RELIGION

“God could be revealed only through service.”

 “[The soul] is what you express outwardly from within.”

 “So long as there are different religions, every one of them may need some outward distinctive symbol. But when the symbol is made into a fetish and an instrument of proving the superiority of one’s religion over others, it is fit only to be discarded.”

Taking this one more step, replace the word “religion” with “nationality,” “brand,” “political cause,” “race,” or anything else, and it is just as applicable. Who among us are innocent?

 “I had realized early enough in South Africa that there was no genuine friendship between the Hindis and the [Muslims].” In my travels I continue to learn more about the relationships among the different major religions. Noam Chomsky talks about a military partnership among Jewish (Israel), Christian (USA), and Hindu (India) nuclear nations to counter Muslim threats. For this reason, I was somewhat struck to read Gandhi talk of the longheld tensions.

 “My uniform experience has convinced me that there is no other God than Truth.” Gandhi totally won me over in his loyalty to his inherited traditions (Hindu), but his scholarly and spiritual approach to learning about other major religions. In the end, it’s very difficult to tell just what he believes in, aside from “Truth.”

 “Those who say that religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion means.”

 FRIENDSHIP

“A reformer cannot afford to have close intimacy with him whom he seeks to reform. True friendship is an identity of souls rarely to be found in this world. Only between like natures can friendship be altogether worthy and enduring. I am of opinion that all exclusive intimacies are to be avoided, for man takes in vice for more readily than virtue. And he who would be friends with God must remain alone or make the whole world his friend.” Gandhi had many lifelong acquaintances and political connections, but it’s quite clear in his book that he always distanced himself somewhat, to never allow himself to be seduced into vice.

 EDUCATION

“Today I know that physical training should have as much place in the curriculum as mental training.” We could use a heavy dose of this thinking in Western society today! Physically fit people incur smaller medical costs, have higher productivity, and happier lives. Where did our society go wrong here?

 “I saw that bad handwriting should be regarded as a sign of an imperfect education…good handwriting is a necessary part of education. I am now of opinion that that children should first be taught the art of drawing before learning how to write…He will then write a beautifully formed hand.” I’ve never given much thought to penmanship, but maybe Gandhi is onto something?

 “I have always felt that the true textbook for the pupil is his teacher.” Someone needs to get the professors at every major US university on board with this thinking. Every student knows that textbooks are a huge moneymaking scam.

 “Children wrapped up in cottonwool are not always proof against all temptation or contamination.” How many Generation X and Y kids have been coddled so long that they lack independence and courage to face the world?

 FREEDOM

“Far better to remain unlettered and break stones for the sake of liberty than to go in for a literary education in the chains of slaves.”

 POVERTY/PHILANTHROPY

“Our philanthropists, instead of providing work for them [beggars] and insisting on their working for bread, give them alms.” I continue to struggle with poverty while traveling. I ask myself who is responsible for that issue, the relatively wealthy foreign travelers, or the locals, most of whom have, as far as I can see, extra to pass around if they were so inclined? Should extra food and money be given to the poor or is it better to let people, no matter their circumstances, fend for themselves, even though that might mean starving to death in many cases?

 POLITICS

“The lesson was indelibly imprinted on the public mind that the salvation of the people depends upon themselves, upon their capacity for suffering and sacrifice.”

 “To safeguard democracy the people must have a keen sense of independence, self-respect and their oneness, and should insist upon choosing as their representatives only such persons as are good and true.” How are we doing here? Is it possible to have “good and true” representatives these days?

 On civil disobedience: “It is only when a person has thus obeyed the laws of society scrupulously that he is in a position to judge as to which particular rules ar good and just and which unjust and iniquitous. Only then does the right accrue to him of the civil disobedience of certain laws in well-defined circumstances.”

 LEGAL PROFESSION

“I got disgusted with the legal profession. The very intellect became an abomination to me inasmuch as it could be prostituted for screening crime.” Gandhi will make you believe that there are good lawyers out there. He would ask the judge for decisions against his own clients if he found out they had lied to him and were on the wrong side of the law.

 PUBLIC SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

“The ideal is for public institutions to live, like nature, from day to day. The institution that fails to win public support has no right to exist as such.”

 “Service without humility is selfishness and egotism.”

 MEDICINE

“Though I have had two serious illnesses in my life, I believe that man has little need to drug himself. 999 cases out of a thousand can be brought round by means of a well-regulated diet, water and earth treatment and similar household remedies. He who runs to the doctor for every little ailment, and swallows all kinds of vegetable and mineral drugs, not only curtails his life, but, by becoming the slave of his body instead of remaining its master, loses self-control, and ceases to be a man.” In other words, he’s saying to STOP RELYING ON MEDICINE FOR THAT WE CAN CURE OURSELVES! Once again, Gandhi’s remarks are timely to US politics. I found it so very refreshing how seriously Gandhi took personal responsibility…so seriously in fact that he refused life insurance:

 “In getting my life insured, I had robbed my wife and children of their self-reliance. Why should they not be expected to take care of themselves?” Wow, what a great and unique perspective. It would be very tough for a family man to get away with saying such a thing these days. I don’t have life insurance because I don’t believe in it, but I’m also a childless bachelor. I’m not sure what my feelings would be with children.

