Minimal

"Whatever we are, whatever we make of ourselves, is all we will ever have – an..."

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:24:09 GMT

"Whatever we are, whatever we make of ourselves, is all we will ever have – and that, in its profound simplicity, is the meaning of life."

–Philip Appleman

Experience the human flight. Speechless.

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:23:16 GMT

Experience Human Flight from Betty Wants In on Vimeo.

Experience the human flight. Speechless.

"We have become such experts at being always in touch, informed, connected. No..."

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:21:18 GMT

"We have become such experts at being always in touch, informed, connected. Now we must relearn how to be silent, disconnected, alone."

–Alain de Bottom

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Thu, 26 May 2011 15:21:06 GMT

"The only kind of marketing you need is an amazing product. If it’s good, peop..."

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:19:33 GMT

"The only kind of marketing you need is an amazing product. If it’s good, people will spread the word for you. All other kind of marketing is disingenuous."

–Leo Babauta

Incubus: Stellar (Live)

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:19:20 GMT

Incubus: Stellar (Live)

"You never fail until you stop trying."

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:18:51 GMT

"You never fail until you stop trying."

–Albert Einstein

What kind of man makes it through Hell Week? That’s hard to say. But I do kno...

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:16:54 GMT

What kind of man makes it through Hell Week? That’s hard to say. But I do know—generally—who won’t make it. There are a dozen types that fail: the weight-lifting meatheads who think that the size of their biceps is an indication of their strength, the kids covered in tattoos announcing to the world how tough they are, the preening leaders who don’t want to get dirty, and the look-at-me former athletes who have always been told they are stars but have never have been pushed beyond the envelope of their talent to the core of their character. In short, those who fail are the ones who focus on show. The vicious beauty of Hell Week is that you either survive or fail, you endure or you quit, you do—or you do not.

Some men who seemed impossibly weak at the beginning of SEAL training—men who puked on runs and had trouble with pull-ups—made it. Some men who were skinny and short and whose teeth chattered just looking at the ocean also made it. Some men who were visibly afraid, sometimes to the point of shaking, made it too.

Almost all the men who survived possessed one common quality. Even in great pain, faced with the test of their lives, they had the ability to step outside of their own pain, put aside their own fear and ask: How can I help the guy next to me? They had more than the “fist” of courage and physical strength. They also had a heart large enough to think about others, to dedicate themselves to a higher purpose.

Lt. Cmdr. Greitens talking about the qualities of the US Navy SEALs

"The right tool, learned deeply, used when ap pro pri ate, no mat ter how ba s..."

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:16:23 GMT

"The right tool, learned deeply, used when ap pro pri ate, no mat ter how ba sic, can beat the pants off of “fea tures” any day. Be cause it isn’t about the tool, or the fea ture, it is about your abil ity to use it to achieve the goal at hand. The bet ter you know the tools you have, the less like ly you are to seek out replace ments for them."

–Patrick Rhone. Keeping it Straight, Know Your Tools.

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Thu, 26 May 2011 15:13:27 GMT

Resco Patriot. Simple, rugged and built to perform. Gotta love tactical watches.

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:13:27 GMT

Resco Patriot. Simple, rugged and built to perform. Gotta love tactical watches.

"When you really want to do something right, which is usually what you should ..."

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:12:28 GMT

"When you really want to do something right, which is usually what you should be striving for, you tend to slow down."

–Jason Fried (http://37signals.com/svn/posts/2918-throwing-the-last-dart)

My 40 Rules

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:11:49 GMT

Leo Babuta posted his 38 Life Lessons I’ve Learned in 38 Years. It’s a great list.

I have 40 rules that I have been compiling over the years and been trying to live by. 40 is just a number, there will be more. Except for Rule 1, the rest are in no particular order. Rule 1 is the most important to me. Some of these rules will make sense to you, some will not. Some need a context and some are very clear. In any case, these are my rules and make sense to me.

