[{"id":63169,"published_at":"2026-06-22T21:28:03.041Z","created_at":"2026-06-22T21:28:03.124Z","updated_at":"2026-06-22T21:28:03.807Z","title":"Using the four color personality types","content":"

I've had some good feedback about today's newsletter. I have continued to expand my topics and share what I learn in the realm of self-development, not simply the latest biohacking trick or gadget. Today's topic focused on how we can improve our communication by becoming better listeners.

\n

The concept has been around since ancient times. There are four basic personality types. The model I referenced uses colors.

\n\n

No one is purely one category, but most people generally have a dominant personality type, at least in a specific context. For example, someone may be in a management role in a job and have to be more red, but then at home they may shift into a different type around family.

\n

As you might imagine, we tend to prefer communicating in line with our dominant personality type, so it helps to recognize your color, then the colors of others, and communicate accordingly. This strategy is especially important in marketing, discussing opportunities, and offering to potential customers and business partners. I want to build a diverse team, so even though I prefer to interact with greens, I want a mix of all the colors.

\n

 

","tags":"_203words_","slug":"using-the-four-color-personality-types-1782163683054","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63168,"published_at":"2026-06-22T20:20:17.863Z","created_at":"2026-06-22T20:20:17.945Z","updated_at":"2026-06-22T20:20:18.774Z","title":"The Cube","content":"Back in 1969, a few months before Sesame Street launched, Jim Henson produced a teleplay called [The Cube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbOGfkuanq0). A man finds himself inside a room-sized cube with white panels. He can't leave but other people walk in and out and the talk with him throughout the story. The sparseness of the story makes it easy for anyone to interpret it however they like, and this is why it holds up almost 60 years later.\n\nFor me the cube is a perfect allegory for YouTube. It's an allegory for whatever we use to keep ourselves trapped. In truth, I can walk out at any time, but for reasons I can't quite understand, I don't.","tags":"_125words_","slug":"the-cube-1782159617876","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":215,"published_at":"2021-12-25T03:32:29.862Z","created_at":"2021-12-25T03:32:29.873Z","updated_at":"2021-12-25T03:32:29.888Z","title":"Clear my mind","description":"- Mindful use of media platforms\n- An uncluttered environment\n- Meditation","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63167,"published_at":"2026-06-22T09:39:03.897Z","created_at":"2026-06-22T09:39:03.975Z","updated_at":"2026-06-22T09:39:05.017Z","title":"13 Tog","content":"I’ve always appreciated the simple pleasure of slipping into a bed that starts out cold, knowing it will slowly warm around me. For years, my wife has suggested we get an electric blanket, but I can’t imagine anything less appealing than a bed that’s already heated. There’s something comforting about the contrast, the crispness of the sheets giving way to warmth as you settle in. It feels natural, almost earned. Climbing into a pre-warmed bed just doesn’t have the same charm.\n\nWe’ve struck a compromise over time. I head to bed first, warm her side, then shift across when she comes in. It works surprisingly well—a small routine that suits us both. With winter now upon us, the heavier duck down doona has made its return. Ours has a Tog rating of thirteen, almost as warm as you can get, and it’s perfect for these colder nights. The Tog rating, after all, measures how well a quilt traps heat relative to its weight, and this one does the job beautifully. In the end, I still think there’s no need for heat-producing blankets. Just the right doona, the right season, and that gentle, gradual warmth are more than enough.","tags":"_209words_","slug":"13-tog-1782121143905","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63166,"published_at":"2026-06-22T00:10:35.570Z","created_at":"2026-06-22T00:10:35.646Z","updated_at":"2026-06-22T00:10:36.331Z","title":"Calm corner","content":"For me, I know a city's for me when I can find a sacred space to rest in. Truly rest in. Melting into the seat kind of rest. The heart is contented and at peace kind of rest. A calm corner.\n\nThe calm corner can be any place, or anything.\n\nAn unassuming temple.\nAn old church.\nA piece of quiet beach.\nA promenade by the river.\nA book store full of old books.\nA park to take a slow walk in.\nA tiny alley way.\nA cool farmer's market.\nAn old stone barn.\nA beat-up bicycle.\nA bench in the middle of nowhere.\nAmbient music played in a museum.\n\nI find that, and I know I can live there. \nFor a long time. \n\nForever, even.\n\nI think I found it in Chiangmai.\nThank god.","tags":"_137words_","slug":"calm-corner-1782087035577","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63165,"published_at":"2026-06-21T20:07:24.929Z","created_at":"2026-06-21T20:07:25.005Z","updated_at":"2026-06-21T20:07:25.686Z","title":"Skills over knowledge","content":"

Since the internet age, and now with some guy named AI rapidly evolving, skills are becoming increasingly valuable over knowledge. But not every skill. If there's one piece of advice I would give the kiddos, it's to get good at something worth getting good at.

\n

I used to help people with resumes and cover letters. Not because I enjoyed doing it; I just happened to be good at it and was kind enough to offer to help others. In fact, over a year ago, I volunteered to help my friend Scott update his resume. I thought it would be a credit for the offer because he cannot seem to get his act together to complete just about any task. Sure enough, this week he called in his chit. 

\n

So I did what any respectable person would do. I fed his resume and cover letter into Claude and had it revise it and sent the docs back to him. His reply made me laugh. He asked if the documents were \"good to go\" for him to forward on. I told him that they are DRAFTS and that he should review the findings and decide what he wants to change for his final version.

\n

So, I suppose one skill that is here to stay is figuring out best practices for working with some guy named AI.

","tags":"_224words_","slug":"skills-over-knowledge-1782072444936","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[{"id":47654,"created_at":"2026-06-22T20:02:58.387Z","updated_at":"2026-06-22T20:02:58.658Z","content":"I assume that AI resume is going to be read by a bot.","post":63165,"author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41}},{"id":47655,"created_at":"2026-06-22T21:07:55.592Z","updated_at":"2026-06-22T21:07:55.871Z","content":"Mos def","post":63165,"author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3}}]},{"id":63164,"published_at":"2026-06-21T14:12:38.641Z","created_at":"2026-06-21T14:12:38.719Z","updated_at":"2026-06-21T14:12:39.540Z","title":"Sowing seeds","content":"Recently I've been hearing a lot about \"loops\" as the new focus for AI use. We used to talk about prompt engineering, then context engineering, and now the focus seems to be loop engineering.\n\nMy AI research process has settled into a well-worn pattern. Often it starts with a video, podcast, or article. I drop the text into the chat window and start talking about the ideas I encountered in the source. At some point, I feel like I've found the core concepts I want to explore and I trigger my `research-prompts` skill. This generates about 15 prompts that I feed into three new chat windows five prompts at a time. So I end up with about 30k words of research into the topic that I then need summarize with NotebookLM. The podcast becomes a podcast again, but I also have a pile of research I can dig into or use as context.\n\nRecently, I've added a new step -- creating a limited bibliography that I request after the research is done.\n\n> Can you pick out a few sources (available online) that you think I would be most interested in reading? Create a limited bibliography that explains why I might find each source interesting given the direction of this research.\n\nI usually end up with 20 to 25 different sources I can then pick through and explore, and then I can follow the same research process, sowing seeds for the next batch of research. The research loop works as a context-building machine.\n\n","tags":"_257words_","slug":"sowing-seeds-1782051158651","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":173,"published_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.282Z","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.299Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:04:27.227Z","title":"Writing, editing, and publishing novels","description":"- Write and publish a serialized story\n- Publish novels using the same material\n- Write spin-off stories in the same universe","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63163,"published_at":"2026-06-21T11:07:22.488Z","created_at":"2026-06-21T11:07:22.565Z","updated_at":"2026-06-21T11:07:23.248Z","title":"Writing before sleep","content":"The house is finally quiet, the kind of quiet that settles after a long day. I find myself propped up in bed, the laptop awkwardly balanced on my knees. The glow of the screen feels too bright for the hour, yet not bright enough to keep my eyes from drooping. I tell myself I’ll just finish a few more sentences, just push through the fog that’s slowly rolling in.\n\nBut the words come more slowly now. They stretch out, lose their sharpness, and drift into something softer and less certain. My fingers hover over the keyboard, hesitant, as if they, too, feel the pull of sleep. I reread the last line I wrote, twice, three times, and it barely makes sense anymore. Fatigue has a way of rearranging thoughts into something almost unreadable.\n\nThe bed, warm and familiar, begins to win me over. I shift slightly, sinking deeper into the pillows, telling myself I can write from a more comfortable position. That’s always the turning point. The laptop grows heavier in my hands, my blinking slows further, until sentences stop forming altogether. Somewhere between intent and exhaustion, my writing finally gets done, and my streak remains unbroken.","tags":"_200words_","slug":"writing-before-sleep-1782040042496","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63162,"published_at":"2026-06-20T23:53:08.971Z","created_at":"2026-06-20T23:53:09.048Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T23:53:09.864Z","title":"Trying stuff","content":"Re-reading posts like this [birthday sale hack](https://golifelog.com/posts/birthday-sale-1718837927021) and this post about [dabbling](https://golifelog.com/posts/dabbling-1623919104583) got me in a reflective mood:\n\nI used to try stuff.\n\nAnything.\nEverything.\nJust to get a sale.\nJust fk it and do it.\n\nBut somewhere along the way last year, I simply 'gave up' trying.\n\n'Gave up' in air quotes because... perhaps I realised this life stage isn't about that anymore. It's about trying stuff on other things. Other non indie hacker, entrepreneurial things.\n\nLike my big family relocation.\nLike staying afloat above survival.\nLike my child's coming education shift.\n\nAny one of those things would be a big enough attention sink. Lest sat all three going on at once.\n\nPriorities priorities priorities.\n\nI think I'm slowly settling into embodying that realisation, even though I still have moments of grief or greed, of wanting everything, of not trading off. BUT not that I have to completely give up on my $10k MRR dream...\n\nMaybe it's just on the shelf for the time being.\n\nWill be right back, once other more important things are settled.","tags":"_196words_","slug":"trying-stuff-1781999588979","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":24,"published_at":"2021-01-04T13:19:44.046Z","created_at":"2021-01-04T13:19:44.156Z","updated_at":"2023-09-07T22:46:49.916Z","title":"$10k/m revenue","description":"Hit $10,000 per month total revenue from all my products by 31 Dec 2024","author":1,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63161,"published_at":"2026-06-20T17:40:05.857Z","created_at":"2026-06-20T17:40:05.934Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T17:40:06.884Z","title":"#75Easy ✅","content":"

Yesterday, I completed the #75Easy challenge with Vision Espresso. For a refresher, this is a program I signed up for at Unicon back in March. The idea is to use AI tools to help create a vision of my Future Self. The service helps create affirmations, which I recorded in my own voice. It then generated an AI version of my voice as my future self in a sound file encoded with special music. The goal to complete the program is to listen to the file at least once a day for 75 days straight. Of course, I finished it.

\n

The app reset, so I no longer have access to listen to my recording. Perhaps this is by design. It was rather odd not to listen to it this morning. I guess I should come up with another morning meditation routine. I have a graduation call on Monday with Niko, the founder, and he'll walk me through the next steps. I believe it's time to do a second Vision Espresso and then run through another #75Easy challenge.

\n

As for my results, I cannot pinpoint anything specific regarding goals achieved or any magical things happening. It's more subtle for me, about creating the foundational mindset that will allow me to achieve my goals and dreams as I become my Future Self.

","tags":"_220words_","slug":"75easy-1781977205865","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":357,"published_at":"2024-03-17T22:41:18.354Z","created_at":"2024-03-17T22:41:18.364Z","updated_at":"2024-03-17T22:41:18.383Z","title":"Manifestation Mastery","description":"Complete the six-month Manifestation Mastery course through Mind Valley.","author":3,"type":"Ongoing"},{"id":695,"published_at":"2025-05-02T00:10:27.130Z","created_at":"2025-05-02T00:10:27.142Z","updated_at":"2025-05-02T00:10:27.208Z","title":"Become my Future Self through the 10X Unicorn Program","description":"I joined the 10X Unicorn Program through the Unicorn Universe to think big and act bigger.","author":3,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63160,"published_at":"2026-06-20T13:08:37.036Z","created_at":"2026-06-20T13:08:37.112Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T13:13:01.326Z","title":"Class change","content":"I updated my [personal website.](https://winkletter.com/) It's a bit of a stub right now, but in a sense I'm changing my class on my D&D character sheet from Writer to Tinkerer. I still have my reading and writing skills, but I tinker with things as well.\n\n---\n\n**Static website manager**\nI added a new tool to my AI webpage authoring system called [11ty](https://www.11ty.dev/) which is a static site manager that uses templates to pull data from markdown files. That means I just have to update a text file instead of reading through all the HTML. Although, to be honest, Claude does most of the reading of HTML. Claude Cowork did all the setup, and now it only needs to intervene if I change the structure or design of the site. But, I can still have it create and maintain markdown files itself.\n\nBut who has time to navigate the markdown files? Claude also made a Dashboard for the site that manages all the markdown files for me. It's like having my own custom CMS that runs on my PC.\n\nNow I can focus on being a lazy writer and tinkerer.\n\n**Website screenshot**\n![](https://i.ibb.co/0yfD5Msj/chrome-zh8-EAZ6-PWz.png)\n\n**Dashboard screenshot**\n\n![](https://i.ibb.co/CFWQdPj/chrome-d24fq0e-TNn.png)","tags":"_222words_","slug":"class-change-1781960917044","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63159,"published_at":"2026-06-20T06:32:21.689Z","created_at":"2026-06-20T06:32:21.766Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T06:32:22.447Z","title":"Beyond the passwords","content":"Over the course of my lifetime, I have accumulated a substantial amount of data. If I were to pass away tomorrow, I would leave behind a significant digital legacy that could impact those around me in various ways. While I have taken steps to protect our family’s data and privacy during my lifetime, I have not yet addressed my wife’s concerns about managing everything in the event of my absence.\n\nCurrently, I manage all our family finances, which is her main concern, how she would handle things if I were gone. Although finances are her biggest worry, I know she would also need access to many other details. Today, when I tried to explain how I handle our bills, we both immediately saw how complicated it is. We agreed that we need to document everything clearly. \n\nI now realise I must develop a comprehensive and well-organised record of everything she needs to know. This includes details on what to manage, where to locate various resources, and how to access our digital assets efficiently. While compiling such thorough documentation will be challenging, I understand that it is absolutely crucial for smooth operations. Therefore, I recognise the importance of getting started on this without delay and committing to maintaining it diligently.","tags":"_212words_","slug":"beyond-the-passwords-1781937141697","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63158,"published_at":"2026-06-19T23:40:36.946Z","created_at":"2026-06-19T23:40:37.028Z","updated_at":"2026-06-19T23:41:56.347Z","title":"Earthing","content":"I went to this waterfall resort called WTF Coffee Camp yesterday:\n\n![](https://i.ibb.co/gLBVGttX/photo-2026-06-19-23-27-49.jpg)\n\nTook off my shoes.\nExplored a waterfall.\nPlayed in the stream.\nLet it wash it all away.\n\nAnd then I rested. On the drive back, I napped. And I've not napped so well for some time. The sweet, restful kind of nap. So sweet I was still dazed but calm after waking. That's how you know it's good. It wasn't just rest, it was reset. I could only rest so well because of the earthing to and with nature.\n\nThe Earth can absorb all your tension.\n\nIn a place that big, your problems start to feel small.","tags":"_125words_","slug":"earthing-1781912436959","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[{"id":47651,"created_at":"2026-06-20T17:32:05.279Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T17:32:05.557Z","content":"That sounds amazing!","post":63158,"author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3}}]},{"id":63157,"published_at":"2026-06-19T20:43:58.225Z","created_at":"2026-06-19T20:43:58.302Z","updated_at":"2026-06-19T20:43:58.992Z","title":"Juneteenth","content":"

I suppose I am revealing my ignorance about this \"holiday\" that showed up out of nowhere in recent years. It's a big enough deal that my client's office is closed today. Not that it matters to me since I'm off on Fridays anyway. Even my few black friends have no idea what the fuss is about.

\n

I'm not deliberately trying to be insensitive about other cultures. We all have our own lived experience, and I have always felt \"between two worlds\" when it comes to my heritage. My mother was born in Texas, and her parents came from Mexico. My father was born in Virginia, and his heritage would be what my mom called \"hillbillies.\" So what does that make me? My standard joke has always been: \"If you're going to give me money, I'm Hispanic. If you're going to deport me, I'm white.\" 

\n

So where does that leave us in 2026 regarding culture and heritage? Have we reached MLK's dream that men (and women) would be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin? I'm sure we have more work to do, but we've come a long way from when I was a kid. So I guess I'll close by wishing everyone a happy Juneteenth.