 CLEANLINESS

“The indifference of the railway authorities to the comforts of the third class passengers, combined with the dirty and inconsiderate habits of the passengers themselves, makes third class traveling a trial for a passenger of cleanly ways….habits include throwing rubbish on floor, smoking at all hours in all places, betel and tobacco chewing, converting of carriage into a spittoon, shouting, yelling, foul language, regardless of fellow passengers.” Gandhi traveled third class in 1902 and again for a while in 1919 and noted no change. Being a guest, I have been reluctant to describe this part of Indian life, but I feel somewhat relieved of that reluctance after reading Gandhi’s words and his call for others to draw attention to the filth, in that it might lead to reform. So, here goes: I have traveled primarily in “sleeper class” which is a lower class than even third class (though I think it might not have existed in Gandhi’s days, and so is comparable to Gandhi’s “third class”), and feel it safe to say that Gandhi’s comments, based on 1902 observations, still hold true today. Additionally, I see people coughing and sneezing without covering their mouths, throwing trash and spitting out the window, using the seats and beds as plates for eating, and often a complete disregard for others. I have some incredible experiences from railway traveling India, but I will never forget the dirtiness of it.

 Talking about people dirtying the holy Ganges River: “It filled me with agony to see people performing natural functions on the thoroughfares and river banks, when they could easily have gone a little farther away from public haunts.” This still happens. Unfortunately, the people are ignorant of the nastiness of it. I’ve tried talking to some and get replies such as “it’s holy!”

THINKING

“Every case can be seen from no less than seven points of view, all of which are probably correct by themselves, but not correct at the same time and in the same circumstances.” What I admire most about Gandhi is his absolute regard for getting to the bottom of things, for seeing problems completely. Sadly, this type of thinking is not cultivated in our schools, nor do our elected servants reflect it. Most have this ridiculous notion of a linear liberal/conservative political continuum on which they believe everyone must reside.

I meet many non-American Westerners while traveling and many feel perfectly at ease discussing how the US is a “bad” country, how the US is responsible for the near-global economic collapse, how the US abuses its power, etc. For whatever reason, it has become en vogue to not only bash American foreign policy, but to completely dismiss the wonderful things the US has brought to the modern world, and to do so with a passionate, mean hatred.

What I find curiously amusing is how the very people saying such negative things about the US are at a loss to think of positive contributions. These types can often be found hating on the US while sipping on Coca Cola, wearing Nikes, and toting iPods loaded to the hilt with American music. How rich the irony is.

“My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.” —John F. Kennedy

Though our history is very complex and open to intense debate, I think it’s safe to say that the US became a “superpower” because of other global factions threatening not only our own freedom, but that of most countries. In other words, only out of necessity, as a means of survival, and through amazingly productive and innovative people, have we evolved into the world’s super power.

Other countries, and particularly the other Westernized nations, have thanklessly enjoyed the security provided by the United States. If you’re from one of these other countries, you should know that your nation’s security over the past half century and more has been largely provided by the US. If you didn’t realize that, if your schooling didn’t teach that, well now you’ve been educated.

The US military is not just the US military. It is the default military for many countries, while their organic military is merely supplemental if they’re ever in serious danger. This is the “dirty little secret” you’ll never hear your own politicians admit.

Yes, how truly convenient it must be to bash the foreign policy of the country providing your own security. It must be nice to be able to scream along with all your friends and professors how evil the United States is, all the while under an umbrella of American security.

“Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.”—Winston Churchill

Look at every major world disaster and it’s easy to see what country almost always takes the lead in assistance: USA. In raw numbers, the USA consistently donates the most money, people, and supplies. Really, it’s not even close.

Ever heard of the US Peace Corps? Does your country have an equivalent?

War, war, war. “Why does the US need such a big military, or bully others with it?” This is always the most common criticism. Guess why the US military became so big and powerful? Because the USA was sneakily attacked by Japan in the Pacific, was threatened by the Nazi surge in Europe, countered a decades-long nuclear arms race, and refused to lose. That’s the one-sentence version. From World War II until only very recently, the US has had a policy in place to be able to fight and win two major wars at once—because we had to fight (and win) in two major theaters just over 60 years ago.

What were the results from World War II and the Cold War? How are those other nations doing, the ones we defeated and then vowed to help rebuild under the Marshall Plan? Well, Germany, and Italy are among the very most productive and wealthy countries. Likewise, the rest of Western Europe has thrived, in large part due to the Marshall Plan’s work in connecting all of Europe politically and economically. Is it possible to say that the EU is partially a biproduct of World War II fallout, of American efforts to stabilize that continent? How about the Pacific? Japan is…Japan. Seriously, do we need to discuss how that country turned around and what they mean to the world today? Korean War? South Korea is absolutely booming economically.

What about the “losers”? Russia has definitely seen better days in its failed system, and would probably be  thriving alongside the rest of Europe had they accepted help offered by the US under the Marshall Plan. Instead they bankrupted themselves in a nuclear arms race, while the rest of the world stood by watching the US maintain the balance. North Korea is a cesspool of cannibalism, starvation, and rapidly declining population.

Want to blame the United States for the recent global economic downturn? That’s fine. It’s quite clear the dollar is still the most trusted currency, and the US economy, like the US military, provides an overwhelming foundation, however shaky, for most of the rest of the world. However, consider that your own country’s economy, had it been managed better, would not have even felt the aftershocks of the recent economic fall. Australia managed just fine, as did Vietnam, and China.

Foreign policy aside, I ask you to look at other positive contributions the US has made. Look in the mirror. Odds are that some accessory you have on or nearby was invented in the US.

Use the internet much? Guess where it was invented? The US (actually as a military application).

Use Google, Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail? Ever seen a Powerpoint brief or written a paper using Microsoft Word? Guess where? Yup. The US. Many founders of the incredible products the world enjoys were foreign-born and immigrated to the USA as children, educated in the US, and integrated into the most innovative country ever. It’s probably safe to say that had they remained in their countries of birth, these products would never have come to fruition, much less been conceived.

Drink Coke or Pepsi products?

Are you a traveler that uses couchsurfing.org or travels on airplanes? Guess where?