Rule 1: Be aware of your surroundings.
Rule 2: Always keep on pushing forward, especially during those life changing moments.
Rule 3: The quality of your friends always matters more than the quantity.
Rule 4: Keep your mouth shut.
Rule 5: Always provide correction in private and praise in public.
Rule 6: When you’re with someone you love, make sure in that moment they know they’re the center of your world.
Rule 7: Pick your battles…
Rule 8: He who angers you conquers you.
Rule 9: Do nothing which is of no use. (Miyamoto Musashi)
Rule 10: Simple and light equals freedom, agility and mobility.
Rule 11: Be mindful of all the possibilities in the future, but don’t be ruled by them.
Rule 12: Be content with what you have.
Rule 13: Make things as simple as possible but no simpler. (Einstein)
Rule 14: Always be surrounded by the right people.
Rule 15: Target dictates the weapon and the weapon dictates the movement.
Rule 16: Use ACTE: assess the situation; create a simple plan; take action and evaluate your progress.
Rule 17: Prepare, Execute, Vanish.
Rule 18: A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week. (Patton)
Rule 19: Don’t spend time trying to move your opponent, just move yourself.
Rule 20: Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash. (Patton)
Rule 21: Opening the door for a lady is not optional.
Rule 22: Always invest in good quality stuff.
Rule 23: Your style is defined by what makes you feel most comfortable.
Rule 24: Sensible defaults can reduce friction and provide simplicity anywhere one can think to apply them. (Patrick Rhone)
Rule 25: There’s nothing wrong with staying small. You can do big things with a small team.
Rule 26: Personal notes should always be handwritten, however be prepare to destroy them at a moment’s notice.
Rule 27: The less you talk, the more you’re listened to.
Rule 28: Trust your gut.
Rule 29: Diplomas and certifications are OK, but trust experience over a diploma any time.
Rule 30: The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. That’s the time to listen to every fear you can imagine! When you have collected all the facts and fears and made your decision, turn off all your fears and go ahead! (Patton)
Rule 31: The greater the level of calmness of our mind, the greater our peace of mind, the greater our ability to enjoy life.
Rule 32: Do one thing at a time.
Rule 33: Find something you are willing to die for.
Rule 34: Do not put too much value on stuff.
Rule 35: Don’t go into debt.
Rule 36: The only kind of marketing you need is an amazing product. If it’s good, people will spread the word for you. All other kind of marketing is disingenuous. (Leo Babauta)
Rule 37: Do not publish your life online, keep your life private.
Rule 38: Disconnect completely once in a while.
Rule 39: Live simply.
Rule 40: Never get caught.

"Adversity introduces us to ourselves."

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:11:11 GMT

"Adversity introduces us to ourselves."

"For me, trying hard increasingly means shifting my hammerhead mentality, bein..."

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:11:11 GMT

"For me, trying hard increasingly means shifting my hammerhead mentality, being smarter, focusing on technique and sometimes doing less rather than more. More isn’t always better, although sometimes it is. You pick and choose, and maybe, as we go through life and hit our various roadblocks, we learn to choose with wisdom. Furthermore, we negotiate our worlds with a combination of individual drive and help from others. None of us stands alone, no matter how we try to convince ourselves, and sometimes we draw inspiration from the most unlikely places and people."

–Kelly Cordes

Your emails are too long | Zen Habits

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 11:10:47 GMT

Here’s a rule: a long email is never necessary. Never.

http://zenhabits.net/snore/

"Man is an over-complicated organism. If he is doomed to extinction he will di..."

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 11:09:59 GMT

"Man is an over-complicated organism. If he is doomed to extinction he will die out for want of simplicity."