","tags":"_212words_","slug":"juneteenth-1781901838232","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63156,"published_at":"2026-06-19T18:37:47.191Z","created_at":"2026-06-19T18:37:47.269Z","updated_at":"2026-06-19T18:38:57.304Z","title":"Last minute relief","content":"I had a slight panic yesterday at 11:55 as I jumped out of bed and loaded Lifelog in my browser. I couldn't remember writing anything that day. In fact, I did remember sitting outside and planning to write when my aunt and uncle stopped by and I lost track of the task. I thought I was going to have to write 100 words in five minutes and I was trying to think of strategies to weasel my way through a post. Should I write \"a\" 100 times and then edit the garbage once it posts? I was sitting at my computer in pajamas waiting for the loading bar to finish and breathed a sigh of relief when it turned green. Only then did I remember waking up super early and writing around 3am before I went back to sleep.","tags":"_141words_","slug":"last-minute-relief-1781894267199","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63155,"published_at":"2026-06-19T09:18:00.549Z","created_at":"2026-06-19T09:18:00.627Z","updated_at":"2026-06-19T09:18:01.317Z","title":"A glimpse of our next car","content":"There is a shift in the types of cars being added to the work fleet, with full-electric cars now a serious consideration. The fleet manager had a Kia EV3 on loan from the dealer for evaluation, and he let me borrow it overnight and bring it home, partly out of curiosity, but mostly to see what my wife would make of it. My first impression was that it was very easy to drive, roomy inside, and obviously quiet. When my wife arrived home, she thought it was just another fleet car. She didn’t recognise it as different from the other cars I’ve brought home from work. The white colour always gives it away as a fleet car, so I couldn’t blame her. \n\nAfter dinner, I showed her around, lifting the bonnet to reveal no usual mechanical clutter. We both stood there for a moment, slightly amused, slightly puzzled. Inside, it felt more like sitting in a piece of modern tech than a car, with a big screen and everything minimal. We went for a short test drive around the block. The smoothness caught her off guard, and the instant acceleration earned a raised eyebrow. Back in the driveway, we lingered a little, quietly aware that this wasn’t just a novelty. It was a glimpse of what’s coming next.","tags":"_224words_","slug":"a-glimpse-of-our-next-car-1781860680557","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[{"id":47647,"created_at":"2026-06-19T14:14:44.908Z","updated_at":"2026-06-19T14:14:45.185Z","content":"Hey hey now don't be challenging your Mazda loyalty...","post":63155,"author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3}},{"id":47649,"created_at":"2026-06-20T06:23:59.793Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T06:24:00.067Z","content":"Mazda are about to bring out a few EV models, and though they are not genuine Mazdas (made by a Chinese EV company), I will be interested in a test drive.","post":63155,"author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15}},{"id":47653,"created_at":"2026-06-21T00:01:10.123Z","updated_at":"2026-06-21T00:01:10.411Z","content":"@peterdannock We've been getting around in the Chiangmai (Thailand)'s version of Uber, and man, there's so many EV cars here. MG, BYD...mostly Chinese car brands. A handful of Teslas. Was pretty impressed with the sleek and modern interior - looks less like a car, more like a spaceship cabin. No gear shifts, just a huge button - shocked by that. Still prefer petrol cars but man why can't petrol cars have such nice interiors","post":63155,"author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1}}]},{"id":63154,"published_at":"2026-06-19T00:54:27.564Z","created_at":"2026-06-19T00:54:27.640Z","updated_at":"2026-06-19T00:54:28.327Z","title":"47","content":"Another year round the Sun today.\n\n47.\n\nEdging ever closer to 50s. It should be a time of settling down, of sunsetting. Yet here I am, at the dawn of yet another major life change, huge season incoming, another big move. \n\nProbably my biggest yet.\n\nGrowth truly stops for no man, at all ages.\nLife's a series of adaptations, one after another.\nThere's only struggle, no false comfort from staying still.\n\nYeah, there had been growing pains, teething problems over the past few years, but those shoes now fit much better.\n\nBurdens feel easier to shoulder.\nRoles now feel more settled and stable.\nThe struggles, the grind, the hustle, more purposeful.\n\nStruggle nonetheless. \nBut worthy struggle.\n\nAnd that's really all a man can ask of his time here.\n\nThat it was worthy.\nAnd noble.\n\nUpwards and forwards.","tags":"_140words_","slug":"47-1781830467571","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[{"id":47643,"created_at":"2026-06-19T04:56:48.268Z","updated_at":"2026-06-19T04:56:48.551Z","content":"Happy arbitrary anniversary day!","post":63154,"author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41}},{"id":47644,"created_at":"2026-06-19T09:05:30.169Z","updated_at":"2026-06-19T09:05:30.450Z","content":"Happy birthday, young fella!","post":63154,"author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15}},{"id":47645,"created_at":"2026-06-19T13:41:13.008Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T23:54:49.355Z","content":"Thanks guys! @peterdannock @winkletter","post":63154,"author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1}},{"id":47646,"created_at":"2026-06-19T14:11:09.186Z","updated_at":"2026-06-19T14:11:09.464Z","content":"Happy birthday! You've still got plenty of time before the big 50.","post":63154,"author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3}},{"id":47652,"created_at":"2026-06-20T23:55:15.873Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T23:55:16.139Z","content":"Thanks @therealbrandonwilson. Yeah agree, 3 years can be a lifetime if done right","post":63154,"author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1}}]},{"id":63153,"published_at":"2026-06-18T17:42:59.201Z","created_at":"2026-06-18T17:42:59.278Z","updated_at":"2026-06-18T17:43:00.234Z","title":"Forget the how","content":"

I continue to remind myself to stop focusing on the HOW.

\n

In a March newsletter, I wrote about the concept known as the Training Balance Scale. Essentially, on one side of the scale is the WHY. This is the thinking, beliefs, and mindset. On the other side is the HOW: the tactics, actions, and steps taken. Most people think you should have a balanced scale with equal focus on both sides. This is a myth.

\n

The truth is that 90% or more of the scale is the WHY. Your mindset and beliefs count way more than the action you take. That doesn't mean take no action — it means take intentional action driven by the proper purpose and determination.

\n

This is where I have been stuck when it comes to making money. My #1 goal is to replace the income from my insurance consultant work so that I have true freedom to chart my own path. I keep focusing on how I will make the money without having a clear path forward. The only way I've made significant income is through the traditional path of trading hours for dollars. I know there are plenty of other ways to make money, and I'm going to focus on an abundance mindset and let the universe reveal them to me.

","tags":"_216words_","slug":"forget-the-how-1781804579209","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":357,"published_at":"2024-03-17T22:41:18.354Z","created_at":"2024-03-17T22:41:18.364Z","updated_at":"2024-03-17T22:41:18.383Z","title":"Manifestation Mastery","description":"Complete the six-month Manifestation Mastery course through Mind Valley.","author":3,"type":"Ongoing"},{"id":339,"published_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.109Z","created_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.112Z","updated_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.121Z","title":"Quit my job and turn biohacking into a career","description":"I plan to quit my job and leave a career of over twenty years in the health insurance industry. I am going to follow my passion for biohacking and use my talents and skills to earn a living by sharing my knowledge and helping people take control of their health to improve their lives.","author":3,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[{"id":47648,"created_at":"2026-06-19T23:47:26.039Z","updated_at":"2026-06-19T23:47:26.313Z","content":"@therealbrandonwilson CONGRATS on hitting 2000 day streak here!!!","post":63153,"author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1}},{"id":47650,"created_at":"2026-06-20T14:53:58.805Z","updated_at":"2026-06-20T14:53:59.080Z","content":"Thank you, sir!","post":63153,"author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3}}]},{"id":63152,"published_at":"2026-06-18T09:51:37.916Z","created_at":"2026-06-18T09:51:37.993Z","updated_at":"2026-06-18T09:51:38.677Z","title":"Home as shelter","content":"When my wife walks through the door after a hard day, I try to remember that what she needs most isn’t solutions; it’s space, warmth, and someone firmly in her corner. I often greet her gently, keeping things calm and reading her mood before saying too much. Sometimes it’s a hug that lingers a little longer than usual; other times it’s simply a quiet “tough day?” and letting her take it from there.\n\nI’ve learned that listening is the real work. Not fixing, not interrupting, just listening. Letting her unload the frustrations, the small injustices, the things that have worn her down. A few words of reassurance can go a long way: that she handled it well, that it’s okay to feel how she feels, that tomorrow can be better. \n\nPractical care matters too. Making dinner, tidying up, or pouring her a glass of wine gives her permission to switch off. It says, without words, “you’re looked after here.” I am fortunate that my workload and proximity to the office give me plenty of opportunities to do this, and I enjoy being the one who can calm her agitation or help her relax into a quiet night. If she feels supported, understood, and like she’s not carrying it alone, then I have done my job.","tags":"_223words_","slug":"home-as-shelter-1781776297924","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63151,"published_at":"2026-06-18T07:35:30.397Z","created_at":"2026-06-18T07:35:30.474Z","updated_at":"2026-06-18T07:35:31.297Z","title":"Catching z's","content":"I woke up too early and I'm waiting to get tired again, so I figure I'll write. What do I do when I wake up at three in the morning? I chat with Claude and run research on Japanese onomatopoeia. I generated 10 research reports that cover topics from manga lettering of sounds, or \"kakimoji\", to words that patients use to describe their ailments to doctors. Right now I'm waiting for NotebookLM to generate a podcast I can listen to while I head back to sleep. Hopefully I can catch a few more z's, or as they say in Japan, グーグー.\n\n![](https://i.ibb.co/TQ88Yc1/guuguu.png)","tags":"_111words_","slug":"catching-zs-1781768130404","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":215,"published_at":"2021-12-25T03:32:29.862Z","created_at":"2021-12-25T03:32:29.873Z","updated_at":"2021-12-25T03:32:29.888Z","title":"Clear my mind","description":"- Mindful use of media platforms\n- An uncluttered environment\n- Meditation","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63150,"published_at":"2026-06-18T00:04:27.759Z","created_at":"2026-06-18T00:04:27.836Z","updated_at":"2026-06-18T00:04:28.515Z","title":"Hard life > easy life","content":"Creating a different life is hard. \nMaking changes is hard.\nStarting is hard.\n\nBut that's the whole point. If it wasn't hard it's not meaningful. Anything that dropped on your lap without a drop of effort, was never appreciated, treasured, savoured. Cue the second generation rich.\n\nWe all think we *want* an easy life, but what we actually *need* is a hard life.\n\nHard in the right things.\n\nBecause when you chase the right, hard things, life is fulfilling, satisfying, exciting. It'll still suck on some or even most days, but anytime you look back, you will feel satisfied with how you put all of yourself into the fight.\n\nHard life > easy life","tags":"_117words_","slug":"hard-life-greater-easy-life-1781741067768","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63149,"published_at":"2026-06-17T17:12:48.662Z","created_at":"2026-06-17T17:12:48.738Z","updated_at":"2026-06-17T17:12:49.416Z","title":"Phone use","content":"

The director at my client is a self-proclaimed \"Luddite\" who seems perfectly fine going without her phone for days at a time and is proud of it. She said that some weekends she sets her phone down on Friday and doesn't pick it up until Monday, when it's often dead and needs charging. I have been texting my coworker, and he has uncharacteristically not responded. He confessed today that he's been without his phone for two weeks! 

\n

The idea of going without a phone for two weeks, much less two days, is anathema to me. Not that I love talking on the phone, but it's a necessary evil for my business. If my iPhone were suddenly out of commission, I could get by with my MacBook, but I would still need to remedy the situation the same day or the next day. 

\n

Does this mean I have an addiction to my phone? Perhaps at one time I did. I recognized that the notifications and apps were driving my behavior more than I liked, so I made a conscious effort to distance myself. My Screen Time status shows a daily average of 4h 37m of usage. That seems to be far under the average for most people.

","tags":"_206words_","slug":"phone-use-1781716368670","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63148,"published_at":"2026-06-17T15:05:42.360Z","created_at":"2026-06-17T15:05:42.437Z","updated_at":"2026-06-17T16:27:41.302Z","title":"Dream big, work within reach","content":"I'm finally learning a skill I've needed for a long time: Returning to the center and finding the next step forward. I still dream big. I give myself space to think about the fully-realized project. What would this project be, ideally, if I had time and resources? I haven't abandoned the daily daydreaming.\n\nBut I'm learning how to scale ideas back and hack a path back to base camp. I return to the core project and expand outward from there. Does the new idea connect back to my glorious purpose? If so, what is the adjacent possible? What is within reach?\n\n![](https://i.ibb.co/CpCCYWdr/live-in-the-future.png)","tags":"_116words_","slug":"dream-big-work-within-reach-1781708742368","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[{"id":47641,"created_at":"2026-06-18T01:20:04.625Z","updated_at":"2026-06-18T01:20:04.904Z","content":"What's the skill ?","post":63148,"author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1}},{"id":47642,"created_at":"2026-06-18T06:40:21.195Z","updated_at":"2026-06-18T06:40:34.175Z","content":"> Returning to the center and finding the next step forward.\n\nIn other words, the skill to reign in my wandering mind.","post":63148,"author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41}}]},{"id":63147,"published_at":"2026-06-17T10:59:19.179Z","created_at":"2026-06-17T10:59:19.256Z","updated_at":"2026-06-17T10:59:19.932Z","title":"The end isn't nigh","content":"I quite like the writing of Oliver Burkemann, a British author and journalist known for writing about time management, psychology, and how to live a meaningful life. In his recent newsletter titled “The end isn’t nigh, he challenges the common belief that humanity stands at the edge of an unprecedented catastrophe or transformative rupture. Instead, he argues that, though uncertain and risky, the present will likely be viewed by future historians as broadly typical rather than exceptional. Central to his argument is the idea of “temporal chauvinism,” a cognitive bias that leads people to overestimate the importance and danger of their own era simply because its unknowns feel more immediate and threatening. Historically, repeated predictions of apocalyptic endings have failed, yet similar patterns persist today, particularly in fears surrounding artificial intelligence.\n\nWhile acknowledging real threats such as climate change, Oliver suggests these risks are serious but not necessarily world-ending in a dramatic, singular sense. Viewing them as tractable challenges, rather than apocalyptic inevitabilities, encourages more practical, productive responses. Likewise, technological disruptions, including those driven by AI, are seen as part of a long continuum of historical change rather than unprecedented upheaval. Human life has always been inherently uncertain and insecure. Apocalyptic narratives may serve as psychological coping mechanisms, offering a concrete focus for diffuse anxiety. However, our everyday actions demonstrate an enduring capacity to navigate uncertainty without succumbing to catastrophic thinking.","tags":"_233words_","slug":"the-end-isnt-nigh-1781693959187","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63146,"published_at":"2026-06-16T23:28:39.777Z","created_at":"2026-06-16T23:28:39.853Z","updated_at":"2026-06-16T23:28:40.544Z","title":"Mistaken identity","content":"When you're stuck in a bad environment long enough, the habits and mindsets needed to cope and work around said environment starts to become part of your identity.\n\nYou start to believe things about yourself that you never were.\n\n\"I don't enjoy the outdoors anymore\", but actually the outdoors available to you and your family were simply too uninspiring, too uncomfortable, and too inconvenient.\n\n\"I hate driving\", but actually you just hate driving in Singapore—the impatience, the aggressiveness, the lack of kindness, the high density, the lack of space. You're okay with driving when everyone's chill and gracious on wide open roads. Bonus: Driving is fun when you're exploring, getting off the beaten track, going on adventures, discovering new places in the countryside where only cars can bring you.\n\n\"I have [no friends](https://golifelog.com/posts/no-friends-1780963718866), I'm an introvert\", but actually you're living in the wrong place. The friends you want to meet had relocated, and the ones to befriend are in another country/city.\n\n\"I love to work\", but actually you were stuck in survival mode in an environment that kept reminding you of it. And when you left said environment, you realise you were held captive by work, like some sort of Stockholm's Syndrome, and actually want to enjoy life and live a little.\n\nI was never any of those things. \nYet in past years I had come to believe them about myself.\nBelieved it a little too deeply.\n\nA case of mistaken identity.\n\nThe influence of the external environment is real.\nWalk away.\nQuickly.\nGo bankrupt doing so if you have to.\nIt'll be for the best ultimately.\n\nForwards!","tags":"_286words_","slug":"mistaken-identity-1781652519785","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63145,"published_at":"2026-06-16T20:57:44.685Z","created_at":"2026-06-16T20:57:44.763Z","updated_at":"2026-06-16T20:57:45.716Z","title":"Opportunity knocking","content":"

Through the Unicorn Universe, I met another guy named Brandon last October. He's a great guy, and not just because he introduced me to Starfighters, the largest vintage arcade parlor in Arizona. Back then, he presented me with an opportunity that completely went over my head. I wasn't ready at the time. 

\n

I reconnected with Brandon as part of my efforts to establish at least 100 active conversations with prospects. We had a short call, and he reminded me about the opportunity, which now sounds much more interesting. Essentially, it is an opportunity to be a broker for a medical reimbursement program for small and medium-sized businesses. Perhaps the reason I resonate with it this go around is that I have learned so much about tax strategies from the wealth seminar I attended. Ironically, the biggest obstacle to getting this program set up with companies is that the decision makers cannot believe it's a real program based on existing tax law. Essentially, employers can save on the taxes they pay for employees, employees receive more take-home pay, and get access to telehealth medical services and prescriptions at no cost. 

\n

What do I get out of the deal? Every deal I broker will pay me a $15 residual per employee per month. Brandon told me a figure he's making that's way beyond the $10k/month target I have, and he's not even working this business full-time!

","tags":"_235words_","slug":"opportunity-knocking-1781643464695","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":325,"published_at":"2023-01-03T19:25:25.480Z","created_at":"2023-01-03T19:25:25.483Z","updated_at":"2023-01-03T19:25:25.491Z","title":"Small Bets","description":"One of my themes for 2023 is Small Bets a la Daniel V. style. Inspired by my Medium experiment, I want to try other experiments to test alternate sources of income. The key is not to make significant investments in money or time but to try more straightforward options with low barriers.","author":3,"type":"Ongoing"},{"id":339,"published_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.109Z","created_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.112Z","updated_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.121Z","title":"Quit my job and turn biohacking into a career","description":"I plan to quit my job and leave a career of over twenty years in the health insurance industry. I am going to follow my passion for biohacking and use my talents and skills to earn a living by sharing my knowledge and helping people take control of their health to improve their lives.","author":3,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63144,"published_at":"2026-06-16T17:21:42.469Z","created_at":"2026-06-16T17:21:42.547Z","updated_at":"2026-06-16T17:21:43.368Z","title":"Off-balance","content":"I can usually tell I'm going to have a bad day when I feel a stab of anxiety in response to thoughts or images I see. I start to feel queasy, then I feel some pressure in my ear. That's when I realize that I'm not anxious because of the triggers. It's my balance again. Some people get debilitating migraines -- I get thrown off-balance.\n\nAnd that means I'm taking the day off from writing. Thankfully I've made time to let things coast.\n\nMy goal for today is to watch a few videos about motion graphics as I think about how I might use AI to make a video production pipeline. I've already had Claude add a small motion effect to the header slides on my slide deck app. That's enough for now.","tags":"_141words_","slug":"off-balance-1781630502479","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":173,"published_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.282Z","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.299Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:04:27.227Z","title":"Writing, editing, and publishing novels","description":"- Write and publish a serialized story\n- Publish novels using the same material\n- Write spin-off stories in the same universe","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63143,"published_at":"2026-06-16T08:39:36.279Z","created_at":"2026-06-16T08:39:36.356Z","updated_at":"2026-06-16T08:39:37.038Z","title":"El Niño is back","content":"El Niño is a periodic climate pattern that originates in the tropical Pacific Ocean, where unusually warm sea surface temperatures disrupt normal weather systems. For Australia, this shift has serious consequences, as it weakens the trade winds that usually carry moisture from the Pacific across the continent. As a result, much of Australia, particularly the east and southeast, experiences hotter, drier conditions. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, El Niño is back.\n\nThe impact can be profound. Reduced rainfall increases the risk of drought, straining water supplies, agriculture, and livestock. Crops such as wheat and barley are especially vulnerable, often resulting in lower yields and higher food costs. At the same time, hotter temperatures and dry landscapes significantly increase the likelihood and severity of bushfires, a risk Australians have become all too familiar with in recent years. El Niño can also affect river systems and reservoirs, reducing inflows and stressing already fragile ecosystems. Even urban areas feel the effects through water restrictions and heatwaves, which put additional strain on infrastructure and human health.\n\nBecause Australia’s climate is strongly influenced by ocean patterns, the onset of El Niño is closely monitored. When it develops, it signals not only a shift in weather but also a season of heightened environmental, economic, and community challenges.","tags":"_217words_","slug":"el-nino-is-back-1781599176288","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63142,"published_at":"2026-06-16T00:11:32.846Z","created_at":"2026-06-16T00:11:32.922Z","updated_at":"2026-06-16T00:11:33.604Z","title":"Networking","content":"

@jasonleow's recent post about network being net worth is very much on point with my current mindset. Business is all about relationships. That's the bottom line. 

\n

I heard one trainer say he insists his people have at least 100 active conversations going at any given time. Some people drop off and you add more in. The point is that you are talking and talking and more talking. And that doesn't mean you sit and wait until the ideal moment to pounce and promote your business by hitting them over the head with it. In fact, that's where I went wrong in the past.

\n

My new strategy is simple. Start conversations, ask questions, and just be human. Ask how work is going. Ask how family is going. Connect with them on some shared memory. Start with a focus on them. Sooner or later, they will ask me what I'm up to, and I still don't vomit all over them with my opportunity. I talk about my work transition, how I'm building my own business. In fact, I stay rather coy. I want them to ask me. I want them to insist on knowing what I have to share.

\n

Don't chase. Attract.