Do you use an iPod or watch television? Do you use electricity? Do you drive an assembly line automobile? Do you listen to rock and roll, hip hop, jazz? Are the movies you watch made in America? Do you have Michael Jackson or Madonna theme parties? When you sing karaoke with friends, what music do you listen to? Ever eaten at McDonald’s, had a Starbucks? Do you wear Levis? Where was your style of clothing and hair popularized? Do you make a big to-do about Christmas, Valentine’s Day and other highly commercialized holidays (guess what country commercialized these things)? Do you use lights?

The list goes on and on and on. For every Richard Branson of the world, the US produces a half dozen or more equals. The United States is a prolific producer of entrepreneurial geniuses. If the talent aren’t born in America, they move to America, where they enjoy the security and freedom to pursue their ideas aggressively.

Look at the Olympic Games and how great the United States is at sports. No American athletes are forced to compete. None are selected by the government as young children for athletic grooming. Most American athletes start out as typical kids who, through playing, find sports at which they are very talented and love. Those who work hard develop into dominant champions. Others that have the talent and potential to be champions, but desire to do other things…do other things. American athleticism is a primary driver in advancing world athletics accomplishments.

The US has contributed substantially to literature. The US has the best university system in the world, and can boast having educated many of the world’s leaders, quite possibly some of your own. The US can claim more Nobel Prize winners than any other country, nearly tripling the next most, and advancing academic and technological progress by leaps and bounds. The US shares its new found knowledge with the rest of the world. What other global power in the history of mankind has done such a thing?

The United States is a country of individual rights. Americans believe in defending ourselves, personally and as a country, at any cost. Americans don’t believe in kings or dictators, and most Americans have a healthy dose of skepticism in any man born or violently put into positions of power. These characteristics stem from the roots of our founding, breaking away from a kingdom that forced taxes and laws without any representation.

Yes, we have some ugly parts in our history, and yes, I could write a counterargument to every single point I mentioned. The bottom line, however, is that we are, from historical necessity, a fiercely proud, independent, competitive, productive, and innovative people who are willing to fight if others challenge our security.

All I ask of non-Americans is to take a look around, try to understand your own country’s national security a little better, and realize that if you are reading this, the US has brought you a warm security blanket and amazing products. Those things come at a cost. As I asked one person disgusted with everything American: “Would you rather have Russia, Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, or Communist China as the lone superpower?” We all know the answer. Do not take the US for granted.

-Generate income! This is very important unless I want to start living a Huckleberry Finn lifestyle.

-When in the USA, do NOT pay for water. Water for sale has got to be one of the most brilliant scams going. I buy the bigger 1.5 Litre bottles, and have a tough time finding them for less than $2. While traveling in some sketchy places, I have to buy bottled water to feel safe. In the US, however, it’s downright unnecessary and I will avoid it as best I can from now on.

-Avoid sports and news. I spend more time and energy following local, national, and global politics…In the end, I am more knowledgeable of the world, more disgusted by politicians and others in positions of responsibility, and more drained of energy tracking things over which I have zero influence. What’s the use?

-Use internet every other day. I left my laptop at home this trip to cut down significantly on my internet time. I love surfing the web. It is an amazing tool for travel planning, and for following the news, but it becomes addictive. While on the road, I will attempt to use the internet every other day, focusing on my correspondence with others, and struggling to avoid the news.

-Consolidate all my previous resolutions and start chipping away at one or two of the big projects.

That’s it! My list is short and simple for a reason: I want to be successful! In previous years, I have made lengthy lists of difficult items. I was lucky to achieve one or two of them.

What do you think of resolution lists? Are they even worth writing? Should we wait until the new year to start?

I first learned about couchsurfing when I lived in Europe about 5 years ago. Instead of taking a chance by trying it, I stuck to traditional vacation accommodations, i.e. over-priced hotels. Last year, when I set out to travel the world, I knew I had to keep a tight reign on my expenses to maximize my travel time and minimize damage to my pocketbook. In that vein, I took a leap and couchsurfed in Hawaii last year!

Before dismissing couchsurfing as “weird,” or “unsafe,” consider a few things:

-Odds are high that you have “couchsurfed” before, when you crashed on a friend’s futon after a night of partying; when your Aunt Edna’s childhood friend hosted you for a couple nights on your Spring Break to Miami; when you stayed on the couch at the house of a friend of a friend during your job interview in a different state.

-Couchsurfing.org is a social networking website, much like Facebook and Myspace. Users have personal profiles complete with pictures and testimonials. These people aren’t really “total strangers.”

-Nobody is obligated to host anybody else. Willing hosts pick and choose who they want, based on whatever criteria suits them.

-Nobody is obligated to couchsurf. The couchsurfing.org website lets me, as a traveler, search for potential hosts based on age, gender, location, and many other factors. In other words, I can narrow my options to a very specific demographic. Then, I can read the profiles and testimonials to find the particular hosts that I think will be the funnest and most enjoyable. After that, I write a personalized message to the few remaining and hope one is available and finds me equally as interesting.

-Not all people on couchsurfing.org are there to host or find accommodations. Many people will meet for drinks or take part in group events. As a traveler, you could keep your eye open for fun couchsurfing events or interesting locals to talk with over coffee, while still staying in the comforts of a hotel.

-Couchsurfing is safe. Users get “vouched” if they prove their mailing address to the couchsurfing organization. As a traveler, I can screen potential hosts based on testimonials from others.

-People that offer up their homes, I’ve found, are incredibly generous, outgoing, tolerant, and excited to meet new friends.

Why would anybody allow a stranger into her house? Because it adds some spice to life! Couchsurfing is an opportunity for people from different cultures or backgrounds to make friends and learn a lot. Plus, how great is it to know that you have friends in every corner of the world?!

