Musings Episode 82: Options…

September 4, 2017 by Rego

Hope everyone’s week is off to a great start. I remember talking to someone about options that a person has in every aspect of their life a while back…which pretty much inspired this week’s episodic musing. Let’s get started.

Musings Episode 82: Options

I’d say in today’s time we live in a world of choice – lots of it. Largely on a consumer level, but on other levels too. There’s so many different forms of education, career choices, leisure time options, and ways of getting out and socialising that you’ll have people say the amount of options is overwhelming.

I’d say that’s bull.

Then, there are some who may feel like they don’t have any options.

That’s also bull.

True, there are an abundance of options out there, but if you’ve got focus, the options available hardly seem overwhelming and if anything, you can easily filter out the fluff.

When you think about it, the amount of options you have can actually help you have a better understanding of what it is you want out of life, in all aspects of life. Even feeling like you have no options at some point in life can force you to realise the options you do have, if you stay calm and think.

This is where focus comes in. The main thing is to use that focus to stay on track with whatever it is you want to accomplish.

Filtering is easy, but staying on track can sometimes be tricky – largely because it relies on consistency. As an entrepreneurial minded person I can attest to this.

I could have a number of ideas pop up in my head a week that seem like great business ideas. Where it gets tricky is staying consistent – sometimes it’s tempting to move on all of them at one time rather than planning things out methodically, or knocking out one at a time.

Thinking of so many ideas can open you up to so many options, even outside the entrepreneurial realm.

And having options means having access to different tools that can help you move any part of your life forward.

Knowledge creates options, and options are kind of like guide books that teach you which way you can use the tools you’ve uncovered through assessing your options.

If you’re from my generation, maybe you were taught that you could be anything when you were younger – and maybe you were taught to pick a safe career option as you got older.

This was always a confusing trend of thought to me. You’re told you can be anything (including Spider-Man) when you’re younger – but as you get older, family/society tells you to “think about your future” and “pick a safe career choice”? Something like a lawyer, doctor, etc?

Forget wanting to be top athlete or pro skateboarder, and opt for a nice, quiet office job?

While I know the above “safe” options can in theory of course be smart (and sometimes recession proof), it’s the line of thinking that’s a contradiction.

I mean I can see where (most) parents are coming from – they want their kids to have stability, not lack for anything, and a financially stress-free life so they can actually enjoy the years that pass by.

But I think always opting for the safe option can be self-sabotaging.

This is where I think a hybrid approach works best.

There’s some partial truth that there are obvious benefits to choosing a “safe” career – but only if you know what type of benefits you’re talking about.

I think if a person feels more comfortable going with a safe option – with anything in life – it’s better to only use it as a tool to get where you really want to go – to enable you to do what you really want to do.

In the context of business, picking a safe option really just means picking an option that gives you a steady source of cash flow over the required length of time it’s needed.

But it’s what you do with that cash flow that matters.

One thing I’ve learnt about being an entrepreneur – if you want to move anything forward, even outside of business, most of the time it takes cash flow, and time.

This can be with a hobby, travelling, a relationship, anything.

I really don’t get why people try and separate money from the equation when it comes to a lot of things they do in life.

If you want to learn how to play guitar, you’ve gotta first buy the guitar.

If you want to pursue a relationship, you’ve still gotta have the cash to meet up with the person – whether you’re driving or using public transportation. Even if you’re walking, if you wanna go and grab a bite (or make a bite to eat) it still takes cash.

Hell, even if you want to get in better shape you’ve gotta have the cash to eat properly.

There’s an interesting quote I’m fond of…

Now this blog post isn’t to talk about money – but I can say that money, like knowledge, can give you more options.

And I can say that it’s important to realise that everyone, and I do mean everyone, has options.

The main thing is, you’ve got to pick what options are right for YOU.

Only you.

Nobody else can or should feel like they can dictate to you what your options are. It’s your life, you’ve got to live it, and you’ve got to deal with the results that the options you pick give you.

At the end of the day, you’ve got to do what feels right for you.

Choose your options wisely. Choose how to use your tools wisely.

Just for fun I’m gonna leave you with one of my favourite songs this year:

As always…

Stay awesome.

– Rego

Improve Your Lifestyle. Improve Yourself. This is Life. This is Rego’s Life.™

Musings Episode 82: Options… is a post from and appeared first on Rego’s Life

Musings Episode 78: Drive…

July 18, 2017 by Rego

Hope everyone’s having a great week. I know, I know, I missed For The Weekenders last week. I’ve got my reasons…but I can guarantee the next one won’t disappoint.

Alright so back to the topic at hand – this week’s episodic musing. A lot of people talk about discipline, and I have too in the past, but one thing I think that should be combined with discipline is drive. Why? Let’s get started.

Musings Episode 78: Drive…

So drive and discipline, how are they linked?

Discipline can be considered developing a habit of doing something over time, so much that you do it whether you feel like it or not.

It’s like making something so much a part of your life that it feels like the requirement of eating or sleeping – it becomes essential and necessary.

But what about drive? Well I’d say drive is what makes that discipline actually pay off.

Think about it. You can have discipline in doing something, but that doesn’t mean you have drive to push you in whatever it is you’ve disciplined yourself to do.

In other words, you may have discipline, but may not be necessarily pushing yourself to your max in whatever it is you’re doing.

You may not be doing things as good as you could be doing them.

So going back to the food analogy it’s a bit like you may have the discipline to eat on time, three meals a day, but you may lack the drive to eat properly, with foods that fuel your body and are good for your overall health.

You could be disciplined to workout everyday but not have the drive to really push yourself beyond your limits in each workout.

