Reno F

Congratulations on your completed detox, J! First step was made, where is gonna be the next? :). It would be nice to read your updates maybe every week or so. But then again, if you've heard your calling, go for it! PS: I like how Elon described SpaceX in the careers section: SpaceX is like Special Forces… we do the missions that others think are impossible. We have goals that are absurdly ambitious by any reasonable standard, but we’re going to make them happen. We have the potential here at SpaceX to have an incredible effect on the future of humanity and life itself. — Elon Musk

Thanks for the response,@Cam Adair (how do you tag other people with the @ mark?). You are right about it, and I guess that's how things work on the internet. You gotta look carefully to notice the line that separates the marketing from the product. Thanks again! Day "not there yet" I had good plans for today, but I choose to stay at home because of wife feeling sick. Not a big deal, but at the same time not very productive for me. It's sunday anyway, so whatever. This sunday I made a small list of what I want to have done within a week. I use to do it for a few years when I was a university student, and I remember it to be quite effective, at least on my university life. By doing that I hope I can start to look at the long term and have a better sense of goals. I was inspired by some Old Timers from the forum, (@Work In Progress, maybe?) and I'm finally starting doing it. I'm also going to start recording myself reading japanese to practice fluency and intonation. I don't recomend this to anyone, as listening to your own voice can be quite a shock, but it is a very insightful exercise. I hope I can also start practicing oratory with this exercise (to practice public speaking, I'd need a public). I might not be able to join Toastmasters this month; I got some appointment on saturdays, and the membership fee is quite expensive if you pay it to skip. I still have two weeks to try and rearrange my schedule, but it doesn't look promising. This week again, I coundl't reach 60kg, basically because of my diet. I need to eat more, put on more calories and more proteins. I have the wednesday free, so I'll try and cook in a larger quantity, so I'll have a stock of ready-to-eat food in my fridge. That should remove some of the burden of cooking and save me some time. Next week I'm gonna wake up weighting 60kg! One last thing... well, nevermind.

It is fine, I think there is another topic on it. HabitBull, Rewire and Coach.me are all great, easy-to-use apps, a little better than Habitica, imo.

@JSmith I can confirm, but it doesn't mean Japan is looking for foreigners. Companies are just open to them. One thing is for sure: You gotta have to have your Japanese in business level to work in Japan. Most of the companies that hire foreigners on that kind of job expect you to have your japanese certified by the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) at N2 level. I can also confirm what your tutor said. You must be a full time student to be able to do well and graduate from an engineering course (unless it is something like environment engineering or production engineering. but we are talking about REAL engineering, right?). It costed me two years to realize that. It was only after I finished my english course, quit my music classes and left my punk rock band that things started to go well for me at the university (I also forgot completely about games and dragonball, my favorite tv show at that time). Another crucial thing was to make friends and join study groups. I have seen some people that had good enough brains and strong enough discipline to do everything by themselves, only counting on their books and teachers for help (One of my classmates worked for NASA, I still can't believe it). But for me, it was after I started a study group with some classmates that I found motivation and was able to build momentum to get through the toughest disciplines. Space technology will soon become comercial. There are big names investing in it already (Jeff Bezos, from Amazon for example, check out his project), and I think space tourism is just around the corner. From what I can see, you seem to be passionate enough to have your place in the industry. Or, you could also die trying (Casey Neistat video, thank Cam for the link) As a side note, don't stop taking care of your health. You will need it to succeed.

I know the feeling too well! Welcome, DayZero! Good luck on your journey!

Another artist in the forum! Welcome, Cole!