Hosts can travel to many places, knowing they have friends and accommodations there. Every person that has hosted me or met with me from couchsurfing.org has a place to stay wherever I am (whenever I settle down), and whenever they want. I am grateful for their generosity and will happily host them.

I also feel a certain obligation to “pay it forward” by hosting others as graciously as I’ve been treated.

Why do I think couchsurfing is so cool? Because every single couchsurfing experience I’ve had, now over a dozen, has been fun and very, very interesting.

I’ve stayed with doctors and students and retired folks.  I’ve slept on a floor, a futon, a couch, and several beds. I’ve stayed in a 5-star hotel in an expensive Asian city and a rooftop-access apartment (penthouse?) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. I’ve treated a couple hosts to dinner and had a couple hosts treat me to dinner (some insist on it, as they are being  hosts). I’ve setup a Taiwan food tasting event with area couchsurfers and had tea with the daughter of a Viet Cong soldier (she even planned out my entire 30-day Vietnam itinerary). I’ve gone to concerts and experienced things that I would never have known about without a local to guide me. One host taught me how to ride her motorcycle on the crazy streets, something I might not have ever tried on my own (I’ve since rented about 30 days worth of motorcycles in Vietnam, Taiwan, and Thailand).

There are many other incredible things I’ve experienced as a result of couchsurfing.

Couchsurfing is incredible. It adds extra adventure to traveling. Couchsurfing is traveling on steroids.

Have you tried couchsurfing? Would you consider it after reading this?

Today I purchased an inexpensive American novel in a Taipei bookstore for the same price as my night’s lodging.  I regularly spend more on food on a given day (and sometimes at a given meal) than I do for my lodging. This really makes me feel like I’m spending my money well to not be wasting it on some fancy hotel.

In Cambodia a few months ago, the immigration official warned me that I needed new Passport Visa pages soon because I had only a couple left. That was three countries ago. Having to mail my passport to Philadelphia so the Department of State could sew or glue in new pages was a proud moment. It really felt good to completely fill that book with stamps of foreign countries. Is that silly?

Every time I have a pen for several months and run it completely out of ink, I feel major accomplishment. I lose pens all the time, so this has happened only a few times in my life, where the pen literally runs dry. It’s amazing how long a cheap hotel pen will last, and I find it usually does take several months of use for me to extinguish all the ink. Have you ever used up all the ink in a new pen?

When things fall apart on me, it is a pleasure to have to buy replacements. Some things that come to mind are shoes. For instance, by the time I returned to the US a couple months ago (after nearly 5 months of overseas travel), my New Balance 993s were thrashed. I wore them daily for walking, running, hiking, motorbiking, travel, everything. The soles were breaking apart by the time I made it home. I’m now wearing another pair of new 993s. We’ll see how long these last. I’ve lost count, but I’m somewhere around my 13th pair of NB 990s-series shoes. New Balance, are you listening?? How many pairs do I have to buy before I get a freebie!

I’ve already written about my light travel packing. Being more nimble, traveling lighter than others, and not packing my backpack full of junk is something that makes me happy. I know this is not through strenuous effort or accomplishment, but simple planning and execution. It is nothing deserving of praise, but it gives me personal satisfaction to be on the road for months using only a carry-on.

Using old stuff makes me think I’ve found the perfect solution for a task. For instance, the alarm clock I use at home is a small black cubical GE clock radio. I’ve had it for somewhere between 15 and 20 years and used it everywhere from California to Guam to Afghanistan. It has been dropped, kicked, and beaten, but still works smoothly and has as clear a radio reception as I’ve ever heard from a clock. I will never buy another alarm clock until this one quits on me. I feel the same way about my blankets, my backpack, my Casio G-Shock Classic DW5600E, and other personal possessions. Quite simply, using them year after year, abusing them, and being provided full service in return has forged a certain product-customer relationship with me. In return, I am loyal until they die!

Do you find great pleasure in little things? The things that others might laugh at or think are ridiculous? If so, what are they?

One of the things I really take pride in, is my ability to travel light. Other travelers use suitcases, multiple bags, or gargantuan expeditionary backpacks that look like they must weigh a hundred pounds. My

Last year I traveled 4.5 months in Asia. My backpack at its lightest was just under 25 pounds and ballooned to 30 pounds when stuffed with travel books and t-shirts. How will I drop the weight to 15 pounds? I’m eliminating all electronic gear except my small handheld camera.

I started my last trip with a GPS device, external hard drive, laptop, webcam, cell phone, etc. This time? All of it is staying at home. I figure my laptop and associated components alone will drop the overall pack weight by 8 pounds at least. Additionally I’m leaving behind my backpack security blanket, the Pacsafe. I figure the effort of tugging it around and the hassle of using it are not worth the security it brings. The only valuable things in my pack will be the ~$150 camera and my passport, both replaceable.

Everything I take will go in my Blackhawk R.A.P.T.O.R. backpack. This is an extremely rugged pack designed for military special operations, and is easily one of the highest quality products I’ve ever owned. Though I haven’t done special operations, I have put the pack through some severe workouts and regular abuse over the past 5 years. It still looks nearly brand new.

Everybody has packing techniques. I start from the assumptions that I can inexpensively buy nearly any necessity anywhere I go, that the majority of things people like to pack rarely if ever get used (e.g. dress pants, dress shoes, GPS), and that clean socks, underwear, and t-shirts are the only items that really matter at the start of the day. Most of all, I believe there is a direct inverse correlation between luggage weight and travel enjoyment, i.e., the less I pack, the more enjoyable and adventurous my travels.

