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.”
“Landscapes are like people. The more unique they are, the greater the impression they’ll leave.”
What fascinates me most about traveling is to experience unique landscapes, from plains to deserts, rainforests to jungles, glaciers to mountains, coasts to cliffs. Seeing nature at its most natural leaves a sense of wonder at the sheer spectacle of how vast this planet is, and how much of it still remains sparsely populated by humans.
Rwanda and America
What’s also unique about landscapes is how they shape their inhabitants, affecting the perspectives and viewpoints of local culture, from Saharan nomads in the desert to Mongolian nomads in the steppes.
Mongolia
Island cultures are also fascinating, as they live at such a leisurely pace compared to the mainland, be it Zanzibar Island in comparison to Tanzania or Jeju Island to that of the Korean peninsula.
Zanzibar
All I know is that the less people there are, the more chill and down-to-earth individuals become. So, if you ever need to decompress and are afforded the time and funds, I recommend tuning out, logging off, and heading to unpopulated landscapes.
Tunisia
When you’re back in the city, close your eyes, and feel that serenity once again whenever you wish to relive it.
China
There’s no one to impress in the desert, no brand awareness in the jungles, and no keeping up with the Jones’ in the rainforests.
“There is no feeling greater than to have pride in one’s company.”
At Noble Ventures, our aim is to continue climbing new heights as we expand our boundaries.To the bold goes a life well-lived.
As someone who is a travel enthusiast but has an aversion for fully documenting their experiences, I made the decision to buy a zoom lens before I traveled to Tanzania at the beginning of this year. I purchased a Sigma 100-400MM lens, which I attached to my Panasonic GH4 (with Metabones Speed Booster Adapter). Simply put, the Sigma lens is one of the most affordable options out there for zoom lenses.
And then it was off to the Serengeti, N’gorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park. Lake Manyara is also a popular destination to fit in when one visits Northern Tanzania, but essential bucket list excursions are only the first two destinations in my opinion.
The Serengeti is wondrous due to the sheer number of wildlife existing in the region (with over 2 million wildebeests and zebras roaming), while the N’gorongoro Crater is memorable because of its unique topography (having been formed as a result of a large volcanic eruption in which its cone collapsed inward 2.5 million years ago).
But, of course, why someone goes on an African safari is to see the lions. And with over 3,000 in the Serengeti alone, the park likely has the largest concentration of the species in the world.
N’gorongoro Crater Backdrop
Serengeti
The N’gorongoro Crater is famous for its rhino population as well, which has doubled since the 1970s due to anti-poaching efforts. Meanwhile, the Serengeti also boasts a large contingent of giraffes, hippos, and 4 of the Big 5 (lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants, and rhinos).
Usually solitary creatures, here are several rhinos posing for a group photo.
Meanwhile, in the Serengeti…
A leopard with a midday yawn.
When I travel, my natural instinct is to live in the moment rather than document the experience. A blessing of spending 8-hour days in a Land Cruiser, however, is there’s not much option to do anything else but to take photos, including those of the over 500 species of birds that inhabit this region.
With smartphones getting yearly upgrades in their camera department, I wouldn’t say it’s necessary to purchase a camera for shooting videos or photos. As an amateur, my Iphone did a commendable job. I’m making it a personal goal of mine to improve documenting my future trips, however, so I look forward to improving my photography skills. And what better place is there to practice than in what’s considered by many the greatest wildlife park in the world?
Whether a nomadic vagabond or high-end tourist, one recommendation I can give is to document your experiences. As years pass, you’ll forget most of what has happened. Seeing a single photo has the power to evoke so many memories. So keep shooting! And make sure to include yourself every now and then.
When life stops, what options do we have? Work, government, sports, live events, and gatherings are at a stand still from a global pandemic. Stay-at-home? Shelter-in-place? How do I balance my responsibility to society but not live in fear from the imminent nuclear fallout and the pending financial doom and gloom.
My new adventure begins with a motorcycle in my own backyard. Starting local, I’m exploring the natural beauty of the Palos Verdes coastline and the local beaches. The familiar roads, paths, and highways are now wide open. Time to explore, discover, and find new opportunities in this well-engineered two wheeled rally machine.
Cornering challenges
My first discovery was an old road I was introduced to while working at Honda R&D. The car and motorcycle designers would refer to this spot as ’genteki’. I would later find out ‘genteki’ is “from the Japanese ’gen chi’ meaning ‘local, on the spot’ and ’teki yo’ meaning ‘adapt/use’“. Genteki provides real world feedback to Honda’s engineers outside of the R&D lab. The commercial practicality and local popularity of the road is undeniable as I would cruise past motorcycle hooligans, Harley-Davidsons, Porsche enthusiasts, exotic car collectors, and even 1960’s VW bus line!
Exotics cars
As J.R.R. Tolkien wrote, “End? No, the journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain curtain of this road rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it. White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise”.
Let’s not fear the reaper. Cheers to new beginnings!
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.
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.
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.