Or you could be disciplined to take out 10 minutes a day to learn a language, but may just be repeating the words like a parrot rather than putting together a comprehensive and progressive study programme so you can actually become conversational in a certain amount of time.

So discipline is what can make your prepared and set you up for seeing results, but drive is ultimately what determines the quality of the results you’ll get in the end of what you’re trying to accomplish short or long-term.

Drive is also what can keep your standards high.

While discipline is the furnace, drive is the logs you keep feeding it so you can produce a high quality heat.

Imagine if you just put sticks and branches into the furnace – you’re not really going to get any significant heat, now are you?

The same goes for life. Whether it’s a workout, a university degree, a career, a language, hell, even a video game you’re trying to 100% on, you can set aside and put in the time for it everyday, but what you do during that time will determine the results you have in the future.

You’ve got to constantly be seeking to get out of your comfort zone.

Things don’t really ever get easy – instead you get stronger, smarter, better, faster, etc.

But if you don’t have the drive to do what you’re disciplining yourself to do, you won’t really get any of those results.

Instead you’re more than likely to stagnate. Get comfortable. Develop a non-productive routine (a bit like watching TV – you just veg out).

You don’t want that.

You want that fire in your belly and the flame under your bum.

You want beast mode, where people look into your eyes and see a flame so fierce they look away because they know you’re in the zone.

This may just seem like I’m talking about workouts but believe me, you can apply the same fierceness to all aspects of life.

I go into beast mode even in writing…with some good lofi hip hop instrumental at times, of course.

So really the key here is to not just do what you’ve disciplined yourself to do, but do it exceedingly well.

Always constructively critique what you’re doing.

Always see where you can make small but significant improvements.

Think of that drive like a steam roller…you want to crush an ineffective laziness in yourself, that tries to get in your way.

Complacency can be laziness.

But I say ineffective laziness because there are two types of lazy:

1. The “do absolutely nothing and make every excuse in the book” lazy.

2. The “find a better, smarter, more efficient way of doing things” lazy.

Through drive and discipline, you can actually harness your laziness to suit your needs and make learning or accomplishing things way easier.

It’s all a matter of perspective.

Discipline yourself to set aside time for whatever it is you want to accomplish – it’ll never be time wasted.

Drive yourself to do whatever it is you want to accomplish well and with a high standard in mind.

Learn to take steps that are smart, clever, and efficient so you can maintain quality and get the results you want.

Things don’t have to be hard – if you look at them a different way.

It’s all about perspective.

Think about it…

And as always…

Stay awesome.

– Rego

Improve Your Lifestyle. Improve Yourself. This is Life. This is Rego’s Life.™

Musings Episode 78: Drive… is a post from and appeared first on Rego’s Life

Musings Episode 73: Come Back Stronger…

June 11, 2017 by Rego

Well…it’s been a while.

The kind of “I’m just going out for cigarettes” while, where you bump into the person 3 years later and have that awkward reunion.

Except, in this situation there’s no child.

Or woman.

Just the fans.

Alright – maybe this won’t be *that* awkward.

So why the long break – well, I needed a break – as in, I needed to rethink the meaning of everything I was doing. These past few years I’ve been reflecting on what’s *missing* from Rego’s Life.

I covered a lot of life subjects before, but somehow, something always felt like it was missing. So I stepped away.

Sometimes when you’re too close to something, you can’t see the answer that’s right in front of you.

I stepped away…to come back stronger. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

Musings Episode 73: Come Back Stronger…

Things will be a bit different.

A bit new.

Sometimes gritty.

The old favorites will still be around – no worries there.

But like anything that matures with age they’ll be better, more seasoned.

Speaking of coming back stronger, that’s actually the topic of this episodic musing.

Most people at some point have some sort of setbacks or hardships they go through in life – in any aspect of life. It could be financial, business, academic, family (or any other type of relationship), but a hardship or challenge nonetheless.

The type that can knock a person off their feet – a K.O. so to speak.

The question when that happens though is “what now?”

What are you going to do about it?

Are you going to lay there on the mat, stuck in between conscious and unconscious, hearing the world go on around you and give up the will to get back up?

Or are you going to come back stronger?

Sometimes people don’t always recover instantly.

Sometimes it takes additional training and a few more fights to come back stronger.

I remember watching the movie “Rocky Balboa” a while back, the 2006 version, where Stallone says (while in character) something to his on-screen son:

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!”

The one line that really stuck out in my mind was this:

This is probably the best line I’ve heard in a long time, and it really resonated with me after not having watched the film in a while.

No matter how many times life knocks you down, you’ve gotta keep moving forward.

A lot of people get this confused – it’s not about moving up – as I mentioned in one of my previous episodic musings what goes up must come down – but what moves forward, well that’s an entirely different beast all together.

And like in rugby, or American football, life can dish out a lot of hits at you…but you’ve gotta look at them as lessons.

This can be a hard concept to wrap your head around, especially when you’re in the thick of it, but by lessons I mean opportunities to fortify yourself for next time, or the next obstacle you might meet.

The same way a rugby player trains so he becomes harder and harder to knock down, is the same way a person can train for the game called life.

And another thing – don’t look for “alright.”

I’m usually not one to talk politics a lot but ever since the whole Brexit and Trump ordeal it seems like xenophobia has exploded in some parts of the world, and I hear some people saying “everything’s gonna be alright” to others.

Well, I’ve got one think to say to that.

Screw that saying.

It’s a crappy way to cope with a situation.

