subject, he sees it as somewhat evil, because of the state of this country/world. The belief for him is deeply ingrained, whatever belief(s) that is, sickens him when he envisions a rising bank balance.

Seems like delay to me I guess. I think Buddhism is a big influence to him, but I don't think he's very fulfilled or happy. I tell him what he could actually use the money to accomplish to do good in the world, to me it just makes perfect sense, fulfill your own needs and when you have overflow use it to help others.

I would like to help him move through his limiting belief(s) if he even has them. I don't want to be too quick to judge though because maybe he isn't just delaying/avoiding, maybe he's just being true to himself?

I'm interested to hear your take on it steve, have you considered doing a 30 day trial of maybe going homeless or moneyless? What do you spend your money on? Are there things/comforts you would miss? Do you think your comfort zone could be expanded for the better without money?

I don't think the system as a whole was designed by any one mind. It's a mixture of various interests, one of which is to produce sufficient quantities of skilled workers. People can be more productive as teams if they're taught to think and behave similarly.

The system isn't all bad. It does some good things like teaching large numbers of people how to communicate with each other. That's a rather positive result I'd say.

When I had conflicted feelings about earning money, I was mostly broke and deep in debt. When I realized that I could earn plenty of money by creating value for people, I got over it. Money solves a lot of problems. You just need to find a way to earn it that produces fewer problems than it creates. Some ways of earning money would make your life worse, like forcing you to violate your values.

Personally I think this country is awesome. It obviously has problems, but that means we get to work on some interesting challenges.

Homelessness would be a waste of my time, too gimmicky.

Buddhism is still part of the system. It's just one more philosophy that tells people they're broken (i.e. "you aren't enlightened").

[Jonathan Browne]

This was a fun post.

Felt like you had fun writing it.

Buddhism is an unfortunate scenario because it like all religions has gotten twisted into various forms, most of which are not true to the original.

Even worse, it's hard to recognize that because it's not like most religions where there is really a command structure.

What's funny is that for some reason people think, and won't seem to let go of the idea, that what it's about is that "life is suffering".

But basically what it's actually saying is that "Life is suffering.... unless it's not."

All that is really required, I think, is a decision to enjoy your life and become the cause of it instead of the effect.

Of course, I would say that one can do a lot of inner work and slough off the pain of the past and the chains of ways of being that were never really yours to begin with, but it's not like LIFE SUCKS UNTIL YOU BECOME ENLIGHTENED!

Enjoy the journey toward it. Or rather the journey toward whatever it is you would like to do. I don't really think enlightenment is really even a good goal per se. It seems like something that just happens along the way.

Enlightenment is just way too serious business.

What really is the point in becoming a monk or something... it doesn't really do much in particular for the world.

It's think it's better to be a creator than to just mess around trying to enter the white light or something.

If you think spiritual practice, or school, or whatever - will help you become more effective and creative than go do it. If we are just looking for a white cloud of bliss to lay back on, it doesn't seem useful or even very fun.

[Bizarre Jester]

Originally Posted by Savage

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

Being a Savage

Great article, but I disagree with how it's easy to follow "the system". How can it be easy to be constantly pressured and to be someone else's definition of perfect? It's not like anybody actually abundance by following this system. Perhaps being a savage is the true key.

[Excellent Lodestar]

This post has to be in your top 3 best posts ever; I think it's number One for me.

[Cochonette]

Originally Posted by Excellent Lodestar

This post has to be in your top 3 best posts ever; I think it's number One for me.

Yeah. I really like this post. The idea of the system that keeps spitting you out as junk resonates with me so much right now. There's also the system of my mind that keeps spitting out... I need a new mental system. But then there are other systems as well. This makes me feel so much better about what I've been through. I've done nothing wrong. I am just following a particular system. It's like we talk about regarding politics - systemic violence, systemic oppression.... our life problems, too, are systemic in nature and can't be reduced down to the individual moment of crisis. Our beings are extremely complex systems, and we have to look at them from that perspective.... always the bigger picture.

That's also something I'm going to be working on at work. I work in a vegan restaurant, and there is just so much to do all the time. I have this great coworker who is going to be an awesome role-model and teacher for me... he keeps complaining about one of my co-workers who is slow and doesn't look at the bigger picture (and doesn't listen very well). But this guy knows how to get things done and definitely looks at the bigger picture... I am going to start doing like him, looking at this kitchen job as a big system that I have to keep together.

I need to approach problems more systematically.

[gingerbaker]

I wondered when my prompting you to re-try Savage would have any results!

I, too, adored your analogy of the system spitting you out. Boredom with the cubicle system has definitely led me to sabotage jobs in the past - and I think looking at it through this lens is incredibly freeing, as it frees you from the "guilt" of "failing" at that system. It's not failure - it's just not the path that inspires me.

[Savage]

If you look at the effects of the system, people are constantly trying to compensate for its deficiencies, often to their own detriment.

About 2 million Americans are addicted to heroin, and 9 out of 10 of them will never successfully quit. And then we have lots of other drugs that people get addicted to, including alcohol and nicotine.

Millions of people are imprisoned, many of them for drug-related offenses.

Millions of people are in debt and will stay there till they die.

About 250K Americans will have a heart attack this year, a problem that's largely lifestyle-induced.

Even for the average person, the system doesn't work that well.

I'd say one of the worst aspects of the system is that it makes people feel like they're separate from each other.

It's been said that 80% of our happiness in life comes from our relationships. But do we treat that as our priority? I'd say that in the USA, it's 80% focus on career and money. Relationships often go on the back burner.

Good relationships are key to our happiness. However, the system doesn't do a good job of creating healthy relationships. Part of the reason is that the system can actually generate more revenue from relationship problems than it can from successful relationships.

People who are happy don't need to buy as much. Hugs are free. Drugs cost money.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Savage

It's been said that 80% of our happiness in life comes from our relationships. But do we treat that as our priority? I'd say that in the USA, it's 80% focus on career and money. Relationships often go on the back burner.

Good relationships are key to our happiness. However, the system doesn't do a good job of creating healthy relationships. Part of the reason is that the system can actually generate more revenue from relationship problems than it can from successful relationships.

People who are happy don't need to buy as much. Hugs are free. Drugs cost money.

Interesting statistic. Do you happen to remember where you read it?

(because if i have the source, I can use it on my website)

[Savage]

Originally Posted by ssandra

Interesting statistic. Do you happen to remember where you read it?

(because if i have the source, I can use it on my website)

Don't remember. It was about 20 years ago that I encountered it.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by Savage

Don't remember. It was about 20 years ago that I encountered it.

I'll try googling it...

[Savage]

Originally Posted by ssandra

I'll try googling it...

Might be hard to find since it's older than Google.

But please let me know if you do track it down.

[James81]

Originally Posted by Savage

Hugs are free.

Speak for yourself buddy. My hugs cost a dollar.

[st33med]

Originally Posted by Savage

Might be hard to find since it's older than Google.

But please let me know if you do track it down.

Google Scholar can go back about as far as the beginning of the 80's I believe.

[James81]

Originally Posted by st33med

Google Scholar can go back about as far as the beginning of the 80's I believe.

Actually, if it's a relevant statistic, google will probably find something more current anyway.

How apt are we to trust statistics that came along 20 years ago?

[st33med]

Originally Posted by James81

Actually, if it's a relevant statistic, google will probably find something more current anyway.

How apt are we to trust statistics that came along 20 years ago?

Was thinking the same thing. It could be worse stats, or better. My money's on worse to make the whole situation look worse in the USA.

[ssandra]

Originally Posted by James81

How apt are we to trust statistics that came along 20 years ago?

Very, if it helps my business