Without further ado, here is my packing list:

PACK

New Balance 993s

Small combination lock

Rain pancho

Rain resistant windbreaker jacket

Ankle socks x6

Underwear x6

Shirts x6

Shorts with double-buttoned pockets x2

Pants x2

Swim trunks

Passport

Pen

Pocket Notepad

Inflatable pillow

Packtowl Ultralite

Handkerchief

Washcloth

Camera with charger and 3x 8GB chips

Wiley X sunglasses with removable wind/dust inserts

TOILETRIES

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Floss

Deodorant

Tiny bars of soap

Tiny bottle of shampoo

Doxycycline

Tweezers

Scissors

Disposable razors

Fingernail Clippers

Sunscreen

WALLET

Drivers License

Credit Card

Debit Card

Photocopy of passport

Photocopy of emergency traveler’s insurance

If you haven’t heard of the Law of Diminishing Returns, you’ve surely experienced it and been a victim of it. Quite simply, it means the more you work on a project, after a certain point, the less results you notice. At least that’s how I’m defining it for this post. Ultimately, we want our economy of effort to remain high, while still meeting the objectives of the task. We want to be prolific producers. As we near excellence or perfection, our returns are diminished while the effort is increasingly enormous, which becomes demoralizing, boring, and unsatisfying.

Though originally an economic principle, I see diminishing returns everywhere. As a stock increases in price and nears its true value, the margin of safety decreases and the chance of further gains decreases—the stock holder is simply not getting the same level of value in exchange for his risk that he had when the stock was severely underpriced. When giving a lecture to any group, the majority of listeners will comprehend, but there is always a minority that needs special help—the lecturer has to spend an inordinate amount of time with that select few, diminishing the volume of information he shares per unit of time. On practically every test I’ve ever taken, I can breeze through most questions very quickly, and then spend the majority of my time on a few very difficult questions—my ratio of questions answered per unit of time is drastically reduced during the end of a test. Last Sunday when I plowed the snow off the driveway and spread salt over the concrete to lower the freezing temperature, I noticed on the instructions that a certain amount of salt per unit area was recommended—above a certain coverage density of salt, the effort becomes cost prohibitive because the ice won’t melt any faster, or does so at a much lower rate. Every time I see a traffic accident with a couple dozen people standing around, I think how inefficient that is—a single person can address 90% of any immediate concerns like a 911 call, removing the victims from harm’s way, giving basic first aid; a second responder could cover the other 10% of desired immediate actions. Beyond the first two or three people, there is little to no value gained from others.

Let’s use truck washing as an example.  I can wash my truck in 10 minutes and have it looking great. If I spend two hours, however, I’ll be able to wash it again to catch spots I missed, scrape off any tough spots, wax it, and dry it with ShamWow. Which is a more efficient use of my time? It depends on my desired outcome, but in this case it’s easy—the 10 minute wash gives me what I need and more efficiently. Why would I put in 12 times the amount of time in order to get a finished product that barely looks any different? I wouldn’t, unless I were entering the vehicle in some car show, where details matter. What’s even more efficient? Driving through a 3-minute automatic wash at the gas station. In all three scenarios, my truck probably looks the same to a bystander. In all three scenarios, my truck will look dirty again within a few days.

One more example is in learning a foreign language. Before I moved to Italy, I purchased a set of Italian language CDs. There were 90 lessons meant to be listened to over 90 days. Well, the first lessons were easy, but around lesson 30 became more difficult for me to understand 100% of what was being taught. So, what would have been the best use of my time? To continue on to the next lesson, even though I had mastered only 80% of the prior lesson’s material…or should I repeat the lesson 2, 3, 4, maybe even 5 times until I reach 100% comprehension and understanding? The answer depends on several factors, but with limited time to study, the best course of action is probably to move ahead. If listening to a lesson once gives me 80% mastery, then listening to it again will give me far less (no more than 20%) additional mastery. This is a substantially diminished return with each subsequent listen of a repeated lesson. My reasoning in continuing to the next lesson is that in 90 days, I would much rather have completed the entire language set and mastered 80% of it, than completed, say, 60 lessons for which I had 100% mastery.

People have written books and essays on this topic. I remember reading an article in college, written by some military general, about the final 1%. He wanted to know how to get that final 1% of excellence out of a person or project, that maybe the final 1% would be the difference between someone living or getting killed in combat. I’ve heard Colin Powell talk about some of his decisions and how he’d rather make a decision now based on 80% of available information, rather than delay a decision a week to get 100% of available information. I’ve heard other leaders talk about even lower percentages, that the most important thing is to make a decision and take action now even if they understand only 30% of a situation. In other instances, I’ve heard leaders say that nothing short of perfection is the standard.

This leaves a thinking person like myself with lots of questions. Just what is quality, what is acceptable? Can I turn in a product that is based on 30% understanding of the problem as long as I turn it in now? Do I have to delay a project until I believe it to be perfect? I don’t know. It depends. And therein lies the dilemma of a professional.

One of my biggest faults, if you want to call it that, is my determination to produce quality, excellent work no matter how much effort is involved. I know I’m not alone in this fault, and yes, it is a fault. I have spent countless hours doing mundane work only because I wanted perfection. Because I put in so much time, I had quality products, but where did that leave my other projects? Looking back, I would have been better served had I put less time and effort in some projects and instead focused that leftover energy on new projects or personal goals.