","tags":"_200words_","slug":"networking-1781568692854","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63141,"published_at":"2026-06-15T23:31:23.650Z","created_at":"2026-06-15T23:31:23.726Z","updated_at":"2026-06-15T23:31:24.412Z","title":"NO","content":"Why is it so hard to learn to say no?\n\nSay no when it feels too uncomfortable.\nSay no when you're tired of doing the same thing over and over.\nSay no when you feel invisible for your efforts.\nSay no when you just want to chillax and not work.\nSay no when you just to stop playing whatever role you have play.\nSay no when a slow morning coffee is preferred over caffeine rush rush rush.\nSay no when you're tired and want to take a nap.\nSay no when it's all too much for too long.\n\n Just. Fking. Say. No.","tags":"_105words_","slug":"no-1781566283658","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63140,"published_at":"2026-06-15T09:36:09.674Z","created_at":"2026-06-15T09:36:09.751Z","updated_at":"2026-06-15T09:36:10.709Z","title":"Local-first publishing","content":"My website now has [slide decks](https://writingstreak.com/slides/narrative-salience/) built in. I took my [existing code I wrote about yesterday](https://golifelog.com/posts/thai-language-and-custom-slides-1781421281873) and had Claude make a read-only version for my website.\n\nThe slide decks are now part of my publishing pipeline.\n- I finish editing my weekly article.\n- I trigger a Claude Skill in Cowork.\n- Claude turns my article into a slide deck using my words.\n- I add a link to the slide deck at the top of my newsletter.\n\n[![](https://i.ibb.co/9mWqGZV7/chrome-YFal-FPi-DS3.png)](https://writingstreak.com/slides/narrative-salience/)\n\nSo, is WordPress dead, or will it, too, transform in the age of AI? With my Writing Streak website I've been using a paradigm I call *local-first publishing.* I no longer need a complex JavaScript framework or a bloated CMS to maintain my site. Everything lives on my computer, which means I don't need a production-grade publicly-secure web application. My computer is my security clearance.\n\nI can use AI to make a hodgepodge of applications to manage data. Or, I use AI directly to manage the data until the friction pushes me to invest tokens toward building an application. Then I can focus on making simple online apps that are more secure because they only read data from the server and do most of their work in the browser. No writing to file, no executing on the server, no managing user profiles and access. All the work is done in my own hard drive.","tags":"_267words_","slug":"local-first-publishing-1781516169682","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":356,"published_at":"2024-02-29T20:49:42.045Z","created_at":"2024-02-29T20:49:42.053Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:02:36.227Z","title":"Create apps for authors","description":"- Learn to program with and without AI\n- Make applications that are useful for authors\n- Use those apps for my own author brand","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"},{"id":173,"published_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.282Z","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.299Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:04:27.227Z","title":"Writing, editing, and publishing novels","description":"- Write and publish a serialized story\n- Publish novels using the same material\n- Write spin-off stories in the same universe","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[{"id":47640,"created_at":"2026-06-15T23:39:12.150Z","updated_at":"2026-06-15T23:39:12.431Z","content":"YES! That's the way I like it too! ","post":63140,"author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1}}]},{"id":63139,"published_at":"2026-06-15T08:44:03.208Z","created_at":"2026-06-15T08:44:03.287Z","updated_at":"2026-06-15T08:44:03.977Z","title":"Motion vs. presence","content":"In home automation, the difference between a motion sensor and a presence sensor comes down to how they detect activity and how “aware” they are of a person in a space. A motion sensor is the simpler of the two. It typically uses passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect changes in heat as it moves across its field of view. This makes it excellent for triggering lights when someone walks into a room, but it has a limitation. Once you stop moving, it may assume the room is empty. Anyone who has had lights turn off while sitting still at a desk knows this frustration well.\n\nA presence sensor, by contrast, is designed to detect sustained occupancy. It often uses more advanced technologies, such as mmWave radar, which can detect even very slight movements, such as breathing or shifting posture. This means it can reliably determine that someone is still in the room, even if they are quietly working, reading, or watching TV. In practical terms, I have set up a presence sensor in my study to turn the lights on when I am in the room and off when I leave. It did detect me in the study when I was actually standing outside in the hallway, but configuring the zones resolved that issue quickly. For me, the presence sensor is much more reliable at identifying when anyone is in the room.","tags":"_233words_","slug":"motion-vs-presence-1781513043218","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63138,"published_at":"2026-06-14T23:33:09.955Z","created_at":"2026-06-14T23:33:10.032Z","updated_at":"2026-06-14T23:33:10.715Z","title":"Your network is your networth","content":"I've been working alone for so long, I forgot this age old adage:\n\nYour network is your net worth.\n\nExcept that this time, it is not a net worth of financial assets but hard knowledge, soft resources, social capital, ideas, open doors that one needs when relocating to a new place.\n\nWithout knowing the people here, hanging out with them, chatting with them, spending days with them on their family trips, there's no way we can research and find out what we now know from them.\n\nNo fking way.\n\nAll the hidden cafes, family-friendly places to visit, day programme art studios to drop kids off, international schools to visit, pathways for kid's education to take, blindspots non-locals like us might miss.\n\nAll those resources that comes only from living here and knowing people.\n\nAnd we were damn lucky to be able to meet some of these super-connectors.\n\nYour network is absolutely, your net worth.","tags":"_160words_","slug":"your-network-is-your-networth-1781479989963","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[{"id":47638,"created_at":"2026-06-15T19:37:56.148Z","updated_at":"2026-06-15T19:37:56.442Z","content":"Oh yes, I hear this one all the time and believe it to be true in many aspects. Makes it tougher on those of us who tend toward introvert status, but I'm learning to stretch outside of my comfort zone.","post":63138,"author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3}},{"id":47639,"created_at":"2026-06-15T23:38:20.072Z","updated_at":"2026-06-15T23:38:20.347Z","content":"@therealbrandonwilson Same here! New season, new reaching out of bubble","post":63138,"author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1}}]},{"id":63137,"published_at":"2026-06-14T20:20:46.781Z","created_at":"2026-06-14T20:20:46.863Z","updated_at":"2026-06-14T20:20:47.552Z","title":"Bulk trash pick-up","content":"

Once a month, my neighborhood is fortunate to have a bulk trash pick-up. Whatever is too big to fit into the bin or any large accumulation of trash goes out in the alley. There are prohibited items, of course. No toxic materials, no large appliances, and no mattresses, of all things. It's a great way to have stuff hauled away that would otherwise cost for junk removal. 

\n

I'm taking the opportunity to continue spring cleaning and get rid of more items. That's music to my partner's ears because we are on opposite sides of the organization spectrum. She leans more toward Marie Kondo, and I'm more cluttered (but not hoarder-level disgusting). I do understand the value of having a clean and organized home, both from a functionality perspective and energetically.

\n

The biggest decision is whether something should be donated or thrown out. I have made plenty of donations to Goodwill and other organizations, but I would not donate items that are no longer useful. Today we are expecting to hit a high of 105 degrees F (about 40 degrees C), so my decluttering will be restricted to indoor activity. When the sun has set, I'll be moving everything to the curb.

","tags":"_201words_","slug":"bulk-trash-pick-up-1781468446793","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63136,"published_at":"2026-06-14T08:14:45.045Z","created_at":"2026-06-14T08:14:45.122Z","updated_at":"2026-06-14T08:14:45.810Z","title":"Letting go...almost","content":"It’s funny how something once essential can slowly become a question mark. The track car and trailer have been part of my routine, part of my identity, with early starts, the hum of tyres on bitumen, and the quiet focus before heading out onto the track. Selling them feels practical, even logical. Less time, fewer commitments, and space reclaimed in the garage. And yet, the decision refuses to settle. I find myself circling the idea, weighing what I’d gain against what I’d lose. There’s the reality of how often I actually get out on track these days, compared with the intention I always carry. Life has a way of squeezing in, quietly filling weekends with other priorities. But then I picture the empty space left behind, not just physically, but the absence of that outlet, that ritual.\n\nIndecision lingers in the in-between moments, a quiet tug of uncertainty that refuses to let go. Listing it for sale feels final, like closing a chapter; not listing it feels like avoidance, a hesitation to face the inevitable. I tell myself I can always come back to it later, start again when the time is right, when I feel more certain. But I know deep down that it’s never quite the same, never as easy as it seems in my mind. For now, the car sits in silence, ready but untouched, waiting for a decision that feels increasingly difficult to make. And I sit with the dilemma, weigh my options, and finally feel ready to let it go.","tags":"_261words_","slug":"letting-goalmost-1781424885053","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63135,"published_at":"2026-06-14T07:14:41.862Z","created_at":"2026-06-14T07:14:41.943Z","updated_at":"2026-06-14T07:14:42.907Z","title":"Thai language and custom slides","content":"**TL;DR:** I made some skills for learning Thai language, and an application for custom slide decks based on Markdown and \"rhetorical shape\".\n\nInspired by @jasonleow's trip to Chiang Mai, I decided to make some Claude Skills for doing Thai-language cultural and linguistic research.\n\n- [Thai language research skills:](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ogne6-sxjSxyPkYIJcHnll8qt5vWiBZ_3gz0dywIHy8/edit?usp=sharing) A Google Doc with three skills for researching Thai language and culture along with an example report on traffic or การจราจร (kan jara-jon).\n\nI find these reports fascinating. They're not too heavily weighted on grammar or syntax, and instead use language as a way to explore culture and vice versa. I think I might make skills for more languages and locales. I'll have to consider how to adapt it to French or Spanish where there could be different locales with unique cultures and varieties of spoken French or Spanish.\n\n**Custom slide deck**\n\nI also finished up a local web application called Rhetorical Slides. How do I explain this project?\n\nIt's a bespoke slide deck editor and presenter that uses my [rhetorical shape](https://golifelog.com/posts/writing-with-rhetorical-shape-1767766658723) framework. This forces each slide into one of 20 formats: header, comparison, trendline, etc. The slide decks are saved as markdown files, which get interpreted based on the slide types. Because the slides are structured, I can choose how to display each type of slide.\n\nBecause it uses Markdown, I can also use AI to generate the slide deck as a single file. I have a skill for that. I add a few images and this makes a full presentation I can use as the basis for an article or a video. At least, that's the long-term goal.\n\n**Example slide**\n\n![](https://i.ibb.co/HDp3dSRM/12-comparison.png)\n\nHere's the Markdown and YAML for the slide above.\n\n```\ntype: comparison\nsection: 3\ntitle: Who has to yield?\nleft:\n label: ทางเอก (taang èek) — the major road\n points:\n - Has the right of way\n - Through-traffic keeps moving\n - Wider road usually counts as the major one\n image: images/major-road.png\nright:\n label: ทางโท (taang too) — the minor road\n points:\n - Must give way\n - A car leaving a ซอย (soi) yields\n - An alley joining a road is the minor one\n image: images/minor-road.png\nnotes: |\n The concrete legal backbone. Under the Road Traffic Act, traffic on the ทางโท (taang too)\n gives way to traffic on the ทางเอก (taang èek), and a road that a ตรอก (dtròk, alley) or ซอย\n (soi, side-lane) joins onto counts as the major road — so the car nosing out of the soi is\n the one that must wait. This is the rule tourists most often miss, because in practice it's\n softened by น้ำใจ (náam jai): the through-driver often waves the soi car out anyway.\n```\n\nThe AI put together the text based on a custom set of instructions and the report on Thai traffic, while the images were generated and added manually by me. The layout of the slide is purely determined by the system's presets. The slide text and links to image assets are all editable in the system, and I can export the results as individual slides or a PDF.\n\nI'll definitely be building more and more functionality to this over time.\n\n- [Thai-traffic](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EMTdixFKAFT-zdKEdvE8vcsuByxALRer/view?usp=sharing) A full 22-page PDF of the slides in my Thai traffic example.\n\n![](https://i.ibb.co/1f2fY55C/chrome-l-X7y-PBZWU1.png)","tags":"_586words_","slug":"thai-language-and-custom-slides-1781421281873","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":173,"published_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.282Z","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.299Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:04:27.227Z","title":"Writing, editing, and publishing novels","description":"- Write and publish a serialized story\n- Publish novels using the same material\n- Write spin-off stories in the same universe","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"},{"id":356,"published_at":"2024-02-29T20:49:42.045Z","created_at":"2024-02-29T20:49:42.053Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:02:36.227Z","title":"Create apps for authors","description":"- Learn to program with and without AI\n- Make applications that are useful for authors\n- Use those apps for my own author brand","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[{"id":47636,"created_at":"2026-06-14T20:13:36.726Z","updated_at":"2026-06-14T20:13:37.004Z","content":"So I wonder how an adult goes about learning a language that uses a completely different alphabet. ","post":63135,"author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3}},{"id":47637,"created_at":"2026-06-14T23:36:17.860Z","updated_at":"2026-06-14T23:36:18.134Z","content":"@Winkletter Love it ! And it's true too! 2 rulebooks 100%","post":63135,"author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1}}]},{"id":63134,"published_at":"2026-06-13T23:48:04.675Z","created_at":"2026-06-13T23:48:04.751Z","updated_at":"2026-06-13T23:48:05.436Z","title":"At home, in Chiangmai","content":"I said before that I’ve felt [most at home in Japan](https://golifelog.com/posts/at-home-in-japan-1749586766362). That would probably never change, but a close second could be Chiangmai now (sorry Bali).\n\nBecause it feels so down-to-earth.\nJust the right balance of chill and hustle.\nA nice sweet spot to live a good life but also bring up children.\nGreat places for kids with nature embedded - cafe by the lake, cafe in a garden, markets by rice fields.\nEverything feels familiar, yet refreshing. The Buddhist religion, the Thai Chinese ethnicity, the food.\nThe city is still mostly low density, occasional high buildings, with mountains wrapped on both sides.\nMost shops close early, by dark. Nightlife is mostly only in some areas. The city sleeps early.\nThe countryside is a 30min drive away, sometimes even closer,\nCost of living feels sane, and for any given dollar, the returns on quality and quantity, service experience feels way higher than back home.\nLand of smiles means something here - open, liberal, yet traditional.\n\nTo be fair, it ain't perfect in everything. Traffic can be bad in some areas. Driving doesn't always follow rules. There's sometimes bad behaviour from tourists and foreigners. Communication with locals can be difficult without knowing Thai.\n\nBut overall, it's still a net positive. Much more compared to back home.\n\nSecond trip only, and it's really growing on me. The decision to relocate only gets clearer and more certain.\n\nForwards.","tags":"_250words_","slug":"at-home-in-chiangmai-1781394484683","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63133,"published_at":"2026-06-13T21:26:20.026Z","created_at":"2026-06-13T21:26:20.106Z","updated_at":"2026-06-13T21:26:20.930Z","title":"At the bookstore","content":"

My partner is on a kick to organize and declutter, which prompted me to do another round of pruning my wardrobe. While I was at it, I decided to do a full review of my bookshelves to see whether I'm ready to give away any books to be of value to someone else. I managed to select about fifteen books and went to my favorite used bookstore, Bookman's, to get a quote. 

\n

The quote took a while, so I had time to peruse the shelves. That's the great thing about a used bookstore--you never know what goodies you'll find. It's the opposite of a restaurant I go to regularly. I order the same thing because that's what I like at that restaurant. I don't want any surprises. 

\n

In the end, Bookman's took three books and offered $3 cash or $9 credit. I took the credit, adding it to my tally of over $100 in store credit from previous donations. The three books I left there were immediately replaced with three more:

\n\n

The last book I pulled off the shelf, flipped through, and put back. As I wandered around the store waiting for them to call my name, something told me to go back and get it. I took a closer look and was sold when I saw this passage:

\n
\n

\"The consummate truth of life is that we alter our destiny by altering our thoughts. The mind is our most crucial resource, our crowning asset, our ultimate arena of battle. If we will master the power of our minds, we may do or be whatsoever we will.\" 

\n
\n

I cannot wait to dive into this one.

\n

 

","tags":"_298words_","slug":"at-the-bookstore-1781385980035","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":357,"published_at":"2024-03-17T22:41:18.354Z","created_at":"2024-03-17T22:41:18.364Z","updated_at":"2024-03-17T22:41:18.383Z","title":"Manifestation Mastery","description":"Complete the six-month Manifestation Mastery course through Mind Valley.","author":3,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63132,"published_at":"2026-06-13T11:11:37.774Z","created_at":"2026-06-13T11:11:37.851Z","updated_at":"2026-06-13T11:11:38.532Z","title":"Switchbot","content":"SwitchBot is a practical gateway for smart homes, especially where you don’t want to rip out and replace everything you already own. At its core, SwitchBot focuses on simplicity, with small, clever devices that physically interact with existing switches, buttons, and appliances. The signature “Bot” is a perfect example: a compact gadget that presses a light switch or a coffee machine button on command, bringing old technology into the connected world. What makes SwitchBot particularly appealing is its flexibility. With the addition of a Hub, I can control my devices remotely and integrate them into my Apple Home ecosystem. Products like the Switchbot Bot and Motion help me automate everyday tasks, quietly turning on the coffee machine in the early morning, turning off the printer at night’s end. \n\nFor my household, I find the incremental approach particularly helpful. It allows me not to overhaul my entire home all at once, but instead to upgrade and automate devices gradually over time. By integrating sensors that monitor temperature, motion, and humidity, SwitchBot enables me to create more thoughtful and responsive automations that adapt to my daily routines and seasonal changes, making my home smarter and more comfortable. It’s smart home technology that helps bridge the gap between the old and the new.","tags":"_213words_","slug":"switchbot-1781349097782","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63131,"published_at":"2026-06-13T10:24:11.356Z","created_at":"2026-06-13T10:24:11.437Z","updated_at":"2026-06-13T10:24:12.258Z","title":"I'm a game designer","content":"Yesterday I redesigned a game I made in 2024 called [Tic Tac Toto](https://golifelog.com/posts/social-programming-1723777805743). The [new version](https://appaday.app/tic-tac-toto/) is animated, using about 50 images I generated with Ideogram and Gemini. The animations are a bit stiff, but they're a huge upgrade on the overall experience. The player can actually tell what's happening in the game.\n\n![](https://i.ibb.co/Y4Zv9xDT/explorer-e6h-RHYz-Leh.png)\n\nI basically gave Fable 5 the image assets I made, the old version of the game, and a [700-word specification](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nNkVVjjRijSxVQnhLxSRhNY4dCn1PBAPmEkpNalNj6o/edit?usp=sharing) that explained the game rules, gameplay, and some of the animations. The animation descriptions focus mostly on Toto since it has actual poses it switches between.\n\nThe image assets took the most time to prepare, working on them over a week. I also had to plan the new rule set. Chaos events like a twister sweeping through can occur randomly, with increasing odds as more marks are placed on the board. Those events drop items that can be used to win each round. This keeps the game from stagnating.\n\nThat was most of the work. Coding the game took Fable 5 barely any time at all. I play tested it, made a few changes based on the experience of playing it, and viola! I'm a game designer.\n\n- [Tic Tac Toto](https://appaday.app/tic-tac-toto/) the 2026 release.\n\n![](https://i.ibb.co/ZRcFqWLv/chrome-O9s4csg-Gl7.png)","tags":"_258words_","slug":"im-a-game-designer-1781346251367","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":356,"published_at":"2024-02-29T20:49:42.045Z","created_at":"2024-02-29T20:49:42.053Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:02:36.227Z","title":"Create apps for authors","description":"- Learn to program with and without AI\n- Make applications that are useful for authors\n- Use those apps for my own author brand","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63130,"published_at":"2026-06-12T23:11:31.282Z","created_at":"2026-06-12T23:11:31.359Z","updated_at":"2026-06-12T23:11:32.042Z","title":"Past present future self","content":"> Be forgiving with your past self. What's done is done. No sense in beating yourself up about it. \n> Be strict with your present self. Win the moment in front of you right now. \n> Be flexible with your future self. There are many paths to success. You don't need life to be a certain way to live well.\"\n> – [James Clear](https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/june-11-2026)\n\nWell said, as always by Mr Clear. \n\nI'd add on:\n\nBe humble and learn from your past self. All the lessons and experiences, the battle scars and gunshot wounds, are there to help you grow. You will keep circling back to the same trials and tribulations, unless you learn well from your past self. Follow your own advice. Your past self is your best teacher.\n\nBe present to your present self. Truth is, most of the time, we live in the past (depressed) or live in the future (anxious). Few are truly present, truly mindful, of what's before us, in each moment. Our present self gives us the best data on how to act, right now. If we listen well.\n\nBe optimistic about your future self. Have faith, bear hope, be optimistic, that after all the things your past self taught you, you can make it. That after taking good care and heeding what the present self is whispering to you in every moment, you will get through. With the hope that we will grow and evovle and get better, stronger, faster, there's something to live for.\n\nPast present future. All one.","tags":"_265words_","slug":"past-present-future-self-1781305891290","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63129,"published_at":"2026-06-12T22:56:45.554Z","created_at":"2026-06-12T22:56:45.630Z","updated_at":"2026-06-12T22:56:46.314Z","title":"Fire your boss","content":"

In the corporate world, you sometimes land in a situation where you do not get along with your boss. Maybe it was all rainbows and puppies in the honeymoon period, and then it turned sour for whatever reason. Maybe you inherit a boss who didn't hire you. No matter the reason, sometimes it just doesn't work out. You might be able to secure a different placement, but it's more likely you'll either be terminated or apply for another position.

