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Virtually everything in life can be viewed as a game. If you don’t know how to play the game of life, then you are likely to struggle and suffer unnecessarily.
What do I mean when I say Life is a Game? Simply put, we compete in one way or another to survive and prosper i.e., “win,” through the easiest process, and the lowest possible cost.
Just think, there are…
people and things we interact with every day (players),
environments where these interactions occur (game spaces),
rules of engagement (codes, regulations, and laws),
consequences and penalties for violating codes, regulations, and laws (social isolation,fines, jail or other legal penalties),
success and failure (winners and losers), etc.
Life really is a game.
There is no way to figure out how to win that game without essential information and skilled and consistent coaching. A skilled coach can push you up, pull you forward, and keep you balanced during that process.
Father with son warm near campfire, drink tea and have conversation
After all, there are tips, tools, techniques, strategies, products and services you will need for winning the game of life. This website is dedicated to providing you with these things through personalized, courses and coaching on a wide range of subjects.
According to the Mirriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, game theory is “an approach used to find the optimal outcome from a set of choices by analyzing the costs and benefits to each independent party as they compete with each other”.
Game theory is a concept that has been awarded over twelve Noble Prizes. The life story of one of these Noble laureates – John Nash – was even the subject of the Academy Award-winning film, A Beautiful Mind.
It is our mission through our course and coaching as well a through our product portal AskLewisGametheory.com to entertain and educate you on you everything you need to know on applying game theory to your daily life. By doing so, you will become a more efficient, effective, precise, productive, financially successful, and self-aware person.
Come to this website regularly and you can explore:
Regular blogs will show you all the various aspects of gamer-thinking,
In weekly review postings we evaluate the best board and video games, sports analytic products, movies, prepper products, and life hack tools.
Each page is filled with valuable content with illustrations and links to videos and articles that will educate, motivate, inspire and entertain you.
At the conclusion of each page is a discounted offer for our favorite educational programs and products.
The courses on this website are designed to teach anyone, from nine to ninety, how to apply the common sense inherent in game theory to daily life. To accomplish this we use methods derived from the same early childhood learning programs that our teachers used when we were in the third and fourth grade.
By applying what you learn from the content-rich guides, modules, and personal coaching offered here, you will be able to win at the game of life in every way.
Whether you played childhood games like Tic-tac-toe and Rock-paper-scissors, or more sophisticated video games like Tetris and Minecraft, this site will take you to the next level.
I invite you to explore all of our inspiring, entertaining, and informative blogs on applied game theory.
I also invite you to explore our game theory oriented products including gamer tools sports analytics, fantasy sports, and wealth-building programs at:
AsklewisGameTheory.com
Lewis Harrison
For the Ask Lewis Team
Watch Lewis Harrison the creator of this Course on Applied Game Theory A-Z and Beyond… as he is interviewed by master strategist and leadershop guru Jim Selman
Let’s explore how applied game theory and the courses and coaching available on this site can change your life in so many positive way
I have ways had an interest in the concepts of self-reliance, and self-sufficiency. In recent years other terms and descriptions have come into to describe various elements, and perspectives concerning these concepts. Among the most common have been lifehacker, prepper, and survivalist.
Being all of these, I am not quite clear about the rigid distinction between a person who is self-reliant, self-sufficient, a lifehacker, a doomsday prepper, and a survivalist.
All of these words and terms somewhat overlap and so I will use the blogs on this site to explore each.
Let me add, that not just talking, or actually blogging out of my butt here. I have some experience in all of these areas for a number of reasons.
1. I am a wildcrafting herbalist, meaning that I can recognize wild edible and medicine plants. In fact, I am mentioned in the acknowledgements to the book Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants by Steven Brill a former student of mine.
2. I am the author of the book Lifehacks, a compendium of tools, techniques and strategies in this subject.
3. My best friend lived in the in the jungles of South East Asia for a number of years (for reason to complex to go into here) and told me much about how they survived.
I actually never thought myself as a prepper, but when the Corona-19 Pandemic hit on 2020, it hd little effect on my life. We had already stored most of what we might need, and there we were watching everyone else freaking out. I am not gloating about this in anyway. The point is that there really no downside to a self-aware, emotionally and mentally grounded person being prepared for a worst case scenario.
Let’s begin with some general definitions
Prepper definition: What is a prepper? This is a person who believes a catastrophic disaster or emergency is likely to occur in the future and makes active preparations for it, typically by stockpiling food, ammunition, and other supplies. “There’s no agreement among preppers about what exactly a disaster is, and when one is most imminent.” I thought about this as I watched people stand in line for 2 hours outside of a supermarket in Toronto waiting to buy toilet paper. I assume most of these folks have never watched “Survivor” or “Bear Grylls” on the TV, or on their Iphone. Clearly in a bad situation they would not be a sensible prepper.
Survivalism definition: A person who is skilled at, and has an array of strategies, tips, techniques, and tools (generally made by them) which would enable them to fairly confidently (and occasionally comfortably) survive in the anarchy of an anticipated breakdown of society.
Lifehacker definition: An individual who has accumulated an array of tricks, shortcuts, skills, or novelty methods that increase efficiency, efficiency, precision, and productivity, in all walks of life. The term was originally used by computer experts with a playful curiosity in the ways they can accelerate their workflow in ways other than programming. The term has become a general description for an individual who can apply special problem-solving shortcuts in both the analogy and digital worlds.
First of all there is no standard definition for what the distinctions are between self-sustainability and self-sufficiency and they are actually overlapping states of being in which a person or organization needs little or no help from, or interaction with, others. Self-sufficiency entails the self being enough, and a self-sustaining entity can maintain self-sufficiency indefinitely. Still, there are plenty of free pepper books floating around, and there is a prepper forum you can land on of you look.
“So where,” you may ask does game theory fit into all this? Well, no matter how skilled a survivalist, prepper, or lifehacker may be, they will not survive and prosper if they cannot make wise decisions, and there are few wise decision-makers who do not have a fundamental understanding of game theory.
One of the great constraints for many preppers, and survivalists is that though they are skilled at developing winning survival strategies they are not very skilled at avoiding errors in judgment. One cannot be a master strategist and problem solver unless one has a hold on both skill-sets.
In order to develop this skill one must have a profound understanding of numerous concepts drawn from game theory and design thinking including; collaborative intelligence, critical mass, tipping points, ripple effects, Black Swans, the Butterfly effect, Support Triangles, Cognitive Bias, Trembling Hand and other elements. Simple explanations of all of these concepts can be found through the internet. Just Google it.
The prepper and survivalist gametheorist tend to be progressive thinking and avid alternative realities that do not meet the standards of critical thinking and evidence based facts Still they have seen the failure of the government to protect the water supply in Flint Michigan, the levees in New Orleans, or prevent unneccessary death in Puerto Rico. Any skilled game theorist understands that the more brilliant, knowledgeable and expert a specialist may be, the more likely they are to make some error, often a small one, that can have a major impact on any system. The most skilled Lifehacking game theorists can isolate just the type of thinking errors certain types of specialists are likely to make.
