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Top 13 Badass Animals And Why They’re Badass 150 150 admin

Top 13 Badass Animals And Why They’re Badass

Ready to dive straight into the thrillin’ wilderness? Well, buckle up because we’re about to embark on a ripper of a journey. Let’s explore the amazing world of nature’s true bosses – the top badass animals on this great blue planet.

From the mean streets of the outback with fearsome honey badgers to the ocean’s wild depths filled with monstrous great white sharks, we’re going to take a gander at some of the toughest, deadliest, and most fearless animals in the world.

So let’s not waffle around and head straight into the heart of the wild, discovering what makes each of these creatures truly the ultimate champions of survival. Buckle up, mates! It’s bound to be a wild ride!

Table of Contents

  1. Honey Badger
  2. Komodo Dragon
  3. Saltwater Crocodile
  4. African Elephant
  5. Great White Shark
  6. Wolverine
  7. Polar Bear
  8. Anaconda
  9. African Buffalo
  10. Tasmanian Devils
  11. Bald Eagle
  12. Pygmy Marmoset
  13. Cape Buffalo

Honey Badger

Ferocious Honey Badger Defying All Odds

I’m sure many of you have heard about the notorious Honey Badger; but if you haven’t, you’re in for a treat! This formidable creature is not just your average mammal, nah, but a testament to survival in the harsh world of the African savannah and beyond!

The Honey Badger, or the Ratel as it’s also known, is one small creature that’s got the guts and the girth to take on any challenge that comes its way. You see, when it comes to toughness, this little bugger is right on top. It’s got a thick, rubbery skin almost a quarter of an inch thick that’s so tough, it can withstand the likes of arrows, spears, and even bites from some snakes! It is essentially impervious!

Now, you might be thinking ‘well, yeah, surviving a snake bite is impressive, but can it withstand the poison?’ And the answer is a big YES! You see, the Honey Badger is not just the bear of the honey world, its resiliency to venom is some kind of next level resilience!

Not only can it survive snake bites, it practically thrives on them! Its diet includes some of the world’s most venomous snakes, and it is seemingly unaffected by the deadly venom! It eats scorpions, bees, and wasps too! This level of resistance to toxins that would knock out other animals is due to some special protein they have. It’s basically built like a natural tank!

But that’s not all. What sets the Honey Badger apart is not just its natural armor and venom resistance, but also its never-back-down attitude. This animal is one of the most fearless creatures on our planet. It stands its ground against lions, hyenas, and even packs of wild dogs!

Contrary to its size, the Honey Badger has an impressive strength that even bigger predators fear. When it locks its jaws onto something, your best shot is to consider it gone. Its jaws are so powerful that it can break a turtle’s shell. Now that’s some force!

Not impressed yet? Well, hold onto your hats! The Honey Badger is also a superb digger. It can dig into hard ground in mere seconds, creating a burrow to escape predators or hunt its prey. And the tenacity of this critter is astounding; when blocked from the front, it will back out of its tunnel rear first, attacking anything that gets in its way!

So, what’s the takeaway from the tale of the Honey Badger? Well, mates, it’s that size is just a number, and the Honey Badger encapsulates this perfectly. It might not be the biggest critter out there, but it sure is one of the toughest. It embodies courage, perseverance, and sheer determination, proving that even the smallest of creatures can hold their ground against the biggest adversaries. What a worthy champ!

In the grand scheme of things, we can all learn a thing or two from this Badger. In life, it’s not the size of the fighter, but the size of the fight within. No wonder they always say, ‘Honey Badger doesn’t care, Honey Badger doesn’t give a…’

Komodo Dragon

Komodo Dragon prowling in its natural habitat

Can you imagine a raw example of evolution, where power meets instinct and results in sheer corridor of sheer awe and terror? Let’s start our journey to the Indonesian archipelago, introducing one of the most stunning and intimidating creatures to grace this Earth: the mighty Komodo Dragon!

First things first, the boldest stroke in the Komodo Dragon’s badass canvas is its tremendous size. We’re talking about a creature that can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 300 pounds – that’s equal to nearly five full-grown human beings! With such a size, it holds the title of being the world’s largest lizard.

However, it’s not just the size that makes this beast so awe-inspiring; it’s got the killer senses to match. Just like a snake, the Komodo uses its forked tongue to taste and sense chemicals in the air.  This ability perfectly complements its excellent vision, enabling it to spot a potential meal from a distance of up to 300 meters. Now, that’s some serious hunting mojo!

The Impeccable Speed and Sturdy Jaw

Despite their huge, bulky bodies, don’t you mistake these creatures for being slow pokes. These beauts can sprint up to speeds of 20 kilometers per hour when chasing their prey. It’s an unbelievably quick and agile beast, so don’t judge it by its lounging-around demeanor!

And once their prey is in sight, their powerful jaws come into play. Armed with around 60 sharp, serrated teeth, the Komodo Dragon’s bone-crushing bite is the stuff of nightmares, literally. Imagine them chomping down on their prey with a force of up to 39 newtons. Sheesh, you don’t fancy being on the receiving end of that, would you?

The Deadly Venom and Unmatched Resilience

As if sharp teeth and a formidable bite weren’t enough, these blokes setting new standards of badassery by having venom glands loaded with toxins. So, when they bite, these toxins flow into the victim’s wound, affecting blood pressure, causing hemorrhaging, and inducing shock. They’re venomous as a snake and just as mean!

Furthermore, their ruggedness and resilience are second to none in the animal kingdom. They can survive harsh climates and tough conditions unthinkable for many creatures. And did I mention, they are incredibly resistant to most infections that would quickly knock out other creatures? They owe their immunity to a set of blood proteins that provide an astonishingly strong antimicrobial effect. Inspiring, innit?

Saltwater Crocodile

Saltwater Crocodile lurking on the shoreline

If there’s one thing the vast crocodile family does not lack, it’s diversity. But among all the species that command respect and a little bit of healthy fear, one stands out. The saltwater crocodile! Also known as “salties”, this species is the finest illustration of wild, unrefined power and survival skills. Coiled muscles shimmer under scaly armor, eyes gleaming with an ancient wisdom…

The Pinnacle of Physical Strength

The saltwater crocodile is not just a product of millions of years of evolution, but a testament to its successful survival. It’s the largest of all living reptiles, with males often reaching 7 meters in length. What’s impressive is not just its size, but the power hidden within that scaly body. No creature wants to be caught in a saltie’s powerful jaws! A bite force of up to 3,700 pounds per square inch? Bloody hell, that’s about the same force as a T-Rex! Not to mention their surprising speed, both in the water and on land. So, don’t let their slow lumbering on land fool ya, mate! When a salty decides to charge, it can cover a short distance faster than you’d think.

Survivalists Extraordinaire

Apart from their physical prowess, saltwater crocodiles are also bloody superb survivors. These creatures live in the brutal environments of the Indo-Pacific, a region that houses some of the harshest living conditions for any animal. And yet, our salties thrive here, adapted to live in both salty and fresh water. They are also opportunistic feeders, which means that they’re not too fussy about their meal. From water buffalo, to monkeys, to sharks – they’re all on the menu! There’s a reason these crocs are holding their own while other species sadly fade into oblivion.