\n

In the network marketing world, things operate differently. You don't have a boss, per se. You have a sponsor, who is the person who brought you into the organization. Then you have the chain of people above the sponsor, known as the \"upline.\" You are your own boss, but you also rely on the upline for support, mentorship, etc.

\n

I have learned to take full responsibility for my business, so I won't use lack of support as an excuse. Nevertheless, our team has unfortunately had no support from our primary \"Diamond\" leader for the better part of six months. My sponsor, Chef Z, has decided it's time for a change. She has gotten the ball rolling to initiate a request with corporate to transfer her and her team to a different upline. These changes are not taken lightly, but they are not unprecedented.

\n

Today, I had a Zoom call with a potential leader who might be our new upline. If it all pans out, we will be in much better hands.

","tags":"_250words_","slug":"fire-your-boss-1781305005562","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63128,"published_at":"2026-06-12T07:08:37.073Z","created_at":"2026-06-12T07:08:37.149Z","updated_at":"2026-06-12T07:08:57.771Z","title":"Fairfield to the city","content":"Since I’ve started using the suburban train more often, travelling from Fairfield to the CBD has become a calming routine. The journey begins quietly, with the platform filled with familiar commuters, some holding takeaway coffee, others still groggy from sleep. When the train arrives, there’s a gentle shuffle aboard, a shared understanding of this daily comfort. As we head south, the scenery shifts from green suburban streets to more crowded terraces and graffiti-covered walls. The Yarra briefly appears, catching the morning sunlight, before the train passes Clifton Hill. Each stop brings a slight shift in atmosphere: more passengers, conversations starting, and a growing sense of anticipation.\n\nInside the carriage, life unfolds in small moments. Someone scrolls through news headlines, another listens to music, and a pair of men quietly discuss the day ahead. It’s a cross-section of the city before it fully wakes. By the time we approach Richmond, the skyline begins to dominate, with glass towers reflecting the early sun. The train slows, then slips into the heart of it all. Stepping onto the platform, the calm dissolves into the city’s pulse, a transition completed in just a handful of stops.","tags":"_198words_","slug":"fairfield-to-the-city-1781248117081","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63127,"published_at":"2026-06-12T05:34:27.886Z","created_at":"2026-06-12T05:34:27.963Z","updated_at":"2026-06-12T05:34:28.786Z","title":"Tracker Snap v2","content":"I'm trying to burn through some credits with Claude Fable before my weekly credits reset 13 hours from now. First, I had Claude rework my Writing Streak site so I don't have to manually update the archives with Claude Cowork. It just uses a JSON file I manage with my editorial dashboard.\n\nI also updated the Tracker Snap script I made [at the beginning of the year](https://golifelog.com/posts/trackersnap-the-making-of-1769231645282). I wanted to move it to a subfolder, so I told Fable to move it, but also go wild and add customizations to the script based on its own recommendations. I also had it make a index page explaining the format and a link builder. Tt can do a lot more and is easier to use than before.\n\n- [Tracker Snap](https://trackersnap.com/)\n- [Build your own tracker image](https://trackersnap.com/build/tracker/)\n\nAnyone who wants to add a tracking image to one of their posts can build the link and paste it here and it will work for as long as I'm solvent. (Alternately, you can download the image and upload it here with the Lifelog image tool.)\n\nRight now I'm trying to build a buffer of 50 writing exercises. So here are three versions of the tracker showing I'm 20% of the way there. The images won't update unless I edit the URL. It's a snapshot of where I am right now, not a live update.\n\n---\n\n**style:bar, theme:terminal**\n![Exercise Buffer](https://trackersnap.com/render/title:Exercise_Buffer/goal:50/current:10/unit:exercises/theme:terminal/color:auto/deadline:2026-06-13/)\n\n**style:dots**\n![Exercise Buffer](https://trackersnap.com/render/title:Exercise_Buffer/goal:50/current:10/unit:exercises/style:dots/segments:50/color:amber/deadline:2026-06-13/font:serif/)\n\n**style:ring, theme:dark**\n![Exercise Buffer](https://trackersnap.com/render/title:Exercise_Buffer/goal:50/current:10/unit:exercises/style:ring/theme:dark/color:purple/deadline:2026-06-13/font:serif/)\n","tags":"_335words_","slug":"tracker-snap-v2-1781242467893","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":356,"published_at":"2024-02-29T20:49:42.045Z","created_at":"2024-02-29T20:49:42.053Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:02:36.227Z","title":"Create apps for authors","description":"- Learn to program with and without AI\n- Make applications that are useful for authors\n- Use those apps for my own author brand","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63126,"published_at":"2026-06-12T00:32:15.511Z","created_at":"2026-06-12T00:32:15.588Z","updated_at":"2026-06-12T00:32:16.274Z","title":"Vibes","content":"When you realise that the external environment does 90% of heavy lifting when it comes to any form of change, education, or learning, you start looking at schools differently.\n\nBecause when choosing a school for your child, you can of course consider a million and one things that will affect your kid's education:\n\nRules\nSports\nExams\nResults\nWelfare\nReviews\nFacilities\nClass size\nPedagogy\nLanguages\nHomework\nCredentials\nCurriculum\nStudent mix\nAcademic rigor\nYears in service\nEtc etc etc etc etc\n\nBut the more schools we visit in Chiangmai, the more I realise, it's all about the environment.\n\nEnvironment environment environment. \n\nBut I prefer to say vibes. It sounds so fluffy, but it sums it up better than environment. It's the way a place makes you feel when you enter it. It's just like cafes. Some cafes are great for coffee over conversation. Some feels calm and quiet for a solo espresso. Some are just confused and chaotic and you leave it feeling out of sorts.\n\nThe same for schools.\n\nAnd when you spend 8h or more in one place, the environment starts to do some heavy lifting on your mind, body and soul indeed.\n\nIf I enter it and I feel calm, relaxed, safe, cosy and ready to learn, that's already a great school. Everything else is a bonus. (Of course this assumes that most schools are not far off in terms of curriculum and content. That parity is hygiene level now, really.)\n\nProblem is, schools these days—especially top schools—are anything but calm, relaxed, safe and cosy. They are frantic, rushed, psychologically unsafe and uncomfortable. Basically just stressful. No one can learn well in a stressful state. Now imagine spending every day in this environment, for ten years. That's hell on earth.\n\nSo, trust me on the vibes.\n\nThis post was about schools, but it's not really just about schools.","tags":"_318words_","slug":"vibes-1781224335518","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[{"id":47633,"created_at":"2026-06-12T01:58:29.321Z","updated_at":"2026-06-12T01:58:29.628Z","content":"This reminds me of something I read this morning.\n> There have to be better credentialing systems than one’s willingness to go into debt. -- Jasmine Sun on [Substack](https://open.substack.com/pub/jasmine/p/2026-advice?r=12nc7b&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web)","post":63126,"author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41}},{"id":47635,"created_at":"2026-06-12T23:28:28.609Z","updated_at":"2026-06-12T23:28:28.885Z","content":"@Winkletter Wow that's a one shot kill there","post":63126,"author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1}}]},{"id":63125,"published_at":"2026-06-11T20:46:57.071Z","created_at":"2026-06-11T20:46:57.148Z","updated_at":"2026-06-11T20:46:57.964Z","title":"Second brain revisited","content":"

I attended a portion of an online AI summit today and talked to my good buddy Daniel, the head Unicorn at Unicorn Universe. He has pivoted to his company, Knight Ops, where he is helping founders and business owners automate their systems. He shared with me how he set up his personal agents, and I was blown away.

\n

He used Claude to set up an Obsidian database that basically knows everything he wants it to know about him. This reminded me of the second brain concept I learned about a while back, but it's the second brain on steroids. Once you do the heavy lifting of getting the AI trained on all your stuff, you now have a powerful assistant that can execute many tasks on your behalf. The functionality I'm most interested in is automating social media. He uses an app called OpusClip to create short clips of longer videos to post on social media. It's basically the dream I've been looking for.

\n

Now is the time to dig into the arduous work of getting Claude to learn everything about me so that I can move forward with automation. I still don't know exactly how to do it all, but I know enough to get started.

","tags":"_207words_","slug":"second-brain-revisited-1781210817079","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":325,"published_at":"2023-01-03T19:25:25.480Z","created_at":"2023-01-03T19:25:25.483Z","updated_at":"2023-01-03T19:25:25.491Z","title":"Small Bets","description":"One of my themes for 2023 is Small Bets a la Daniel V. style. Inspired by my Medium experiment, I want to try other experiments to test alternate sources of income. The key is not to make significant investments in money or time but to try more straightforward options with low barriers.","author":3,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[{"id":47634,"created_at":"2026-06-12T02:19:14.697Z","updated_at":"2026-06-12T02:19:14.972Z","content":"As with most things, I was ahead of the game for a while but I'm falling behind again.","post":63125,"author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41}}]},{"id":63124,"published_at":"2026-06-11T17:43:23.388Z","created_at":"2026-06-11T17:43:23.464Z","updated_at":"2026-06-11T17:43:24.283Z","title":"Worldbuilder's disease","content":"Worldbuilder's disease is a label thrown around, usually by writers with small minds who have a limited view of what writing should be. They define writing as an exploration of human psychology. The writing should explore desire, emotional truth, and blah blah blah.\n\nWorldbuilding is a human desire. The mind wants to imagine other places and how lives would be different in a different climate, a unique society, and different tools at hand.\n\nMeanwhile, some human minds want to impose their own worldview on others. Thankfully, the worldbuilder can't be contained in that thin slice, and ignore the naysayers as they explore a world of possibilities.","tags":"_108words_","slug":"worldbuilders-disease-1781199803396","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":173,"published_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.282Z","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.299Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:04:27.227Z","title":"Writing, editing, and publishing novels","description":"- Write and publish a serialized story\n- Publish novels using the same material\n- Write spin-off stories in the same universe","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63123,"published_at":"2026-06-11T10:17:32.720Z","created_at":"2026-06-11T10:17:32.810Z","updated_at":"2026-06-11T10:17:33.569Z","title":"Undercover","content":"There’s a quiet luxury in knowing my roadster is tucked away in a friend’s garage, safe from the elements and the minor hazards of daily life. It’s not just about sheltering a car; it’s about preserving a piece of joy. My roadster, with its low lines and promise of open roads, feels almost too special to squeeze into a crowded driveway or to leave at the mercy of the weather and wandering eyes. Instead, it rests in a borrowed space, under a solid roof, amid the familiar clutter of someone else’s tools and projects.\n\nThat arrangement carries a warmth beyond mere convenience. It speaks to trust, to friendship, to the unspoken understanding that some things matter more than square metres and storage. Each time I lift the garage door, there’s a small moment of gratitude, both for the car itself and for the generosity that keeps it protected. When the time comes to take it out, to hear the engine turn over and feel the road unfold beneath me, it feels even more special. The roadster isn’t just stored; it’s cared for, waiting patiently for the next perfect drive, ready to deliver joy and freedom whenever called upon.","tags":"_206words_","slug":"undercover-1781173052732","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63122,"published_at":"2026-06-11T00:19:08.665Z","created_at":"2026-06-11T00:19:08.749Z","updated_at":"2026-06-11T00:19:09.500Z","title":"Only in Thailand","content":"In a Sunday night market inside a temple\nSitting under the Bodhi tree\nWhere the Buddha gained enlightenment\nBut here we are\nEating grilled pork on sticks\nDrinking tangerineade\nChatting, laughing through mouthfuls\nAbout life, kids, country, people\nAbout living a different life\nA more enlightened life perhaps\n\nOnly in Thailand.\n\nEarly morning\nWalking calmly as a family\nTo a camping breakfast\nUnder a tree\nHardboiled eggs, sweet potatoes\nA latte or cappuccino\nFaint golden light\nQuiet, safe space\nKids run around freely\n\nOnly in Thailand.\n\nThere's a market here.\nAnother market there.\nThere's a market this weekend.\nThere's another the next.\nThere's artists.\nThere's farmers.\nThere's artisans.\nThere's designers.\nThere's a market for everyone.\nCraft is well and alive here\nEven in the age of AI\n\nOnly in Thailand.","tags":"_138words_","slug":"only-in-thailand-1781137148674","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63121,"published_at":"2026-06-10T23:54:08.190Z","created_at":"2026-06-10T23:54:08.277Z","updated_at":"2026-06-10T23:54:09.321Z","title":"Ideation for my newsletter","content":"

My writing dashboard continues to be a gift that keeps on giving. Six years ago, I was still contemplating ideas for a newsletter. I provided the screenshot below because it's from my personal archive of 200WAD posts.

\n

\n

I started Be Wellthy in October of 2020, and it is interesting to reflect on these initial ideas after writing over 300 weekly newsletters for 5+ years. Somehow, I was spot on because, other than number 6, I have covered all these topics. Some would say my scope is too broad and I should narrow down my niche to increase subscriber engagement. Whatever. I'm happy doing what I'm doing, and I've lasted this long without following traditional advice.

\n

I just checked the Substack dashboard and was surprised to learn that I've hit the 700-subscriber milestone. This is a new record for the little newsletter that could. Now that's total subscribers. I have 21 paid subscribers in the Be Wellthy Club. My goal is to hit 1,000 paid subscribers, which seems pretty far from where I am now, but in terms of total subscribers, I can see hitting 1,000 before the end of the year. All this without doing much promotion and focusing on the enjoyment of the creative process.