You think during the World Wars that soldiers settled for “alright” every time they laid out a battle plan? You think that “everything’s gonna be alright” speech really settled their hearts and eliminated their fear, when they were out there, being shot at?

During the WW’s they fought for more than “alright” – they fought with the thought of getting back home to a better life – despite the fact politicians were pulling their strings.

They fought because they had hopes for a future that contained more than just “alright.”

They fought in hopes that their offspring wouldn’t have to fight wars if they didn’t choose to, but come back stronger, and better – not go soft and become indifferent to what was happening around them.

And most of all, I’m pretty damn sure they thought that their sacrifices made would be a reminder to future generations to grow wise, and not accept life, or another human being for that matter, to just walk all over them.

They fought for an “everything’s gonna be awesome future”.

Not an “alright” one.

A lot of what makes up this thing called life involves other lives in it…and with the way things have been going, it seems that sadly, those lives seem to think they can intrude on other lives.

But in the words of Epictetus, and to paraphrase him slightly, to attempt to control the will of another person takes tremendous effort, or sacrifice. It goes against he law of nature, dictating someone’s future to them.

So don’t just roll over and let someone dictate your free will.

There’s another great line from Rocky Balboa (2006) I think I should leave you guys with:

Don’t settle for “everything’s going to be alright” – go after how you want things to be – go after “everything’s going to be GREAT. FANTASTIC. AWESOME. AMAZING. SPECTACULAR….or insert any other more than satisfactory adjective here.

When you get hit hard in life, don’t just lay there and accept that everything will be alright.

Get off that mat and keep moving forward in the direction YOU want, how YOU want things to go.

A diamond blade cuts through rock only after being forged under pressure.

Come back stronger.

And as always…

Stay awesome.

– Rego

Improve Your Lifestyle. Improve Yourself. This is Life. This is Rego’s Life.™

Musings Episode 73: Come Back Stronger… is a post from and appeared first on Rego’s Life

Musings Episode 35: Strength Training – It’s Not Just Physical…

November 24, 2013 by Rego

So for about 3 weeks I’ve been getting used to this new, rigorous workout that combines strength and cardio for intense muscle development and fat loss – not that the latter’s necessary but hey – never hurts to stay fit right?

i don't exercise to be healthy i exercise to look sexy as fuck naked, Musings Episode 35 Strength Training It's Not Just Physical, mental exercise, mental strength, brain training, mental exercises, brain exercises,brain power,mental toughness,mentally tough, mental strength,how to get mental strength, how to get mental toughness, developing mental strength, motivation to achieve your goals, motivation and mental health, rego's life

…just kidding. Sort of.

Anyway, aside from that I’ve been revamping a section of my official site – it’s mostly the online store side of it, where eventually I’ll be making it one huge place with all my e-commerce ventures neatly in one place. The whiteboard in my office is chock-full of notes, reminders, and milestones – the other one is too.

As a side note, a friend and I are looking to start a new business venture together, but lately he’s been having a bit of a tough time with his girlfriend – younger than him she’s going abroad to study for some years and he wants to make sure he can visit her often, months at a time if he can. He’s been engrossing himself in getting the venture started, you could call it a good way to keep him occupied and his mind off the whole thing. We had a long talk about it this Friday.

This got me thinking – strength training isn’t just a physical thing – besides our exteriors we’ve also gotta train our minds and fine tune our mental thinking. It took me a while to get where I finally am today in terms of thinking, but I’m glad I pushed on and came through. I respect my buddy a lot in the way he’s handling the situation, and I give serious props to him for the way he’s actually going after a solution instead of just giving up.

Often, people start something but have a tendency to give up or not follow through with it if they don’t see immediate results. I think it’s bollocks – if you create or build something – doesn’t matter if it’s business or personal, and you’ve built it to such magnitude, it’s always better to see it through to the end, and during the homestretch remember why you started whenever you feel like quitting.

I use this thinking in business a lot – I’m not one to trade time for dollars but ideas for serious $$$ instead – and when I think up something brilliant, all it takes is a pen and paper and away I go. I’ll structure and build the concept until the end, tweaking as I go along, then get right into action.

It takes practice, learning perseverence, but it’s all worth it. It’s how successful people such as athletes, actors, or financial geniuses learn to become so good at what they do – they understand that it’s a combination of physical AND mental effort, all while learning to let go of mental restraints your brain’s gotten used to….

…oddly enough I published a post on mental practice and awareness for Fitness Fridays last week. Give it a read if you haven’t yet, it’s definitely got some valuable information.

The more you expand on a thought or an idea and actively start growing and accomplishing it, the faster it gets done. At first it’s painful, and draining – a lot of mental energy goes into it if you’re not used to exercising your mind outside of it’s usual routine – your brain is lazy, sometimes it needs a bit of a push…but then so do your muscles when you don’t exercise them at least 3-5 days a week.

The same way you exercise your muscles 5-6 days a week (or 2-3, if you’re starting out) if you did the same thing with your brain, do you have any idea how much you could get accomplished? Yeah – a shit ton.

This is what I mean when I say strength training goes beyond physical. There’s so many sayings out there that reinforce the message:

“When the fear of things staying the same becomes greater than the fear of failing, then you’ll be successful.”
“You have to want it more than you’re afraid of it.”
“When you’re about to quit, remember why you started.”

The list goes on and on man…and really, when you think about it, physical and mental exercise go hand in hand. When people work out, they don’t just get stronger because they lift more weights, do more pull ups, or crank out more clean and presses – it’s their thoughts that keep them going:

“You can do it.”
“Don’t give up now.”
“Last set.”
“Come on, you’ve done better before you can do your best now.”