We have to give ourselves room for imperfection, for error, and for “good enough.” To insist that every project and task is equal and that they are all of the highest priority and that anything less than perfect is unacceptable is an invitation to failure, and a recipe for poor morale. Don’t take my word for it. Here is what others say:

Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.  ~Harriet Braiker

A commander who sets a standard of “zero defects, no mistakes” is also saying “Don’t take any chances. Don’t try anything you can’t already do perfectly, and for heaven’s sake, don’t try anything new.” That organization will not improve; in fact, its ability to perform the mission will deteriorate rapidly. Effective leadership requires leaders who are imaginative, flexible, and daring. Improving the USAF for future missions requires leaders who are thoughtful and reflective. These qualities are incompatible with a “zero defects” attitude.   ~Army Field Manual

Today, I gave this topic a lot of thought. I considered how much my production is lessened due to my strong desire to produce perfect masterpieces. Thinking more about it, I believe the root cause of many people’s procrastination can be narrowed down to a need for perfection. It isn’t that all procrastinators are lazy. On the contrary, I think that many procrastinators are wholeheartedly devoted to their projects, but so obsessed with building a perfect game plan and having all the right pieces fall into place on a project, that time flies by until they are forced to produce.

Limited time is a catalyst for intense focus among productive procrastinators. I am a procrastinator when I have the time, but I am also extremely punctual. Very rarely in my entire life have I been late to a meeting, an appointment, or a deadline. Give me a time and I will be there. How does procrastination factor into diminishing returns? I think if we can create real or even artificial deadlines that we must meet, then we make ourselves much more productive during that limited time and then leave  the issue closed, even if the product isn’t perfect. I know I’m at my most productive when under intense deadlines and workloads. The ability and perceived need to focus is incredible when under the gun. Maybe this is why people say “if you want something done, ask a busy person to do it.” That busy person takes care of it right then and there, with little regard for perfection and a high regard for production, so that he can move on to his next task.

To answer the profound questions that started this post, I created a simple question set that should enable anybody to gauge the amount of time and effort a given project deserves:

1. What is the priority of this project over other things?

2. What is the desired outcome of the project?

3. What level of effort is needed to reach the desired outcome?

4. How nearly complete should the project be to reach the desired outcome?

When we ask ourselves these questions, usually answers become glaringly obvious. Back to the truck washing example, I know that 1. Washing my truck, while not urgent or high priority, might need to be washed soon, so that the paint doesn’t corrode; 2. My outcome is to have a truck that looks clean (at least temporarily) and has no tar, bird droppings, bug guts, or other gunk that could ruin the paint; 3. The effort required is probably 10-20 minutes to give the truck a good soapy scrubdown, followed by a walk around to make sure I knocked off all the sticky bugs and tree sap; 4. To reach my desired outcome, I don’t even necessarily have to wash the truck properly, and could get away with using the window squeegee at the gas pump to scrub off bug guts.

Are you a procrastinator? Do you think it’s because you are just plain lazy or do you perform better under pressure? Have you noticed this law of diminishing returns with specific areas of your life?

Full disclosure: I wash my truck every month or two and only because I don’t want bird droppings and smashed bugs to corrode the paint. Learning a foreign language is incredibly difficult and definitely can’t be done by CD lessons alone.

Hey, if people can sell their souls and virginity on Ebay, then I should be able to sell some T-shirt advertising, right?

Ebay makes sense because I spend only one hour crafting up a little ad. If nobody bids, I pay Ebay only 90 cents. That’s a whole lot cheaper and faster than driving around the country randomly propositioning businesses. The trick with Ebay is to generate enough attention that a serious offer will be made. I’ll shoot off some catalyst emails tomorrow.

What do you think? Will this work? Will I get someone to sponsor me running around a desert? Is $6000 a good deal for a company or will any potential bidders laugh? Is tuberculosis a noble cause?

Click here to see my Ebay auction.

Here is the text:

A Dunkin' Donuts in Seoul has mostly Western patrons. We are addicted to this stuff! When I visited Japan in 2001, I couldn't find a decent donut, just an unsweetened poor attempt at one. This year, however, I found my favorite, Krispy Kreme. American fast food is spreading around the world, setting the human race up for failure.

Lose inches FAST! Drop pounds NOW! Eat anything available including a daily dose of Oreos®! For a limited time only, this diet is available COMPLETELY FREE! Willing subjects are needed to validate this revolutionary diet! Here are the steps:

1. Travel to SE Asia², finding accomodation² in rural areas.
2. Get a good night’s sleep every night.
3. Walk everywhere—to the laundry, grocery store, tourist sites, etc—covering at least 5-10km every day.
4. Enjoy local cuisine when hungry. Snack on one unhealthy treat per day³.
5. Report your success!

Ok, so here’s the deal: I need a belt. Two months ago, I purchased a pair of shorts in Saigon, Vietnam. I found a heavy duty camouflage pair I really liked, and tried on the XL size. Too small. I tried the 2XL. Too small. I asked for the 3XL. Not available. 2XL was the biggest size stocked in Vietnam. They were too tight around the belly and I was worried about the button either breaking or bruising my stomach. I really needed some quality shorts with secure, button-down pockets (for my camera and wallet), so I took the undersized 2XL pair, hoping that the cotton wouldn’t shrink much when laundered. Today, about 9 weeks later, those shorts are too loose and I find myself constantly pulling them up, only to have them fall right back down, nearly passing over my hips. Yesterday, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, I weighed myself on two scales: 74 Kilograms⁴ (163 pounds), a full 10 kilograms (22 pounds) less than when I left home.

I left the United States in mid-June, weighing 185 pounds plus or minus a couple. In Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, I continued my “American diet.” That diet included regular fast food and limited exercise. During those early travels, I spent a week in the Mongolian wild. That week I dined on bone marrow and sheep tail (both delicious, by the way) and could feel myself losing weight and  getting fit. That feeling disappeared when I returned to South Korea and Japan and their ubiquitous American fast food chains. There I was, in early August, as pudgy as when I left the US. In my last days in Japan, early August, I weighed in the low 180s. That was the last I would see a scale for over a month.