","tags":"_207words_","slug":"ideation-for-my-newsletter-1781135648201","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":13,"published_at":"2020-12-31T17:54:29.086Z","created_at":"2020-12-31T17:54:29.099Z","updated_at":"2025-10-05T19:42:33.585Z","title":"Reach 1,000 paid subscribers for the Be Wellthy newsletter","description":"I think 1,000 is a nice round number that demonstrates a good following of people for my newsletter. I would like to reach 1,000 paid subscribers.","author":3,"type":"Ongoing"},{"id":31,"published_at":"2021-01-06T23:34:22.575Z","created_at":"2021-01-06T23:34:22.713Z","updated_at":"2021-09-28T20:43:45.397Z","title":"Start a hobby that is purely for joy","description":"Sometimes I just want to be a kid again. It's not fun being an adult all the time and always doing things out of obligation or because I should do them. I want a hobby that I can do out of pure joy and nothing else. ","author":3,"type":"Archived"}],"comments":[{"id":47632,"created_at":"2026-06-11T00:22:02.043Z","updated_at":"2026-06-11T00:22:02.340Z","content":"Ah time hop for 2000wad writings.. nice!!! Ever thought of making the dashboard code open source? ;)","post":63121,"author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1}}]},{"id":63120,"published_at":"2026-06-10T10:13:47.699Z","created_at":"2026-06-10T10:13:47.775Z","updated_at":"2026-06-10T10:13:48.455Z","title":"Unwanted wake-up","content":"At five in the morning, the house is meant to be dark and still. It is also my wake-up time, so I am careful not to disturb my wife’s sleep when I get up. But today, my carefully planned automation had other ideas. Right on cue, the study lamp flicked on, doing exactly what I’d asked of it. The problem was everything else I’d forgotten. In my half-asleep state, I’d left the study door ajar the night before. It didn’t seem like much at the time, just one of those small oversights you barely notice. But when that lamp sprang to life, its light spilled down the hallway and straight into our bedroom, cutting through the darkness like a spotlight.\n\nMy wife stirred first with a soft murmur, then the unmistakable shift of someone pulled from deep sleep far too early. I lay there, instantly aware of what had happened, piecing it together with a sinking feeling. My clever automation, designed to ease me into the morning, had instead jolted us both awake. For my wife, this early-morning intruder was uninvited and had disturbed what was already a restless night’s sleep. For her, it could not have come at a worse time. It made for a tense day, and she has hardly spoken to me. I guess I only have myself to blame.","tags":"_232words_","slug":"unwanted-wake-up-1781086427707","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63119,"published_at":"2026-06-10T06:55:19.942Z","created_at":"2026-06-10T06:55:20.018Z","updated_at":"2026-06-10T06:55:20.843Z","title":"Editorial dashboard","content":"To test Anthropic's new big-brained model, Fable 5, I decided to create an editorial dashboard for my newsletter and writing exercises. I keep a folder on my PC for exercise drafts, articles, and accompanying images and I have a few tools I use to edit the exercises, but I wanted an integrated dashboard that would track my progress and warn me of deadlines.\n\nI handed the task off to Claude Cowork running Fable 5 and told it to work independently while I watched a manga recap. It asked a few questions, but after that I didn't hear back until it had finished.\n\n- Ran for about 25 minutes\n- 2700-line single HTML file with 132,000 characters.\n- Used 30% of my session budget, 6% of weekly budget\n\nThe plan ran through 6 phases.\n> 1. Study remaining renderer details (today.css, boost styles, today.js)\n> 2. Build dashboard.html — scaffold, folder connection, data layer\n> 3. Build exercise tracker + editor (daily and boost)\n> 4. Build article tracker + editor with versioned drafts\n> 5. Build test modal replicating today/boost pages\n> 6. Verify dashboard end-to-end\n\nOn the new dashboard I have tabs for an overview, the writing exercises, the boost exercises, and weekly articles. Once I connect my local folder it checks for any problems and populates the tabs.\n\n> Needs attention\n> - 6 of the next 7 days still in draft: 2026-06-12, 2026-06-13, 2026-06-14, 2026-06-15, 2026-06-16, 2026-06-17.\n> - Missing PNG for: 2026-06-15, 2026-06-16.\n> - No article draft for the week of Jun 8 (due Monday 2026-06-08).\n> - 4 boost exercises in draft: 6N1P, 7FNB, DKQG, ETYF.\n\nThere's too many different features to list. It put together a fantastic app for me to manage my workflow, and I probably spent more time describing what I wanted than it took to implement the dashboard. Here's a screenshot of the exercise tab with the edit pane extended.\n\n![](https://i.ibb.co/Pvb5mShB/chrome-f-FVnyn8r-Kk.png)\n\nAnyone on the Pro plan will probably hit session limits in 20 minutes (maybe sooner since Cowork has doubled usage limits for the month.) So far, it definitely seems worth the added cost. It definitely feels like the model you want building a first version and architecting the roadmap.","tags":"_389words_","slug":"editorial-dashboard-1781074519950","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":173,"published_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.282Z","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.299Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:04:27.227Z","title":"Writing, editing, and publishing novels","description":"- Write and publish a serialized story\n- Publish novels using the same material\n- Write spin-off stories in the same universe","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63118,"published_at":"2026-06-10T01:38:36.685Z","created_at":"2026-06-10T01:38:36.817Z","updated_at":"2026-06-10T01:39:09.050Z","title":"Fable limits","content":"Anthropic just unleashed their latest model Fable 5. I knew something was up when they doubled usage limits for the Claude Cowork's 5-hour window for the rest of June. Were they preparing for Fable since it consumes limits at twice the cost of Opus 4.8? As with most new releases, they reset my limits for the week, so I have lots of tokens to burn. And apparently, it will burn a lot of tokens.\n\nSadly, Fable 5 is only included in the subscriptions for the next two weeks. After June 22nd, you have to use credits ($10/M input, $50/M output tokens). To be honest, I'm not sure if I have any tasks that require the supersized big brain. But it might be a good time to get a head start on an ambitious idea.\n\nFable 5 is essentially the Mythos model they built and had on hold, but it has strict filters on usage. If you stray too closely to the threat domains (cybersecurity and biology) it will route the request to Opus 4.8. These filters are probably going to start extra sensitive. I can already see the complaints on Twitter and Reddit.\n\nI'll probably have a chat with Opus first to figure out which of my projects to try.","tags":"_218words_","slug":"fable-limits-1781055516697","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63117,"published_at":"2026-06-10T00:26:35.756Z","created_at":"2026-06-10T00:26:35.834Z","updated_at":"2026-06-10T00:26:36.659Z","title":"Opportunity","content":"Same day today 4 years ago, in 2022. I said I've neglected the [opportunity right under my nose](https://golifelog.com/posts/neglecting-the-opportunity-right-under-my-nose-1654731398191) – my Carrd plugins.\n\n> I can’t keep neglecting a project that’s been quieting generating revenue and say in good faith that I haven’t found a project that has potential to take-off. IT’S RIGHT THERE for the taking. *Take it*.\n\nI definitely ran with that. Now Plugins is doing much better compared to then. Multiple fold increase in revenue, and consistently year on year at that. But that opportunity from four years ago is also now starting to stagnate. I can't throw in all my chips on just one opportunity, even if it was a good opportunity four years ago.\n\nRe-reading my post got me thinking: *What opportunity right under my nose am I now neglecting?*\n\nPreviously, I was building other projects while neglecting the good project.\nBut this time, I'm not building any new projects, and focusing on the good but stagnant project.\n\nThe only opportunities are ones I had yet to build.\nThe ones collecting dust in my ideas list, or built halfway.\nThe ones that can be built much faster and easier now on AI.\nThe ones that can be tested and discarded quickly if it doesn't work.\n\nAnd perhaps it's a good time to start building them.\n\nNow is the time.","tags":"_244words_","slug":"opportunity-1781051195764","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":30,"published_at":"2021-01-06T04:05:04.176Z","created_at":"2021-01-06T04:05:04.184Z","updated_at":"2024-09-08T23:53:20.789Z","title":"Decoding coding","description":"2019 till present bucket list - learning how to code. HMTL, CSS, JS, jQuery, Bootstrap, PHP, SQLite, MySQL, Ruby on Rails, JAMstack, Gatsby, Vue, Nuxt, PostgreSQL, Strapi.js, VPS, Docker, Git, Tailwind, Bulma","author":1,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[{"id":47631,"created_at":"2026-06-10T19:35:20.013Z","updated_at":"2026-06-10T19:35:20.321Z","content":"Yes!! Let's goo!","post":63117,"author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3}}]},{"id":63116,"published_at":"2026-06-09T19:31:45.561Z","created_at":"2026-06-09T19:31:45.638Z","updated_at":"2026-06-09T19:31:46.463Z","title":"Dental appointment","content":"

There was a time when I stopped going to the dentist. That was a bad idea. When I finally resumed my visits, I endured major gum rehabilitation. Had my gums been left alone, I would likely have some missing teeth (along with other systemic disease states). Oral health is crucial for overall health.

\n

I learned my lesson, and now I visit the dentist every six months. I'm even a cash patient now, but that does not matter. An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.

\n

I received a clean bill of health as expected. Gums are in good shape. No cavities, and soft tissues are cancer-free. They didn't comment on my visibly brighter teeth.

\n

I also took the opportunity to pass out Lattekafe samples to my dentist, hygienist, and admin staff. I gave my dentist two sample packs, and he said, \"Oh, you don't have to use up extra on me.\" I told him, \"Hey, I'm a dealer. I'm trying to get you addicted!\"

\n

I haven't had any responses to the samples I passed out at the conference, but I remain undeterred. I know this is good stuff, and I will continue to pass out samples and share my positive experience.

","tags":"_205words_","slug":"dental-appointment-1781033505569","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":325,"published_at":"2023-01-03T19:25:25.480Z","created_at":"2023-01-03T19:25:25.483Z","updated_at":"2023-01-03T19:25:25.491Z","title":"Small Bets","description":"One of my themes for 2023 is Small Bets a la Daniel V. style. Inspired by my Medium experiment, I want to try other experiments to test alternate sources of income. The key is not to make significant investments in money or time but to try more straightforward options with low barriers.","author":3,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63115,"published_at":"2026-06-09T09:58:59.248Z","created_at":"2026-06-09T09:58:59.325Z","updated_at":"2026-06-09T09:59:00.009Z","title":"The Big Freeze","content":"The Big Freeze has become one of the most memorable and anticipated moments on the Australian sporting calendar, seamlessly blending elements of footy, humor, and heartfelt purpose. Held annually before the AFL’s King’s Birthday match since 2014, it gathers players, coaches, and celebrities who dress in vibrant costumes and slide into an icy pool at the iconic MCG. While it appears light-hearted and fun on the surface, behind the laughter and playful antics lies a profoundly serious cause: raising awareness and funds to combat motor neurone disease (MND).\n\nThe event was inspired by Neale Daniher, a former Essendon footballer and Melbourne coach, who was diagnosed with MND. He was the face of the fight against MND, but sadly, he lost his battle with the disease in the weeks leading up to this year’s events. His bravery and unwavering resolve propelled the FightMND foundation, transforming his personal struggle into a powerful nationwide movement. Every year, spectators cheer as “Sliders” don costumes and plunge into ice-filled pools. Beanies, heartfelt conversations, and shared experiences help raise millions of dollars in donations while shining a light on a disease that, to this day, remains incurable and deeply challenging.","tags":"_199words_","slug":"the-big-freeze-1780999139256","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63114,"published_at":"2026-06-09T01:12:48.493Z","created_at":"2026-06-09T01:12:48.571Z","updated_at":"2026-06-09T01:12:49.253Z","title":"365","content":"

I asked someone how impressive a 365-day streak is. One full year, every single day, completing some task. In my case, I can point to several streaks that exceed 365 days. Most people would agree that maintaining a streak that long (depending on the task) takes some serious dedication. Now, I'll ask a different question. Forget 365 days. How about 365 weeks?

\n

I was pleasantly surprised when Grammarly informed me that I have achieved 365 weeks of writing.

\n

\n

This reminds me of my new writing dashboard's \"On This Day\" feature. Here is what I was writing about on this day for the last seven years.

\n

2025: Discipline is a superpower

\n

2024: Home blood draw

\n

2023: Blood pressure

\n

2022: Diablo Immortal

\n

2021: Be Wellthy on the rise

\n

2020: Imposter Syndrome

\n

2019: Wasting away

\n

I'm sure plenty of my posts are \"throw-away\" and provide little, if any, value. But surely after all this time writing, there are some nuggets in there. Enough for a short book, perhaps? I would have given up on any hope of consolidating these writings and extracting all the gems. Now that Claude is here, the task will be much easier. I'm excited to see where this thread may lead.

","tags":"_203words_","slug":"365-1780967568502","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[{"id":47630,"created_at":"2026-06-10T00:30:40.392Z","updated_at":"2026-06-10T00:30:40.668Z","content":"Damn that's 7 years!","post":63114,"author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1}}]},{"id":63113,"published_at":"2026-06-09T00:08:38.857Z","created_at":"2026-06-09T00:08:38.936Z","updated_at":"2026-06-09T00:08:39.620Z","title":"No friends","content":"My wife always jokes that I have no friends. I always reply that my friends are all online now.\n\nBut she’s not wrong, either.\n\nThe real life friends I actually do meet and want to meet face-to-face, have all relocated. Friends I can just count with one hand. So I don’t have coffees, hang out, or go for dinner with friends when in Singapore. In most of daily life, practically speaking, I have no friends. \n\nI thought it was just my life stage.\nA passing phase perhaps. \nBusy with children. Busy with family.\nEveryone’s this way, in Singapore, anyway.\nI’m also constantly tired, so not feeling up for meeting up.\nAnd I’m an introvert, anyway.\n\nBut somehow, Chiangmai is teaching me something else.\n\nIt’s not that I have no friends. I am simply living in the wrong place.\n\nMy friends and to-be friends are all here now. People I can connect with. People whom I share similar values, about life, parenting, education, living. Who are all a bit (or a lot) off from the normal factory production line. Outliers. Unusual. Different. Non-mainstream. \n\nWhen in the right place, friends come to you, whether you like it or not. Life stage or not.\nAnd I’m not the hermit-like, isolated, quiet-loving introvert I thought I was.\n\nI was, quite simply, in the wrong place.\n\nCrazy how much that affects our social lives, and our own perception of our soclal self.\n\nWild.","tags":"_251words_","slug":"no-friends-1780963718866","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63112,"published_at":"2026-06-08T19:22:31.292Z","created_at":"2026-06-08T19:22:31.369Z","updated_at":"2026-06-08T19:22:32.195Z","title":"Starting with the setting","content":"The recent movie Backrooms made over 100M on its opening weekend (now 200M), which is pretty good for a movie with a 10M-dollar budget. At 20, the director is the youngest to top the charts. The movie is based on a meme that started on 4chan when someone posted a picture of a furniture store in Milwaukie being remodeled. The photo spawned a creepypasta on the internet about an endless set of rooms in a space people would clip into.\n\nThe director, Kane Parsons, started posting backrooms videos that he made with the 3D software, Blender. The space itself creates the sense of dread as the viewpoint character navigates the endless halls. The rooms fall into the uncanny valley.\n\nThe director's main contribution was designing the sets that were then built on a 30,000-square-foot lot. The script was made to fit the space. Usually the script comes first and you find or make sets to match the story. This story had the benefit of several years focused essentially on worldbuilding with the director releasing 22 videos that slowly built out the lore of his particular backrooms interpretation.\n\n- [The Backrooms](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4dGpz6cnHo) The original 9-minute short with 84M views.","tags":"_209words_","slug":"starting-with-the-setting-1780946551300","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":173,"published_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.282Z","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.299Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:04:27.227Z","title":"Writing, editing, and publishing novels","description":"- Write and publish a serialized story\n- Publish novels using the same material\n- Write spin-off stories in the same universe","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[{"id":47629,"created_at":"2026-06-09T00:29:26.597Z","updated_at":"2026-06-09T00:29:26.876Z","content":"Cooool stuff. Reminded me of similar scenes in The Matrix","post":63112,"author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1}}]},{"id":63111,"published_at":"2026-06-08T09:11:58.971Z","created_at":"2026-06-08T09:11:59.051Z","updated_at":"2026-06-08T09:11:59.734Z","title":"Coastal calm","content":"Today was a clear, gentle break in the chill that drew my wife and me down to the coast. We set out along the track from Cape Schanck towards Bushrangers Bay, with a clear sky and little or no breeze. The walk was one of those easy, companionable ones. Not much said, but plenty shared. The steady rhythm of our steps, the distant crash of waves against the rugged cliffs, and the occasional call of seabirds carried on the breeze. The path wound through low coastal scrub, opening now and then to sweeping views of Bass Strait, blue and endless.\n\nAs we descended toward Bushrangers Bay, the landscape around us began to shift, becoming more sheltered and intimate. The beach lay quietly nestled between the headlands, as if keeping its own secret from the rest of the world. We paused there for a while, taking in the serene scene, feeling grateful for the stillness and calm. The return journey was just as picturesque and peaceful. We really enjoyed a simple day filled with good weather, a leisurely walk, and great scenery. It was nothing extraordinary, but it felt like exactly what we needed to recharge and reconnect. For tomorrow, we are back to work.","tags":"_204words_","slug":"coastal-calm-1780909918981","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63110,"published_at":"2026-06-07T23:35:02.125Z","created_at":"2026-06-07T23:35:02.207Z","updated_at":"2026-06-07T23:35:02.919Z","title":"Ship in silence","content":"I've been shipping in silence. Not stealth, just silence.\n\nUpsides no one talks about:\n\n- No copycats, no grifters. If no one knows how much you're making, nobody cares to copy you. No need to worry about copycats.\n- No need to spend time building an audience, saves you lots of time for shipping.\n- No need for public accountability. I am accountable for myself, to myself. No need to get strangers I don't care about nor respect involved.\n- Peace. Plain simple peace. No drama. No arguments. No lame discussions. Only people I want to keep in the loop knows. No one to bother me, no one to justify or explain anything to.\n\nTry it some day. It's a breath of fresh air.\n\nShip in silence.","tags":"_127words_","slug":"ship-in-silence-1780875302137","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63109,"published_at":"2026-06-07T19:59:57.769Z","created_at":"2026-06-07T19:59:57.847Z","updated_at":"2026-06-07T19:59:58.671Z","title":"I finally have my writing dashboard!","content":"

I have had the goal of aggregating all of my posts for several years. I realize it's a rare use case. First of all, I've been writing daily since December 2018 and have published on multiple websites. 

\n

Old-schoolers remember 200WAD, the site that started it all. After Baz's infamous rebrandings, he ultimately shut the site down at the end of 2020. Fortunately, someone figured out how to create a GitHub repository to archive those posts. I had Claude start with this archive to build my dashboard.

\n

Then we have the three separate sites that spring up, allowing members of #Teamstreak to continue.

\n

Of course, LifeLog has had the most staying power. There are a few of us here still keeping the lights on. This is where I had Claude start with creating my dashboard. It figured out how to use an API to pull current and future posts, so hopefully @jasonleow doesn't change something behind the scenes that will break it. 

\n

@abrahamKim still seems to be writing at Adagia, so I found him on Telegram and asked how to get my posts. He's going to do a database dump that I can feed into Claude.

\n

The wildcard is Writestreak, which seems to have gone defunct. I used to communicate with @Arcticloon on Telegram, but he deleted his account. Hopefully, I can track him down and get access to my posts. 

\n

In the meantime, my favorite feature of my new dashboard (which is a local file, so I won't be able to share it) is the On This Day feature, which lets me see every post I wrote on that day, going back to 2018/2019. Very cool!

","tags":"_276words_","slug":"i-finally-have-my-writing-dashboard-1780862397778","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":59,"published_at":"2021-02-14T15:57:14.364Z","created_at":"2021-02-14T15:57:14.424Z","updated_at":"2021-06-21T00:30:49.363Z","title":"Aggregate my posts and master streak tracker","description":"I have published posts on Medium, 200WAD, LifeLog, Adagia, and Writestreak. I want to find or create a tool that allows me to see summary data of all my posts. Ideally, I'd be able to track a count of posts by site, have URLs to all the posts, and track the individual streaks as well as the master streak.","author":3,"type":"Archived"}],"comments":[{"id":47628,"created_at":"2026-06-07T23:37:45.755Z","updated_at":"2026-06-07T23:37:46.028Z","content":"Cool stuff! Nothing's changing for now don't worry hah. You should host the dashboard online - would love to see it","post":63109,"author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1}}]},{"id":63108,"published_at":"2026-06-07T19:35:57.270Z","created_at":"2026-06-07T19:35:57.348Z","updated_at":"2026-06-07T19:35:58.036Z","title":"Dew point","content":"The weather is miserable today: 86°F with a dew point of 71°F. I've had to put a fan facing my computer to help prevent overheating and I'm running the air conditioner at max. Ah, and now it looks like I have some ice clogging the intake. I'm going to have to shut it down for a bit while I clean the ice away.\n\nI'm still sweating anytime I get up and move around, but it's not helping me cool down. So I'm just staying indoors and immobile while I wait out the weather. It's going to rain all week, but thankfully the temperature is predicted to drop. It will still be wet but not quite as hot.","tags":"_126words_","slug":"dew-point-1780860957279","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63107,"published_at":"2026-06-07T07:41:12.871Z","created_at":"2026-06-07T07:41:12.949Z","updated_at":"2026-06-07T07:41:39.814Z","title":"Wi‑Fi woes","content":"I have spent a good part of my day trying to resolve my router and Wi‑Fi issues. The new router was in, the access points were neatly mounted, and I had a sense of stronger Wi‑Fi, cleaner coverage, and proper visibility across the whole network. It felt like progress. Then I did a speed test. On Ethernet, I was pulling a solid 600 Mbps, exactly what I’d expect. But the moment I switched to Wi‑Fi, it dropped to a frustrating crawl of 50 or 60 Mbps. Same internet, same house, completely different experience. That’s when the day changed.\n\nWhat followed was hours of tinkering. Channels were adjusted, widths tweaked, band steering questioned, firmware checked. I found myself moving from room to room with a laptop, testing, retesting, chasing signal strength and interference as if it were a puzzle that refused to be solved. At times, I wondered if I’d made things worse rather than better. At the end of the day, Wi-Fi was faster, but still not as fast as the Ethernet connection. I clearly still have more work to do. Nevertheless, I gained a better understanding of my home network, which was the real upgrade.","tags":"_203words_","slug":"wifi-woes-1780818072880","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63106,"published_at":"2026-06-06T23:13:09.343Z","created_at":"2026-06-06T23:13:09.421Z","updated_at":"2026-06-06T23:13:10.106Z","title":"Nightmares > dreams","content":"Don't obsess over that perfect dream, of wanting everything to be perfect, to turn out perfectly.\n\nTruth is, if the experience of chasing and owning the dream isn't at least somewhat chaotic, painful, sweaty, difficult, then something's wrong. You might actually be asleep. Dreams are only perfect when you're asleep. When dreams come into contact with real life, with reality... expect friction. There's no perfection to be found there. But it is exactly in this imperfection that the path to your dream is the right one.\n\nIt's in this imperfection that makes the dream a dream. That makes it sweet. Worthwhile. Purposeful.\n\nDon't stop dreaming, yes.\n\nBut if it's closer to a nightmare when chasing it, you're right on course.\n\nBecause nothing important in life can be gotten without struggle.\n\n","tags":"_139words_","slug":"nightmares-greater-dreams-1780787589352","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63105,"published_at":"2026-06-06T18:45:12.364Z","created_at":"2026-06-06T18:45:12.442Z","updated_at":"2026-06-06T18:45:13.266Z","title":"Book cover test","content":"I'm not feeling too well today, but I mustered enough energy to test Ideogram's new model on one of my favorite use cases, generating book covers.\n\n- Being able to precisely place elements and describe them individually is a huge advantage. The JSON spec is almost like a text interface for a graphics program.\n- The describe feature lets you study the composition and layout of existing images.\n- Book covers benefit from having low feature counts (fewer things) and this system let's you practice disciplined layout.\n\n![](https://i.ibb.co/qFNGvHcp/1.png)\n\n- On the downside, the system loses the image-based inputs from the previous version. This makes it harder to develop a style.\n- The image outputs are, so far, low contrast and a bit middle-of-the-road.\n\nI can especially see the issues when I shrink the images to thumbnail size (where most covers compete). Using the previous version and a style reference I get an image that works well at both scales, with contrasts and highlights that create an outline around the main figure. The new model's output doesn't translate as well in the lower scale image.\n\n![](https://i.ibb.co/mrY5LMjq/2.png)\n\nI'm hoping image styles get added into this new model. Until then I'll have to keep trying to tweak my prompts to get better results.","tags":"_228words_","slug":"book-cover-test-1780771512372","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":173,"published_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.282Z","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.299Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:04:27.227Z","title":"Writing, editing, and publishing novels","description":"- Write and publish a serialized story\n- Publish novels using the same material\n- Write spin-off stories in the same universe","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63104,"published_at":"2026-06-06T16:38:38.812Z","created_at":"2026-06-06T16:38:38.891Z","updated_at":"2026-06-06T16:38:39.856Z","title":"Day 61 of Vision Espresso","content":"

It will come as no surprise to anyone here that I have completed Day 61 of the #75Easy challenge with Vision Espresso. I look at the leaderboard, and my best friend Steve has 2nd place with 25 days (birds of a feather). I wonder where everyone else is? Is it that difficult for people to establish a short daily habit and do it for more than a day or two before quitting?