There a number of reasons why skilled individuals make mistakes that have major ripple effects that can cost millions of dollars, and lead to death and destruction. These include:
Failing to see that information received from other experts on their own team or project was false.
Pay attention mainly to what they were asked to pay attention to, thus missing some bigger picture.
Failing to notice what they were not directly asked to notice.
Addressing a small problem without realizing that the problem is an indication of a much larger problem.
This are mistakes skilled preppers, survivalists, and lifehackers don’t make!
A basic principle in game theory based troubleshooting is to start from the
simplest and most probable possible problems first. This is illustrated by the saying “When you see hoof prints, look for horses, not zebras”. Use the KISS principle (Keep it simple, stupid!). This principle results in the common complaint about help desks or manuals, that they sometimes first ask: “Is it plugged in and does that receptacle have power?”. This should not be taken as an affront but should serve as a reminder to always check the simple things first before calling for help. A skilled game thinker can check each element in a system one-by-one, substituting known good components or approaches for each potentially suspect one. This process of “serial substitution” can be error prone when components are substituted without regard to how their failure could result in specific problems arising.
If one is interested in exploring these ideas there are a number of place to start. Of course one can read a prepper magazine to help you put your prepper checklist together. Prepper storage should include; food storage, soap, alcohol and bleach.
If you consider yourself a lifehacking survivalist prepper learn more about a system that can draw water out of air, so in a really worst case scenario you will never be short of the basics.
I travel about 100 days a year and much of that is done through airports and on airplanes. In doing so I have often looked for shortcuts, essentially using game theory to maximize my travel experience at a low cost.
Below are a few tips on maximizing your flying experience.
These taken from my book “How to Hack Your Life Through Game Thinking”.
Airfare is one of the most costly investments in long-distance travel and yet if people use the right information at the appropriate time, they can save lots of cash and possibly even get paid to fly. This Hack # offer a cornucopia of approaches to getting where you are going with tips on where to find the best deals on cheap airfare and the best time to purchase tickets, how to get frequent flyer miles and the best times to use them, what travel agents to seek out, what websites for buying tickets have the lowest or no hidden charges, and much more.
One thing I always do at the airport is getting a chair massage. http://www.eventschairmassage.com has massage therapists at JFK airport, Laguardia Airport and in all the major hubs.
Challenge #1. Getting cheap airfare: The are many effective hacks for getting cheap airfare. Here are a few basic tips that anyone can apply with ease including:
Avoid peak travel days – Those before and after an actual holiday. Look for flights two days before or after a peak or holiday period. Sometimes you can save by flying on a holiday when most people would rather be home. Flying on Xmas or New Year’s Day is always less expensive that just before or after the holidays. Compare airfares on the web and sign up for e-mail newsletters that will inform of sales and special packages. You can also become an air courier.
Book on a weekend. Usually, they are about 5% cheaper than other days of the week. The reason? Business travelers tend to book on weekdays and the tickets are paid for by their company. Airlines attract more thrifty and price-sensitive travelers on weekends with lower fares.
Buy tickets over the Internet.
Only use freq. flyer mile on trips out of the US to
Hawaii to get the best return on investment.
Fly between September and Thanksgiving
Don’t book flights earlier than 150 days in advance or more than 14 days in advance. Generally, airlines don’t offer discounts or sales during these time periods.
Split Ticketing – Travel agents in one country can issue tickets in another, taking advantage of differences in price at one end of a route. This facilitates “Split Ticketing” whereby you can save by combining two one-way fares for a round trip, especially in first class or business class.
Travel frequently to a particular place?,It’s often cheaper to book a one-way ticket (or a discounted round trip) to that destination, then book a round trips from there. This is especially true in Bangkok.”
Cheap flights in Asia: If you are flying to Asia consider starting in Bangkok, Thailand. If you buy plane tickets you can get steep discounts to other locations.
If you are flying to a certain country, explore travel agents in neighborhoods that have a large population of individuals from that country. An agent in Astoria, Queens may get special discounts for tickets to Greece, Columbia or Bangladesh.
If you already booked a flight and it is cheaper, later on, you may be able to call and explain the situation and get the cheaper price.
Cheap-Caribbean.com
Look for deals on-line for labor day travel.
The best airline fares typically go to those who call just after midnight, East Coast time. That’s when airlines decide whether a flight is full and begin slashing prices if it’s not. Fares can drop by anywhere from $50 to $400.
Sources for low cost fares include:
SmarterTravel.com
Travelzoo.com
Cheapflights.com
Airfarewatchdog.com
TravelSense.com
Neotravel.com
Kayak.com
Sidestep.com
Mobisimo.com
Challenge #2. Getting the best seats on an airplane: Some seats better than others and there are ways to nab the best spots for yourself. Of course, what is considered “a best seat” will be different for different people. Let’s look at some variables. Starting with economy class.
Choose a seat that allows for a slight recline feature of a few inches. Choose a bulkhead seat or emergency exit row.
Flyer beware: The seats in front of an exit row and at the back of the plane do not recline. Often those behind the exit have weird window configurations.
Sitting by the galley can be loud as the crew prepares food and beverages and will often meet there during quiet periods on the flight.
The bathrooms are usually near the galley. Sit there and be ready for lot’s noise & people tripping over you.
Challenge #3. Overhead bin availability?: While you may feel more bumps in rough air and have a long wait when disembarking, the rear of the plane is often less crowded. For most airlines, you will need to board earlier too if you want to sit in the rear — a win if you want to make sure your carry-on luggage gets a spot. This is something to bear in mind if you are picking your seats on an online chart.
Note: Some airlines, deliver beverage service by tray, so there are no carts in the aisle while other airlines offer what crew members call a “starburst”: Here two flight attendants with trolleys meet in the middle of the plane then work their way to the galleys. While service will come quicker for passengers sitting mid-plane, there is one challenge here – There is no getting up to use the toilet since the service carts barricade the aisle.
If you are sitting in the middle use the toilets in the airport or before service starts.
Challenge #4. If your need for comfort is greater than your need for a cheap fair first and business class may be the way to go: In first and business classes there are usually two types of seats available.
Lie-flat seats that allow passengers to recline the seat down to 180-degrees for comfortable sleeping.
Reclining seats known as angle seats. For Business and First class, the key feature is lie-flat seats, not ones that are on an angle. Frequent flyers call those uncomfortable angled ones ‘wedgie seats’ — Guess why?
Challenge #5. Your tall or large and need more room: The good news is that you can get that extra room by sitting in the exit row. If you choose that there may be responsibilities besides eating and sleeping. If you have proximity to an emergency exit window you may be deemed an able-bodied person (ABP). That means if an
emergency occurs and the captain calls for an evacuation, you will be responsible for helping with the process.
Depending upon the aircraft, type of emergency, and the flight attendants’ needs, some passengers may be asked to open the emergency window and assist passengers out of the plane. If you are sitting near an emergency exit door you may be asked to help open a door during the evacuation — or, once the door is open, go to the bottom of the emergency exit slide and help people off and tell them to move away from the plane.