–Ezra Pound

Give me a quote

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 11:08:45 GMT

http://givemeaquote.tumblr.com/

"Any half-awake materialist well knows – that which you hold holds you"

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 11:06:26 GMT

"Any half-awake materialist well knows – that which you hold holds you"

–Tom Robbins

Principle of the least software

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 11:05:17 GMT

Use only the software that you need. No more, no less. Choose one application for each task, and become an expert on that application.

http://jonathanbuys.com/04-03-2011/Principle_of_Least_Software.html

Drawing a Blank — CJ Chilvers

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 11:00:13 GMT

Do yourself a favor and buy some great blank business card paper stock and keep a pen handy. When you meet someone, make them feel a little special by taking the time to write out exactly what they need to know. It’s unique. It stands out. It’s powerful.

http://www.cjchilvers.com/journal/drawing-a-blank.html

"The iPad is actually opening up technology to more people. None of this crap ..."

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:03:52 GMT

"The iPad is actually opening up technology to more people. None of this crap about it being closed is accurate. By giving people freedom to explore the app store without having to worry about anything (except their wallets), Apple has possibly made the best move they could make by locking down the iPad’s installation sources. That’s the one that’s the most helpful for the general state of technology. Apple is encouraging people to explore and play around. The iPad only does less than a regular computer to us geeks. To everyone else, it does more. This is what Motorola and Google and Samsung and BlackBerry and everyone else, with the sole exception of Apple, do not get about “open” computing. It’s powerful, but for ordinary people, it’s too powerful."

–A 14 year old. (http://jpteti.com/post/4072771125/the-ipad-is-99-more-open-than-any-other-computer)

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Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:02:43 GMT

"I like focus — simple software that doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles ..."

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:26:50 GMT

"I like focus — simple software that doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles helps me find that focus. I like things that do very little, very well. I try to cut out distractions."

– Leo Babauta

An example of final choices

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:25:56 GMT

http://packlite.tumblr.com/post/3520979944/hi-im-a-fan-of-packlite-and-respect-your-minimalist

"Man is an over-complicated organism. If he is doomed to extinction he will di..."

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:25:10 GMT

"Man is an over-complicated organism. If he is doomed to extinction he will die out for want of simplicity."

–Ezra Pound

"For non-necessities, simplicity of pricing is key. Apple thrives at this. The..."

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:24:25 GMT

"For non-necessities, simplicity of pricing is key. Apple thrives at this. Their consumer products tend to follow a simple good/better/best pricing hierarchy, where the only difference is storage capacity."

–John Gruber: A Rule of Thumb: Pricing Should Be Simple (worth reading)

Steve Offutt’s Sweet Mac Setup

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:21:37 GMT

Steve Offutt’s Sweet Mac Setup

The future of Simple Software

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:19:52 GMT

So, what is the future of Simple Software? Good question.

http://simplesoftware.tumblr.com/post/3859150426/the-future-of-simple-software

"A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays whe..."

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:19:24 GMT

"A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be."

–Wayne Gretzky

"The magic happens when you find the sweet spot where your genuine interests, ..."

Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:18:36 GMT

"The magic happens when you find the sweet spot where your genuine interests, skills, and opportunity intersect."

–Scott Belsky

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Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:58:35 GMT

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Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:56:56 GMT

Enough - Minimal Mac's podcast

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:54:43 GMT

http://minimalmac.com/enough

ufridman.org (Simple Software) has been redesigned

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:53:40 GMT

Check it out. Simplicity in the form of information security.

http://ufridman.org/

"Doing that annoying hard stuff is how you grow, get better, and learn what re..."

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:52:01 GMT

"Doing that annoying hard stuff is how you grow, get better, and learn what real help looks like. Even if that’s not the answer you wanted to hear. You get better by getting your ass out of your RSS reader and fucking making things until they suck less. Not by buying apps."

– Merlin Mann, “Distraction,” Simplicity, and Running Toward Shitstorms

Less choices

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:51:10 GMT

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the amount of mental power we need to use and waste every day in order to be able choose from a ridiculously large amount of choices we are constantly assaulted with. I revisited and re-read two great posts by Patrick Rhone (of Minimal Mac):

In Final Choices, Patrick talks about the conscious act of buying and how good quality stuff is factored in the equation when making your final choice. He wrote:

Anywhere I can make a buying choice that I, with proper care and maintenance, will never have to make again for the rest of my life, I do. In those cases, I’m willing to pay far more for an item if I know it will last a lifetime and, even more importantly to me, I will never have to spend the mental energy making a choice again.