\n

As I've written many times, the ability to establish habits is a superpower. Some people are on #Teamstreak; others have their own way of establishing habits. I have exercised this muscle so much that I can pretty much choose any activity and commit to doing it for a defined period of time. That doesn't mean I commit to habits daily. My current streak tracker has six habits I track daily: Writing, PEMF, vibration machine, manifesting practice, meditation, and the latest one — plank. Some of these habits require specialized gear that I don't have when traveling, so gasp, some streaks were broken.

\n

Getting back to Vision Espresso. It's been an amazing experience so far. I would highly recommend anyone who wants to learn more start with the Vision Quiz, which is a baby version of Vision Espresso that helps you gain clarity about your purpose and vision for your Future Self. This quiz is only $27 and gives you a taste of whether the full program is right for you right now.

","tags":"_243words_","slug":"day-61-of-vision-espresso-1780763918821","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":695,"published_at":"2025-05-02T00:10:27.130Z","created_at":"2025-05-02T00:10:27.142Z","updated_at":"2025-05-02T00:10:27.208Z","title":"Become my Future Self through the 10X Unicorn Program","description":"I joined the 10X Unicorn Program through the Unicorn Universe to think big and act bigger.","author":3,"type":"Ongoing"},{"id":357,"published_at":"2024-03-17T22:41:18.354Z","created_at":"2024-03-17T22:41:18.364Z","updated_at":"2024-03-17T22:41:18.383Z","title":"Manifestation Mastery","description":"Complete the six-month Manifestation Mastery course through Mind Valley.","author":3,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63103,"published_at":"2026-06-06T07:53:55.727Z","created_at":"2026-06-06T07:53:55.805Z","updated_at":"2026-06-06T07:53:56.486Z","title":"Tears, paint, and pride","content":"Thirty-five years ago, standing in the middle of my first home with a roller in one hand and paint splattered everywhere, I made a quiet promise to myself: I would never paint a house again. It felt endless, messy, and far harder than it looked. Yet time has a way of circling back. Today, I walked into my daughter’s new home and saw the same look I must have worn all those years ago. After three weeks of effort, she and her partner were exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure whether they’d done a good enough job. The walls told a story of effort, but their tears told a story of doubt.\n\nWithout much discussion, my wife and I rolled up our sleeves. There’s something familiar about stepping back into that space again, with the smell of fresh paint and a sense of shared purpose. What once felt like a burden now felt like a gift: the chance to help, to reassure, to stand beside them. By day’s end, the job was done. The house looked brighter, but more importantly, so did they. Relief replaced worry, and pride quietly settled. Funny how something I once swore off became a moment I’ll always cherish.","tags":"_207words_","slug":"tears-paint-and-pride-1780732435736","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63102,"published_at":"2026-06-05T23:15:05.823Z","created_at":"2026-06-05T23:15:05.909Z","updated_at":"2026-06-05T23:15:06.666Z","title":"All suffering comes from...","content":"

I saw an interesting webinar the other day in which Dr. Anderson, the founder of Optavia, said a key phrase that has stuck with me. I'm told it's a tenet in Buddhism. 

\n
\n

\"All suffering comes from having expectations.\"

\n
\n

This doesn't mean to just go through life willy-nilly, like floating down a lazy river and going wherever it takes you. There is a distinction between intention and expectation. For me, the takeaway is to have intention and not expectation.

\n

Another phrase I heard recently: \"In life, you have to care, just not that much.\"

\n

Dr. Anderson used the metaphor of a broken clock. A broken clock is right twice a day. That is about how often life will give us what we expect. Most of the time, we get an outcome that does not meet our expectations. For many people, this leads to suffering.

\n

I would say my personal development and meditation work have helped me become more detached from outcomes. It's not easy to put in the work and seemingly have nothing to show for it, but again, that feeling is tied to having expectations. 

\n

Maybe this is what the pick-up artists who have mastered \"the game\" are doing. They don't expect to get laid, but somehow they end up getting what they want.

\n

 

\n

 

\n

 

","tags":"_214words_","slug":"all-suffering-comes-from-1780701305832","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63101,"published_at":"2026-06-05T23:14:04.891Z","created_at":"2026-06-05T23:14:04.974Z","updated_at":"2026-06-05T23:14:05.874Z","title":"Creativity needs consistency","content":"> You cannot be creative at a high level unless you are robotic at a low level. – [@justinskycak](https://x.com/justinskycak/status/2062527540691173478?s=20)\n\nI always say this:\n\n**Consistency in input, chaos in output.**\n\nYou can't be truly creative when the conditions that give rise to it is chaotic too. Creativity is the shoot that grows when sunshine, water and soil comes together, regularly. If you read about the daily habits of highly creative writers, inventors, artists, you will find that their daily life is utterly boring. \n\nBenjamin Franklin kept a strict daily schedule, rising at 5 and sleeping at 10.\nMaya Angelou rented a hotel room just to isolate herself to write.\nThomas Edison did polyphasic sleep of only 4-5h per day, and used power naps to trigger creative inspiration.\n\nBoring habits, unboring outcomes.","tags":"_138words_","slug":"creativity-needs-consistency-1780701244898","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":25,"published_at":"2021-01-04T13:21:19.498Z","created_at":"2021-01-04T13:21:19.516Z","updated_at":"2021-06-18T00:57:35.239Z","title":"1% compounding","description":"Look for 1% improvement every week. Just 1%, 1 thing, 1 task, 1 idea.","author":1,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63100,"published_at":"2026-06-05T12:21:14.682Z","created_at":"2026-06-05T12:21:14.767Z","updated_at":"2026-06-05T12:21:15.680Z","title":"Shareable snapshot","content":"I stumbled into another interesting design pattern. I call this one the shareable snapshot. This can be its own application like the app I made the other day, [My Day in Nine](https://appaday.app/my-day-in-nine/) , or it can be a feature added to another app. I just added the feature to the [Line A Day](https://lineaday.app/) app and I'm planning to do the same for the daily writing exercise.\n\n![](https://i.ibb.co/NgXrnPJN/tomagoyaki.png)\n\nIt's a bit like the screenshot option here on LifeLog, except this opens a modal with options and is meant to be a bit more focused. In fact, I could see this working on LifeLog for creating shareable pull quotes from highlighted text.\n\nThe feature creates content for social media, and acts as a tributary linking back to my projects. It's a virtuous cycle.\n\n---\n\nI had Claude write an introduction that can be used to plan and vibe-code a similar feature.\n\n","tags":"_197words_","slug":"shareable-snapshot-1780662074690","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":356,"published_at":"2024-02-29T20:49:42.045Z","created_at":"2024-02-29T20:49:42.053Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:02:36.227Z","title":"Create apps for authors","description":"- Learn to program with and without AI\n- Make applications that are useful for authors\n- Use those apps for my own author brand","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63099,"published_at":"2026-06-05T07:56:28.160Z","created_at":"2026-06-05T07:56:28.246Z","updated_at":"2026-06-05T07:56:29.010Z","title":"Left out of the conversation","content":"It’s a strange kind of frustration, the sort that quietly builds rather than explodes. I learn that a policy is being developed, one that directly affects my team, yet I’ve had no input. No conversation, no consultation, not even a courtesy heads-up. It leaves me feeling sidelined, as though the experience and insight I bring to the table aren’t valued. What makes it worse is knowing I’ll ultimately be responsible for implementing whatever is decided. I’m expected to explain it, enforce it, and manage the fallout, all without the chance to shape it in a practical, grounded way. It’s hard not to think the outcome would be better if those of us closer to the day-to-day realities were involved earlier.\n\nThere’s also an awkwardness that arises when my team asks questions I can’t answer properly, which can be quite uncomfortable. This situation chips away at confidence, affecting both theirs and mine. I often find myself trying to interpret decisions I had no part in making, which only adds to the frustration. More than anything, it feels like a missed opportunity, not just for me but for the organisation as a whole. I believe that with better collaboration, we could have turned some of these frustrating moments into opportunities for genuine growth and effectiveness.","tags":"_224words_","slug":"left-out-of-the-conversation-1780646188169","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63098,"published_at":"2026-06-05T01:18:38.804Z","created_at":"2026-06-05T01:18:38.890Z","updated_at":"2026-06-05T01:18:39.662Z","title":"Change where I stand","content":"From a conversation with @Winkletter – \"The folly of my youth was thinking I can change the world. Now I just change where I stand.\"\n\nI thought I could contribute to the nation, to those in need. Change how public policy is made, how social equity was distributed, how services could reach more people in need, how charity can run better, how government sees citizens and how citizens see the government, and basically, to better the country I grew up in.\n\nBut after more than ten years sweating out in the field, sitting in boardrooms, working in government offices, I know, nothing really changes. The system feeds itself, runs on its own momentum and intent. By design. You can only every so slightly nudge it, if even. Most of the time, you are just a drop in the ocean of gears and machinery set up to fulfil it's own purpose, and incentivize itself, not citizens, not outcomes. The government is rich, but the people are not.\n\nThat final nail in the coffin - seeing how they handled COVID. That was it.\n\nNow I just change where I stand. I stand for myself and my family. Not country, not community, not common good.\n\nI relocate, I earn dollars from elsewhere, I do the minimum to contribute back.\n\nIt was never a reciprocal relationship with the state, anyway. They need you more than you need them. But they don't need *me* in particular, as there's always others willing to be needed by them.\n\nI stand now, for myself.","tags":"_257words_","slug":"change-where-i-stand-1780622318812","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63097,"published_at":"2026-06-04T17:58:42.950Z","created_at":"2026-06-04T17:58:43.035Z","updated_at":"2026-06-04T17:58:43.799Z","title":"Feeling off","content":"

For some reason, this has been a low-energy week. I usually need a day or two to recuperate after traveling from a big event, but my refractory period is taking longer this time. I can sense something is off, but I don't have anything specific to address.

\n

Perhaps I picked up some bad energy in my travels. Yes, this is a real thing. You know the old saying, \"those who lied down with dogs get up with fleas?\" That's the idea, except it happens on an energetic level. The goal is to be of a high enough vibrational level that you are not affected, but I have not yet achieved that level.

\n

So, the first step is to recognize it. The second step is to get back to the basics to support myself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The first two are where biohacking started for me. The latter two have gotten more attention and are the reason the conference was renamed the \"Beyond Conference.\" 

\n

In fact, one of the wildest demonstrations on stage was from two young girls who had been training their intuition daily for about eight years. They were blindfolded and performed some amazing feats. We are definitely equipped with more than just the standard five senses.

","tags":"_210words_","slug":"feeling-off-1780595922959","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[{"id":47624,"created_at":"2026-06-04T18:12:31.719Z","updated_at":"2026-06-04T18:12:32.026Z","content":"Two weeks till 2000 posts! And less than 3k words until you hit half a million words.","post":63097,"author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41}},{"id":47626,"created_at":"2026-06-05T13:46:49.066Z","updated_at":"2026-06-05T13:46:49.370Z","content":"It's be a fun ride.","post":63097,"author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3}}]},{"id":63096,"published_at":"2026-06-04T09:51:04.925Z","created_at":"2026-06-04T09:51:05.013Z","updated_at":"2026-06-04T09:51:05.762Z","title":"Winter rain","content":"The winter rain has settled over Melbourne with stubborn persistence, and I feel it the moment I step outside. It’s the kind of rain that doesn’t arrive with drama but lingers, quiet, steady, and unrelenting. Each morning feels like a repeat of the last: low grey skies, damp air, and footpaths that never quite dry. I’ve even had to dig out the scarves again, wrapping one snugly around my neck before heading out. It’s a small thing, but it makes a difference, keeping that sharp Melbourne chill from cutting straight through me. Still, the cold finds its way in, creeping past the layers.\n\nThere’s a heaviness to the days, as if the clouds are pressing down, muting everything just a little. The steady patter on the roof and the hiss of tyres on wet roads become the soundtrack of winter, creating a quiet yet persistent background noise that seems to echo the season's subdued mood. And yet, there’s something familiar about it. I settle into a quiet evening, writing, then lying in bed to hear the water on the roof as it runs down the gutters. Though it’s cold outside, I find it reassuring that the Melbourne weather is just what I expect for this time of year, adding a comforting consistency to the changing world.","tags":"_224words_","slug":"winter-rain-1780566664933","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63095,"published_at":"2026-06-04T08:58:59.166Z","created_at":"2026-06-04T08:58:59.251Z","updated_at":"2026-06-04T08:59:00.170Z","title":"Image prompting with JSON","content":"The image generator I use, [Ideogram](https://ideogram.ai/), just released a new model. This model is leaning towards precision. It includes a system that uses a JSON format to create detailed prompts. You can feed it an image and generate a complex prompt with a high-level description and compositional breakdown that includes a description of the background, and precisely placed objects and text.\n\nI happened to create a new app yesterday that makes a simple image with 9 emoji to represent your day, [My Day in Nine](https://appaday.app/my-day-in-nine/). Claude used its usual beige defaults, so I wanted to see if Ideogram could create alternate designs.\n\nI fed a screenshot of the original into the system and generated a description. It's 590 lines long so I won't reproduce it here. But it uses bounding boxes to place everything on screen. Here's a sample.\n\n```\n {\n \"type\": \"text\",\n \"bbox\": [\n 39,\n 252,\n 88,\n 469\n ],\n \"text\": \"My Day in Nine\",\n \"desc\": \"Large headline-sized text at the top\ncenter. Bold serif font in black.\"\n },\n```\n\n**Original Screenshot**\n![](https://i.ibb.co/qLqPv9x9/my-day-in-nine-style-example-000.png)\n\nWith this JSON prompt I can generate a pretty close approximate of the original screenshot. But that's not the use case I was thinking of. I fed the description to Claude and had it preserve the proportions and text, but had it update the descriptions to make a dark mode. I fed this back into Ideogram and generated a mock-up of a dark mode.\n\n**Reimagined Dark Mode**\n![](https://i.ibb.co/VW2PVczM/my-day-in-nine-style-example-001.png)\n\nThis still isn't very impressive of a use case. I could have coded this with Claude faster. The real test is trying out something ambitious. So I had Claude rewrite the JSON descriptions to turn it into a fantasy RPG screen. I told it to specifically add things that CSS would struggle to render.\n\n**Reimagined Fantasy Screen**\n![](https://i.ibb.co/Fqy8j4YF/my-day-in-nine-style-example-002.png)\n\nThis is where it starts to get interesting. In theory I could produce dozens of variations of a website design just by updating the descriptions with an LLM that's capable of preserving the original structure. Once I find a design I like, this can be fed back to Claude to start re-coding the actual CSS.","tags":"_404words_","slug":"image-prompting-with-json-1780563539174","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":356,"published_at":"2024-02-29T20:49:42.045Z","created_at":"2024-02-29T20:49:42.053Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:02:36.227Z","title":"Create apps for authors","description":"- Learn to program with and without AI\n- Make applications that are useful for authors\n- Use those apps for my own author brand","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63094,"published_at":"2026-06-03T23:58:34.285Z","created_at":"2026-06-03T23:58:34.368Z","updated_at":"2026-06-03T23:58:35.276Z","title":"Remove","content":"[Habits are overrated. Environment is king.](https://golifelog.com/posts/habits-are-overrated-environment-is-king-1780447063009) So the best way to create sustainable change is to just [remove, not force](https://golifelog.com/posts/remove-not-force-1748904288547).\n\n> A man asked a gardener why his plants grow so beautifully. The gardener said: “I don’t force them to grow. I remove what stops them.”\n\nThat's why just relocating is so powerful. You remove yourself from things that stop you from growing:\n\n- People\n- Culture\n- Habits\n- Narratives\n- Beliefs\n- Ways of speaking\n- Social interaction\n- Food\n- Climate\n- Places\n- Spaces\n- Costs\n- Things\n\nIt might take more upfront effort and capital, but definitely high returns on investment. You can't heal in the same toxic environment that made you sick in the first place.\n\nSo remove. \nNot add. \nNot update.\n\nJust remove.","tags":"_138words_","slug":"remove-1780531114292","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":25,"published_at":"2021-01-04T13:21:19.498Z","created_at":"2021-01-04T13:21:19.516Z","updated_at":"2021-06-18T00:57:35.239Z","title":"1% compounding","description":"Look for 1% improvement every week. Just 1%, 1 thing, 1 task, 1 idea.","author":1,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63093,"published_at":"2026-06-03T19:40:16.417Z","created_at":"2026-06-03T19:40:16.501Z","updated_at":"2026-06-03T19:40:17.285Z","title":"The AI black box","content":"

One piece of advice I heard recently is not to automate something in your business with AI until you know how to do it manually. I would say it's sound advice, but not always practical, depending on how complex your business needs are.

\n

People are vibe coding and spinning up apps left and right \"without coding experience,\" but is this really a good thing? I noticed in my own experience with SQL that I much prefer a query that I wrote that AI helped me modify, vs a query written purely by AI. It's one thing to let AI write your app, but what happens if a user finds a bug in production and you're out of tokens to fix it?

\n

For simple tasks like maintaining my directory, I can always fall back to the manual method if needed. The problem, as AI scales to handle more and more complex tasks, is that we don't understand all the moving parts. We let AI create a black box, and all is well and good as long as it's working smoothly. Maybe the juice is ultimately worth the squeeze, but I am hesitating to jump into the vibe coding world until I have learned some fundamental skills to peer into the black box.