Challenge #6. Safety fears: Are you concerned with safety? Does turbulence freak you out?Book flights that use larger planes and that fly at higher altitudes. These have less turbulence. Also sitting over the wings is smoother than sitting closer to the nose or tail.
Safety in case of a crash? Who even wants to think of this but maybe you’re one of those “Worst-Case Scenario Life Hackers”. Are some seats safer than others? According to one survey of US Federal Aviation Administration accident records dating back almost four decades, the middle seats in the rear of the aircraft had the best statistical outcome during accidents when some people survived the crash. Generally speaking, there is no good or best place to sit on an aircraft in terms of injury prevention or survivability in an accident. Each incident is unique and accidents are extremely rare.”
If you are really paranoid take the train, a bus, drive or walk. If that is not an option remember that if there is an emergency sit near the emergency exit row. That’s why they gave it that name. The closer you are to any emergency row, the sooner you’ll get off the plane, that is unless you’re actually in the exit row, then it’s a different story and a complex one at that.
Challenge #7. Getting an empty seat next to you? Seats in the rear of the plane and the middle seats are usually the last to be selected. The middle seat in a back row is the very last choice. Fly during a slow time (such as when school resumes in the fall), and you may end up with an unoccupied seat next to you.
Challenge #8. Are You tall or Where to sit if you need to make a connection to another flight and are short of time?: The best place to sit in this situation is near the front. If you can’t get near the front you may need to ask or even bargain with those closest to the front of the aircraft to change seats. Always carry a few $10 or even $25 gift cards and offer to pay the person with them to get that coveted seat if necessary. While some fliers who are not in a hurry will happily relocate to a still-acceptable seat (example: aisle for aisle) others may need the bribes such as the free cocktails, or even cash. If you’re desperate (which means you are an amateur Life hacker for not planning for this) you can ask passengers closer to the front to trade seats just for landing, but this only works if carry-ons aren’t stashed in an overhead bin in the back. Whatever you do when requesting or negotiating for a seat change, always keep a pleasant attitude and smile.
Challenge #9. Painful pressure in your ears?: There is no part of the cabin that will offer relief if you struggle with ear pressure issues (barotrauma). The fact is that everywhere on the plane is the same regarding ear popping, as the barometric pressure is the same.
Challenge #10. Food and beverage service usually starts at the front of the cabin. This can actually change on some airlines depending on whether the flight is flying east versus west or north versus south. For the premium or higher priced cabins, some airlines will allow you to pre-order meals on their website. Specialty meals can include vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, and for children. The front-to-back service can be a downside for sitting in the rear. It is not unusual on a long flight with hot meal service for the crew to run out of a popular item by the time they reach you in the back. Don’t be upset if you get a vegetarian or kosher meal that wasn’t meant for you.
Challenge #11. Need to find the quietest part of the plane?: Some things you can control and other you can’t. You can’t avoid people who snore when they sleep, crying infants or boisterous and loud talkers. The quietest location is usually near the forward galley however you may encounter the problem of listening to the crew chatting. Still, seats as far up front in the cabin as possible will help you to avoid the loud aircraft engines. Even sitting towards the interior helps; aisle seats are several decibels quieter than window seats.
Challenge #12. Getting cheap seats: The variables that determine this are constantly changing. Most airlines add surcharges for the best seats or create new, more expensive subcategories with names like Premium Economy or Extra Legroom. An increasing number of airlines charge to select your seat at the time of booking. Plan ahead, unless you actually want to get stuck in the back near the restrooms. Airfare pricing is more about fare class than specific seats and different airlines have different and very fluid pricing strategies. You can pretty much be assured that if you haven’t paid extra for a premium seat, don’t have frequent flyer status or didn’t end up snagging one of the last, high priced seats on the flight, you will be vying for the basic economy seats in the middle and back of the plane.”
Challenge #13. You need to change seats before your flight?: There are a number of options here.
If you do not want to be stuck in the middle seat, you may need to work with a living, breathing travel agent who can help guide the process.
You can self-serve on the internet: tap into the online system when early check-in begins to see if any last minute seats opened up.
Talk to an airline reservationist over the phone or a ticket counter agent at check-in.
As a last resort, a gate agent has the ability to reassign seats right up until boarding time.
Life Hack Tip: When requesting a seat change, always be pleasant with a smile on your face.
Whatever you on a plane and whatever hacks you seek to put in place to improve your lot do be generous in spirit, attitude and someone materially. While a smile, a good attitude, and chocolates may not guarantee you get what you want or need your odds of success go up. Also, always carry extra sweets as additional ammunition for goodwill from others. Bring enough to offer some to the seatmates on either side of you. You never can tell when you need to turn a stranger into a friend. Good sources for information on seating are; ExpertFlyer.com and SeatGuru.com.
Hack #69: Becoming an Air Courier
A courier is a person who delivers something for someone. People who deliver cars for others are a type of courier. An air courier is a specialized type of courier — an individual who acts as an agent simply by occupying a seat on a plane. This courier permits a courier company to transport time-sensitive packages by air overnight to a foreign country…
Not all courier companies own their own planes and trucks like FedEx and UPS. Courier companies move mass amounts of papers and packages. Couriers are required for goods shipped on regularly scheduled flights because all
overseas flights must have a passenger for checked baggage.
When you act as an air courier you are never in danger or at risk since you generally never touch or make contact with the material you are “technically traveling with.” Thus you are not responsible in case of damage during transport. The shipped goods are insured by the company that put the courier, the package, and the plane seat together. These are known as the courier company.
There are courier companies, who solicit the public to act as couriers for them. Representatives from the company check the goods in and pick them up at the airport or you may be expected to meet a representative from the courier company when you reach at your destination and process the paperwork together at customs. The details of each trip will be explained when you arrive at check-in for departure.
Courier companies need you and since they can get you a very cheap fare, you need them as well. In exchange for being a courier, you give up the right to check in much luggage. You must, either travel with only a carry-on, so ship your suitcase ahead by mail. Thousands of people travel the world as couriers. The demand for air couriers has increased since the events of 9/11. Why do companies use couriers? There are many reasons and the more creative you are the easier it will be to discover them.
Unaccompanied material can be detained by customs. If a shipment is stopped by customs the recipient can be charged storage fees which can increase the cost of shipping some goods.
An efficient, cheap way to ship sensitive material.
Certain items cannot be faxed or e-mailed such as bulky material, valuable gems, original contracts, cash payments and checks.
Tips for doing it right:
If you know your schedule weeks or months in advance you can reserve the dates you want to.
If you like to travel spontaneously or on short notice the prices to fly as a courier are even lower. Check frequently with courier companies for deals.
If you decide to travel as an air courier on a regular basis you may want to join one of the many organization that can provide information and services for you. It is best to fly once before you join such a group. Some are better than others and many charge a membership fee. One is the International Association of Air Travel Couriers (IAATC), www.courier.org.