Intrepid Parents

We’ve talked about the saltwater croc as a force to be reckoned with, but let’s not forget about their parenting instincts. These prehistoric-looking critters are surprisingly caring parents. Both the male and the female protect the nest and guard the younglings. Mama crocs are particularly vigilant, lugging the babies around in their powerful jaws and protecting them fiercely. It’s touching to see such a potent display of care from something so deadly.

In short, the saltwater crocodile has no need for fictional enhancements. It’s got everything it needs to be a genuine badass! A survivor of the test of time, an apex predator, and a loving parent, the saltwater croc is truly a marvel of nature. When you respect its space and admire it from a distance – as you surely should – you get to see one of Mother Nature’s finest creations in all its glory!

African Elephant

African Elephant majestically roaming in the wild

If you call yourself an animal lover, then there’s no doubt you’ve got a special place in your heart for the marvelous and magnificent African Elephant. The largest land animal in the world, this extraordinary creature is simply a testament to nature’s sheer power and majesty.

What doesn’t, mate?! Tipping the scales at a staggering 6 to 7 tons, the African Elephant stands head and shoulders above all the rest. But their grandeur isn’t just about their size – the African Elephant is tough, intelligent, and filled with surprises!

Their incredible strength and endurance aren’t just on show – these big guys can roam up to 50 miles a day in search of food and water. Quit your whining about the commute to work, am I right? They’ve got a varied diet, chowing down on all sorts of plants, fruits, and hey, they love a bit of bark too!

A telltale feature of the African Elephant, and one which gives them unmatched badass status, is their undeniably powerful and versatile trunk. This bloody cool ‘nose’ is a tool for eating, drinking, bathing, smelling, touching and – get this – even sound production. Now talk about an all in one gadget!

Not to mention, these beasts are super smart. They’ve got the largest brain of any land animal, and they know how to use it! Their memories are astounding, they mourn their dead, and have been known to show empathy. Quite the gentle giants they are!

Why is the African Elephant so Important?

Apart from being living proof that Mother Nature has a knack for the extraordinary, these leviathans play a critical role in their ecosystems. They clear pathways through the dense vegetation, making room for smaller creatures to get by. They distribute seeds through their droppings, helping to grow the flora. No kidding, without these champions, the landscapes of Africa would look quite different!

Also, their mere presence helps to control the population of certain tree species, which in turn affects the population of certain animal species. It’s a whole delicate balancing act being guided by our hefty heroes – the African Elephants.

Preserving these Giants

These elegant badasses of the wild aren’t just here for our admiration – they’re crucial to our planet’s health. Unfortunately, they face real challenges – poaching for ivory and habitat loss are only a few. We’ve got to fight to protect these beauties, because without them, not only would we be losing one of the most remarkable creatures on earth, but we’d also be disrupting an important link in the ecological chain.

We need to remember, these stunning behemoths aren’t just beautiful to watch, they’re essential to the very fabric of life on this planet. Now that’s what I call a true badass!

Great White Shark

Great White Shark cruising in the deep blue ocean

If there’s one predator that stands atop the marine kingdom, it’s the legendary Great White Shark. These creatures are apex predators, which means they have no natural enemies and are at the tippy top of the food chain. They are a living testament to nature’s impressive design capabilities.

These jaw-dropping, fin-tastic creatures are massive, with adults commonly reaching lengths of up to 4.5-6.4 meters (15-21 feet). That’s about the length of three grown men! The Great White’s size isn’t just for show either. It plays a crucial role in its survival, aiding in predator avoidance, prey capture, and temperature regulation.

A Terrifying Smile

Are you ready for a toothy grin that makes the hair on your neck stand up? Great White Sharks have an impressive set of about 300 serrated, triangular teeth, cleverly arranged in several rows. Golly, can you imagine needing to see the dentist with that many teeth? When one tooth breaks off, another one from the row behind it replaces it. So no matter how many times they bite, they always have a mouthful of sharp teeth ready to go! Just imagine the grin on this fella!

Fin-tastic Swimmers

Great White Sharks are well designed for their ocean lifestyle. They have a unique, streamlined body shape that allows fantastically efficient movement through the water, reaching speeds up to 24 kilometers per hour (15 mph). Their powerful tail fin propels them forward while the rest of their fins aid in steering. It’s like they’ve got their own built-in motorboat engines! Plus, they can leap right out of the water in an incredible display of power and agility, often resulting in their prey’s unlucky day.

Stealth Hunters

If you think ninjas are skilled in stealth, wait till you hear about these sharks. Great Whites are masters of camouflage and surprise, using a technique called “countershading.” Their dark upper bodies blend in with the murk of the deep sea when viewed from above. Conversely, their white underbellies mimic the bright surface waters when looked at from below. It’s like they’re invisible! This perfect blend of stealth and deception makes them highly efficient hunters.

Sharpened Senses

Great Whites have an exceptional array of senses. Their remarkable hearing can pick up the frequency of a struggling fish, their sight adjusts perfectly to the low light conditions of the deep ocean, and oh mate, let’s not forget their incredible ability to detect electromagnetic fields produced by other living creatures, thanks to their Ampullae of Lorenzini. It’s not just fancy science speak; Acute sensory perception sets them apart in the grand scheme of nature’s marine predators.

The Great White Shark is, without a doubt, one of the most badass creatures in the ocean. Its formidable size, highly-developed senses, awesome speed, and hunting prowess make it a truly efficient predator. However, despite their fearsome reputation, these sharks are crucial to maintaining the balance in our ocean ecosystems. So let’s appreciate these oceanic titans from a safe distance and do our part to conserve and protect them.

Wolverine

Wolverine fiercely strolling through the snow

When we talk about the wolverine, you might be thinking about Hugh Jackman’s suave performance as Wolverine in the X-Men series, but today we’re talking about the real, wild, astonishing animal. If ever there was an animal that embodied the spirit of unyielding resolution and raw strength, it’s got to be the wolverine, mate!

Size doesn’t define Strength

Wolverines ain’t the biggest of critters. In fact, they’re small compared to other members of the carnivore club, weighing only about 20-30 kilos. Yet, don’t let size fool you! The wolverine boasts an impressive perfect blend of tenacity, aggression, and strength. These creatures carry enough daring attitude to take down prey many times their size. Whether it’s a caribou or a full-grown moose, when a wolverine sets its eyes on its supper, it rarely falls short.

The Incredible Adaption and Climbing Skills

These lovable rogues, full of spunk and zest, got amazing adaptability too. They’re built to endure some of the harshest and coldest climates on earth. Thick fur that’s waterproof and frost proof, broad feet that act like snowshoes, and long, strong claws that are great for digging and climbing, make the wolverine a real survivor in the rugged terrain of the Arctic. Astonishing as it sounds, you might see a wolverine joyfully rompin’ up and down the hills during the harsh cold winters. Now, that’s what I call a true mountain-goer!

