Author: Eugene Kim

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Jiro’s Lifelong Pursuit of Excellence

Released in 2011, Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a documentary that features sushi master Jiro Ono, owner of Sukiyabashi Jiro, the first sushi restaurant to score three Michelin stars. Located in a Tokyo subway station, the sushi-only restaurant seats a maximum of 10 people and costs ¥38,000 ($342 USD) per meal, which lasts approximately half an hour.

The restaurant became so popular that it eventually lost its stars because it was too difficult to get into. “We recognize [that] Sukiyabashi Jiro does not accept reservations from the general public, which makes it out of our scope,” a Michelin representative said.

So how did this 94-year-old become a world-renowned sensation? An unrelenting commitment to his craft and continuous pursuit of excellence.

“Once you decide on your occupation… you must immerse yourself in your work,” said Jiro. “You have to fall in love with your work. Never complain about your job. You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. That’s the secret of success… and is the key to being regarded honorably.”

Jiro understands that through repetition and time, one can become a master at their job. What we learn from Jiro is his impeccable attention to detail and constant drive for improvement.

Although Jiro humbly recognizes that he will never be perfect, he always strives for perfection. He is never willing to settle for good enough.

“I’ll continue to climb to try to reach the top,” said Jiro. “But no one knows where the top is!”

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The Legend of Jonny Kim

You may have heard about the legend of Jonny Kim on the internet. His accomplishments have made the rounds on Reddit.

Jocko Willink is a former Navy SEAL commander and a regular guest on Joe Rogan’s podcast. He also hosts his own podcast.

Jonny Kim appeared on Jocko’s podcast on March, 2020. The story begins with Kim recounting how he grew up with an abusive, alcoholic father in Los Angeles who was eventually killed by the police.

Kim then joined the Navy, trained to be a combat medic, went to sniper school, and finally accomplished his dream of becoming a Navy Seal under Jocko’s SEAL Team 3’s Task Unit Bruiser. After serving in two tours, he attended Harvard Medical School, and is currently working as an astronaut for NASA.

While Kim’s story begins with tragedy, followed by incredible achievements, what’s really admirable is his humble, thoughtful, and intentional demeanor. “I’m not gifted,” said Kim. “I’m not smarter than everybody else. I’m not stronger. I just have the ability to stick to a plan and not quit.”

One YouTube commenter said, “Best example of diamonds being formed under pressure.”

Another expressed, “Jonny Kim might be one of the most incredible Americans of our times,” and someone replied, “One of the most incredible humans of our time.”

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The Complex Yet Pivotal Nature of Relationships

Relationships are difficult and anyone who tells you that they have a perfect relationship is full of it.

That said, what are the most important factors in relationships?

In HBO’s 2017 documentary, “Becoming Warren Buffet,” one of the world’s most successful investors said that the most important decision in your life is who you choose to marry.

There have been two turning points in his life, “One when I came out of the womb and one when I met Susie,” said Buffett of his first wife, who died in 2004. “What happened with me would not have happened without her.”

Melinda Gates, who runs the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with her husband agrees, “If you choose to have a partner in life, whoever you choose is probably the most important decision you make.” She adds that it’s “even more important than what career you have, where you go to college, where you go to high school.”

Aside from choosing the right partner, is there anything else we can learn about relationships in general?

Buffett says, “You will move in the direction of the people that you associate with, so it’s important to associate with people that are better than yourself.”

He adds, “Basically, when you get to my age, you’ll really measure your success in life by how many of the people you want to have love you actually do love you.

“I know people who have a lot of money, and they get testimonial dinners and hospital wings named after them. But the truth is that nobody in the world loves them. If you get to my age in life and nobody thinks well of you, I don’t care how big your bank account is — your life is a disaster. That’s the ultimate test of how you have lived your life.”

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Grit: The Most Important Factor for Success

While talent, education, and IQ are important, grit is the most critical factor to achieve long-term success.

In 2013, psychologist Angela Duckworth took the stage at TED. Through her research at West Point, the National Spelling Bee, schools, and private companies, one characteristic emerged as a significant predictor of success: grit.

“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals,” she explained. “Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

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Break Out of Your Comfort Zone

Operating within a safe environment is great for peace of mind. But, the real growth happens when you venture out of your comfort zone.

Challenging yourself to learn something new is inconvenient, however, if you put in the work to learn and apply your findings, you’ll end up in a more advanced place.

This is how growth occurs.

The first step is to find out what your strengths are. Then, build around those strengths with your natural interests. By focusing on your strengths, you’ll improve your chance of succeeding. By building around your interests, the likelihood of being passionate about that subject will increase and provide the motivation to keep going and not burn out.

Take one step. Then another. Be consistent and challenge yourself. Eventually you’ll be far from where you started.

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Live in the Moment

There are three distinct times in our lives. The past, present, and future.

Along with being nostalgic, it’s easy to get stuck in the past and dwell on things that you wish you could have done differently. That’s a major mental trap I actively work on overcoming many times a week.

Then there’s the future. Always working hard to try to achieve a better life. One that will be more fruitful. Working hard today to reap the benefits of tomorrow.

And lastly the present. The most difficult to appreciate as it’s always fleeting.

I’ve always told myself that in order to be happy in the future, I need to be happy today. Money and success won’t manifest long-term, sustainable euphoria. And while objects like houses, cars, and a large savings account bring security, comfort, and fun, they won’t bring the deepest level of self-fulfillment, harmony, and balance.

It’s meaningful relationships and purpose in my work that gets me out of bed every day. These two combine well together as I share my successes and failures with my family, friends, and team.

I often ask myself why I work as much as I do. I tell myself it’s because I enjoy it, because I’m passionate about it. Am I brainwashing myself? The fact that it motivates me to keep pushing forward is justification enough.

It’s hard to not live in the past or the future but it’s imperative to appreciate every single moment of the present because time is fleeting and will be gone before you know it.

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Noble Ventures

The ultimate purpose is to be intentional with our thoughts and actions. Make every moment count, make every dollar count, strengthen relationships, provide support, and change the world for the better.

Learn – What can we learn together that will make us smarter, more fulfilled, inspired, richer. 

Travel – Where can we go that will provide unforgettable memories. How can we travel in adventure and/or luxury/comfort. 

Invest – How do we grow our wealth together. 

Give – How can we make a positive impact in the world through volunteering our resources. 

Eat & drink – What can we eat/drink that will be memorable and enhance our conversations.