I say these things to my fitness clients all the time. It’s why some people listen to music, to get that “pump” to steer their mental thinking in the right way – it all starts with the mind. If you believe you can do 100 sit-ups or 20 pull-ups straight off, it’s gonna make it a hell of a lot easier than the guy who thinks he can only do 50 sit-ups and 1 pull-up.

So this week I want you all to get out there and push to be better – don’t dismiss great thoughts or ideas you have – and stop leaving projects undone. Watch how much better you’ll feel when you start acting on an idea or thought and see how motivational it is when you finally finish that project you’ve been lulling over for months.

The minute you start believing in yourself, is the minute you’re unstoppable. It’s the moment when you know no fear, and have no hesitation.

Get out there and be a fucking legend.

As always…

Stay awesome.

– Rego

Musings Episode 35: Strength Training – It’s Not Just Physical… is a post from Rego’s Life

“An essential aspect of…

July 17, 2013 by Rego

Musings: Quote Wednesdays…

“An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail” – Edwin Land

Sorry this one came in late! But it says all it needs to say…bottom line is, never be afraid. Try as hard as you can not to be….fear is immobility, and immobility is procrastination. If you really, really, want something, you have to go out there and get it – without hesitation. Hesitation stems from fear and uncertainty. While it may be beneficial at times, most often it’s just an illusion that has been taught to us as we progressed through life and grew out of childhood.

Really, when you think about it – the younger we are, the less likely to be fearful we are…think of all the what-you-would-now-consider-crazy things you’ve done in your youth – did you really ever regret them…? More than likely, they taught you something. They made you better at something…and they made you realize you could do more than you originally thought you would – merely by overriding fear, and pushing through.

Persistence pays.

– Rego

For The Weekenders: Elephant Polo in India, Road Rallying in Morocco, Hot Tubs and Skiing in Australia

July 5, 2013 by Rego

I’ve always been a fan of the classic sports. Fencing…Equestrian…Track…Polo…

Especially the last one. In fact, Polo is especially fun when it’s done with an elephant. Forget the horse – it’s time to think bigger.

Much bigger.

Honestly, Elephant Polo is the perfect excuse to hop on a plane and get your bum over to Asia – more accurately, India, to be specific. Picture it – you hop on a plane with a simple but well thought out bag – enough supplies for about one week and then some.

The flight is long, and the movies offered are crap, so you entertain yourself by ordering a few minis from the on plane bar. Pop open your laptop, ask for ice and some nibbles, and watch a fairly good movie for laughs like Badmaash Company to get yourself in the rhythm of the trip. While you’re at it you use the plane’s Wi-fi to double check and confirm your reservation at Jai Mahal Palace, a very important thing to do as this is where all the action will be happening.

india_tours_jai_mahal_palace_jaipur_2.preview

Things like giant chess.

Hours later you get off the plane, check-in to your breathtaking room, and ask the concierge where and when exactly polo will be happening, so you can double check to see if you have all your gear ready. Once you’re done with that, you decide you take a nap to shake some of the jet lag.

Since you’re liquored up but sober enough not to fall off the gentle beast who’ll be your teammate for the next few hours, you decide to suit up and head outside to see what’s in store. If you’ve never played, don’t worry – you’ll be educated on how everything works and warned that although the animals may look sluggish – it’s actually a very fast paced game.

Holy shit snacks.

With a bit of practice before you know it you’re up and running, bonding with your elephant to the point of developing a nickname for it.

From here the game begins, the field is played, and the score is close. You soon realize that this actually is just a tad trickier than regular polo, with the height difference and all…

…but the thought of post-game Melon Balls and Alabama Fizzles while chatting up someone at the bar who thought that last shot was impressive, encourages you to press on and you totally end up kicking ass, despite it being your first time. Win for you.

After all the boozing and schmoozing with elite socialites, you feel compelled to get back in touch with your inner, nature loving side. Plus it’s your third time to India, and you’re ready to try somewhere new, somewhere different, somewhere, fresh.

So the tree hugger in you brings Morocco to mind – and ironically you think up something where there’s often not a tree in sight. More like sand…and then more sand.

…and then a random Jeep.

Ready for something more adventurous, you decide to try your hand at some desert driving, getting in contact with Hassan Rakmi, a skilled but stern-faced man who’ll be your guide over the next week for The Desert Road Rally – an extreme adventure facilitated by Abercrombie and Kent. Fucking brill.

Now if you know anything about the desert, it’s brutal…hot during the day…cold at night – but, since you’re here for fun and with no intention of chiseling yourself into the next G.I. Joe/Jane, you laugh confidently at the thought of such things. Why? Because you know you’ll be expediting in style.

White dinner table cloth and all.

Starting out in Ouarzazate, you get a quick safety briefing and then off you go zooming towards Ramlia, passing breathtaking scenery and endless sandscapes, until arriving safely at your camp. Comfy bed? Check. Shower? Check. Classy dinner? Check.

From there you hop back into your 4×4 and spend the next 4-5 days enjoying the wind in your hair and the sand up your nostrils while speeding across limitless open land, with nothing but a GPS, two-way radio and Moroccan beats pumping from your iPod. You were born for this.

Day 6 and you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find you’re in for a treat, arriving in Marrakech where plenty of fun awaits at Djemaa el-Fna square, where you can feast your eyes (and ears) on fun stuff like fire eaters, mime artist, snake charmers and street musicians – all there for your viewing pleasure, presenting the perfect opportunity to use that rugged camcorder you’ve been hauling around with you.

Record, photograph, and record some more. Rest up and catch the next flight out – because from here, after all that sand and sun, it’s time for hot tubs and skiis in Aussie-land.