Learn the best months to travel: When the prices are lowest, when the mosquito count is low, what local issues need to be concerned (is bottled water required, are beggars a problem).
Be aware of infectious disease issues. Are vaccinations required? Should you carry malaria tablets? Antibiotics for dysentery?
There are sites that list the air courier companies with phone numbers, and other essential contact information including contact information, destinations the courier companies deliver to and the typical rates for flights.
If you are interested in avoiding colds and flu read the following articles. Lots of great wellness tips for when you need to travel on a plan.
If you have an interest in having a basic understanding of Applied Game Theory (and you need to) here is an interview I did with James Selman, a pioneer, and innovator in Leadership research.
Listen here as Lewis explain the RealUGuru Project and how we can give up unnecessary struggle through visionary thinking in this insightful interview with award winning journalist Phyllis Haynes about the RealUGuru Project
Lewis Harrison is the director of the professional Coaching Training Program at the International Association of Healing Professionals
He is the founder of the RealUGuru Project Think Tank is a is a life coach, peak performance expert, writer, mentor, content-rich, motivational speaker, and an entrepreneur specializing in problem-solving and strategizing based on game thinking, applied game theory and Game Thinking.
He is the author of over twenty-two books published in five languages.
Don’t forget to tune to the RealUGuru Radio show every Thursday 4-6 PM EST at WIOX 91.3 FM or on your smart device at WIOXRadio.org.
WIOX is a diverse station that broadcasts original programming including presentation from NPR, the BBC, Democracy Now etc.
If you are interested in business success in the 21stCentury in the arts or in any other endeavor you need to study with Lewis Harrison. Begin by reading Lewis’ books.
If you are an entrepreneur you will want to begin with his books on game theory and business success. Here are two basic ones to start with:
The offerings on RealUGuru.com focus on the application of applied game thinking, gamification, decision science, positive psychology, happiness, and visionary thinking to solve basic, complex and extreme problems. He is the creator of a free course on business success and human potential.
This blog is sponsored by the New York City Chair Massage Company at www.eventschairmassage.com, supplying stress management services to event and meeting planners for trade shows throughout the United States
I recently taught a class on innovative thinking at the Royal Victorian Catskills Bed and Breakfast in Stamford NY. I talked about being effective and efficient as a life hacker and how to explore, experiment and innovate.
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There was an on-site corporate chair massage service available at the meeting from www.eventschairmassage.com I got into a conversation with someone about what happens when humans innovate.
Innovation can be defined simply as
A “new idea, device or method”.
As something original and more effective
The application of better solutions that meet new requirements, unarticulated needs, or existing needs and, as a consequence, “breaks into” the market or society.[
Innovation is related to, but not the same as invention in that an invention is often the result of innovation. Innovation is accomplished through creativity, visionary thinking, and the surrender of various forms of cognitive bias. The result of innovation is often more effective products, services, processes, technologies, or business models that are readily available to markets, governments, and society.
Innovation is often manifested via the engineering process.
While a novel device is often described as an innovation, in economics, management science, and other fields of practice and analysis, innovation is generally considered to be the result of a process that brings together various novel ideas in a way that they affect society. In industrial economics, innovations are created and found empirically from services to meet the growing consumerdemand.
Innovation often arises in unlikely places, often as a side effect of some other event. For example, a Japanese scientist discovered a way to keep popsicles from melting. Here is an article about this and how it came about.
Lewis Harrison – The RealUGuru, is a writer, mentor, success and wealth coach, content-rich, motivational speaker, and an entrepreneur specializing in problem-solving, troubleshooting and strategizing based on game thinking, applied game theory, and systematic thrift.
He is the author of over twenty-two books published in five languages.
Don’t forget to tune to the “Life Hack Guru Radio Show every Thursday 4-6 PM EST at WIOX 91.3 FM or on your smart device at WIOXRadio.org.
WIOX is a diverse station that broadcasts original programming including presentations from NPR, the BBC, Democracy Now etc….
If you are interested in business success in the 21stCentury in the arts or in any other endeavor you need to read Lewis’ recently published business books contact him for personal coaching and mentoring. Learn more at:
This course and all the offerings on http://www.RealUGuru.com focus on the application of applied game thinking, gamification, decision science, positive psychology, happiness, and visionary thinking to solve basic, complex and extreme problems. He is the creator of a free course on business success and human potential.
This blog is supported by a grant from Events Chair Massage (www.eventschairmassage.com). This is a company offering Anti-Stress hacks. This NYC Chair massage company offers Corporate chair massage to meeting planners, event planners, association meetings and trade shows. He also offers these stress management and onsite massage services in NYC at trade shows, and at the Javits Convention Center, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, Greensboro, Columbus Ohio and many other cities across the United States through www.NoStressSpeaker.com.
This blog is supported by a grant from Events Chair Massage (www.eventschairmassage.com). This is a company offering Anti-Stress hacks. This NYC Chair massage company offers Corporate chair massage to meeting planners, event planners, association meetings and trade shows. He also offers these stress management and onsite massage services in NYC at trade shows, and at the Javits Convention Center, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, Greensboro, Columbus Ohio and many other cities across the United States through www.NoStressSpeaker.com.
We recently had a Food Festival at the Catskills B & B and Spa in Stamford NY. I talked about being effective and efficient as a life hacker and how to cook frugally and even lose weight more easily.
I answered, “Absolutely”. When we have had garlic in our garden I have used the garlic leaves. They do have a garlicky flavor but are milder than garlic cloves. I tend to use them more as I would chives or garlic chives as in addition to having the milder flavor than the cloves they make for a quite nice presentation.
Some people dry them but it is a lot of work for nothing. Garlic powder is easier and when you dehydrate the leaves the grassy subtlety that makes garlic greens interesting would be lost. One reason I love to plant garlic (In October in the NE US), is that I can use it 3 times during its life-cycle. After planting garlic cloves and leaves grow these can be cut back to ground level before winter and used in cooking…garlicky chive-like flavor and application. Then in the spring, they sprout again. After a while the scape will emerge. The scape is identifiable by a bulge at that top and the stalk is cylindrical, but tends to spiral after a while. Again, the scape can be cut off. These are best sauteed, but have other applications as well. Finally, the mature garlic head can be unearthed, dried/cured and used. Save a head and separate in to cloves for planting again the next fall. Garlic leaves are chive like, but, a bit more flavor and it definitely has a subtle garlic taste. I just keep cutting when I need them. I am assuming the bulb is not hampered in growth. Though American don’t usually cook with garlic leaves they are very popular in Persian cuisine especially in Northern Iran where it is used various kinds of omelets, and stews
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This was an extract from my notes on lifehacking. For a book on the subject I suggest:
“How to Hack Your Life Through Game Thinking” By Lewis Harrison. The book contains over 400 high and low-fi hacks.
Lewis Harrison – The RealUGuru, is a writer, mentor, success and wealth coach, content-rich, motivational speaker, and an entrepreneur specializing in problem-solving, troubleshooting and strategizing based on game thinking, applied game theory and systematic thrift.