\n

 

","tags":"_211words_","slug":"the-ai-black-box-1780515616424","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[{"id":47625,"created_at":"2026-06-04T18:31:19.123Z","updated_at":"2026-06-04T18:31:19.426Z","content":"I did have an idea once for a game where the player would use SQL-based magic to run a fantasyland farm. Maybe I should have Claude make that.\n\n```\nUPDATE creatures\nSET hunger = 0\nWHERE species = 'unicorn'\n AND hunger > 50\n AND last_fed < CURRENT_DATE;\n```","post":63093,"author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41}},{"id":47627,"created_at":"2026-06-05T13:47:24.679Z","updated_at":"2026-06-05T13:47:24.979Z","content":"Now that would be a fun way to learn SQL.","post":63093,"author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3}}]},{"id":63092,"published_at":"2026-06-03T12:18:04.642Z","created_at":"2026-06-03T12:18:04.727Z","updated_at":"2026-06-03T12:18:05.782Z","title":"Time cards","content":"I need to start writing here in the mornings. By time evening rolls around I'm feeling exhausted and uninspired. This morning I've been thinking about building my ideal time management app. Of course, I'm developing a whole framework around what that looks like.\n\n**An integrated dashboard of mini apps**\nRather than build a single app with endless features, I would keep the features hidden and use mini apps that serve as icons. The workflow is built by adding apps that publish and subscribe to an event bus. Some events get recorded to a log as well. And the state of one app might trigger another app.\n\n**Mechanical versus natural time**\nThe dashboard would include some apps that use mechanical time to create focus, while others help are more relaxed and based on natural rhythms. It would include four main types of mini apps.\n- **Focus and Productivity:** Pomodoro, sprint timers, deep work tools.\n- **Mindfulness and Well-Being:** Meditation agendas, mindfulness bells, breathing exercises.\n- **Ritual and Whimsy:** Meal trackers, monastic hours, seasonal markers.\n- **Reflection and Organization:** Journaling, logging, activity tracking.\n\n**An app that is aware of time**\nThe dashboard itself changes with time. Apps can be minimized and expanded on a schedule. Links appear and expire in order to create a sense of real commitment. For example, I could have a bookmark to LifeLog that only appears between 7am and 8am. If I miss it, it doesn't stop me from posting. But the log would show that the link expired before I clicked.\n\n![](https://i.ibb.co/2Y35Kw1D/Composing-Time-Slide-1.png)\n\n![](https://i.ibb.co/6Jwj4BhR/Composing-Time-Slide-2.png)\n\n![](https://i.ibb.co/tGdyNT3/Composing-Time-Slide-4.png)\n\n![](https://i.ibb.co/prhmhzZJ/Composing-Time-Slide-9.png)","tags":"_295words_","slug":"time-cards-1780489084651","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":356,"published_at":"2024-02-29T20:49:42.045Z","created_at":"2024-02-29T20:49:42.053Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:02:36.227Z","title":"Create apps for authors","description":"- Learn to program with and without AI\n- Make applications that are useful for authors\n- Use those apps for my own author brand","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"},{"id":173,"published_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.282Z","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.299Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:04:27.227Z","title":"Writing, editing, and publishing novels","description":"- Write and publish a serialized story\n- Publish novels using the same material\n- Write spin-off stories in the same universe","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63091,"published_at":"2026-06-03T10:45:48.241Z","created_at":"2026-06-03T10:45:48.326Z","updated_at":"2026-06-03T10:45:49.071Z","title":"Two learners, one journey","content":"I’ve recently found myself in a role I didn’t expect when I first signed up for the L2P program. The L2P program is a community-based initiative that helps young people get their driver’s licence when they don’t have the usual support. What began as mentoring a young man learning to drive has grown into something broader. His mother, understandably nervous about being in the car with him, now joins us on our drives. As a result, I’ve realised I’m not just supporting him; I’m mentoring her as well.\n\nThere’s a quiet balance to it. While I guide him through the practical aspects of driving, including awareness, decision-making, and confidence, I’m also helping her feel more at ease in the passenger seat. I can see the tension in her ease gradually, kilometre by kilometre, as trust builds. It’s not just about road skills; it’s about reassurance, patience, and creating a calm environment for both of them. The goal is to get his mum comfortable with handing him the keys and letting him drive her without me around. This will be a far more practical way for him to build his 120 hours of driving before he gets his licence.","tags":"_211words_","slug":"two-learners-one-journey-1780483548251","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63090,"published_at":"2026-06-03T03:24:09.108Z","created_at":"2026-06-03T03:24:09.191Z","updated_at":"2026-06-03T03:24:10.097Z","title":"The delay game","content":"Some days I'm just completely out of ideas what to write. Honestly, that might be most days.\n\nMy highlight for the day was watching a delivery driver on the Amazon app make one wrong turn after another as he tried to find my location. He missed a turn, and then turned the wrong direction at the next juncture. He had to turn around, but he then paused for at least five minutes. I decided he was looking for confirmation before going off in the wrong direction again. I wasn't upset though because the app made the delay fun.","tags":"_100words_","slug":"the-delay-game-1780457049115","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":215,"published_at":"2021-12-25T03:32:29.862Z","created_at":"2021-12-25T03:32:29.873Z","updated_at":"2021-12-25T03:32:29.888Z","title":"Clear my mind","description":"- Mindful use of media platforms\n- An uncluttered environment\n- Meditation","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[{"id":47622,"created_at":"2026-06-03T19:45:27.568Z","updated_at":"2026-06-03T19:45:27.877Z","content":"According to Jim Kwik: If you're out of ideas, read. If you're full of ideas, write.","post":63090,"author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3}}]},{"id":63089,"published_at":"2026-06-03T00:37:43.000Z","created_at":"2026-06-03T00:37:43.086Z","updated_at":"2026-06-03T00:37:43.998Z","title":"Habits are overrated. Environment is king.","content":"Habits are overrated. Willpower is overrated. Discipline is overrated.\n\nBecause who needs them when all you need to do to change is to change your environment?\n\nI just 'relocated' to Chiangmai for three weeks, and already I feel like the stress and grind that I can never shake off while in Singapore, is dropping away piece by piece. My walking pace is slower. I'm less irritable. Little things that annoys me annoy me less now. I thought that was my skin, but seems like it was just another layer of clothing that I could disrobe when the external conditions are ripe.\n\nIt's crazy how powerful the external environment determines your thoughts, feelings, emotions, actions, habitsm behaviours. More so that we are willing to accord it. Because that feels like giving away our agency, but in fact, it is not.\n\nWe *can* design our external environment.\n\nThree ways we can change:\n- We can choose to change things and develop solutions.\n- We can choose to leave and go to a better place that suits us.\n- We can choose to accept it and seek peace through other means.\n\nAnd the fastest and easiest way to change is the middle path - leave and go someplace else more worthy of your energy. \n\nSo before you get into habits and muster up willpower, ask if you can simply change the environment.\n\nUsually, you can.","tags":"_230words_","slug":"habits-are-overrated-environment-is-king-1780447063009","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":25,"published_at":"2021-01-04T13:21:19.498Z","created_at":"2021-01-04T13:21:19.516Z","updated_at":"2021-06-18T00:57:35.239Z","title":"1% compounding","description":"Look for 1% improvement every week. Just 1%, 1 thing, 1 task, 1 idea.","author":1,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[{"id":47621,"created_at":"2026-06-03T10:34:15.947Z","updated_at":"2026-06-03T10:34:16.251Z","content":"If you can't change the world, at least change where you stand.","post":63089,"author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41}},{"id":47623,"created_at":"2026-06-04T00:18:37.783Z","updated_at":"2026-06-04T00:18:38.088Z","content":"@Winkletter Well said! The folly of my youth was thinking I can change the world. Now I just change where I stand.","post":63089,"author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1}}]},{"id":63088,"published_at":"2026-06-02T21:35:21.772Z","created_at":"2026-06-02T21:35:21.855Z","updated_at":"2026-06-02T21:35:22.595Z","title":"Every week it's a new job","content":"

It feels like every week, I am starting a new job. You know that part at the beginning of a new job where you don't know anything? That's how it feels every week.

\n

I wouldn't say my current client's project is ideal for my part-time arrangement. The ideal gig would be prescribed work where I show up and clear out tickets/requests. The project I'm on has several large-scale initiatives with many moving parts, and I only have bits and pieces of information at any given time. There's only so much one can glean from AI meeting notes and random emails without context. I did declare that I want to be a lifelong learner, so maybe this is the universe's way of giving me what I asked for.

\n

Speaking of learning, I am still processing all the new information from the Beyond Conference and the Diamond Code event. Back-to-back events are not my preference, but it's how the schedule worked out this time. I'm certainly glad I made it work because I received some of the best training I've had from any network marketing company. But remember the saying, \"To know and not do is to not know.\" Knowledge is not power. Applied knowledge is power.

","tags":"_206words_","slug":"every-week-its-a-new-job-1780436121780","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63087,"published_at":"2026-06-02T11:25:03.018Z","created_at":"2026-06-02T11:25:03.103Z","updated_at":"2026-06-02T11:25:03.871Z","title":"Turning a house into a home","content":"There’s something deeply satisfying about watching my daughter and her partner make steady progress on their new house. Each visit reveals another small victory: the large palm trees cut down, the tall grass slashed, and the interior walls freshly painted. It is a reminder of how much effort goes into turning a house into a home, and how rewarding that process can be. I find real pleasure in seeing their teamwork. They move around each other with purpose, sharing the load, making decisions together, and slowly shaping the space to suit their lives. It brings back memories of when my wife and I bought our first home, though we didn’t have as much work to do as they do.\n\nThere’s also a quiet pride in knowing they’re building something of their own. Every scrubbed surface and cleared corner feels like a step closer to the life they’re creating together, a tangible sign of their efforts and dreams coming to fruition. It’s not just about tidying up; it’s about laying strong foundations, both practical and emotional, that will support their future. Watching it all unfold is incredibly satisfying, and I can’t help but feel that my baby girl has grown so much through this process, gaining confidence and independence along the way.","tags":"_219words_","slug":"turning-a-house-into-a-home-1780399503027","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63086,"published_at":"2026-06-02T02:50:01.643Z","created_at":"2026-06-02T02:50:01.726Z","updated_at":"2026-06-02T02:50:02.631Z","title":"The finest carver cuts little","content":"I'm still working on Medium articles, and I keep dropping back into \"the explainer\" voice. This is the guy who researches a topic and then tries to explain what he learned. It's the *boringest* approach to writing a thing, and it's my default voice.\n\nTo fix this I'm bringing back my \"9-square\" template. Claude just coded a new app for me. It's meant to focus my attention on solving a real problem and organizing it in a way that it actually makes the topic interesting.\n\n- **Framing Arc** (Question + Empathy + Action): How does the article frame the problem? Open with a question, often spurred by the moment of empathy, and end with a clear call to action.\n- **Perspective Arc** (Lead + Rival + Ally): Contrast perspectives in different contexts. The Lead leans on a Rival perspective mismatched to their situation and needs a fresh, often counterintuitive Ally.\n- **Trajectory Arc** (Goal + Flaw + Insight): This is the plot. The goal is pursued, the flaw holds it back, and the insight changes everything and allows the Goal to be achieved.\n\nIt should, in theory, prevent me from falling into the trap of explaining.\n\nTrying this with an article I'm writing, I started with the three questions I wanted to answer:\n- What is the \"Uncarved Block\" in Taoist philosophy?\n- What does the Tao Te Ching mean by \"the ten thousand things\"?\n- What does \"the finest carver cuts little\" mean?\n\nAfter working with the template, I have a clearer picture of the article. The craftsperson listens to podcasts in order to master their domain. But those podcasters are creating content to keep you listening by breaking the art down into \"ten thousand things\". True mastery is restraint. Do nothing unnecessary.\n\nAnd although the template seems unnecessary, the template is an act of restraint. It's extra work up front, but it prevents me from writing an article nobody wants to read.","tags":"_320words_","slug":"the-finest-carver-cuts-little-1780368601651","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":173,"published_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.282Z","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:45:02.299Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:04:27.227Z","title":"Writing, editing, and publishing novels","description":"- Write and publish a serialized story\n- Publish novels using the same material\n- Write spin-off stories in the same universe","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63085,"published_at":"2026-06-02T00:45:59.918Z","created_at":"2026-06-02T00:46:00.002Z","updated_at":"2026-06-02T00:46:00.769Z","title":"Manifestation questions, not statements","content":"Something new I learned about manifestation recently:\n\nFrame your manifestation mantras as ***questions***, not statements.\n\nInstead of \"I am rich\" or \"I will get rich\", say, \"Why does wealth flow to me so naturally?\" \n\nBecause the statement is physically false and you kno wit. Your conscience will find it hard to believe it. For me at least. I could never believe something which had not happened yet.\n\nBut a question is open, even though it's kind of framed like a leading question. A well-phrased question creates a desire to know why. Your brain starts to look out for reasons why. \n\nWhy wealth flows to you naturally. \nWhy the right friends appear just when you need them. \nWhy you can't help but notice abundance is starting to arise.\n\nIt's a technique.\nIt might be a bit of a hack.\n\nBut definitely interesting enough to try.","tags":"_148words_","slug":"manifestation-questions-not-statements-1780361159926","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[{"id":47619,"created_at":"2026-06-02T21:27:33.989Z","updated_at":"2026-06-02T21:27:34.292Z","content":"My favorite version of this technique is to ask, \"How could this day get any better?\"","post":63085,"author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3}},{"id":47620,"created_at":"2026-06-03T00:40:29.886Z","updated_at":"2026-06-03T00:40:30.192Z","content":"@therealbrandonwilson Oooh i like that","post":63085,"author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1}}]},{"id":63084,"published_at":"2026-06-01T23:11:26.556Z","created_at":"2026-06-01T23:11:26.638Z","updated_at":"2026-06-01T23:11:27.535Z","title":"Back to the routine","content":"

Somehow, this morning I woke up at 4:55 AM, which is my usual morning wake-up time when I'm home. I don't know how I pulled that off after traveling over two time zones yesterday and getting to bed later than normal. I do enjoy having a natural alarm clock.

\n

My head is still swimming with so many ideas and memories from the last week. I'm usually overloaded just with the biohacking conference, but then, when you add the Diamond Code Vital Health event, I'm not sure how to process it all. 

\n

I finally unpacked all my luggage to take inventory of all my goodies. I did not purchase nearly as much as I usually do at the show. For one, I didn't have sufficient space. I learned to take an extra empty suitcase, but this year, it was packed with my coffee sample materials and the LED backpack. 

\n

Yesterday, I managed to send out my May summary from the Dallas airport. This morning, I spent several hours putting together my conference recap. These newsletters take a lot longer than normal, and I still have my Club Member exclusive newsletter going out later this week. 

\n

I don't know what my routine will be going forward, but based on all the training I received over the weekend, I will be making some major changes to increase the focus on my business.