This isn’t Hotel California.

I’m talking an all out play ground of ridiculously awesome things to do, varying from season to season, including but not limited to outdoor cinemas, fishing, mountain biking, skateboarding and naturally, skiing/snowboarding.

With such an endless list of things to do, there’s no excuse not to have a good and memorable time. Pick from a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom setup (or, take the pent house like me) –

Why yes, there is room for two.

gather a choice group, and prepare for a night full of good drinks and even better views from your very own private hot tub. Yeah you read right – your own hot tub nestled comfortably atop your room’s balcony.

Swimwear optional – Grey Goose mandatory.

If you’ve never been to Australia now’s the time to go – but be warned once you stay at QT Falls Creek, you may not want to leave.

Stay classy.

– Rego

Elephant Polo! (worldadventurers.wordpress.com)

For The Weekenders: Elephant Polo in India, Road Rallying in Morocco, Hot Tubs and Skiing in Australia is a post from and appeared first on Rego’s Life

Musings Episode 13: Being Practical vs. Being Cheap…

June 24, 2013 by Rego

I’ve always wondered why some people look for the cheapest things, instead of just focusing on being practical.

The cheapest gas.

The cheapest iPhone.

The cheapest meat.

The cheapest (worst of all) shoes.

Many times when I ask about this most people equate practical and cheap as being one in the same. When they most certainly are not.

2013-Ford-Taurus-SHO-front-three-quarter-static

2013 Ford Taurus – starting MSRP $26k – new and “cheap.”

Acura Integra - Fully modified asking price $14,500 - 57k actual miles. Which would you pick?

Pre-2000 Acura Integra – Fully modified asking price $14,500 – older and 57k actual miles, but quality engine and make. Which would you pick?

I really wanted to bring attention to this because many times a lot of people tend to lose more money than they’re under the impression they save.

Sometimes it’s not always about finding the lowest price.

Sometimes it’s not always about clipping coupons to shave off the most cents.

Often times it’s about seeing the bigger picture, and realizing that looks can be deceiving and math a bitch if you don’t pay attention to the overall numbers.

Think of it like this – you go to the gas station – you top up your tank – the next week, you find gas at a cheaper station, not exactly one that you’re all too sure about, a no name station but hey – what do you care? It’s 15 cents less on the gallon!

Which technically is only 9/10ths of a gallon there, buddy.

Which technically is only nine-tenths of a gallon there, buddy.

One thing may be accomplished here – but two things could also be setbacks.

“Setbacks…?” you ask, questioning my sense of logic and slowly wondering if I have any bit of common sense.

“It’s cheaper gas,” you think to yourself.

The two main setbacks? Well let’s think:

A) You just wasted the current gas in your vehicle’s tank driving around looking for cheaper gas. Good job.

and

B) Aside from the bullshit the media tells you about it “all being the same,” you’ve potentially put something very bad for your engine in your tank that possibly has cheaper “detergents” – if you don’t understand what I mean, this basically means the numeric grades you see at the pump, “87, 89, 93”. While every station may have these, some skimp on quality.

Or worse, sell bad gas (left).

And yes – you’re partially correct, it’s been argued that to a degree it doesn’t matter what grade it is – BUT, in my opinion that’s only when it comes to mid-grade. If you’ve ever pulled up to a pump you’ll notice the little ticker counters above the prices – and you’ll notice that while there are three nozzles, often there are only two tickers – often, mid-grade pulls off the same ticker as low grade.

So yeah, you’re partially being screwed…but honestly – I’d rather be screwed less and take my chances by buying high test.

I’m a fan of classics, ergo I drive one.

Gotta love Hondas.

It’s probably the only thing I’ll consider my child, and probably the only kid I’ll ever have in my life, nephews being the exception. My vehicle only takes high test. Believe me I’ve tried – there was a time when I thought, “fuck it, gas is up to $4.35 a gallon, I’ll go cheap this time.”

Damn…did I screw myself over. One empty tank later and my girl (car), is choking like mad. Three fuel injector treatments later and she was back to normal…fortunately.

Now I’m not here to rant about gas, but this is just an example. Let’s shoot for another one —-

You hate your phone company? But you got that new iPhone 5/Samsung Galazy S III for only $100? Sounds good…sounds good….did you have to renew your contract for another two years?

Yeah.

Think on that for a minute.

Let it really sink in.

Now take what you pay per month on a contract plan (I can guarantee you it’s probably more than me).

With a company you hate.

Uh-huh.

Then multiply that figure by 24 months.

Take that figure and compare it to the cost of the phone…which you’re probably going to ditch when “Like, OMG the iPhone 6/Samsung S IV is out!”

Truth is…you’re eating more of the costs than you think.

…..did you crunch the numbers? Good? Still think you got that phone for a steal?

Didn’t think so.

What am I trying to explain here? Well…even though you may think you got the better end of the deal because it was a “cheaper” price for a phone everyone has, you’ve just locked in two years of your income (and your life….that you’ll never get back. Congratulations.) all for the hype of that enticing price you saw in the display window.

Now let’s say you want to leave the country within those two years.

Move to a place where there’s no service provided by that company.

Just plain change companies because you’re finally fed up and bring yourself to accept the service sucks.

Or like many do….change service providers because one company has a newer phone that you’ve suddenly fallen in love with like a girl who changes her mind as often as she does shoes.

What do you get slammed with?

Huge fees because you’re breaking a contract.

That iPhone 5 doesn’t seem as cheap as it was when you first bought it now, does it?

Me? I pay roughly $40 a month for my phone.