The Incredibly Solitary Lives

Wolverines are solitary creatures, choosing to spend their lives mainly in their lonesome. Covering vast territories, scavenging for food and with a reputation for avoiding competition, they embody the true spirit of self-reliance and independence. This doesn’t mean they’re not great parents, though. Mother wolverines are known to provide for their little kits tirelessly until they’re old enough to fend for themselves. That’s commendable dedication, right?

Epitome of Fearlessness

Wolverines are known to exhibit indomitable spirit in standing up to threats. They’ve been known to steal a kill from larger predators like wolves and bears, which just goes to show the audacity of these remarkable beasties. That’s extreme courage under fire, mate!

The Survivor

As fierce and tough as they are, wolverines are struggling. Climate changes and habitat loss are the biggest challenges they face today. Yet, they continue to show their survival streak, just like they always have, fighting against the odds and demonstrating what true resilience is. So, the next time you hear about a wolverine, don’t just think about the comic book hero. Remember, there’s a real creature in the wild that’s just as, if not more, incredible.

Polar Bear

Polar Bear dominant on Arctic ice

Have you ever stopped and really considered the majesty of the polar bear? I mean, these creatures are absolutely incredible! As resilient as they are magnificent, these wild beasts live in some of the harshest conditions our beautiful planet has to offer, and not only survive, but thrive. They are so much tougher than they’re given credit for!

The polar bear isn’t just a fluffy, cute creature, no siree! They are one of the absolute badasses of the animal kingdom. Just picture it – the polar bear, indigenous to the Arctic Circle, enduring temperatures that can dip as low as -45 degrees Celsius. Can you imagine? And they don’t even break a sweat, mate!

Instead, these Kingdom Animalia members are incredibly well-adapted to their icy surroundings. Believe it or not, they actually have double-layered fur to keep them warm. Even their paws are furry to provide insulation and grip on the ice.

And their size! Oh boy, these are not some average-sized bears, mates. A fully-grown male polar bear can stand up to 10 feet tall and can easily weigh in at an astonishing 680 kilograms. That’s as heavy as a small car! It makes them the largest land carnivore in the world. That’s right, WORLD!

Mind you, they’re not lumbering brutes either. These bears are surprisingly agile on land and in the water. They can run as fast as 40 kilometers per hour on land. And in the water, they transform into skilled swimmers, capable of paddling for hours to cross vast distances.

They are also supreme hunters known for incredible patience and cunning when stalking their preferred prey, the ringed seal. Blending in with their environment, a polar bear will cleverly wait near a breathing hole in the ice, then BAM! Yank the seal out when it comes up for air. Their skillful stalking and hunting behaviors qualify them as downright legendary!

But it’s not all fun and ice games. Polar bears are also looking out for the next generation. Female polar bears build themselves a den, one that can be buried under a meter or more of snow, to give birth to their young. The cubs are first nurtured in the cozy den before being introduced to the harsh Arctic world. Now, isn’t that admirable?

It takes a really unique creature to survive, let alone thrive, in such a harsh environment as the polar bear does. Battling the freezing cold, hunting on the treacherous ice, swimming icy waters, and lovingly raising their young – polar bears, mates, are the real deal!

Anaconda

Green Anaconda slithering in the wild

Anacondas are truly the largest snakes in the world; not in length, but in girth and weight. Think about this for a second: an anaconda can grow up to 30 feet long and weigh up to 550 whopping pounds. They’re the heavyweights of the serpent world – the kind to make even the saltwater crocs take a step back. How’s that for impressive?

But their size is barely the tip of the iceberg. These creatures are born survivors. They’ve adapted impeccably to their lush, aquatic habitats in the rainforests of South America. Just like a crocodile, an anaconda is a masterful swimmer. Thriving in both the water and land, these beauties boast a deft stealthiness that is unfathomable for their girth. Awe-inspiring, isn’t it?

Anacondas are also constrictors – meaning, they don’t use venom to immobilize their prey. Instead, they use pure, raw strength. An anaconda’s modus operandi is wrapping itself around potential meals, squeezing tighter every time the unfortunate creature exhales, until it can no longer breathe. There’s something undeniably badass about that, don’t you think?

And let’s not forget their jaw-dropping feeding capabilities. These serpents can unhinge their jaws and consume animals significantly larger than their head size – from caimans to capybaras. The act itself is an example of nature’s awesome power. This giant serpent literally morphs its body to accommodate its hefty meal.

Yet, despite their deadly prowess, anacondas are surprisingly gentle when it comes to their babies. Unlike other reptiles that lay eggs and then abandon their offspring, anacondas give live birth and often stay with their young for a while. This nurturing behavior showcases a more tender side to these otherwise intimidating creatures.

Another fascinating aspect of these snakes is their longevity. Anacondas in captivity have been known to live over 30 years. That’s akin to most parrots and even few primates. They evolve, survive, and adapt; perpetual occupants of Earth, living reducers of the process of natural selection, making them valuable contributors to their ecosystems.

Still, it’s important to remember that anacondas, like all wildlife, face significant threats from habitat loss and hunting. Preserving these mighty serpents – and their contribution to the biodiversity of the rainforest – is essential. After all, every creature has its part to play in the grand drama of life, and the anaconda is no exception.

African Buffalo

African Buffalo stampeding in the savanna.

Step right up, mates, and feast ye orbs on the African Buffalo, a true titan of the wild, possessing a unique jigsaw of traits that stand testament to Mother Nature’s art of survival. Now, this isn’t one of those domesticated critters you might see mooing in a meadow. Oh no, this one’s a bona fide bad-boy of the animal kingdom. A magnificent beast with brute strength, a formidable herd instinct and an uncanny resilience, the African Buffalo not only stands hoof-to-hoof with its fiercest competitors and predators but often charges them down without batting an eye.

The African Buffalo, should you ever cross paths, is an obvious behemoth of the grasslands. With a bodyweight ranging from 300 to 900 kilos (heck, that’s heavier than a grand piano!), and standing a massive 1 to 1.7 meters tall at the shoulder, these fellows are like the hard-hitting rugby players of the wild, sporting a strong neck, broad chest and tough skin to boot, showcasing nature’s incredible design for survival.

But it’s not just about physical power with these big blokes. They are the embodiments of solidarity and teamwork too. African Buffalo herds stick together like peas in a pod. If one member of the herd is under attack – crikey! – the rest of them wouldn’t stand around chewing cud; they’d come charging like a battering ram, confronting the threat as one formidable unit. Talk about mateship!

Nobody really fancies taking on a nearly one-tonne beast with a fiercely loyal herd and a formidable pair of horns. Even the mighty lion, the king of the jungle himself, knows to tread lightly around the African buffalo. Put one lion against one buffalo, and I tell you what, it’s a fifty-fifty. The outcome usually depends on which one of them woke up on the right side of the bed that day.