I didn’t even recognize it (weight loss) was happening until I stepped on a scale at a 7-11 in Chiang Mai, Thailand and saw that I was 81 kilograms (178 pounds). Without shoes and gear, I was probably just under 175 pounds. That was a month ago. Having lost about 10 pounds since leaving home, and mostly since leaving Japan, got my attention.

How did I lose so much weight so fast, most of it in the last two months, without even trying? I don’t know exactly, but I suspect my body adjusted to a lower caloric intake even while my daily exercise, walking, was increasing. During my remaining weeks in Thailand, I weighed myself every other day or so and was much more conscious of the weight loss. My diet was a nearly daily meal of my favorite Thai dish, curry soup with pork or chicken, flanked by rice. My “dinner” would be a package of Oreos or another bowl of curry or Pad Thai. Every few days, I would eat a pizza, but my typical daily diet remained one or two bowls of curry with rice and one pack of Oreos. Now that I’m in Cambodia, I’ve replaced Oreos, which I can’t find anywhere, for ice cream⁵, and the weight has continued to melt away. It’s almost as if my body decided recently it should weigh significantly less and is in a race to reach that new set weight. I’m not exercising vigorously, starving myself, or otherwise putting much effort into losing weight. It’s just happening.

For whatever reason, Oreos, rice, and chicken are enough to sustain me. I don’t experience the hunger pangs I experienced in the United States, Japan, and South Korea. Obviously, the Southeast Asia Oreo Diet isn’t a seriously recommended diet⁶. Replacing Oreos with several daily servings of fruits and vegetables would be far healthier. Nonetheless, I have quickly lost significant weight without doing anything extreme, simply walking around and eating Asian-sized meals, with a daily sugar fix.

These last couple months I have become even more of a believer that chemically-enhanced, technologically engineered food, i.e., American fast food, is the primary culprit in weight gain. I warn some of the locals I meet in these countries that once they start getting saturated with McDonald’s and the like, it is only a matter of time before weight gain becomes a serious national problem for them. I don’t believe in big government and think it would be a big mistake to regulate food products, but maybe something should be done to regulate how that food is produced. Fast food has properties that are creating longterm destructive results for people. Fast food is the new cigarettes, but worse. How many years will pass before we do something about it?

I’m all for personal responsibility and think most able-bodied, able-minded people are responsible for their conditions. That said, there is something about the processed, pre-packaged, chemically-manipulated fast food and soft drinks that makes it extremely difficult for many people to ignore. Like alcohol, gambling, and other addictions, some of us have extreme difficulty controlling our fast food and soft drink intake. With fast food, however, I think a much, much larger percentage of the population is predisposed to the addiction. Most Americans I know are overweight. We’ve all seen the statistics.

Fast food has become the default meal in the United States. My American friends and family who eat well take much more effort and planning to be healthy. They have to maneuver around our so-called Fast Food Nation in order to make nutritious meals. They go to special grocery stores, look for “free range” products, spend time preparing meals, carry homemade meals to work, avoid dining out with other friends, etc. In Thailand and many of these neighboring countries, eating healthily is the default. I can’t find much fast food. Even finding ice cream for me takes a lot of walking. I have to earn it! Though a significant effort to find a Burger King or McDonald’s, it’s a piece of cake to walk outside and find street vendors selling meats and eggs and fruits. Restaurant menus are chockfull of rice and vegetable dishes. This has been my secret to losing weight—I’m losing weight by eating what’s available. The available food is natural and healthy.

I’ve been down this weight loss road before. One of the reasons for leaving my career, in fact, was because I was literally getting sick more often, getting fat, and in a cycle that seemed like it wouldn’t end without drastic action. In 2006 I ballooned to 190-195 pounds. In 2007, with a New Year’s resolution to drop weight, I muscled my way to 162 pounds with a lot of running and lifting. In 2008, once again, I ballooned to the 185-190 pound range. Here I am in 2009 back in the 160s. This time, though, was almost effortless. I’m not trying to lose weight here. I’m just living, going about my travels, walking where I need to go, eating the food available, and not eating unless I have an appetite. Yes, there is something broken in American (and, increasingly, other Westernized nations) society where being fit requires such an effort to exercise and eat well, when in other countries being fit is effortless, part of the natural lifestyle.

Asian women are known for their slight builds, and it is quite obvious to anyone that they are shorter and overall smaller in stature than average Europeans and North Americans. I ask many of them their weights, out of curiosity. The smaller women are about 40 kilograms (88 pounds) and the “heavy” end of the scale is about 50-55 kilograms (110-121 pounds)! They complain about having to lose one or two kilograms. Their perspective on weight and exercise is so much different. Not many struggle the way we do.

Walking around in the evening is one of my favorite things to do here. People congregate in parks to socialize with physical activity, doing calisthenics and playing soccer and other games. Working out casually with each other is part of the national social fabric. In Gifu, Japan, I witnessed this while at a water park. A whistle blew and everyone stopped playing in the water to do 10 minutes of calisthenics! I’ve seen similar things in Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. Between the healthy food easily found on every street and the commitment to exercising for fun, the citizens in SE Asia have got it nailed.

My journey to SE Asia is quickly coming to an end. I’ll be home in the United States at the end of the month. I fear my lost weight will quickly return. What scares me? This: Burger King® chicken sandwich plus cheese, large chocolate shake and fries. A&W Rootbeer® float. Arby’s® large roast beef sandwich with chocolate swirl shake and curly fries. Buffalo Wild Wings® 18 traditional Parmesan Garlic™ wings with potato wedges. Wendy’s® 1/4lb single patty cheeseburger combo with chocolate Frosty™ and medium fry. McDonald’s vanilla reduced fat ice cream cone. Fuddrucker’s® 1/2 lb bacon cheddar burger with large chocolate shake and fries. Dairy Queen® Oreo® Blizzard®. Pizza Hut™ New! Stuffed Crust Pepperoni Pan Pizza. Krispy Kreme® Original Glazed Hot Doughnuts.