Unlimited everything.

Smartphone everything.

No contract.

Ultimate freedom.

Did I pay a little more for my phone than you? Maybe….but the freedom I gained from practicality feels way better than the metaphorical ball and chain so many people acquire to get that “cheaper priced phone.”

I could leave the country tomorrow for two, three months and come back to the same number, same phone, like nothing even happened.

You get the general idea here. These are just a few examples and I’m not saying they’re for every scenario, but it reaches a wide scope of people.

The list goes on – you buy shoes cheap because of the price, you either get uncomfortable feet or shoes that wouldn’t last 3 miles if you decided to walk it.

It doesn’t have to be a crazy amount in order to be quality. $350 for a mass cut Chukka?

Fuck you Red Wing. I like you guys but with enough connections I could find a shoe maker who does a better job and creates a custom shoe.

Practical.

Practicality.

That’s what you’ve gotta aim for.

Aiming for cheap is short term – short term is instant gratification – instant highs are often instant lows. The age old adage of “you get what you pay for” is still as relevant as the day “adages” were spawned. Aiming for stupidly expensive is impractical.

What I’m trying to say is cheapest isn’t always the best – nor is overpriced. Sometimes if you spend a little more and shop around a bit differently while not always going after the mainstream stuff, you can really find yourself living a comfortable, enjoyable lifestyle with things that last.

I’ll buy a $300 Seiko diver’s watch any day over an $8000 Rolex or a $10 Timex – both of which I’d be terrified to get shoved into a pool with while wearing.

This doesn’t just include consumable items either. This type of thinking spreads to all aspects of spending – especially travel – a coach ticket on off-season to South Korea while picking a decent hotel that’s just an extra 5 minutes out from Gangnam, works out to be better than the peak-season ticket while wanting to stay in the city center and skimping on accommodation, winding up at a shared dorm dump.

The extra $15 you spend on cotton shirts, instead of that polyester shirt you found on sale for $5 at a closeout store, ends up lasting longer than the plastic crap that causes you to catch fire if you get to close to a hot engine hood on a Dodge Ram…and really with a little (and I do mean little) research you could get tailor made shirts for less than $20, cotton, without having to trek over to Hong Kong.

You could look like a million bucks and only spend a thousand.

Instead of trying to look like a million bucks while spending $900 and looking like $9 (we’ve all seen it at some point).

Remember, it’s not always in the numbers but in the quality as well.

Anyone like LG TVs? I do – I have one. They’re great, I love them.

My ex was looking for a quality flat screen TV last year but didn’t wanna break the bank. She thought either a cheap off brand TV, or Black Friday was the only option.

(HA….yeah no.)

The result? 32″ LCD TV $149 with tax. Brand – Dynex.

“Dynex? Who the fuck is that,” you’re probably thinking.

Well, they’re a subsidiary of LG…and you know what, the quality is practically the same. Is it as sleek and sexy as the LGs? If you’re an electronics snob like I sometimes am, probably not.

Asian chick not included.

….but she didn’t care. Because the quality was the same if not similar…for half the price…and she didn’t have to go buy some extreme ass-backwards off brand.

This is what I mean when I say practicality…and it doesn’t always have to involve coupon hunting like a mad house wife holed up in a condo while her husband works a 70 hour work week.

Next time you’re out and about think, before you buy…be it plane tickets, gas, shoes, clothing, heck, even food.

Quality over quantity.

Stay savvy.

– Rego

Musings Episode 13: Being Practical vs. Being Cheap… is a post from and appeared first on Rego’s Life

Musings Episode 11: Cars and Status Quo…

June 9, 2013 by Rego

Recently a few friends of mine have been looking for decent automobiles – and naturally with me having ties with the auto auction business, I was the first person they turned to.

Classic.

One of them in particular wanted either a BMW or a Lexus. Another wanted a Nissan GT-R.

“Rego, I seriously want a nice luxury vehicle, I’m thinking a BMW 7 series with all the bells and whistles, gps, seat warmers, crazy sensors, one touch gear change, the works,” one of them says.

“Why?” I ask nonchalantly but curious as to where they’re going with it.

“Because – they’re sick! They’re the best luxury cars out there, and I really think it would reflect my personality and lifestyle.”

It’s here I laugh and flop back in my chair putting my hands behind my head.

“Dude….have you looked around lately?” I smirk proceeding to explain my logic.

Everyday I ask this question. There was a time, when seeing a BMW on the road was something enjoyable, unique, different, refreshing….but now, they seem to be the most commonly driven car.

“It’s a lease…” – Fun with Dick and Jane (2005)

Their advertising displays speed, elegance, class, adventure, durability…and while all of these may be true unique to the brand, ironically there are so many leased units out there, the terms “originality” and “distinction,” have lost their association with the BMW name.

What I’m trying to say is – why is it, that every Tom, Dick, and Harry runs around thinking they’ve got the best thing since silk sheets when they own a car that practically everyone drives? There are so many on the road yet I’ve met many a BMW leasee (or owner) that acts with an air of superiority and cockiness because of the keys that jingle in their pocket.

I think it all boils down to status quo. An obvious statement some may see that as, but I’m being serious.

Think about it – if media such as television and commercials, movies and music are all things that many people as humans listen to on a daily (especially television), the subconscious idea that car companies such as BMW or Lexus, Infiniti or Dodge (their new Challenger and Charger models) attempt to instill seems to unintentionally portray that there is, and should be, a certain way one should act upon acquiring such an automobile.

….and that’s how I became a douchebag. Now, who’s up for champagne?