He is the author of over twenty-two books published in five languages.
Don’t forget to tune to the “Life Hack Guru Radio Show every Thursday 4-6 PM EST at WIOX 91.3 FM or on your smart device at WIOXRadio.org.
WIOX is a diverse station that broadcasts original programming including presentations from NPR, the BBC, Democracy Now etc….
If you are interested in business success in the 21stCentury in the arts or in any other endeavor you need to read Lewis’ recently published business books contact him for personal coaching and mentoring. Learn more at:
This course and all the offerings on http://www.RealUGuru.com focus on the application of applied game thinking, gamification, decision science, positive psychology, happiness, and visionary thinking to solve basic, complex and extreme problems. He is the creator of a free course on business success and human potential.
This blog is supported by a grant from Events Chair Massage (www.eventschairmassage.com). This is a company offering Anti-Stress hacks. This NYC Chair massage company offers Corporate chair massage to meeting planners, event planners, association meetings and trade shows. He also offers these stress management and onsite massage services in NYC at trade shows, and at the Javits Convention Center, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, Greensboro, Columbus Ohio and many other cities across the United States through www.NoStressSpeaker.com.
This blog is supported by a grant from Events Chair Massage (www.eventschairmassage.com). This is a company offering Anti-Stress hacks. This NYC Chair massage company offers Corporate chair massage to meeting planners, event planners, association meetings and trade shows. He also offers these stress management and onsite massage services in NYC at trade shows, and at the Javits Convention Center, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, Greensboro, Columbus Ohio and many other cities across the United States through www.NoStressSpeaker.com.
I was recently at a Chair Massage conference in NYC. I talked about being effective and efficient as a life hacker.
I sat waiting to get one of those on-site corporate chair massages from www.eventschairmassage.com I got into a conversation with someone who asked me,
“How does one create wealth as a lifehacker?
How does one find the best approaches to greater efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity? The best lifehacks also create greater self-awareness.” I responded “before anything else you need a strong foundation.
Let me explain:
In the early 1990s, I spent a winter in the Southern Catskill Mountains of New York State. My family owned a small cabin and I had planned on going into seclusion and engaging in some ruthless introspection through the very cold, very snowy winter
The Catskills are well known in American culture, both as the setting for many 19th-century Hudson River School paintings and as the favored destination for urban vacationers from New York City in the mid-20th century. The region’s many large resorts gave countless young stand-up comedians an opportunity to hone their craft. As a college student, I would often run the spot light for the late show at Kutsher’s Country Club.
In addition, to all of this, the Catskills have long been a haven for artists, musicians, and writers, especially in and around the town of Woodstock.
In the early 1950s – the 1970s many world champion boxers set up training camps in these resort hotels and many of these places became celebrity hangouts. By the 1990s most of the hotels had gone belly-up however a few remained. One was the Pines Hotel in South Fallsburg. There wasn’t much going on there since the hotel was on its last legs but I liked to use the Health Club and so I got myself a part-time job as a “Sports Massage Therapist”.
This happened just about the time Riddick Bowe and Rock Newman showed up. Riddick Lamont Bowe (born August 10, 1967) had won a silver medal in the super heavyweight division in boxing at the1988 Olympic Games. After turning professional, Bowe became a two-time world heavyweight champion, having first won the WBA, WBC and IBF titles in 1992 to become the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Bowe became the first fighter to knock down and defeat Evander Holyfield when he claimed the undisputed world heavyweight title in 1992.
Rock Newman is a sort of “RENAISSANCE MAN” who had been Captain of his Howard University Baseball team for 3 years, where he was selected as an All-American. After his graduation, he was enshrined into the Inaugural Class of the Sports Hall of Fame as one of the most outstanding athletes in Howard University history. Newman had done it all. He had been a very successful salesman, had been an award winning counselor and later became a top rated radio talk shows in the Washington DC metropolitan area where he interviewed people from all walks of life.
Rock had been involved in the careers of several champions, including guiding Riddick Bowe to the undisputed Heavyweight Championship of the World. In November of 1992, Rock negotiated the largest compensation package for an athlete in sports history. Securing a deal with HBO/Time Warner and Caesars World that exceeded $100 million dollars in potential revenue for Bowe.
So here I was, living the monk’s life at an old dying Borsht Belt Hotel with the heavyweight champion of the world and his “handler.”
Each day I would go to training camp and watch Bowe spar with various partners, many of them highly ranked in the world of boxing. Newman was a very pleasant, very focused and extremely intense. I would watch how he directed and guided Bowe. He focused a lot on Bowe’s feet. This surprised me – I assumed that he would focus more on boxing techniques and defense.
Then I remembered something my friend Marty Kalminson once said to me when we were playing basketball in a 24-hour gym in Queens. “It’s all in the feet. As long as you are dribbling the ball the ball isn’t going anywhere that your feet aren’t going”. It made sense.
Years later, when I was deeply involved with the study of game based thinking and game theory I heard this again. I was reading about a television show “White Collar Brawlers.” On this show, a about the journey of life reflected through boxing, two office adversaries push themselves to the limit, learning to the sweet sport from some of the sport’s most hardcore trainers, and then slugging it out in the ring in front of television cameras
On the show, one of the trainers James “Country” Thornwell talks about why he focuses on footwork when training boxers, “…when you build a house you build from the basement up. If a trainer doesn’t start you out by working your feet, get a different one. Everyone just wants to see the hands fly, but it’s more than that. Once you’re conditioned, then you’ll learn to jab.”
I thought about what he said here and applied it to my thoughts on why game based thinking is so essential to living an effective, efficient, productive and struggle free life.
““…when you build a house you build from the basement up. If your trainer doesn’t start you out by working your feet, get a different one. If you are not taught to think strategically even in the best of circumstances you are in big trouble. Strategic thinking is game based thinking. It integrates the logical, the rational and the intuitive. Everyone but a few smart thinkers want to get rich, have a beautiful mate, get a nice car, get famous, and conquer the world but success is so much more than that. Even if one considers this “Stuff” a sign of success it’s more than that.
Once you’ve learned about the game of life, the players, the game space, the rules, the penalties for cheating, who the cheaters are, how to influence them, how to define your skills and master them, end game and such; then you’ll master strategy – then you’ll learn to jab.”
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This was an extract from my notes on lifehacking. For a book on the subject I suggest:
“How to Hack Your Life Through Game Thinking” By Lewis Harrison. The book contains over 400 high and low-fi hacks.
Lewis Harrison – The RealUGuru, is a writer, mentor, success and wealth coach, content-rich, motivational speaker, and an entrepreneur specializing in problem-solving, troubleshooting and strategizing based on game thinking, applied game theory and systematic thrift.
He is the author of over twenty-two books published in five languages.
Don’t forget to tune to the “Life Hack Guru Radio Show every Thursday 4-6 PM EST at WIOX 91.3 FM or on your smart device at WIOXRadio.org.
WIOX is a diverse station that broadcasts original programming including presentations from NPR, the BBC, Democracy Now etc….