Sure. This is how I see marketing on the internet: Foment a problem with your audience; Maybe there is a problem. Maybe there isn't one. But the issue should be reframed to look like it is a problem that must be solved.Create a connection, saying you've been through the same problem, tried all the solutions available, lived hard times and saying how much your felt frustrated, etc.Introduce your solution, usually with some free content available, but most importantly, saying all the amazing changes that you will have if you buy the full solution.Sell your solution, usually with a 100% refund guarantee. It is a plus if you offer your solution in a package, with a "discount" on a "limited time", making it a big deal.This is all done through a extremely long read or a text+audio only video. I was about 21 when I first saw this structure. It was on the dating topic. And now, 12 years later I still see the same strategy being used and taught. I know, it is effective. It must be, or it wouldn't still be used. But after sometime, everyone starts looking the same. But Cam, my negativity from the last post came from the experience I'm describing below: The other day I attended a "live" webinar of one of the oldest experts on internet business. But 20 minutes after it had started, my antivirus started running a fullscan and my computer froze (it is kind of old), so I had to restart, hoping that I still had my seat at the presentation (as it was said to be limited seats). Five minutes later, I clicked on the link to the "live" webinar once more and guess what? It all started from the very beginning again. It was all recorded. The chatroom recorded and replayed (maybe bots? who knows). The number of attendants also rose to the same number as before. Had I looked in the mirror at the moment I rejoined the "live" webinar, I would have seen donkey ears on the top of my head. I felt I was being played with. I felt like sheep. In spite of that, I'm sure their solution works. I had worked for many people; I can see it working. Yet, there is no trust. Sometimes I think that I'm rationalizing, I'm justifying my lack of action, I'm being set behind by skepticism. Maybe I have an issue with money. Maybe I'm overthinking. I hope this doesn't sound like a complain.I don't like to complain.

Not as much as you would think, but getting better at it gradually! I`ll tag you when I have it ready! I know you like it, I got to know it from you! 15 days left! Yesterday I almost slept without exercising. It was late, and I wanted to sleep. But then I looked at my 3-day streak. It isn`t ok to break the streak when you only have 3 days in. So I pushed myself to do the thing and exercised for about 35 minutes. It felt so good, not the exercise itself but the fact that I overcame the voice in my head telling me that it was late and asking me to go to sleep! Today I checked some info on stock market investments. I was interested in it when I was working as an engineer, but I had never taken the time to learn about it seriously. I`m thinking of setting two days a week to study on this subject. This quest on financial freedom is getting on my nerves. Internet marketing is the same everywhere I go, it makes me doubt every single product I see online. But at the same time, it works. What is stopping me from getting my share on the internet? I don't know. Recently I can feel the loneliness knocking on my door day after day. I have no friends in Japan. My only family here is my wife. Sometimes is tough to connect, as I have to speak on my third language. I remember feeling like that in Brazil too, friday nights, saturday nights... 5 years later and I still feel it. Will I still feel it in the future? It's 10pm already and I still have to exercise. It seems that voice in the head will have a second round with me.

Welcome and good luck, Xelnath!

What can you do instead of watching gaming related content?

Nice drawings there! Keep them coming. On a side note, there are also a lot of people making music, but that doesn't keep new musicians to try their luck on the business.

Day 7X Let me start with what I've managed to get done today. After getting ready for the day at 8:30, I started woking on the roleplaying game I play eventually with my mates through Skype (not videogame). I try to keep the preparation to a minimum so I can work on improvising through the game session. So from around 10 I was already on my Japanese book and dictionary, on which I stayed for over one hour. I started practicing the guitar on a back track, and it reminded me that playing with other instruments/people is a completely different experience. I could play through the whole music, though, but there is still much space for improvement. I also checked my wife's laptop and it has a mic input so I might be able to record my guitar directly. I've also found a free recording software and did some tests. It looks promising, although I didn't plug the guitar yet. On the afternoon, I listened to Pat Flynn's podcast, which I've been listening often on the last few weeks. I wonder if I lack ideas or guts to start something online right now. It is still not clear. I also studied a little bit more of Japanese. I think I should diversify my studies, right now I'm focused on my weakest skill, which is reading, but I also want to learn vocabulary faster and speak better. Gotta give some thought on this subject later. From next week I'll be in charge of cooking for at least two days/week. Time to study new recipies. Speaking of cooking, I should review my diet, as I can't cross the 60kg mark on my scale in the mornings. That's all for today. Stay cool.

Hey J, it looks great! Make sure you don't forget the ヤ、ユ　and ヨ. Also, have in mind that writing and reading are two different skills (it will be clear to you, if it isn't yet, when you start with kanji), so don't forget to practice them both! And yea, the new Conquistadores era is drawing near! I wish I could take part on that!

Hey, I can relate to that. Fapping away my needs on friday nights. Couldn't be bothered to go out and make new friends. Not cool.

I'm afraid I have bad news for you...