It was then I continued to explain to my friend there are loads of other ways, and other automobiles, to express your personality and lifestyle choices.

I’ve always been a fan of classics. I love the way each car used to be truly unique – in shape, engine, and characteristics. Customizable, where you could bond with your vehicle and that bond made it feel like it was yours.

Nowadays you see so many cars with automated this and automated that, it becomes so hidden and neatly tucked away from you, that when you pop the hood you’re lucky if you can find the dipstick to your engine’s oil.

Wait…wait…there it is…!

Pre 2000’s, auto makers strove for originality and keeping their vehicles “open source,” as funny as that may seem to use a computer term…and though I understand today many cars are made the same to maximize costs and time efficiency, they’re made cheaper with lesser quality materials.

Yet there has been another thing going on – you see many people starting to bring the classics back…the A/C 427 SC, ’69 Ford Mustang, Plymouth Cuda, even the VW Beetle – all slowly being restored and coming out of the woodwork.

That’s originality.

Like I said, and as I will always say, life is all about experiences, and it is absolutely unnecessary to pursue an experience television advertisements flash in front of your face everyday simply because they dictate what qualifies as status quo and lifestyle classification.

After hearing this my friend then starts thinking differently, realizing there are loads more options he really likes but just never thought of before.

Long story short he’s a large-sized car fan (go figure wanting a 7 series) and decides instead of dropping $70-$130,000 on a single, shiny BMW, he’s gonna do his research and look for 3 cars he really likes – one of them being a Plymouth Superbird.

“Like in the movie…???”…”Like in the movie.”

Many times I find that hype and enough mass enthusiasm can get people as humans into a real pickle and cause many to lose track of their real desires and dreams.

Truth is it’s not really what anyone else thinks or drives, what commercials or large corporations tell you what’s in or out, or even if your tailor tells you “ostrich shoes are far more stylish this year than your standard cow hide.”

It doesn’t matter how stylish anything is – it boils down to what makes you feel good in your own skin and you alone. Not anyone else.

We have so many choices as humans yet daily, I see many give up their free will and follow in masses. Like Mark Twain said, “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause and reflect.”

I’m sure I’ve written that previously, but it constantly needs reiteration, because it’s true. This post isn’t just about cars, but the overall message of what society claims status quo to be.

If anything, it is merely a meter. A measure for what qualifies as social class and what drops below any given rank.

Forget the ranks.

Forget the social class.

Always pursue great experiences yes, but sometimes a ride down the boardwalk on a long board can beat a ride down South Beach in a ridiculous looking stretch limo.

It’s all about the good feeling.

What makes you feel good, without letting the majority of what you see influence your decisions.

Lifestyle? Personality? Like I tell my friends – always, always make sure your personality defines your lifestyle – not the other way around. Keep your eye on the ball, avoid getting caught up in the majority, and stay true to yourself – regardless of what anyone else says.

Also, before I conclude, there’s this really great song (featuring Seulong of 2AM) from DJ Clazzi – the leader of Clazziquai that’s been stuck in my head. Great driving song 😉 Thought I’d share it with you all, it’s got a great beat and the lyrics are well written (which you can find here – thanks Princess of Tea for the post).

Have a great week.

– Rego

Musings Episode 11: Cars and Status Quo… is a post from and appeared first on Rego’s Life

Musings Episode 10: Clothes Make The Man…Woman…Person.

June 5, 2013 by Rego

So recently I’ve been considering changing up my style for summer and created a list of clothing I’m gonna be shopping around for soon…and it made me think of another key component of successful business and business tactics.

Clothing play a big part in multiple aspects of success – the most common being first impressions and subconscious affiliations.

Think about it.

I currently have numerous ventures going on, and with each, must wear a different “hat”. If you were an investor and were meeting me at a smart casual restaurant to discuss financing, and we’d never met before, you wouldn’t exactly expect me to show up in a pair of trainers/sneakers, shorts, and an underarmour shirt that I just came from a fitness session wearing, would you?

You probably also wouldn’t be too thrilled if I showed up looking like I was ready for an MMA match.

What would be your first impression?

Your first thought?

Would you take me seriously?

Would you instantly start sizing me up according to things such as social class, business etiquette, and ability to handle myself in a professional setting?

Probably not…and then maybe. It all depends on the individual.

My point here is clothes make the man/woman. No matter what, society inevitably links appearance to expectations. When you see someone with black trousers, black short sleeve button down, gun on the hip, and a badge, you instantly think policeman. When you see someone in a suit, tie, and holding a briefcase, you think corporate ladder climber. If you see someone in a silk suit, some form of exotic animal leather shoes, and gold/platinum cufflinks, you think rich executive or business owner. If you see a well groomed metrosexual man even, you’ll probably have one or two people assume he’s gay.

And honestly guys, there’s so many of you that should start doing this. It gets you places with the ladies.

In knowing all this, I’d say it’s fairly safe to conclude what you wear is what you’re labeled as.

Now wait – before you jump to conclusions, I’m not going to judge you and tell you what you should and shouldn’t wear. I am however, going to give you a few pointers on what can aid you overall in life – business and personal. There’s a list of different things that could visually send power statements to a wide range of people, and it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune, unless you want it to.

As you all know Urban Daddy is my party bible, but they’ve also been known to be my go to spot for all things original and distinct. This also includes clothing. Jetset Magazine is also another great go to place. The great thing about living in this world is the huge amount of variety we get. From tailor made to standard cheap cuts, we have choices. Why not make the choice to dress better? It just makes sense.

This goes for both the men…

…and the women. Remember ladies – the perfect waistline is still considered the most attractive feature on a woman.