If you are interested in business success in the 21stCentury in the arts or in any other endeavor you need to read Lewis’ recently published business books contact him for personal coaching and mentoring. Learn more at:
This course and all the offerings on http://www.RealUGuru.com focus on the application ofapplied game thinking, gamification, decision science, positive psychology, happiness, and visionary thinking to solve basic, complex and extreme problems. He is the creator of a free course on business success and human potential.
This blog is supported by a grant from Events Chair Massage (www.eventschairmassage.com). This is a company offering Anti-Stress hacks. This NYC Chair massage company offers Corporate chair massage to meeting planners, event planners, association meetings and trade shows. He also offers these stress management and onsite massage services in NYC at trade shows, and at the Javits Convention Center, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, Greensboro, Columbus Ohio and many other cities across the United States through www.NoStressSpeaker.com.
I was recently at a Travel agents conference and I talked about being effective and efficient as a passenger on a plane. I sat waiting to get one of those on-site corporate chair massages from www.eventschairmassage.com I got into a conversation with someone who asked me, “What exactly is a lifehack?
It is, of course, any shortcut that creates greater efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity. The best lifehacks also create greater self-awareness.
They then asked me if there was a secret to getting the best seat on an airplane?
I responded, “The question you must first ask is “Are some seats better than others?” The answer is yes and there are ways to nab the best spots for yourself. Of course what is considered “a best seat” will be different for different people. Let’s look at some variables.
If you are able to choose the type of seat you want keep this in mind.
In economy class:
Choose a seat that allows for a slight recline feature of a few inches or legroom in bulkhead seat or emergency exit row.
Flyer beware: The seats in front of an exit row and at the very back of the plane do not recline. Often those behind the exit have weird window configurations.
Sitting by the galley can be loud as the crew prepares food and beverages and will often meet there during quiet periods on the flight.
The bathrooms are usually near the galley so if you sit in that area be ready for either noise or people tripping over you.
Asa side not many airlines offer Chair massage in the terminal or on the plane. Check it out!.
Lewis Harrison – The RealUGuru, is a writer, mentor, success and wealth coach, content-rich, motivational speaker, and an entrepreneur specializing in problem solving, troubleshooting and strategizing based on game thinking, applied game theory and systematic thrift.
He is the author of over twenty-two books published in five languages.
Don’t forget to tune to the “Life Hack Guru Radio Show every Thursday 4-6 PM EST at WIOX 91.3 FM or on your smart device at WIOXRadio.org.
WIOX is a diverse station that broadcasts original programming including presentation from NPR, the BBC, Democracy Now etc….
If you are interested in business success in the 21stCentury in the arts or in any other endeavor you need to read Lewis’ recently published business books contact him for personal coaching and mentoring. Learn more at:
This course and all the offerings on http://www.RealUGuru.com focus on the application ofapplied game thinking, gamification, decision science, positive psychology, happiness, and visionary thinking to solve basic, complex and extreme problems. He is the creator of a free course on business success and human potential.
This blog is supported by a grant from Events Chair Massage (www.eventschairmassage.com). This is a company offering Anti-Stress hacks. This NYC Chair massage company offers Corporate chair massage to meeting planners, event planners, association meetings and trade shows. He also offers these stress management and onsite massage services in NYC at trade shows, and at the Javits Convention Center, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, Greensboro, Columbus Ohio and many other cities across the United States through www.NoStressSpeaker.com.
I was recently offering chair massage to tourists at a local visitor’s center with my corporate chair massage company, We often off these services at www.eventschairmassage.com.
When you travel you will usually encounter tourist offices or visitor’s centers of one type or another
Also known as a visitor information center, tourist information center, this is a physical location that provides tourist information to the visitors who tour the place or area locally. It helps to reduce the jigsaw puzzle of what to see and where to go on a trip. It may be:
A tourist information center, providing visitors to a location with information on the area’s attractions, lodgings, maps, and other items relevant to tourism. Often, these centers are operated at the airport or other port of entry, by the local government or chamber of commerce. Often a visitor center is called simply an information center.
A corporate visitor center provides visitors with an easily accessible window into the corporation.
A visitor center at a specific attraction or place of interest, such as alandmark, national park, national forest, or state park, providing information (such as trail maps, and about camp sites, staff contact, restrooms, etc.) and in-depth educational exhibits and artifact displays (for example, about natural or cultural history). Often a film or other media display is used. If the site has permit requirements or guided tours, the visitor center is often the place where these are coordinated.
These centers are usually used to provide fairly basic information about the place, corporation or event they are celebrating, acting more as the entry way to a place. The role of the visitor center has been rapidly evolving over the past 10 years to become more of an experience and to tell the story of the place or brand it represents. Many have become destinations and experiences in their own right.
The best thing to do to choose places to visit is to collect brochures or booklets of interest and then research interesting events or locations on line.
One of my favorite discoveries doing this was the Gullah Goochie culture of the South Carolina Lowlands.
The Gullah are the descendants of enslaved Africans from various peoples who lived in the Lowcountry regions of the US states of Georgia and South Carolina, in the area of both the coastal plain and the Sea Islands. They developed a creole ethnicity and language that is distinctive among Africans. Descendants of enslaved Africans from the Gullah people also are a majority of the current inhabitants in The Bahamas, who share an almost identical dialect with their cousins.
Historically, the Gullah region extended from the Cape Fear area on North Carolina‘s coast south to the vicinity of Jacksonville on Florida‘s coast. Today the Gullah area is confined to the Georgia and South Carolina Lowcountry. The Gullah people and their language are also called Geechee, which may be derived from the name of the Ogeechee River near Savannah, Georgia. Gullah is a term that was originally used to designate the creole dialect of English spoken by Gullah and Geechee people. Over time, its speakers have used this term to formally refer to their creole language and distinctive ethnic identity as a people. The Georgia communities are distinguished by identifying as either “Freshwater Geechee” or “Saltwater Geechee”, depending on whether they live on the mainland or the Sea Islands.
Because of a period of relative isolation from whites while working on large plantations in rural areas, the Africans, drawn from a variety of Central and West African tribes, developed a creole culture that has preserved much of their African linguistic and cultural heritage from various peoples; in addition, they absorbed new influences from the region. The Gullah people speak an English-based creole language containing many African loanwords and influenced by African languages in grammar and sentence structure. Sometimes referred to as “Sea Island Creole” by linguists and scholars, the Gullah language is especially related to and almost identical to Bahamian Creole. There are also ties to Barbadian Creole,Belizean Creole, Jamaican Patois and the Krio language of West Africa. Gullah crafts, farming and fishing traditions, folk beliefs, music, rice-based cuisine, and story-telling traditions all exhibit strong influences from Central and West African cultures.
On a time share visit to Hilton Head we made a short trip to Gullah country. It was one of my best “history” experiences.
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This was an extract from my notes on lifehacking. For a book on the subject I suggest:
“How to Hack Your Life Through Game Thinking” By Lewis Harrison. The book contains over 400 high and low-fi hacks.