And there’s another astounding fact about these bad boys: they possess a remarkable resistance to disease. The African Buffalo is resistant to many diseases that cripple other animal species in the wild. From viruses to worms to poisonous plants, these beasts have a phenomenal immune system that helps them champion the harsh pitfalls of living in the wild.

The African buffalo is, therefore, a true exhibit of nature’s resiliency, strength and unity, teaching us a powerful lesson about survival. In the face of adversities and predators, whether it be the scorching sun of the African plains or a marauding pride of lions, the buffalo doesn’t yield, but charges head-on.

Tasmanian Devils

Tasmanian Devil scaring off adversaries

When we think about the most intrepid characters in the animal kingdom, the mind automatically runs to big cats, massive sharks, venomous snakes, or alligators. Yet, tucked away on the rugged island of Tasmania lives an unassuming yet ground-breaking creature that belies its small size with ferocious behaviour and unmatched sass – The Tasmanian Devil!

The Tasman’s Fierce Fighter

The Tasmanian Devil, or ‘Tassie Devil’ as it’s affectionately known, is no Beelzebub. But, by crikey, it’s got a fiery reputation! Unlike the mischievous Looney Tunes cartoon character, the real Tasmanian Devil isn’t spinning around in a tornado of chaos. This dark-furred carnivorous marsupial is the size of a small dog and it can put up a ferocious fight when threatened.

Living Up to the Name

Considered the world’s largest carnivorous marsupial, the Tassie Devil certainly lives up to its nefarious name for several reasons. First off, this critter has a bone-crushing bite. It can gnaw through bones and tear carcasses apart with a fervour you’d never expect from such a small creature! With a bite pressure that rivals a tiger, the Tasmanian Devil owns one of the most powerful bites in the mammal kingdom for its size. That’s totally ripping!

Devilish Behaviour

And don’t let the Tassie Devil’s size fool you. This wild critter’s endurance and speed are unmatched – they can run up to 13 km/h for a whopping hour! Their gruff, growl-like screech, particularly when they are fighting or feeding, can give anyone the heebie-jeebies and earned them their ‘devilish’ name. Remember, if it sounds like a squabble in the middle of the Tasmanian night, it’s likely a Devil feeding frenzy!

The Durable Devil

The Tasmanian Devil is an incredible survivor, displaying remarkable adaptations to environmental changes and diseases. These critters are built tough and beautifully embody the rugged charm of their island home. Their unique, ultrasonic-like sneezes, designed to assert dominance and scare off competition, are a testament to their gritty survival instincts.

Saving the Icon

Sadly, these tenacious creatures are now endangered due to a gnarly contagious cancer called Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). But don’t lose hope yet, mate! Some devils have developed resistance to DFTD, and their population is slowly recovering, showing us once again that these creatures are extraordinary fighters in the face of adversity.

Fun Facts & Fascinating Devil Insights

  1. Despite being nocturnal, the Tassie Devils are not picky eaters – they’ve been known to scavenge during the day when the opportunity presents itself!
  2. Tasmanian Devil mothers birth about 40 joeys (babies), but only the fastest and fittest make it to her pouch, which only has four teats. The rest sadly don’t survive. It’s all about survival of the fittest here!
  3. Got a smelly shoe? Not a problem for the Tassie Devil! They’d probably use it for bedding material in their burrow!

Bald Eagle

Tasmanian Devil scaring off adversaries

Isn’t nature trim, ace, and deadly? If you’re baffled and intrigued by the exceptional critters that inhabit our earth, you’re gonna love this ripper! Today, we’re exploring the distinctive, gallant, and widely-cherished American symbol, the robust Bald Eagle!

Size Matters: The Mighty Bald Eagle

First up, let’s bang on about their size. These blokes are colossal! An adult bald eagle stands tall – about 3 feet, not to mention wings that spread right around 7 feet. Don’t canvas a tea party with these fellas, as their wings alone could easily cover the table! It’s awe-striking to recognize this bird’s powerful physical presence with their staggering size and regal stature, making them truly badass!

The Symbol of Audacity

What makes a Bald Eagle utterly badass is being synonymous with bravery, right? They’ve been viewed as symbols of courage and freedom in many cultures over the centuries. Can you think of anything that screams ‘badass’ more than a spirit of audacity? To be fair, I reckon not!

Maestro of the Skies

These birds are exceptional flyers. A bald eagle can swoop down at speeds up to 80 miles per hour! Talk about being fast as a greased lightning! Imagine watching these living torpedoes plunge into the water in a heartbeat, grasping a fish mid-swim. Larger, heavier but assertive, their flight proficiency exemplifies precision, agility and strength, a perfect epitome of all things badass.

Deadly Hunters

Like a few proud predators in the wild, it’s their capacity for bringing the ‘kills’ that underlines their badass nature. These mates aren’t fussy eaters, they’ll take what they can get. Chiefly fish, they gladly take on anything from rabbits to geese or even deer. Yep, you heard right. When these fellas are hungry, there’s frankly no prey too large!

A Standout Look

Finally, take one look at a Bald Eagle, and you’d be hard-pressed not to reckon they’re one of the most striking birds there are. Their fierce yellow eyes and sharp beak, topped off with a proud white head and a dark brown body. Now that’s what you’d call a classic good looker in the wild! These birds wear their badges of badassery prominently!

Pygmy Marmoset

Pygmy Marmoset hanging on a tree branch

Isn’t she a beauty, mate? Meet the Pygmy Marmoset, the world’s smallest monkey and a true badass of the animal kingdom. Don’t be fooled by her cute face, or the fact she’s smaller than your hand. This tough little critter can navigate through the jungles of South America like she owns the place – and in a way, she does!

A Survivor in Disguise

A Pygmy Marmoset is so good at blending into its environment you could walk right past one without noticing it. They’ve got a lush, golden-orange fur that not only makes them look like little fireballs against the green jungle, but also allows them to camouflage perfectly with the trees. Their agile bodies and long tails give them a balance almost unreal, effortlessly leaping between branches, not just surviving, but thriving in their harsh home environment.

And did you know these little guys are omnivores? Yeah, mate! They eat everything from fruits and insects to small reptiles and one of their favourite foods… tree sap! But how do they get to it, you ask? They use their sharp lower teeth to pierce the tree bark and lick up the sap that oozes out. Imagine the patience and the grit to do that! Not so tiny in spirit, are they?

Social Badasses

Pygmy Marmosets aren’t just survivors, they’re social animals too! They live in groups of about half a dozen, normally a mating pair and their offspring. One of the most amazing things about them is they’re cooperative breeders, meaning all the members of the group help take care of the young, even the males! In fact, once the offspring are born, it’s usually the father who takes over the duty of caring for them. Incredible, isn’t it? In Pygmy Marmoset world, dads can be just as nurturing!

Fierce Defenders

And don’t let their size fool you. When their territory is threatened, Pygmy Marmosets can be as fierce as any creature many times their size. They defend their home bravely, warning invaders off with loud vocalisations and posture displays that say, “This is my house, mate, and I’m not going down without a fight!”