When you dress better, you feel more confident. Pair that with fitness and actually allowing yourself to look good in your clothing, and you’ve got yourself feeling like a new person, and sometimes, more often than not, rocking a new personality…and guys, this also means keeping up your fitness levels as well. You may be able to snag that 10 at the bar, but she still appreciates a well cut body – the same way you were eyeing her for her flawless figure.

I’m serious. Think about how many people look up to actors and actresses in Hollywood, or even athletes. What is it that most people admire about these people? Their acting? Their personalities? Their accomplishments?

Hardly is it ever their personalities…you may think you know an actor/actress or any other famous figure by their persona they display on TV during interviews – but then that’s just what it is. A persona…they’ve been trained and have learned to change up their attitude and personality at any given moment. It’s their job.

No, I’d say much of what makes them admirable is the way they present themselves. Presentation is everything. In our food, in our dress, even in our location. Most often we pick where we would like to live based on what the location has to offer us, what the place looks like, and the safety and happenings of the area. Find me one person that will live anywhere, and I do mean anywhere, and say they have zero regard for what the place looks like, and I will confidently call bullshit. The travel industry makes their money off appearance – appearance, location, and nothing else.

In my opinion, it’s always a good idea to make sure you make a small effort to look decent in general. A decent well made shoe, well made quality thread clothing, well maintained hair, facial grooming, moisturizing, smelling good, all these things have a great impact in more ways than one.

As humans, we’re mostly sensory beings. 90% of what we interpret and how we communicate doesn’t come from our mouth – it comes from all 5 senses, but hearing is just a small factor. Smell, touch, taste, and sight are critical.

So when we’re meeting up with friends, or we’re going on a date, or we’re meeting potential future business partners, most of what’s being evaluated isn’t coming out of our mouths. So what are the top things I look out for when I evaluate future business associates and want to see if they would reflect the business image I’m looking for? Read on…

Shoes. As mentioned earlier, shoes I believe are really important. No, I’m not saying you have to go out and buy a pair of $3000 kicks. Not at all. I do however, believe that they should look clean, be quality made, and show your personality. Whether it’s a pair of sandals or custom made boots, in my opinion they should reflect that you value yourself and your appearance.

Marcello Mastroianni – one of a kind…

Pants and shirts, skirts and dresses. I’m all for individualism and creativity, but let’s not forget style and class. Even dressed like you’re slumming it should seem like you’re making effort and still maintaining the ability to catch a few eyes…fitted clothing I think work best – so many times nowadays I see women wearing clothing TOO tight, and guys wearing clothing like they just rolled out of bed. What’s up with that? Na, stop trying too hard, stop not trying at all, and instead try to find a nice median in between. You’ll get there – it just takes a bit of effort.

Hair. I’m always one for great looking hair. Like seriously – when someone makes the effort to make their hair look great, in being a former photographer it really gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside. Making the effort doesn’t mean going to any crazy extent and paying someone at a salon or barber shop either. Sometimes, it can mean just researching and looking into a few great hair products, finding a style that frames your face, and most importantly, what makes you feel comfortable in your own skin. Everything I mention here should make you feel comfortable in your own skin.

Accessories. These really say a lot about a person…more than you may think. A few good accessories can sum up your personality, your viewpoint in life, and even how you go about your day to day life. A watch could mean you’re mindful of time, while a bracelet made of fish hooks could mean you like adventure and the open sea.

I have a silver chain style necklace with a key that looks like a fin key to a surf board that I’ve had around my neck for the past 6 years, and it still says a lot. A few carefully selected accessories can get a message across without you having to say anything.

Lastly, personal grooming such as face and skin, perfumes and colognes, all tie in with completing the unsaid self-statement. Choosing good skin products, decent facial washes, and quality scents that match well with your body chemistry can aid greatly in getting people’s smelling and feeling sensory mechanisms to pick up on positively…and I don’t mean spraying scents on like a crop duster…

…or coating yourself in self-tanning lotion.

Subtlety is key, and less is more – except when it comes to showering.

You all know my viewpoints on exercise, eating healthy and staying fit…and honestly eating healthy can be Monday morning to Friday afternoon with weekends free to splurge and indulge. This spikes your metabolism and doesn’t make you feel like a prisoner to healthy foods – or a sinner if you pick up that dozen of Krispy Kreme donuts at your local Publix (hey, I’m guilty for it). Go ahead, you deserve it.

…and that’s pretty much it. It’s these little things that can help a lot in daily life, with just a little conscious effort, that go a long way. Keep this in mind and you’ll see subtle changes, in yourself and your surroundings.

Stay classy.

– Rego

Musings Episode 10: Clothes Make The Man…Woman…Person. is a post from and appeared first on Rego’s Life

“If a man achie…

May 29, 2013 by Rego

Musings: Quote Wednesdays…

“If a man achieves victory over this body, who in the world can exercise power over him? He who rules himself rules over the whole world.” – Vinoba Bhave

I saw this and it really hit home, especially doing business in the health industry. Fitness is more than just a goal – it’s a lifestyle. It alters your thinking, balances your hormones, teaches self-discipline, reduces stress, heightens awareness and increases stamina, and makes you feel like…well, a rock star. Less of the alcoholic-druggy type, more of the I can do anything type. Twice a week, three times a week, five times a week. A little effort produces a lot of results.

Stay healthy.

– Rego

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Episodic Musings of a Quintessential Entrepreneur

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Musings Episode 82: Options

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Musings Episode 11: Cars and Status Quo…

Musings Episode 10: Clothes Make The Man…Woman…Person.

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