I know weight is such a sensitive issue, particularly with Americans and, really, anyone who struggles. What do you think? Is fast food to blame? Should we be holding ourselves totally accountable? Should government get involved by regulating or heavily taxing fast food, like what has been done with cigarettes? Is fast food proliferation the #1 threat to civilization?

1.Registration Pending.

2. To be paid by subject.

3. Oreos® have been effective in limited trials.

4. Though the metric system (used by 190+ countries) is clearly inferior to the American system and possibly inferior to the systems of the two only other nations in the world not using the metric system (Liberia and Burma), I use it here in deference to local standards.

5. Chill, an ice cream parlor in Phnom Penh, Cambodia makes its own ice cream in-store and is the best I’ve tasted anywhere in Asia, bar none.

6. If you have success with this diet, feel free to send me a check or money order for an amount you feel is appropriate.

Left: On the subway in Tokyo, Japan, wishing I had a travel buddy sitting next to me, rather than this tired student who decided to use my shoulder as a pillow. Right: At Doi Inthanon, Thailand, taking a blurry picture of myself. There are downsides to traveling alone. Not having a full time picture taker is one of them.

Have you ever had a once-in-a-lifetime experience, something so funny or profound that it could never be repeated, and immediately afterward wished a friend were there to share it? Me, too. Traveling with another has to be the best way to build a better friendship, share interesting memories, and look out for the safety and welfare of each other.. That said, I have had many experiences that never would have been possible were I with a group. Going solo brings a level of speed and flexibility that is simply impossible with a group.

I’ve had some really good times in the couple instances I’ve journeyed with other travelers these last four months, and find fascinating the dynamic others have with their travel buddies. It has been insightful to me to see how their decision making works and how time consuming it can be. As a “lone wolf” type person, however, I value my independence above all. These are some of the reasons why traveling alone is so great.

-Complete independence. Nobody relies on me and I don’t have to rely on others. After years of work requiring reliance, which could be very rewarding but often frustrating, this new independence is refreshing.

-I go where I want. Rather than having to deliberate with someone about where we should visit, I go to all the places I wish. Furthermore, I can change my mind instantly with no consultation. My original itinerary has changed wildly and it simply doesn’t matter! I’m accountable to no one but myself. Eventually, in the months or years ahead, I will visit all the planned countries, but if I’m particularly enjoying myself somewhere then I stay longer, feeling no pressure to stick to my bar napkin plan.

-I eat what I want. If I want to walk off a Nha Trang, Vietnam street and into the busiest locals-only phở’ restaurant I’ve ever seen, I do it, not worried about someone telling me how unsafe the food could be, or worried that people are throwing pork bones and napkins on the floor. If I have a craving for pizza, I get a pizza then and there.

-I make new friends easily. Being alone makes it especially easy to meet new people. I like talking with others and, since I have no travel buddy, I talk with strangers. It’s not uncommon for that talk to lead to a new travel idea, knowledge of the best local spots, dinner with a local family, or a night out with locals. Other travelers I meet are usually somewhat confused or surprised that I would make friends with locals at airports, bus stations, hotels, restaurants, etc. It’s almost as if it isn’t in the realm of possibility that a person could do that. When I have all the time in the world and travel at my own pace, engaging in conversation is effortless and agenda-less.

-I never have to worry about making a poor decision. Because I’m alone, I’m 100% responsible for my situation, and have no one to blame and no one to blame me. Surprisingly, this has a remarkable impact on my thinking. I am constantly looking ahead to what’s next and rarely ever questioning myself about what I could have done, should have done, or would have done.

-Logistics are very easy. I can’t count the times I’ve booked transportation minutes or hours in advance. I can decide I want to go elsewhere and then do it as soon as possible. Limiting my planning to a matter of a few minutes per day makes it no harder than getting dressed.

-I spend time where I want. My interests are vast, but undoubtedly differ from others’ in degree and type. Whereas I might want to make a quick visit to a crowded market to watch people or meet merchants, another person might want to spend all day there buying inexpensive brand name clothing.

-It’s easy to find an opening. Being a single traveler, I can easily be moved around to accommodate myself or others. I routinely move from my assigned seats on buses and planes to give myself more room. On my Halong Bay, Vietnam tour package, I opted for a shared room to cut costs. I ended up, however, with my own private room on the boat and in the island bungalow because of circumstances with other groups. This, paying for cheaper shared accommodation and ending up with my own room, happens often enough that I almost expect it. On one occasion, I even got the only seat remaining on a space-available flight, skipping ahead of 30 other people traveling as friends or families unwilling to split. I was enjoying the beaches of Hawaii while they were still stuck on the mainland hoping for better luck in the days ahead.

-I get the “he’s cool”  treatment from people trying to make side deals. I mean, when interacting alone with some local merchant or security person, I am seen as less of a risk to them getting caught making special deals with me. Couples and groups are too clunky and loud, but a single person is quiet and very flexible. Recently, I gained private access to a “no entrance” portion of a world famous site, something that I doubt would have happened were I with others.

-There is a never-ending sense of adventure. When I step off the plane in Cambodia, I have no idea what to expect and have nobody there as a security blanket or to provide comfort. Being the only foreigner on a bus or in a restaurant can be very thrilling. For anyone who likes an adrenaline fix, traveling alone is an easy way to get a steady diet.

Have you ever traveled solo? What were some of the benefits? Do you think traveling alone is different for a woman or makes more sense in certain locations?