Unseen Prowess

What’s even more impressive is their ability to communicate. Pygmy Marmosets have a wide range of vocalisations some of which fall into ultrasonic frequency range, completely unheard by humans! Imagine having an entire layer of communication that humans can’t even detect.

The Cape Buffalo

Cape Buffalo standing formidably in the grasslands

Here we are, cobbers, gettin’ a close up of one of Africa’s most formidable animals, the Cape Buffalo! No joey stuff here, mates, this fella’a a full-blown badass superstar of the African savannah. Not just a regular buffalo, no siree, they’re more like a muscle-bound muscle car of the animal kingdom, with a temper to match. Don’t get it mistaken for its distant cousin, the water buffalo, ’cause your day’ll go from fair dinkum to bloody awful in the blink of an eye!

A Beast Built for Survival

Up front, they’ve got a set of horns that’d make a hat rack jealous. Towering head gear that screams ‘do not disturb’ in 100 different ways. Their skull, built like a tank, can withstand the charge of a bloody rhino! Weighing in at sometimes over a ton and standing 1.7 m high at the shoulders, these beasts ain’t no pushover! They’ve got the heft to back up that hard-headed bravado.

One Tough Cookie

Even big cats like lions tread carefully around a Cape Buffalo. You wouldn’t want to ruffle their fur the wrong way, or you’d be on the receiving end of a charge that’d make a freight train envious! A lion may be king of the jungle, but even they’d have a tough bug to crack when takin’ on a fully grown Cape Buffalo. Their herd mentality makes them super protective; if one’s in trouble, the whole crew turns up!

Devoted Parents

Despite their fearsome reputation, Cape Buffalos show a softer side when it comes to their young. They’re past masters at parenting, nurturing their calves with the same intensity as they’d confront a predator – full-on and no holds barred. If a calf’s in trouble, the buffalo’s parental instincts kick in something fierce, making them an even more formidable force to deal with.

Resilient Despite the Odds

Even disease ain’t a patch on these fellas! Ticks, dystocia, foot and mouth disease, and corridor disease – the Cape Buffalo can weather them all. Their bodies are fortress-like, capable of tackling threats that’d wipe out lesser creatures off the face of the earth. Even in face of drought, they don’t just fold up and quit. No way, Jose! They’ve got the guts to push through, finding water and grass to sustain them, no matter the odds.

More than Just Muscle

Brains and brawn is the game for these fellas, each herd led by experienced and intelligent bulls who know the ins and outs of surviving the savannah. They lead with wisdom and strength, safeguarding their herd from danger and guiding them through harsh terrains with an uncanny sense of direction and purpose. Truly the Cape Buffalo is a badass not just in strength, but in spirit and will to survive!

Stepping foot onto the African savannah, the Cape Buffalo commands respect and a healthy dose of caution. It embodies the raw, unadulterated power of nature, a living testament to survival against the odds. Underneath that rough exterior is a creature of immense strength and intelligence.  So next time you’re flipping through a wildlife book and you spot our mate, the Cape Buffalo, give a nod to one of nature’s fiercest warriors.

Solana NFTs – Part 1 150 150 admin

Solana NFTs – Part 1

In the past 3 months I’ve dived head first into Solana NFTs. I thought it would be beneficial to recap what I’ve learned about the space.

2020 Crypto Experiments

One of the best things I’ve done in crypto (and I’ve done a lot of bullshit) was experiment in the bear market.

Right at the tail end of 2020, the stars aligned for ya boy. I had extra money, free time and knowledge of crypto from paying attention to the space for years. I noticed that the crypto YouTubers I had subscribed to suddenly started posting again and were hella excited in their videos. I didn’t know it, but it was a perfect time to invest too.

I started learning and using Metamask and Uniswap and buying coins early before they hit Coinbase. I started investing heavier into different coins that were launching and had hype behind them. I kept binge watching crypto YouTube videos and investing in coins they were talking about. I did this all with the expectation that the money I was experimenting with could go to 0.

Crypto is still rewarding me for that experimentation I did years ago through airdrops. The most recent one being Evmos.

So why experiment? Not only for the airdrops, but also because it’s the best time to experiment. The networks aren’t as clogged, so things go faster and things are cheaper. Everything’s calm and settled and you don’t have to learn on-the-fly as much. And ya neeeeeeever know. The things we’re experimenting with today might be normal in the future.

Welcome Solana

In that tail end of 2020, I did a lot of experimenting with ETH-based coins. ETH wasn’t as high priced as it is now and the network wasn’t as congested, so fees were lower.

Nooooooow there is a noticeable fee for everything on ETH! and it’s annoying. At the time of this writing fees are a lot smaller than usual, but I can’t justify using the network as much when Solana is such a cheaper network. Developers are developing high quality games, NFT’s and other resources on it.

I admit it. I had an affair with Solana. I’m sorry ETH.

Random things I’ve noticed or learned while experimenting in Solana NFT’s

  • There’s a lot of younger people in the space with me. Occasionally I’ll see 13-15 year old’s in the space. It’s kinda trippy. Voice chat and spaces expose your voice.
  • NFTs do well in a crypto bear market because it makes for cheap entries to projects that would otherwise price most people out.
  • It’s so great to not have to pay excessive fees. It’s faster and more cost effective. Everything in ETH had a fee and it adds up – staking, unstaking, withdrawing, sending, minting, etc. All fees associated with them. Different airdrops made the fees worthwhile though, so I can’t complain too much about them.
  • It’s more predictable – I don’t have to worry about things like sandwiches or inconsistent fees. I know what I’m going to pay
  • It’s easier to rug – People are starting to figure out the formula for their anonymous rugs and I’m seeing more and more in the space. It’s the wild wild west. Because it’s easier to rug, I appreciate the projects that are transparent and adequately Doxxed and are consistently available through voice and or video or a human social media account. I think this is the way things will eventually go.
  • It all happens on Discord and Twitter – Most of the details of Solana NFT’s are on Discord and/or Twitter. I do see some projects from time to time using Telegram, but for the most part it’s Discord and Twitter. I’ve learned to use Discord and Twitter VERY well.
  • The biggest most well known Solana NFT marketplace is Magic Eden.
  • Some people are happy with the smallest profits. They will mint something for 1 Sol and list it on Magic Eden for 1.01 Sol for a .01 profit (not even taking into account fees).
  • The digital art in the Solana NFT space is absolutely amazing. – There are so much great art that art alone tends to not be enough these days. NFT investors want great art AND some type of utility.
  • Words / phrases / platforms / resources that you gotta know if you’re gonna deal with Solana NFTs – mint date, mint price, supply, volume, hype, WAGMI (we all gonna make it), NGMI (not gonna make it), bluechips, degen, wallet, airdrops, tokens, proof, whitelist (WL), public mint, mint bots, snipers, whales, floor price (FP), Magic Eden and CoralCube.

In Part 1, I wanted to keep it more matter-of-fact style. Find out what happens in Part 2 where I give more of my opinion about the space.

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You like that suspense I put in there? lmao

You know you do.