","tags":"_230words_","slug":"back-to-the-routine-1780355486563","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":339,"published_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.109Z","created_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.112Z","updated_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.121Z","title":"Quit my job and turn biohacking into a career","description":"I plan to quit my job and leave a career of over twenty years in the health insurance industry. I am going to follow my passion for biohacking and use my talents and skills to earn a living by sharing my knowledge and helping people take control of their health to improve their lives.","author":3,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63083,"published_at":"2026-06-01T15:26:12.307Z","created_at":"2026-06-01T15:26:12.385Z","updated_at":"2026-06-01T15:26:13.203Z","title":"June 2026 Goals","content":"Hopefully things are back to normal this month.\n\nI know I have lost a few freelance maintenance clients recently, but for now I’m not going to worry too much about it. As I mentioned before, this month and next month shouldn’t be a big issue financially. The real pressure will probably come after the current project ends, which should be somewhere around the end of next year.\n\nFor my freelance work, the focus remains the same. The mobile app remains the top priority, alongside Archifest and PDPA-related work. These three areas alone will probably take up at least two-thirds of my available working time.\n\nFor product goals, I want to finish what I started two months ago and what I didn’t really focus on last month. Building products is one thing, but this month I need to put more effort into getting people to actually use them. I have been spending plenty of time building, tweaking, and polishing, but not enough time talking about them and getting users on board.\n\nSo yeah, that’s pretty much it for June.\n\nNo complicated plans, no long list of goals. Just stay focused on the client work, finish what I already started, and put more effort into product marketing.\n\nSimple and straightforward.\n\nWe’ll see how it goes.","tags":"_220words_","slug":"june-2026-goals-1780327572316","author":{"id":13,"username":"knight","created_at":"2020-12-28T15:34:14.581Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:28:22.589Z","streak":null,"account":13},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":1124,"published_at":"2026-01-01T13:18:29.029Z","created_at":"2026-01-01T13:18:29.104Z","updated_at":"2026-01-01T13:18:29.513Z","title":"My Goal 2026","description":"My Goal 2026","author":13,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63082,"published_at":"2026-06-01T11:54:15.283Z","created_at":"2026-06-01T11:54:15.360Z","updated_at":"2026-06-01T11:54:16.045Z","title":"Winter","content":"The first day of winter arrived quietly, but with the unmistakable coldness and wetness that Melbourne typically experiences at this time of year. I woke up to the gentle patter of rain against the roof, steady and unrelenting, as if winter had been waiting patiently for its cue to make its presence felt. The air carried a sharp, penetrating chill that seeped into everything around, wrapping itself around the house and settling deep into my bones. Stepping outside, the cold felt even more intense than I remembered, the sort that causes a pause, a brief moment of hesitation, before I can carry on with my day.\n\nThe heavy clouds that blurred the line between morning and afternoon cast a shadow over the day. The familiar paths I walk each day looked different, damp, glistening, and somehow more subdued. Even the dogs seemed slower, their usual energy tempered by the cold and wet underfoot, moving with gentle caution. There’s something about this first true winter’s day that invites quiet reflection, prompting me to pause and consider. The warmth of earlier months now feels distant, replaced by a quieter, more inward rhythm that beckons a slower pace. It’s a time for lingering mornings, warm drinks by a crackling fire, and the comforting certainty of routine. While the cold and rain may not be welcomed by everyone, they serve as a reminder that seasons change, and with them, I change too, settling in, adjusting, and seeking comfort wherever I can find it, in the simple moments.","tags":"_256words_","slug":"winter-1780314855291","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63081,"published_at":"2026-05-31T23:17:00.699Z","created_at":"2026-05-31T23:17:00.777Z","updated_at":"2026-05-31T23:17:01.599Z","title":"June 2026 goals","content":"It's birthday month, so I can choose to do nothing at all. No goals, no targets, no projects.\n\nBut this ain't one of those months.\n\nI'm spending three out of four weeks this month in Chiangmai, Thailand. Call a relocation beta trial. After this, we'll make our final decision if the relocation is really going ahead. I'll be working remotely there for some days too, just to try out how it's like to have the kind of daily life rhythm that living there long term would entail. But most days, we'll be out, visiting schools, discovering cool cafes, finding new places we will come to love.\n\nMixing 'business' with pleasure.\n\nThe best way to travel.\nAnd the best way to spend a birthday.\n\nUpwards!","tags":"_131words_","slug":"june-2026-goals-1780269420708","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":15,"published_at":"2021-01-01T06:38:55.471Z","created_at":"2021-01-01T06:38:55.512Z","updated_at":"2021-06-18T00:58:22.690Z","title":"Monthly goals","description":"A meta goal of setting monthly goals and experiments. Can be for learning, work, productivity, health, sleep, diet, family, relationships. Anything!","author":1,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[{"id":47616,"created_at":"2026-06-01T22:15:12.928Z","updated_at":"2026-06-01T22:15:13.224Z","content":"I wonder if \"Thai hot\" means the same thing for dishes in Thailand as it does in the US. If so, watch out!","post":63081,"author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3}},{"id":47618,"created_at":"2026-06-02T00:47:29.482Z","updated_at":"2026-06-02T00:47:29.783Z","content":"@therealbrandonwilson Oh first time hearing that haha","post":63081,"author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1}}]},{"id":63080,"published_at":"2026-05-31T20:24:13.519Z","created_at":"2026-05-31T20:24:13.598Z","updated_at":"2026-05-31T20:24:14.426Z","title":"Garden recovery plan","content":"At the critical moment this year I lost interest in gardening. More accurately, I didn't clear away the bottleneck that kept me from planting seedlings. I have a tomato plant and two pepper plants I'm transplanting today, and I've sown some peas, beans, and cucumbers. I have to go through my planting guide and figure out what's worth seeding this late in the planting season. I don't really care about getting maximum yield, so there's still a lot of things I can plant.\n\nEven if I don't plant much else this year, I've cleaned up the garden plot and I can focus on maintaining the space so I don't have to use all my energy next year preparing the soil. That also means cleaning up the source of resistance I hit this year, the garage where I would have prepped the seedlings.","tags":"_151words_","slug":"garden-recovery-plan-1780259053529","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":347,"published_at":"2023-12-31T23:02:06.554Z","created_at":"2023-12-31T23:02:06.565Z","updated_at":"2023-12-31T23:02:06.576Z","title":"Handlingskraft, getting things done","description":"My 2024 word of the year.\n\n\"Handlingskraft\" is a Swedish word that translates to \"ability to make decisions and take powerful action\" in English. It can also be translated as \"energy\", \"initiative\", \"ability to take action\", \"drive\", \"decision-making capacity\", or \"empowerment\".","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63079,"published_at":"2026-05-31T15:44:42.907Z","created_at":"2026-05-31T15:44:42.984Z","updated_at":"2026-05-31T15:44:43.808Z","title":"May 2026 Review","content":"May 2026 was an emotional month.\n\nI'm not sure whether it is because I turned 46 this year, but for most of the month, I felt like I was standing in an emotional corner, dealing with thoughts and feelings I would normally just brush aside and move on from.\n\nOn paper, most things were actually on track.\n\nAnother week of solo parenting was completed successfully. My quick trip to KL with my second kid for his award ceremony went smoothly. The kids finished their mid-year exams and are now happily enjoying their school holidays.\n\nI also spent my 46th birthday mostly by myself.\n\nSurprisingly, it turned out to be one of the highlights of the month. I did things that I normally wouldn't do. I spent hours at Osotto relaxing, finally got my car washed after putting it off for months, and later found myself sitting alone at a quiet book cafe instead of my usual coffee spot. Looking back, none of those things was particularly productive, but they all had one thing in common — they were things I chose for myself.\n\nWork-wise, the mobile app project is finally back on track. With about one and a half months left before the actual event, around 80% of the features are already live. Most Archifest-related issues have been resolved as well. The biggest remaining challenge is that many mobile changes still haven't been synced back to the web version.\n\nOn the product side, I honestly don't have much to show this month.\n\nI tried to make progress, but there were no obvious results. This month's Product Weekend was the first in which I didn't manage to complete and deploy an MVP. That felt a little strange because I have been carrying the momentum for quite a while.\n\nThat said, I did complete one small challenge. I created 30 days of images using ChatGPT Image 2.0 for my sister's cafe. It wasn't a product launch, but it was still a good reminder of how much AI tools have changed the way we create content.\n\nThe month ended on a rough note.\n\nOn the last day of May, my wife and I had a fight. During the conversation, one sentence came out that had probably been sitting somewhere inside me for a while — I told her that sometimes I feel like I'm taking care of four kids instead of three.\n\nI don't know whether that was fair or not.\n\nWhat I do know is that this month surfaced many emotions I usually keep buried under work, responsibilities, deadlines, and routines. Maybe turning 46 has something to do with it. Maybe it is just the accumulation of everything happening at the same time — freelance pressure, family responsibilities, uncertainty about the future, and trying to keep all the plates spinning.\n\nSo while May wasn't a bad month, I don't think it was a comfortable one either.\n\nIt was one of those months that forced me to sit with feelings that I normally avoid.\n\nAnd maybe that's not a bad thing.\n\nWe'll see how it goes.","tags":"_528words_","slug":"may-2026-review-1780242282915","author":{"id":13,"username":"knight","created_at":"2020-12-28T15:34:14.581Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:28:22.589Z","streak":null,"account":13},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":1124,"published_at":"2026-01-01T13:18:29.029Z","created_at":"2026-01-01T13:18:29.104Z","updated_at":"2026-01-01T13:18:29.513Z","title":"My Goal 2026","description":"My Goal 2026","author":13,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[{"id":47617,"created_at":"2026-06-01T22:17:20.585Z","updated_at":"2026-06-01T22:17:20.881Z","content":"Sooner or later, those feelings that you try to keep bottled up will eventually bubble to the surface. I'm glad you chose to experience some of those emotions, even if it was uncomfortable.","post":63079,"author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3}}]},{"id":63078,"published_at":"2026-05-31T12:25:05.110Z","created_at":"2026-05-31T12:25:05.188Z","updated_at":"2026-05-31T12:25:06.011Z","title":"Trip coming to a close","content":"

As the month closes, so does my Texas trip. Today is the last day of the Diamond Code conference, and I will be wheels up this evening from the Dallas (Love Field) airport back to Arizona.

\n

The Diamond Code event has been amazing. The speakers have covered a variety of topics, including mindset, company updates, new product launches, and network marketing tactics that have contributed to their success. The new products are pretty exciting: an updated formula of Glutation (detox support), V-Prime (men's hormone balance), and V-Harmony (women's hormone balance). I will be starting on V-Prime right away because I know I could use some hormone support. 

\n

One aspect of Vital Health events is recognition. It was exciting for my team and me to walk the stage and be recognized for our rank achievements since the last conference. My friend Scott reached Sapphire, I reached Gold, and my sponsor, Chef Z, reached Platinum. It's an amazing feeling to feel that energy as everyone cheers, and to shake hands and hug all the top leaders.

\n

I still haven't done any work on my newsletter recap of the Beyond Conference. I am employing the same strategy of a free newsletter for all tomorrow, followed by the Club Member-exclusive recap later in the week with the audio. This format gives me time to properly digest and summarize the conference.

","tags":"_226words_","slug":"trip-coming-to-a-close-1780230305119","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":339,"published_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.109Z","created_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.112Z","updated_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.121Z","title":"Quit my job and turn biohacking into a career","description":"I plan to quit my job and leave a career of over twenty years in the health insurance industry. I am going to follow my passion for biohacking and use my talents and skills to earn a living by sharing my knowledge and helping people take control of their health to improve their lives.","author":3,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63077,"published_at":"2026-05-31T09:41:19.245Z","created_at":"2026-05-31T09:41:19.324Z","updated_at":"2026-05-31T09:41:20.007Z","title":"IKEA Smart Home","content":"I’d been steadily expanding my smart home, trying out various brands and ecosystems along the way, when IKEA quietly caught my attention. It wasn’t the sleek marketing or high-end reputation that drew me in; it was the simplicity and affordability. IKEA’s range of Matter-compatible devices seemed like a practical, refreshingly straightforward way to grow my setup without overthinking or overspending. The E14 bulbs for my bedside lamps cost just $16.99 each, and a dual-control switch was only $9.99, such a great value for quality and ease of use.\n\nThe appeal was immediate. With Matter support, these devices fit seamlessly into my Apple Home setup, pairing effortlessly with the rest of my gear without the usual compatibility headaches. This made it easy to extend automation to more rooms with minimal effort. What surprised me most was how quickly “good enough” transformed into “actually quite good.” The bulbs responded promptly, the switches proved reliable, and the setup process was smoother and more straightforward than I had anticipated. It was truly satisfying to find a solution that isn’t trying to be high-end or premium but still integrates seamlessly into my daily life, offering both convenience and reliability.","tags":"_204words_","slug":"ikea-smart-home-1780220479255","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63076,"published_at":"2026-05-31T03:01:39.222Z","created_at":"2026-05-31T03:01:39.299Z","updated_at":"2026-05-31T03:01:40.116Z","title":"Tuning into the review","content":"I don't watch movies anymore. Instead, I watch reviews of movies. I appreciate the breakdown of a film more than the experience of watching a film. These days I even watch reviews for films that are over a decade old. Both the movies and the reviews are over a decade old.\n\nEven when I watch a movie I usually only know if I like the movie or hate it. I can't articulate why most of the time, and most of the time it falls somewhere in the middle whare I can't even decide what I think. Maybe that's why I prefer watching someone with personal taste talk about a movie.","tags":"_114words_","slug":"tuning-into-the-review-1780196499230","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":215,"published_at":"2021-12-25T03:32:29.862Z","created_at":"2021-12-25T03:32:29.873Z","updated_at":"2021-12-25T03:32:29.888Z","title":"Clear my mind","description":"- Mindful use of media platforms\n- An uncluttered environment\n- Meditation","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63075,"published_at":"2026-05-30T23:06:18.084Z","created_at":"2026-05-30T23:06:18.163Z","updated_at":"2026-05-30T23:06:18.998Z","title":"May 2026 wrap-up","content":"May was about getting back into the [grind](https://golifelog.com/posts/may-2026-goals-1777590860060). And grind it was, ending with me trying to finish two weeks of work in one week.\n\nI'm so relieved.\nI fulfilled my duties.\nI did what I needed to do.\nI still took care of my health.\nI provided, was present, and supported.\nI gave what I could with what little I had.\n\nIt's over, and now an adventure in June awaits.\n\nIt'll be hectic - that never changes. \nBut it'll be a breath of fresh air, at the least.\n\nFresh air in the mountains.\nDelicious street food in weekend markets.\nDiscovering new stomping grounds... in Chiangmai.\n\nCan't wait. \n\nForwards!","tags":"_121words_","slug":"may-2026-wrap-up-1780182378093","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":15,"published_at":"2021-01-01T06:38:55.471Z","created_at":"2021-01-01T06:38:55.512Z","updated_at":"2021-06-18T00:58:22.690Z","title":"Monthly goals","description":"A meta goal of setting monthly goals and experiments. Can be for learning, work, productivity, health, sleep, diet, family, relationships. Anything!","author":1,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63074,"published_at":"2026-05-30T14:28:05.919Z","created_at":"2026-05-30T14:28:05.996Z","updated_at":"2026-05-30T14:28:06.816Z","title":"Made it to Dallas","content":"

Yesterday was the last day of the Beyond Conference. I should say half-day, since Dave Asprey wrapped it up just after noon and gave away that grand prize to one lucky guy from Wyoming, of all places.

\n

My friend Scott and I headed to the Austin airport to pick up a rental car to drive to Dallas. We hit some traffic, but we still arrived to enjoy the white party. Although if I had to quibble about the venue, there wasn't enough space for the people there, and the BBQ food (BBQ sauce at a white party!?) was very subpar. In fact, several people are going to raise the same concerns about how the food at a corporate event should better align with our mission and values to keep people healthy.

\n

I'm glad we are staying at the same hotel as the Diamond Code training. I've had enough movement over the last week. The event kicks off at 11 AM, and I'm sure we'll go until dinner time. 

\n

Remember, who do you listen to? The people who have what you want and have been where you are. The Diamond-ranked team members delivering the training are earning anywhere from $10K to $ 100K per month. Yep, sign me up for that.

","tags":"_209words_","slug":"made-it-to-dallas-1780151285927","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":339,"published_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.109Z","created_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.112Z","updated_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.121Z","title":"Quit my job and turn biohacking into a career","description":"I plan to quit my job and leave a career of over twenty years in the health insurance industry. I am going to follow my passion for biohacking and use my talents and skills to earn a living by sharing my knowledge and helping people take control of their health to improve their lives.","author":3,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63073,"published_at":"2026-05-30T09:10:29.006Z","created_at":"2026-05-30T09:10:29.084Z","updated_at":"2026-05-30T09:10:29.773Z","title":"Capital City Trail","content":"Since the start of the year, my Saturday mornings have settled into a steady rhythm on the Capital City Trail. This shared path forms a loose loop around the inner suburbs, linking parklands, riverbanks, and some of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. Following the Yarra River for long stretches, the trail winds past gum trees, rowing clubs, and quiet pockets of bush that somehow exist just minutes from the CBD. It connects places like Southbank, Docklands, Princes Park, and Collingwood, offering a surprisingly peaceful way to experience the city. In recent weeks, I have changed the direction I ride the trail to mix it up a little.\n\nThe ride itself has become as rewarding as the destination. Early in the morning, the air is cool, traffic is light, and a calm settles over everything. Cyclists, runners, and dog walkers share the space, each moving at their own pace. There are moments of effort, with gentle climbs and tighter sections, but mostly it’s a flowing, continuous ride. What I’ve come to value most is the consistency. Week after week, the trail is both familiar and slightly different, with changing light, shifting seasons, and new sights along the way. It’s not just exercise; it’s a ritual that quietly anchors the week.","tags":"_214words_","slug":"capital-city-trail-1780132229015","author":{"id":15,"username":"peterdannock","created_at":"2020-12-29T09:41:02.635Z","updated_at":"2024-04-12T23:33:14.916Z","streak":null,"account":15},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63072,"published_at":"2026-05-29T23:31:34.116Z","created_at":"2026-05-29T23:31:34.203Z","updated_at":"2026-05-29T23:31:34.903Z","title":"Giving your all","content":"> However exhausted you are from trying, I promise you this: if you don't give it your all, never find out what you could have become, and spend the rest of your life wondering, the resulting coping mechanisms will take a much greater toll on you than the work ever would. – [@justinskycak](https://x.com/justinskycak/status/2059847380522926196?s=20)\n\nI guess this is why I try so hard in everything, especially in goals that matter a lot to me.\n\nBecause at the end of it all, I don’t want to look back and wonder “what if”.\n\nLike how I'm still trying to make it in indie hacking, despite being far too long, despite being far to far away from $10k MRR, despite being too burned out, too chronically exhausted, too busy feeding the family. Despite it all.\n\nNow, because I always try so hard (sometimes to the point of collapse, which is not so good but that’s a discussion for a different time), I know I can walk away, and think back to those times and feel at peace with myself. That I had tried my very best to the point where I could give nothing more. That I had done the things I wanted to try and that itself is good enough, even if the results didn’t always pan out as desired.\n\nIt’s also about trust. When I try hard, my relationship with my own work and myself is healthy. I don’t self doubt. I trust I can act. I have a healthy self image. \n\nIf you don’t try hard, self doubt creeps in. Your reputation with yourself suffers, and it snowballs to the point where you constantly second guess your decisions. You start to cope, and rationalize it away, but your conscience knows. It keeps the score.\n\n> Pushing yourself to build the life you want is hard, especially if you're ambitious. However, what's even harder is NOT pushing yourself and then constantly searching for ways to rationalize living a life you don't want. – [@justinskycak](https://x.com/justinskycak/status/2060004415281762777?s=20)\n\nThat, to me, is not a great way to live.\n\nLife is hard either way.\n\nChoose a hard that you can be proud of.","tags":"_379words_","slug":"giving-your-all-1780097494130","author":{"id":1,"username":"jasonleow","created_at":"2020-11-21T04:03:23.281Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:21:28.081Z","streak":null,"account":1},"SEO":null,"goals":[],"comments":[]},{"id":63071,"published_at":"2026-05-29T16:36:43.684Z","created_at":"2026-05-29T16:36:43.767Z","updated_at":"2026-05-29T16:36:44.587Z","title":"Build slowly","content":"Will I eventually grow accustomed to the thrill of assigning an AI agent a task and getting back to work while it updates things in the background? I'm working on a newsletter bonus, a \"booster pack\" of process-oriented writing exercises. It's going to be a set of five exercises designed to help writers understand their schedules in terms of commitments and the natural cadences that arise.\n\nAs I was editing, I realized I wanted to change the structure slightly. I wanted to add a new field and split another field into two pieces. So I added them to the YAML specification, saved the example, and asked Claude to update the app as I switched back to writing.\n\nThe question used to be, \"What features should I add to this project?\" These days I find that restraint is most important. Build slowly. Don't anticipate. Wait for the moment when the feature is needed.","tags":"_156words_","slug":"build-slowly-1780072603697","author":{"id":41,"username":"Winkletter","created_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:17.954Z","updated_at":"2021-11-20T18:26:18.717Z","streak":null,"account":41},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":356,"published_at":"2024-02-29T20:49:42.045Z","created_at":"2024-02-29T20:49:42.053Z","updated_at":"2024-09-20T19:02:36.227Z","title":"Create apps for authors","description":"- Learn to program with and without AI\n- Make applications that are useful for authors\n- Use those apps for my own author brand","author":41,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]},{"id":63070,"published_at":"2026-05-29T12:10:55.740Z","created_at":"2026-05-29T12:10:55.816Z","updated_at":"2026-05-29T12:10:56.639Z","title":"Beyond Conference Day 2","content":"

The second day is when I usually hit sensory overload, and this year is no different. 

\n

I got a lot more attention for my LED backpack, which led to some great connections that I wouldn't have made otherwise. Overall, I would call that experiment a success.

\n

From a personal perspective, I heard a lot of great speakers and got to see a lot of new tech, as well as see some acquaintances who have been coming to this conference as long or longer than I have. It's interesting when you see people once a year to see how they have changed or haven't. Some people look the same, and others are a bit worse for wear. In general, most people look healthy and happy.

\n

From a business perspective, I'm planting a lot of seeds. There's so much going on this week that it's impractical to pull people aside for body scans. It's much easier and more efficient to hand out Lattekafe samples and let that be the foot in the door for a conversation about the company, its products, and potential business opportunities. One downside to this method is that I'm relying on them to contact me, but I maintain the posture that those who are supposed to connect with me will. 

\n

We are wrapping up Day 3 today with a grand prize that's quite mind-boggling. I am shocked that there will be only 1 winner, but that person will be the luckiest at the conference. You may not be familiar with all the gear in this giveaway, but I assure you it's a biohacker's dream.

\n

\"\"

","tags":"_266words_","slug":"beyond-conference-day-2-1780056655747","author":{"id":3,"username":"therealbrandonwilson","created_at":"2020-12-27T15:48:05.013Z","updated_at":"2021-07-09T06:23:18.638Z","streak":null,"account":3},"SEO":null,"goals":[{"id":339,"published_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.109Z","created_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.112Z","updated_at":"2023-12-03T00:18:37.121Z","title":"Quit my job and turn biohacking into a career","description":"I plan to quit my job and leave a career of over twenty years in the health insurance industry. I am going to follow my passion for biohacking and use my talents and skills to earn a living by sharing my knowledge and helping people take control of their health to improve their lives.","author":3,"type":"Ongoing"}],"comments":[]}]