Lewis Harrison – The RealUGuru, is a writer, mentor, success and wealth coach, content-rich, motivational speaker, and an entrepreneur specializing in problem solving, troubleshooting and strategizing based on game thinking, applied game theory and systematic thrift.
He is the author of over twenty-two books published in five languages.
Don’t forget to tune to the “Life Hack Guru Radio Show every Thursday 4-6 PM EST at WIOX 91.3 FM or on your smart device at WIOXRadio.org.
WIOX is a diverse station that broadcasts original programming including presentation from NPR, the BBC, Democracy Now etc….
If you are interested in business success in the 21stCentury in the arts or in any other endeavor you need to read Lewis’ recently published business books contact him for personal coaching and mentoring. Learn more at:
This course and all the offerings on http://www.RealUGuru.com focus on the application ofapplied game thinking, gamification, decision science, positive psychology, happiness, and visionary thinking to solve basic, complex and extreme problems. He is the creator of a free course on business success and human potential.
This blog is supported by a grant from Events Chair Massage (www.eventschairmassage.com). This is a company offering Anti-Stress hacks. This NYC Chair massage company offers Corporate chair massage to meeting planners, event planners, association meetings and trade shows. He also offers these stress management and onsite massage services in NYC at trade shows, and at the Javits Convention Center, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, Greensboro, Columbus Ohio and many other cities across the United States through www.NoStressSpeaker.com.
I was recently at a stress management conference and I talked about being highly focused in intention as well as being more effective and efficient as a stress management tool.
I sat waiting to get one of those on-site corporate chair massages from www.eventschairmassage.com I got into a conversation with someone who asked me, “What exactly is a lifehack?
In reality, a lifehack is nothing more than a game. Usually, the earliest children’s games involve building sand castles at the beach, playing with invisible friends, or playing games like tag rock, paper scissors, or hopscotch. “‘Traditional’ games”, have, “not only failed to disappear but have evolved into new versions.”
As children’s games have become more sophisticated they help children learn by example from other children, and can be played without reference to written rules. These games are usually played by children between the ages of 7 and 12, with some latitude on both ends of the age range. These games have been passed from child to child, generation to generation, and informally by word of mouth. Most interactive children’s games include at least two of the following six features in different proportion: physical skill, strategy, chance, repetition of patterns, creativity, and vertigo.
Examples of some of the most popular children’s games include apple bobbing, playing “catch” with a ball, Jumping Ropes, Kick the Can, Marbles, Leap frog, and many new video games for young children.
At a particular point in our mental, emotional and physical development we begin to express the need to compete. Competition is, in general, a contest or rivalry between two or more organisms, animals, individuals, economic groups or social groups, etc. Soon after we learn to play games we learn about puzzles. We may begin with simple games like Candy Land and simple jigsaw picture puzzles. (ExPLain) and eventually move on to games like tic-tac toe, Monopoly and chess.
Some of these games involve just two players while others involve multiple players and even teams. It doesn’t take long before we realize that in some games everyone wins and in others, there are also losers.
In just a few years after we make this discovery, one of the cruel realities of life takes place. Our parents may tell us that “it is time to stop playing games and get serious about life.” This is most unfortunate since it would have been better to simply have us continue playing games and becoming more skilled at strategizing when we played these games. Many of us move on in life getting jobs we do not love, working under incompetent management in layered corporate hierarchies. Often we are prisoners in a “life game” from which there seems no way to win.
We are trapped in the game of life even as we ironically continue to root for sports teams, play poker, watch Poker Championships and join On-line Fantasy Leagues. We go on vacations to Las Vegas and throw our money away on games of chance when if we knew how to apply game thinking we could win millions of dollars in a day.
Given that we live in highly complex social environments, many of our most important decisions are made in the context of social interactions. Simple but sophisticated tasks from a branch of experimental economics known as game theory have been used to study social decision-making in the laboratory setting, and a variety of neuroscience methods have been used to probe the underlying neural systems. This approach is informing our knowledge of the neural mechanisms that support decisions about trust, reciprocity, altruism, fairness, revenge, social punishment, social norm conformity, social learning, and competition. Neural systems involved in reward and reinforcement, pain and punishment, mentalizing, delaying gratification, and emotion regulation are commonly recruited for social decisions. This review also highlights the role of the prefrontal cortex in prudent social decision-making, at least when social environments are relatively stable. In addition, recent progress has been made in understanding the neural bases of individual variation in social decision-making.
Lifehack! In the end you will save, money, save time and create greater happiness.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
This was an extract from my notes on lifehacking. For a book on the subject I suggest:
“How to Hack Your Life Through Game Thinking” By Lewis Harrison. The book contains over 400 high and low-fi hacks.
Lewis Harrison – The RealUGuru, is a writer, mentor, success and wealth coach, content-rich, motivational speaker, and an entrepreneur specializing in problem solving, troubleshooting and strategizing based on game thinking, applied game theory and systematic thrift.
He is the author of over twenty-two books published in five languages.
Don’t forget to tune to the “Life Hack Guru Radio Show every Thursday 4-6 PM EST at WIOX 91.3 FM or on your smart device at WIOXRadio.org.
WIOX is a diverse station that broadcasts original programming including presentation from NPR, the BBC, Democracy Now etc….
If you are interested in business success in the 21stCentury in the arts or in any other endeavor you need to read Lewis’ recently published business books contact him for personal coaching and mentoring. Learn more at:
This course and all the offerings on http://www.RealUGuru.com focus on the application ofapplied game thinking, gamification, decision science, positive psychology, happiness, and visionary thinking to solve basic, complex and extreme problems. He is the creator of a free course on business success and human potential.
This blog is supported by a grant from Events Chair Massage (www.eventschairmassage.com). This is a company offering Anti-Stress hacks. This NYC Chair massage company offers Corporate chair massage to meeting planners, event planners, association meetings and trade shows. He also offers these stress management and onsite massage services in NYC at trade shows, and at the Javits Convention Center, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, Greensboro, Columbus Ohio and many other cities across the United States through www.NoStressSpeaker.com.
A worst-case scenario is a concept in risk management wherein the planner, in planning for potential disasters, considers the most severe possible outcome that can reasonably be projected to occur in a given situation. Conceiving of worst-case scenarios is a common form of strategic planning, specifically scenario planning, to prepare for and minimize contingencies that could result in accidents, quality problems, or other issues. In essence, it can seem like a big jigsaw puzzle.
The worst-case scenario is “[o]ne of the most commonly used alternative scenarios”.
A number of criticisms have been leveled against the use of worst-case scenarios. In some cases, a conceivable worst-case scenario within a field may be so far beyond the capacity of participants to deal with that it is not worth the effort to develop or explore such a scenario; where this is possible, it is “important to evaluate whether the development of a worst-case scenario is reasonable and desirable”. Entities that rely on such scenarios in planning may plan too conservatively to take advantage of the usual absence of such scenarios and may waste resources preparing for highly unlikely contingencies. At the extreme, it has been argued that the use of worst-case scenarios in disaster preparedness and training causes people to become conditioned to set aside ethical concerns and to over-react to lesser disasters.