The Benefits of Free Time 150 150 admin

The Benefits of Free Time

In this article I’m going to share with you the benefits I’ve experienced through having lots and lots of free time. If there’s interest I can share the downsides too cuz uh…it hasn’t been all roses.

Backstory of Having Damn Near No Free Time

There was a period of time where I was working a job I hated then doing deliveries on the side and it felt like I was just spinning my wheels. My expenses = money I got from the job I hated + delivery money. I just kept hearing this message in my head that said “you’re wasting your time”.

Then, I went to a conference called Love Rising in Hollywood, CA led by Kyle Cease. A core message I got from that conference was to stop chasing money, and so that’s what I did. He published a book called The Illusion of Money not too long after this workshop.

I tried my best to do everything – especially creative work – from a heart-centered space. I really felt like I was fed up doing work and feeling like a damn slave. I quit my job right after getting out of that conference (because I was doing it just for the money), and life hasn’t been the same since. In many ways it has been amazing, and in many ways it has been horrific. I’m sharing the good stuff here now though.

Online learning

There is literally so much information on online that you can web surf through – especially with YouTube. I also like my local libraries online resources, and if your local library sucks then…I’m sure you can find a way to break some rules…Just don’t hold me responsible.

I tend to gravitate towards the practical information and online courses. People are taking their knowledge and putting it in online resources at a level that has never been seen before – especially with COVID. All i need is an internet connection and a device that can use that internet connection to show me stuffs. I just found another course I wanna take today from Scott Scorch (a little disappointed it’s only 2 hours long). It was a gateway to find the other courses on the platform though.

Finding Money to Play With

I’ve been able to “find” money through different ways. Lowering expenses dramatically helps with this a lot! No more car note draining my finances, and no more expensive rent. HAD I BEEN MORE PATIENT, last year would have been my first 6-figure year by way of crypto. 2020 was the first year ever I felt like I was able to play with money. And it was all because of downsizing, doing independent contract work as a gig worker when COVID hit, and binge watching videos on crypto.

Self Care

Sometimes I wonder how people deal with self care with a job. Meditation, hygiene, fitness, food prep/shopping, self care appointments i.e. doctors/dentists, vehicle care, living space care, fun/hobbies/creative outlets, assessments about all of the above, and learning about how to improve all of the above.

This about this – I’m a single guy, but what about if you’re in a household and have to take care of others? Many of these things can’t be outsourced or helped by a significant other. How do people adequately do self care when a job takes up such huge blocks of time. How do people fit all this in? I think the answer is many people don’t.

Doing Things At Different Times Than The Majority

In a populated city like Houston, Texas it feels so much better to do things when others don’t do them. I don’t have to sit in traffic during lunch time when everyone is one the road. I don’t have to deal with large crowds in stores because I can shop while everyone is at work.

No More Resentment For Things That Were Taking Up My Time

I don’t find myself saying “I don’t know enough time”. I could easily say that when I had a job, and it would make me resentful towards the job. I was spending a lot of those days working feeling resentment.

Lately, if I can deal with what others say and think about me and accept it and not be triggered by it, then I can experience that freedom. That is a part of the freedom. I might be called lazy or a bum, or not self sufficient (nobody’s really self-sufficient) in the short term, but over the long term things start to get really good. You don’t relate to money with this neediness and it can flow to you.

Depth and Quality Creatively

I put depth and quality together because depth has a lot to do with quality. I can’t get to the level of mental depth I could creatively as long as I was using so much mental ram on my job. This is the biggest benefit. It gives me room to breathe. I can step back and see the forest for the trees, and not always be stuck in the trees.

I don’t even think my brain could go into writing an article list this or many of the other articles I’ve written without sufficient space to let my mind wander into different rabbit holes. Eventually, the rabbit holes start to connect together in a way I can’t predict.

Nothing feels rushed now. Even if there is a deadline to things, I don’t feel the intense pressure I would feel going to jobs. I can take my time cooking up good shit. Good plans, good assessments, good articles, good presence with people, good quality overall.

When I would work at jobs, I very rarely got to see my own work. It was purchasing and data entry, so…it was gone as soon as I did it. I never got to see it or marvel at it or add to it or build on top of it. I’ve created a lot that I get to look back on these past years. It makes me waaaaaay more proud.

That’s it folks

That’s all I got. I’m thankful that I made it a priority to downsize and take my time investments away from chasing money and started to embrace and cherish the time I have on this earth. There is nothing like it.

Decentralized Everything 150 150 admin

Decentralized Everything

There was a time where everything was very centralized. It all came from one place. Money, media and news, information, laws, etc. They all came from a few sources. Then the internet came along and fucked that shit all up.

Youtube has instant media now. People can live stream things that are happening in REAL TIME. People can connect with others to find out information in a way they never could before or just watch a stream of Youtube videos on the subject and run it through their own discernment to find TRUE information.

Value is so subjective, and we can really explore the possibility space as to what’s valuable for other people. Like to watch YouTube videos? You watching YouTube videos is valuable to other people and they will either virtually accompany you in doing so, or watch a video of you reacting to another video. There’s a whole space of reaction channels on YouTube. For people with NO skills, the documentation of their experiments and explorations are valuable. People can follow your journey along in real time. You eating food is valuable to people.

P2P services are here now. You can rent or rent out pretty much everything you own or that someone else owns if it’s available to be rented.

Decentralized coaching? Decentralized Innovation and Funding for the Innovation? Decentralized workshops? Cryptocurrency has a space where there’s DeFi (decentralized finance!).

I’m pretty damn excited about the way things are shaping up.

Lessons I’ve Learned From Investing In Crypto since 2017 150 150 admin

Lessons I’ve Learned From Investing In Crypto since 2017

Crypto has taught me a lot overall about investing – not only in coins, but in everything.  With this article I wanted to share some lessons from the mistakes I’ve made.  I’m doing well in it now, but there sure were some expensive mistakes I made to learn these lessons.  If you’re reading this, you don’t have to make these mistakes.

Short story on how I got involved in crypto

In late 2016, I went to a conference on making passive income in a more heart-centered, courageous way.  I was working at a pretty shitty job, and I was getting frustrated with it, so I took some days off to go to this conference.

The conference wasn’t about crypto at all, but I met up with some people who were invested in crypto.  They not only showed me how to get into crypto, but why I should get into crypto, so I did.  I signed up with Coinbase, and I bought about $100 worth of Ethereum (ETH) when it was then trading at $448.64 on December 7th, 2017.  Within a month it had doubled and almost tripled.  Ethereum had skyrocketed and was selling at almost $1200 per coin.  I remember lookin at this like I had hit the jackpot.   Up until then, I had not made any other investment that had almost tripled my money, and so fast.

I. told. everyone.

Everyone who was in my world at the time knew I invested some money in crypto because I shouted it from the rooftops, and I had friends that jumped in too.

What I didn’t realize about the market, was that that was the peak.  Bitcoin and the rest of the market, including Ethereum, tanked and went down in value for the next two years.