Don't take me serious on that one. But I do remember one quote of Joey from Friends that helped me once when I was single and heartbroke: "Grab a Spoon". Another day bites the dust. Days have became a routine to me. I sent one more application today, after having a good class in the afternoon. This student really helps being interested in learning - I'm gonna have to work a little more for this class, as the student grasps the content pretty fast. I have finished reading a novel yesterday. It was nice, but I'll avoid novels for a while. Still have two books to study before I move on to others. Things I could have done to have a better day: 1 - Write more. I wrote 3 paragraphs today, it took me about one hour to write them, but I wish I could have written more. 2 - Exercised earlier. 3 - Record something with the guitar. Still haven't checked whether my equipment is good enough. Things that made my day great: 1 - English class; 2 - Reading The War of Art; 3 - Chat with the school receptionist; 4 - Being aware of my productivity

Hey, just dropped by to check how is a journal of an old timer would be like. I also have a draft of my personal constitution. Not easy to write one in one sitting.

I heard yoga is a nice place to meet women. I have never tried it, though.

I can see why you're a coach. Thanks, Cam. Hi, Pharmacist! When I say diet, I mean "eating habits" only. What I try to do is pretty simple: eat over 1500 calories per day and over 100g of proteins. I avoid meat and fat, but the reason for that it is totally unrelated to diet. As for results, I put on 3 to 4kg on the last 3 months, and they didn't come to my belly. I need one more kg to beat my record and to set up a new target. For the record, I used to weight 56kg on average, but I had been 54 sometimes. I'm now 59 and some grams and my goal is to wake up with 60kg. I'm 178cm tall. Day "can't be bothered to count but not 90 yet" I spent the day out sightseeing and hiking. I'm very tired now, but I wanted to write some before going to bed. Things I could do, in spite of spending the day out: reading a book, exercising, studying Japanese (not enough, but still better than no study). Things I'd like to have had done: speaking with strangers while outside (so many foreigners around, i really should have been more friendly), practiced improvisation on guitar (I was exhausted, but that is no excuse), writing. I think today was a tie between high me and the low me. My quest is not against gaming anymore. It hasn't been for a while, I think. That's good. Yesterday morning I put on an old Bon Jovi record and remembered the days of school/summer love. And then I went to youtube and watched Liv Tyler on Aerosmith's Crazy videclip. Enjoy while you're single, guys!

Take a seat, let's ride together

Dear Journal, How are you today? I'm better than yesterday, thank you. Last week I was about to reach my goal for putting on weight, but this week I slacked a bit on diet and lost some grams. Today I ate well and I'm ready to get where I want to be next week, maybe sooner. This week I didn't go for a run outside a single time. Summer is about to end, feeling a bit lazy. Let's make a deal and ban this word from the vocabulary. Good news on guitar practice. I finally found a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to improvising. After today's practice I could se the path to be walked on. I haven't forgot the debt I have with you (and myself) to record one music. Let's work on that next week. In order to relieve the stress from yesterday, I sent out two application forms to jobs as part time English teacher. I'll be looking for more chances so I can focus better on more important things. One last thought for today, I'm thinking of writing the journal in the mornings after waking up instead of nights before sleep (actually, before working out muscles). It is one more reason to wake up earlier. Right now I'm getting up around 7:30, and I want to make it before 7. Gotta go now. See you next time.

I'm broke too, 34, and speak like a junior highschool student in the country I'm living in. I have a major degree, but that shit means nothing when you depend on your wife to pay the rent. but let's work with what we have now, and let's try to leave the past in the past.

Had one of those days thinking about the future again. I still have no destination in mind. I crossed some stuff from the list and put up the advertisement I planned. Next step is to sell the books. When I think about what I'm writing now, I can't help but laugh. How can something as simple as selling a book can become a goal to achieve? Yea, let that ego be beaten to the ground again. That's all it's been doing since I came to Japan. Anyway, rainy day today, messed with my plans to go sightseeing in the afternoon and running in the evening. Instead, I did some workout and studied a little longer. Gotta have a second source of income very soon or I'll go crazy. I can think about future while working for someone now. The solo is sounding better, perhaps I can already start thinking about recording something. Things I'm grateful (yea, kind of random, but I feel I need to think of something right now): 1. for having good health; 2. (2 minutes later) being alive; 3. being Reno;

It's ok to rely on others. Let it go.

Well done, mate! To have control is to have freedom. Cheers!