Ultimately dealing with the potential of a worst case scenario arising requires that one understand game theory and game thinking and have simple tools to solve these challenges when they arise.
I found a great “survival list” of tools in an article by in an article by Graham Hiemstra in the April 27, 2017 issue of Esquire magazine. I have fleshed it out a bit and added some items from my own experiences.
You never know when you will be stranded in a broken down car, on an old country road, in the middle of nowhere.
1. Compact Jumper Cables: The Esquire article recommends JumPack by Cobra, $130 from cobra.com
Jumper cables should be in the trunk of every car. That’s a given. But what happens when your battery needs a jump and there’s no other car in sight? For precisely this scenario, there’s the JumPack from Cobra, which, despite its size, packs enough juice to jump most cars—as well as motorcycles, snowmobiles, and boats—multiple times on a single charge. In addition to the obvious jumping capabilities, the palm-sized gadget features a built-in LED flashlight with strobe and S.O.S. functions,and a powerful USB charger for mobile devices.
2. A Hand Crank Flashlight and Phone Charger: The Esquire article recommends Torch 250 Flashlight by Goal Zero, $80 from goalzero.com. A serious issue with most emergency kits is the lengths of time that often pass between uses. Though this is, of course, a good thing, the downside is batteries often drain during such periods of inactivity, and that’s the last thing you want to encounter when grabbing a flashlight in a pinch. To remedy this—in more ways than one—Goal Zero designed their Torch 250 LED Flashlight to be capable of drawing a charge from a built-in solar panel and a hand crank. Plus, it packs a USB outlet for charging mobile devices and a red light for emergency situations. In short, this flashlight/power bank is a literal life saver.
3. A Survival Manual: The Esquire article recommends US Army Survival Manual: FM 21-76, $9 from amazon.com. You might more than capable of catching a fish with a proper rod, or making a roaring fire with kindling and some newspaper, but can you build a lasting shelter with twigs, identify edible plants in the wild, or set a snare trap with a sapling? To claim insane survival skills with little effort—and as a hedge for when small emergencies get big—keep the FM21-76 Survival Manual in your glove box. Originally published in 1970 by the US Army, the field manual offers nearly 300 pages of detailed instructions and illustrations on the finer points of survival. Stuff it under your car manual, then hope it never comes in handy.
4. A 3-in-1 Cutlery Set: The Esquire article recommends Hobo Knife by KA-BAR, $26 from bestmadeco.com
There are a thousand uses for a sturdy pocket knife. Now add a folding fork and spoon to that knife and you’ve got the classic Hobo Knife. The time-tested three-in-one cutlery set breaks down into individual components capable of tackling everything from takeout to filleting a fish. Though this tool may not be Bond’s first choice in gadgetry, it might very well be the most practical item on the list.
5. A Waterproof Notebook: The Esquire article recommends: FNC-17 Waterproof Notebook by Field Notes, $10 from fieldnotesbrand.com
Sure, your phone does everything an ordinary old notebook can—and a hell of a lot more—but what happens when the battery dies? Lucky for you, the hi-vis FNC-17 notebook from Field Notes is anything but ordinary, thanks to American-made synthetic paper pages that are both water- and tear-proof. Pair it with the water and gravity defying FN-19 Space Pen from Field Notes for a solid weatherproof emergency package.
6. A Thin light blanket insulating blanket: Known as heatsheets these are the metallic looking “wraps” given to runners at the end of marathons. A similar product is known as a “space blanket” (depending on the function, also known as a Mylar blanket, first aid blanket, safety blanket, thermal blanket, weather blanket, or heat sheet). This is an especially low-weight, low-bulk blanket made of heat-reflective thin plastic sheeting. They are used on the exterior surfaces of spacecraft for thermal control as well as by people. Their design reduces the heat loss in a person’s body which would otherwise occur due to thermal radiation, water evaporation, or convection. Their compact size before unfurling and light weight makes them ideal when space is at a premium. They may be included in first aid kits and also in camping equipment. Lost campers and hikers have an additional possible benefit: the metallic surface appearance flashes in the sun, allowing use as an improvised distress beacon for searchers.
7 . Keep a small and reasonable collection of food and spices: This can include nuts, seeds and other dried fruit; ketchup, mustard, soy sauce and mayonnaise packets; A gallon of bottle watered; Ester-C – packets and powdered vitamin/mineral supplement powder; Packets of Ramon Noodles and Tofu in Aseptic packages.
8. What to Eat when you run out of food: Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places by Steven Brill shows readers how to find and prepare more than five hundred different plants for nutrition and better health, including such common plants as mullein (a tea made from the leaves and flowers suppresses a cough), stinging nettle (steam the leaves and you have a tasty dish rich in iron), cattail (cooked stalks taste similar to corn and are rich in protein), and wild apricots (an infusion made with the leaves is good for stomach aches and digestive disorders). The author is was a student of mine and a friend. I am mentioned in the acknowledgments of the book. The book contains more than 260 detailed line drawings help readers identify a wide range of plants — many of which are suited for cooking by following the more than thirty recipes included in this book. There are literally hundreds of plants readily available underfoot waiting to be harvested and used either as food or as a potential therapeutic. This book is both a field guide to nature’s bounty and a source of intriguing information about the plants that surround us.
Lifehack! In the end, you will save, money, save time and create greater happiness.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
This was an extract from my notes on lifehacking. For a book on the subject I suggest:
“How to Hack Your Life Through Game Thinking” By Lewis Harrison. The book contains over 400 high and low-fi hacks.
Lewis Harrison – The RealUGuru, is a writer, mentor, success and wealth coach, content-rich, motivational speaker, and an entrepreneur specializing in problem solving, troubleshooting and strategizing based on game thinking, applied game theory and systematic thrift.
He is the author of over twenty-two books published in five languages.
Don’t forget to tune to the “Life Hack Guru Radio Show every Thursday 4-6 PM EST at WIOX 91.3 FM or on your smart device at WIOXRadio.org.
WIOX is a diverse station that broadcasts original programming including presentation from NPR, the BBC, Democracy Now etc….
If you are interested in business success in the 21stCentury in the arts or in any other endeavor you need to read Lewis’ recently published business books contact him for personal coaching and mentoring. Learn more at:
This course and all the offerings on http://www.RealUGuru.com focus on the application ofapplied game thinking, gamification, decision science, positive psychology, happiness, and visionary thinking to solve basic, complex and extreme problems. He is the creator of a free course on business success and human potential.
This blog is supported by a grant from Events Chair Massage (www.eventschairmassage.com). This is a company offering Anti-Stress hacks. This NYC Chair massage company offers Corporate chair massage to meeting planners, event planners, association meetings and trade shows. He also offers these stress management and onsite massage services in NYC at trade shows, and at the Javits Convention Center, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Dallas, Greensboro, Columbus Ohio and many other cities across the United States through www.NoStressSpeaker.com.
Applied Game Theory from A - Z ... and Beyond 