This is when I learned my first lesson, and it continues to be the most important lesson to this day – Fomo will get you wrecked.

Lesson 1:  FOMO will get you wrecked.  

FOMO stands for Fear of Missing Out.  When a coin or stock is going up in value and everyone is talking about it or it gets heavy news or attention, people are like “damn…I don’t wanna miss out!  I gotta invest now!”.  Many times new people invest from this pressured, emotional place, and it might take you getting wrecked to learn not to FOMO into an investment.  The danger in investing when all the excitement is happening is that that coin or stock or other investment could easily dip or even crash in value right after you invested, because you may have invested at a peak.

When everyone is excited and talking about an investment – whether it be stocks, real estate, crypto – anything, it’s way better to be ahead of the herd.  Be in it before everyone starts talking about it.  There are always opportunities to be ahead of the herd – to get in before things go up in price and value and attention, but it means you have to take your focus AWAY from where everyone is right now (the news), and being able to predict where things are going.  You can even wait until things die down and buy the dip, but don’t FOMO in.

Buy low, sell high.  Accumulate in the bear market when nobody is talking about what you want to invest in, so you’ll be positioned to take profits when the bull market inevitably comes and every one is talking about it.

Right now, everyone is talking about Bitcoin,  but there are amazing opportunities in certain alt coins (every coin except Bitcoin) to make life-changing profits if you’re willing to learn and be patient.

One thing that we did in that conference mentioned above was made a list of trends that would be important in the future, so we could be ahead of the curve.  We listed things like online education, self-driving cars, artificial intelligence, robots, cyber security, cloud computing, e-books and audiobooks.  These are trends that are going to be important in the future.  These are places where you can be ahead of the herd.

Lesson 2:  Only invest what you’re willing to go to 0.  Don’t invest more than you’re willing to lose. Do not bet the farm!

I lumped all these together in one lesson.  I ignored them all starting off.  I said to myself, “if this investment is going to triple, why would I not put everything I own into it?”.   Here’s why.

Having a significant portion of money and cash flow outside of your crypto (or any other investment) will lesson your sense of neediness.  You won’t be constantly looking at it every day to see  whether it goes up or down or left or right.  You can leave it alone and not think about it so much because its not a huge part of your net worth.  You can have strong hands when you see your investment take a slight or heavy dip in value and you won’t panic sell.

ALL MY CALLS WERE RIGHT in 2020! but I put almost all my money in crypto.  This was the mistake.  When I needed cash, I had to sell my crypto – giving away all my early positions.  It wasn’t very fun to see the whole crypto market as a whole rise like crazy while I had almost nothing invested in it.

Lastly, if you haven’t bet the whole farm on crypto, you’ll have cash to invest in opportunities you see.  If all your money is in crypto and the crypto market dips, your overall money will dip as well.  If you have cash, you can take advantage of the dips and buy on those dips.

Lesson 3:  Start small, find good projects and be patient enough to let it grow

It doesn’t take much to start investing in crypto.  I put $200 in PAINT and it gave me a little over 100,000 coins.  If PAINT goes to being worth $1, in maybe 2-5 years then that’s $100,000 off a $200 investment.  If it goes to being worthless then I’m out $200.  PAINT is in the NFT space and NFT’s are on fire right now, so I think it’s a good bet, but I’m willing to be wrong.  (This is not financial advice and I’m not a financial advisor.  Also, PAINT has not sponsored me.  I just like the project).

That same $200 isn’t going to get you very far if you just invested it in Bitcoin.  I would bet bigger if I was investing in Bitcoin or Ethereum because they’re the safest bets.

Good projects have a good team, solid roadmap, good use case.  It takes time to sift through and find the solid projects amongst the thousands of coins – that’s why they’re called gems.  The lower the market cap, the higher the risk of the investment.  I start with low to mid-size market caps and play the waiting game for them to rise in value.  Coin Gecko and CoinMarketCap tell you market cap information on coins and much more.  I use them all the time.

I start with YouTube.  It’s in a YouTuber’s interest to give you good, solid information that’s valuable.  It helps their channel grow.  That being said, I only use it as a starting point.  I do my research on specific coins AND the YouTuber that mentioned the coin and put it against my own knowledge and reasoning.  You are ultimately responsible for your profits and losses.

Lesson 4:  Take profits

You’re not going to want to do this.  When you see your investment rising in value, it will be hard to sell a portion and actually take some profits because you think it will continue to rise.  It might, but nothing goes straight up and continues to go straight up.  There are twists and turns and peaks and valleys – lots of them in a relatively new and emerging market like crypto/blockchain.  WHEN to take profits is a personal choice, but take them.  In 2018 many crypto investors, including myself, learned this lesson the hard way when the crypto market came crashing down and we rode those coins all the way to the ground.

Lesson 5:  Look at the world like a sea of opportunity

How you see the market and how you relate to the market will affect how you trade.

If you look at the world like a sea of opportunity, then you won’t panic sell or be stressing out when a coin doesn’t do what you want/expect it to right when you want it to.  You won’t be dejected and down in the dumps when another coin that you don’t have rises in price.  You’ll know there are opportunities that come along all the time, so there won’t be any need to stress about an opportunity you think you missed.   Jay Z said “There’s a million ways to get it…choose one”.  If you can see the ocean of opportunities that are always there, you won’t be as attached to the outcome of any one particular investment.  You won’t be hanging on its every move.

Imagine you’re a surfer and you’re trying to catch a good wave (your investment).  If one wave doesn’t go how you want it to, just wait.  There are plenty of good waves comin.

Lesson 6: Develop trust in yourself

Notice I said “develop”.  You’re not going to start off with trust in yourself, but it will come with time and more engagement with the market.  You’ll be able to see the places you can get in early.  More importantly, if you’ve developed a string of small wins (meaning you’ve done a lot of step #3 already), you can start to trust yourself to bet bigger, and thus bigger profits come.  Trust will come from learning what to look for and conditioning yourself to buy good projects low and early and sell high.

Lesson 7: The gold is in private communities.  Pay to be in them if you have to.

Private communities, private telegram groups, and private memberships are all ways to get exclusive information.  Many times people have done research in those communities for you and are trying to help everyone do well and/or find the hidden gems.

You’re going to need to learn the language.  Here’s a great article on some common phrases and what they mean.  I would also give Coinbase Learn an in-depth look.  They might seem boring now, but learn about them again when nobody else wants to learn.  If you don’t take away anything else from reading this, take this message away – be ahead of the curve.

That’s all I got for now!  Have some fun investing!

What is Your Relationship With Money? 150 150 admin

What is Your Relationship With Money?

In this article I will give you direction to find out what your relationship with money is – almost immediately if you want.  When I actually examined my own relationship with money and dived deeper into the rabbit hole, I started to see results and a severe improvement with my relationship with money.

If you want to examine your relationship with money – or any part of your life – write a litter to it.  Start it off like this:

Dear money,

*insert all the feelings and thoughts you have about money*

When I did this exercise it came out similar to this:

Dear money,

I think about you all the time.  You’re always on my mind.  You’ve been on my mind so much I’m tired of you – and you’re not even around!  I’m mentally exhausted of you, and I wish I didn’t have to think about you all the time.  Sigh.