This describes the same feelings I have when I need to buy things I consider not to be daily / disposable things, like a good piece of luggage, a good pen, a good pair of shoes or clothing, a good knife, etc. Having a final choice will make it easier for me to chose from the large pool of choices I am confronted with, because right there on the spot, by choosing good quality stuff, at least 70% of the stuff goes away. My choices are now less.

On the other post, Sensible Defaults, he talks about the defaults one chooses to have when buying those transient, daily, disposable objects. Things that might last little but you need them anyway to do your everyday tasks, like a pencil, a block of notes, everyday socks, pajamas, etc. He wrote:

Sensible defaults can reduce friction and provide simplicity anywhere one can think to apply them. They are the bedrock of minimalist practice and a quiet mind.

Again, he hit the nail in aiding to have less choices. By having a default choice, a choice you already made once and you know it to be a good choice you are again making your having to choose from a large pool of options less of a pain, in fact by having a default your pool of choices is reduced to only one choice. Simple.

These two ideas can be applied pretty much to everything, like the software we choose for a specific task.

Sometimes something so simple as to try to buy baby teething cookies in a supermaket can be a mental storm: My choices: 18 different brands, types, flavors and makes. Do I need it to be organic? Do I need each cookie to be single wrapped? Vanilla or Cherry? Made in Vermont, Colorado, Mexico or Vietnam? Etc, etc, etc… Do you want fries with that? Decaf or regular? Skim milk, 1%, 2% or regular? Sugar or sweetener or nothing? Small, medium, large or XL? To go or to sit? 0.3, 0.5, 0.8 or 1mm in diameter? I don’t know….!

Henry Ford once said: “I’ll give you any color you want so long as it’s black.”

Less choices are better. Less choices simplify life. Take something that it is dear to me,packing light: You can choose to bring a piece of luggage or pack that has 3 compartments, 5 internal pockets, 4 external pockets, security straps, 3 different carrying options, detachable wheels, etc… Or you can choose a simple piece of gear that is big enough for the things you need for this trip, has only one big compartment for your clothing and only the necessary pockets to keep your small stuff organized in a simple and very accessible manner. I’ll go for the last one. Again, less choice. In this particular case less choice means not having to think too much about the amount of stuff to bring since the pack is small, or having to think too much about where to put each thing: in the top internal pocket? The side external pocket? What if I needed later? What if I need more? What if…

Simplicity is necessary in order to have less choices.

I tend to levitate towards simplicity, software simplicity, gear simplicity, and simplicity in general. Several years in the military taught me to trust simplicity. In battle simplicity can save your life: you don’t have the mental ability nor the time to start figuring how a certain piece of gear works, things need to remain as simple as they possible can. You have to cut choices here to the minimum number. You learn to use every feature of that simple gear and you train with it until it becomes part of you. The idea is to use that piece of gear under fire, when your mind is liquefied by either terror or the confusion of battle.
Yes, I prefer simple things. Gear, software, clothing. Then I’ll learn each and every detail and I will use them to the fullest of their capacities.

I’m trying to achieve the same with choice. Strip choice to the bare minimum: by choosing quality, simplicity of design and options I am reducing the amount of choice I have. I can then learn each detail on those items left on the pool of choices and choose wisely from them; and in doing so I am sparing the pain of having to do this again soon.

I hope you don’t mind this brain dump. It’s been on my head for several weeks already.

Email Mistakes That Irritate Smart People | The Brooks Review

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 19:50:01 GMT

There are a lot of ways to send an email and given that it is a tool that many of us spend a large chunk of our day using I thought I would share some of the annoying things I come across when reading email.

http://brooksreview.net/2010/07/email-mistakes-that-irratate-smart-people/

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Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:43:07 GMT

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Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:04:35 GMT