Dude…talk about creepy!  I think about you all the time, but I’m mentally exhausted of you?  WTF?!?!? Come on Broderick, what the hell man.

After seeing this in front of my face, I realized I had to put myself in a position where I’m not thinking about money nearly as much.  I needed some mental space from it.  I don’t think I ever would have seen that had I not written the letter.

I had a stressful job only because of the money, so I quit.  Again, the main focus was to get myself in a position where I’m not thinking about money.  It was great being free, and so I started to work on my creative output and made a course and hella articles.  I started independent contract work through Door Dash and moved in with parents to lower my expenses.  Gifts and opportunities just started coming, and I had the space to wait for them to come and to wait for the right places.  I realized that keeping money around was more important than how much I made.  Today the letter to money would be very different.  It would go something like this.

Dear money,

Hey.  HEY.  2020 was pretty badass right?  We gotta do that shit again! 

🙂

Listen, I know what you’re thinking – “Broderick is a genius”.  This letter-to-money thing wasn’t my idea though.  It actually came from a book called You are a Badass at Making Money.  Pretty badass book yo.

 

Self Esteem and Career 150 150 admin

Self Esteem and Career

There was a time where I was feeling like I needed a job and would desperately seek any office job that would hire me.  My standards were pretty low at the time.  I’d take a job…any job if:

  • It paid at least $10/hr and
  • It wasn’t back-breaking labor and
  • It wasn’t fast food

This led to taking many bullshit jobs.  I would try to engage with the work I was assigned as much as possible because it seemed like that’s when time went by the fastest.  More often than not, my disdain for the work wouldn’t let me muster up enough engagement with it, and I would have thoughts like these:

  • “Fuuuuck this shit.”
  • “This is a waste of life.”
  • “I should be doing something more important.”
  • “How much longer til lunch?” (same question to myself 10-20min better)
  • “When is this gonna be over?”
  • (after being ordered to do something) “yeah…whatever”
  • “I hate that I’m getting good at this bullshit.  I’m not going to use this anywhere but here or other jobs like this.”
  • “hmmm…they just took all the credit for what I did.”
  • “I’m making them rich”
  • “They’re not even physically working.  Me and other people at the bottom of this pyramid are doing all the work and getting paid the least.”
  • “Fuck this shit!”  (Did I mention this one already?)
  • “How do I get out of this shit?”
  • “I’m not keeping any of the money I make here.”
  • “I just need X to make rent.”
  • “I need to be doing something more challenging.”
  • “I’m letting my ancestors down.”
  • “I hate when they bring other people in to look at us work like we’re animals at the zoo or something.”
  • “When will this end?”
  • “I’m just here because I need the money”

Add to this often daydreaming about entrepreneurship and vacations.

Fast forward to today.  I haven’t had a job in just over 2 years, but I have more money in my bank account and invested in crypto than I ever had before.  Why?

On June 26th…I said to myself – “no more neediness of money”.  I am free NOW.  Many things happened as a result of drawing that line in the sand.  I lived in my car for months.  I went through a voluntary repossession.  I started living with parents and started doing DoorDash for the little money I needed.  I couldn’t count the amount of times I heard or was nudged to “get a job”.  During this time, I actually started volunteering in a different way.  While I was doing DoorDash, I created a course.  I wrote 150+ articles.  I guest posted!  I actually did what I wanted to do and what I would do if I was completely free, and I’m still doing it.  I experimented with different ways to share this stuff.  I even learned some new songs to cover!  I realized that…I get to experiment with and choose how I want to work.

I also realized I can’t be attached to how money comes in – my job is to keep working and serving!  Having created a popular blog before, I thought I was going to get paid through advertisements or a sponsorship or something, but I got paid another way.  I can’t prove this for a fact, but I believe money came to me because I didn’t need money.  I stopped chasing it.  Now, when I feel like I need more money or I have to chase money, I try to volunteer.  It’s counterintuitive, but it works!

It wasn’t all good though.  I gained so much weight back that I’d lost!! but I couldn’t be happier with the work I’m doing.

Aligning with Your Values

If you look at this Linked-In post by Adam Grant (author of Give and Take) many of the thoughts I listed are reflective of Phase 1 – low self-esteem in career.  This is only part of the picture though.

“Living your life consistent with your deepest values is essential for you to enjoy high self-esteem. People who are clear about what they believe in and value, and who refuse to compromise their values like and respect themselves far more than people who are unclear about what is really important to them.” – Brian Tracy

Working on something you feel is important could be one standard, but why not have multiple standards for your work?  Aligning with your own values can not only raise your self-esteem in your career but across the board.

One value I hold very high is freedom.  My ancestors were slaves, so a big reason for the thoughts I listed above was due to not living consistent with the value of freedom I hold in high regard.  Early on, I didn’t demand freedom from my career.  I’d settle for working in a friggin box.  From the outside looking in, living in a car creating a course was weird, but I still look at that and I’m so proud of it – because I was free.  I was prouder than anytime I spent working a bullshit job in any office.  There is no replacement for living consistent with your own values.

I also don’t think I understood how to handle freedom responsibly.  No matter how free you are, there’s still work to do.  There’s still an infinite amount of ways to serve.

I feel thankful for the work I’m doing now, because I feel like even if I help one person have a shift that feels way more rewarding, fulfilling and more important than wasting time doing something easy, boring and repetitive as work.

What are your standards?

What are you not demanding from your job?  Do you like cubicles? Do you want months of vacations?  Do you want to work on something important?  What would that be?  Is there something you feel like only you could/should do?  Is your unique genius at work?

What are your values?  Do you value freedom?  Creativity?  Responsibility?  Skill-building?  Service?

Have you written down your values?  Values can definitely shift, but it’s good to keep some record of what you value and how they change over time.

How can you take one step today to move into greater alignment with your own values?

Double Jeopardy Review 150 150 admin

Double Jeopardy Review

I love movies like this!  Very much an “I-don’t-know-what’s-going-to-happen-next” type of movie starring the great Ashley Judd and Tommy Lee Davidson.  I know…those are called thrillers.  But all thrillers aren’t created equal.  I need realistic thrillers.  Stuff that could actually happen before I’m interested.

The movie starts of quickly building some tension when when Libby Parsons (Ashley Judd) and her husband Nick Parsons (Bruce Greenwood) go sailing on a boat.  After a romantic night on the boat, Libby wakes up with blood everywhere.   Her husband’s gone and nowhere to be found.  As she’s trying to figure out what the hell just happened, she sees a bloody knife and picks it up.  A coast guard then catches her with a knife in her hand.  It doesn’t look good for her, and she’s ultimately convicted of murdering her husband and sent to prison.  She quickly finds out her husband isn’t dead, and the rest of the movie is all that ensues.

Ashley Judd carries this movie.  She shows the masculine and feminine side of her character, and she did both pretty badass.

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